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The report argues that while not explicitly stated, the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) grants EU citizens a right to air quality within legal limit values. It identifies significant barriers to justice in several Member States and advocates for the use of the Francovich doctrine to allow individuals to seek compensation for health damages. ClientEarth recommends that the European Commission explicitly codify this individual right in the revised AAQD, introduce coercive remedies for non-compliance, and alleviate the burden of proof for claimants seeking damages.

The document argues that deaf, blind, and deafblind individuals in sub-Saharan Africa faced heightened health risks, economic instability, and systemic exclusion from vital information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on consultations in Cameroon, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, the authors find that government responses often relied on a 'charity model' rather than a rights-based approach, ignoring the agency of disabled persons. Key barriers included the use of non-transparent masks hindering lip-reading, a lack of Braille information, and the loss of informal livelihoods. The brief emphasizes the critical role of self-organized disability organizations in championing rights and calls for research into the cultural and political structures of discrimination to improve future disaster preparedness.

Civil society organizations are calling on the Canadian government to advance Bill C-28, the Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, to committee before World Environment Day on June 5, 2021. The signatories argue that the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) requires modernization to address evolved scientific understanding of risks and current toxic threats, noting that it has been over two decades since the act entered into force. The letter highlights a lack of progress on recommendations from a 2017 committee report and cites three separate public petitions—collectively gathering over 23,000 signatures—demanding action on CEPA modernization.

Friends of the Earth International calls for the removal of pharmaceutical monopolies and the implementation of a TRIPS waiver to address the 'vaccine apartheid' between high-income and low-income nations. The statement highlights severe disparities in vaccination rates, noting that high-income countries vaccinate 25 times faster than low-income ones, and criticizes wealthy nations and pharmaceutical companies for prioritizing profits over human lives during a global health crisis.

The 2021 edition of the Chilling Prospects series tracks immediate vulnerability and health risks resulting from a lack of access to cooling across various populations and sectors.

The report evaluates Colorado's emissions trajectory and proposes a '1.5°C Scenario' to bridge the gap between current policies and climate goals. This scenario emphasizes a rapid transition to 100% clean electricity by 2035, the electrification of transportation and buildings, and the reduction of industrial methane leaks. Implementing these measures is projected to reduce net emissions by 85% below business-as-usual levels by 2050, while creating up to 36,000 new jobs and providing significant public health benefits, including the prevention of over 1,400 deaths annually by 2050.

The petition argues that PFAS, due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation, cannot meet the legal standard of not presenting an 'unreasonable risk' required for PMN exemptions. It specifically targets the Byproducts, Low Volume (LVE), Low Release and Exposure (LoREX), and Polymer exemptions, asserting that these loopholes allow hazardous chemicals to enter the market without adequate safety review or public notification.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and a coalition of 800 health professionals criticize Prime Minister Trudeau's commitment to reduce emissions by at least 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. They argue this target is inadequate compared to a proposed minimum of 60% reduction and falls behind the goals of other wealthy nations like the US and UK. The statement calls for a strengthened Bill C-12 and the reallocation of fossil fuel subsidies to ensure a healthy future for children and global climate stability.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) GCF Programme establishes a strategic framework for climate mitigation and adaptation, focusing on decarbonizing energy, waste management, resilient infrastructure, food security, and water security. RMI aims for net-zero emissions by 2050 and has set ambitious NDC targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32% below 2010 levels by 2025 and 45% by 2030. The programme identifies specific pipeline projects, such as solar generation on Wotje and Jaluit Atolls and coastal adaptation works, while addressing existential threats like sea-level rise and extreme droughts. It emphasizes the need for international funding to implement science-informed policies and protect vulnerable coastal communities.

The document advocates for replacing the approximately 480,000 diesel-powered school buses in the United States with zero-emission electric alternatives. It highlights that while electric buses have higher initial procurement costs—nearly triple those of diesel buses—they offer lower operational and maintenance costs, saving schools an estimated $2,000 in fuel and $4,400 in maintenance annually. The author supports the Clean Commute for Kids Act, which proposes $25 billion over 10 years, and the American Jobs Plan, which aims to electrify at least 20% of the fleet with a $20 billion investment. The transition is framed as a necessity for public health, as diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen and pollution levels inside buses can be 10 times ambient levels, negatively impacting children's lung development and cognitive performance. Furthermore, the document asserts that this shift would address racial and economic inequities, as communities of color in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions face 66% higher exposure to vehicle air pollution than white residents, and would stimulate domestic manufacturing jobs at companies like Blue Bird in Georgia and Thomas Built in North Carolina.

The report estimates that retiring four nuclear plants in Illinois would lead to 1,200 to 2,700 premature deaths and $10 to $24 billion in monetized damages over ten years. Retiring two plants (Byron and Dresden) would result in 500 to 1,100 premature deaths and $4.4 to $10 billion in damages over the same period. These impacts are driven by increased PM2.5 emissions from fossil fuel plants used to offset the loss of zero-emission generation.

The document calls for an urgent ban on nanographene-containing face masks in the European Union, citing a Canadian health advisory that identified these masks as potentially toxic to human lung health. The authors highlight that masks from the China-based Shengquan Group, specifically the 'healfiber' brand, are available on the EU market and have been worn by high-ranking officials, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The signatories advocate for the precautionary regulation of all personal protective equipment containing nanoparticles, such as nanosilver and nanometal oxides, to protect public health.

The submission argues that South Africa's draft NDC targets are insufficiently ambitious, aligning with a 3°C temperature increase rather than the 1.5°C or 2°C goals necessary to protect public health. It highlights the severe health risks posed by climate change in South Africa, including drought, heat, and infectious diseases, and notes that coal-fired power stations cause over 2,200 deaths annually. The authors advocate for a 'green' recovery from COVID-19, urging a shift from fossil fuel investments toward renewable energy and a commitment to phase out coal by 2034. The document proposes specific co-benefit policies in energy (e.g., adopting the Climate Justice Charter), food and agriculture (e.g., incentivizing urban agriculture), and transportation (e.g., electrifying public transit) to simultaneously reduce emissions and improve health outcomes.

The report investigates the impact of 3,321 warehouses over 100,000 square feet in the South Coast Air Basin, finding that these facilities are disproportionately sited in low-income communities of color. This siting increases exposure to diesel truck emissions, which are linked to asthma, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The analysis highlights a disparity where the communities most impacted by warehouse pollution are not the primary consumers of the e-commerce goods stored within them. The authors call for the South Coast Air Quality Management District to implement a strong Indirect Source Rule requiring zero-emission technology in these disadvantaged areas.

The research paper proposes a comprehensive policy pathway for the United States to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and a 50% reduction in GHGs by 2030. Using the U.S. Energy Policy Simulator, the authors argue that a small group of targeted policies—specifically a clean electricity standard, zero-emission vehicle mandates, and building electrification—can drive this transition. The analysis suggests that this pathway would not only meet climate goals but also expand the U.S. GDP by $920 billion by 2050 and create nearly 5 million new job-years, while significantly reducing premature deaths and respiratory illnesses due to the phase-out of fossil fuels.

The report advocates for a U.S. federal Clean Electricity Standard (CES) targeting 80% clean power by 2030. It asserts that such a target is technologically feasible, affordable, and reliable, while providing significant co-benefits. Key arguments include the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs, the avoidance of over $1.7 trillion in health costs through reduced air pollution, and the establishment of a foundation for 100% clean power by 2035. The document highlights that achieving this goal requires rapid infrastructure build-out, specifically approximately 95 GW of wind and solar annually, and emphasizes the need for federal policy to reduce siting and interconnection barriers.

The document argues that climate change is a justice issue, as systemic inequities cause people of color, indigenous people, and the poor to bear the brunt of climate disasters while being excluded from solution discussions. It urges journalists to move beyond science-focused reporting to cover climate-driven displacement, the disproportionate impact of pollution on poor communities, and the role of disadvantaged groups as climate innovators. The guide suggests focusing on how green spending and resilience projects are distributed and highlighting the public health impacts of corporate pollution to engage new audiences.

A coalition of 225 organisations argues that providing COVID-19 aid through Myanmar's military junta would legitimize the regime and undermine public health, calling instead for direct support to civil society and the protection of gas revenues for humanitarian use.

The research paper evaluates the impact of a 1.5°C-compatible policy scenario for Nevada, projecting that deep decarbonization across electricity, transportation, and buildings could add $700 million to the state economy and create 4,500 jobs by 2030. It contrasts a 'Business-As-Usual' outlook, where emissions are expected to increase by 12% by 2050, with a strategic policy package including a 100% clean electricity standard by 2035 and a transition to all-electric vehicle and building equipment sales. The analysis also highlights significant public health benefits, estimating the prevention of over 120 deaths annually by 2030.

The document critiques COVAX as a multi-stakeholder entity that marginalizes the World Health Organization (WHO) and replaces public health governance with a commercial banking model. It argues that COVAX is designed to protect the global pharmaceutical market and serve as a tool for geopolitical 'soft power' rather than ensuring equitable vaccine access. The author highlights that COVAX's funding mechanisms, dominated by a few wealthy nations and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, allow private interests to influence vaccine R&D and distribution, potentially risking the health and political autonomy of developing nations.