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The South African Water Caucus (SAWC) has submitted an urgent request to Minister Lindiwe Sisulu for the provision of water tanks, tankers, and sanitation packs for communities across several South African provinces. The document details systemic failures in water infrastructure, including dry taps, unreliable water trucking, and a lack of soap and sanitation services, which are exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. SAWC specifically criticizes the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation's hotline as non-functional and inaccessible to rural populations, and calls for weekly public updates from the National Disaster Water Command Centre.

The Centre for Environmental Rights submitted two expert reports to the South African government detailing severe particulate matter (PM) limit exceedances and associated health impacts at Eskom's Kendal power station. Dr. Ron Sahu's analysis found 2,712 PM exceedances between April 2016 and March 2020, noting that electrostatic precipitators are failing. Dr. Andrew Gray's report estimates that emissions caused between 61 and 144 premature deaths annually between 2018 and 2019 and severely exceeded WHO air quality guidelines for SO2, PM2.5, and NOx in the Highveld Priority Area, particularly affecting sensitive receptors like primary schools.

The paper evaluates the 2018 WHO global ambient air quality database, which contains PM10 and PM2.5 data for thousands of cities worldwide. It identifies challenges in comparing air pollution across different income levels and warns that the database has been used to draw inaccurate conclusions.

The South African Water Caucus (SAWC) has formally requested that the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation and the National Disaster Water Command Centre urgently provide water tanks, tankers, and sanitation packs to numerous communities across South Africa. The request emphasizes that lack of clean water and soap increases the risk of contracting COVID-19, violating constitutional rights to an environment not harmful to health. The SAWC identifies specific failures in several provinces, including unreliable water trucking, unaffordable private water costs, and police harassment of women collecting water. The document calls for weekly public updates on the National Disaster Water Command Centre's activities and a dedicated contact person for updating the list of affected communities.

The author contends that while the U.S. government has established frameworks for critical infrastructure through CISA and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, these plans overlook the workers—such as grocery store staff and delivery drivers—who keep these systems operational. The text highlights a lack of consistent definitions for 'essential workers' across different states and a lack of protections for those without unions. It proposes a review of the Stafford Act to establish a shared lexicon and legal recognition for these employees to improve future pandemic preparedness and national security.

The statement argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for governments to focus all resources on public health, specifically the procurement of medical supplies, vaccines, and medicines. It calls for the immediate suspension of trade and investment negotiations at the WTO, bilateral, and regional levels, asserting that such activities divert critical resources and personnel. The authors highlight that intellectual property rules under the WTO's TRIPS agreement and free trade agreements may obstruct the affordability and accessibility of life-saving supplies. The document demands the removal of all trade barriers and unilateral sanctions that hinder medical procurement and urges a fundamental rethink of trade rules that encourage monopolies and limit healthcare access.

Friends of the Earth International and a broad coalition of global endorsers call for an immediate cessation of trade and investment treaty negotiations. They argue that governments, particularly in developing and least developed countries, lack the resources to engage in these negotiations while managing the COVID-19 health crisis. The statement demands that trade negotiators focus exclusively on removing obstacles, such as intellectual property rules and unilateral sanctions, that hinder access to affordable vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International and numerous global endorsers calling for an immediate cessation of trade negotiations at the WTO, bilateral, and regional levels. The authors argue that government resources must be redirected toward managing the COVID-19 health crisis, specifically by removing intellectual property rules and unilateral sanctions that hinder access to vaccines, medicines, and medical equipment. The document asserts that the pandemic necessitates a fundamental rethink of trade rules that encourage monopolies and restrict affordable healthcare.

The Clean Air Task Force condemns the EPA's decision to reverse the finding that regulating mercury and air toxics from coal-fired power plants is 'appropriate' under the Clean Air Act. The organization argues that the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) have been highly effective since 2012, reducing air toxics by 96 percent and avoiding 11,000 premature deaths annually. CATF warns that this reversal could lead utilities to disable existing emission controls, wasting ratepayer funds and increasing public health risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The statement further claims the EPA's rule is biased, relying on outdated data and ignoring the health benefits of controlling most of the 80+ air toxics emitted by power plants.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) criticizes the EPA's proposal on National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter, stating it ignores scientific evidence that current standards are inadequate. CATF highlights that EPA career staff recommended a lower annual average standard of 8 µg/m³, yet political decision-makers maintained the 2012 standard of 12 µg/m³. The statement also condemns the EPA for rushing the proposal, reducing public comment opportunities, and disbanding an expert panel intended to assist the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC).

A solidarity statement calling for immediate government and international action to protect Amazonian indigenous peoples from COVID-19 by halting extractive industries and respecting indigenous self-governance.

The document outlines the nature of Covid-19, identifies high-risk groups in South Africa, and provides detailed instructions on hygiene, social distancing, and community support to mitigate the pandemic's impact.

The document outlines the nature of Covid-19, identifies high-risk groups in South Africa, and provides detailed hygiene and social distancing instructions to prevent transmission.

A scientific national survey of 3,933 adults conducted in April 2020 reveals that a large majority of Americans prioritize public health over economic recovery and have adopted various protective behaviors. While trust in medical experts remains high, there is a significant demand for more information, and expectations for both the epidemic and the economy to worsen in the short term are prevalent.

The report finds that a large majority of Americans prioritize public health over economic recovery, trust medical experts and local news, and have adopted protective behaviors such as handwashing and social distancing. However, significant gaps remain in knowledge regarding certain false claims, and there is a widespread desire for more information and increased action from government leaders and citizens.

The report details the implementation of a low-cost sensor network to monitor air quality in Acre, Brazil, finding that many municipalities frequently exceeded WHO safety limits for PM2.5, primarily during the dry season months of August and September.

The document examines the increasing risk of wildfires in Canada due to climate change and evaluates the FireSmart program as a tool for community resilience. It highlights the high cost of disasters like the Fort McMurray fire and argues for a shift from reactive response to proactive risk reduction through updated building codes, limited urban sprawl, and integrated forest management.

The document argues that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires in Canada, necessitating a shift from reactive to preventive strategies. It highlights the FireSmart program as an effective tool for reducing building vulnerability through vegetation management and fire-resistant materials, while noting that individual efforts must be supported by updated building codes, limited urban sprawl, and inclusive community consultations to protect vulnerable populations.

SAFTU criticizes the South African state's COVID-19 response as 'tokenistic,' arguing that the R12 billion stimulus (0.23% of GDP) is inadequate compared to global responses. The statement calls for emergency taxation of the rich, a Basic Income Grant, and the appropriation of private facilities for public use. It warns that a security-focused lockdown without adequate income security for informal and unemployed workers could lead to political catastrophe.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) opposes providing public funds to the oil and gas industry, suggesting that support should instead be directed toward workers and environmental cleanup to protect public health and address climate change.