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The report finds that pollution costs Canada tens of billions of dollars annually, though full costs are obscured by data gaps. Urban smog is the most quantified pollutant, costing $36 billion in 2015. Other significant impacts include the $12.2 billion in combined current and future liabilities for contaminated sites, the $1.6 billion cost of climate-related heat waves in 2015, and substantial ecosystem and property value losses in Lake Erie due to algal blooms. The document highlights critical data gaps regarding persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The report finds that pollution imposes very significant costs on Canadian families, businesses, and governments, with direct welfare costs alone estimated at $39 billion in 2015. It highlights substantial data gaps regarding persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, and climate change, while detailing specific impacts such as urban smog, algal blooms in Lake Erie, and the long-term liabilities of contaminated sites and nuclear legacy wastes.

The report estimates that pollution costs Canada tens of billions of dollars annually, with urban smog alone accounting for 36 billion dollars in 2015. It categorizes these costs into health and well-being, direct financial losses to income, and the reduction of asset values. The document highlights significant data gaps regarding persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, and greenhouse gas emissions, while detailing the high costs of contaminated sites, climate-related extreme weather, and water pollution such as algal blooms and pathogens.

CAPE opposes the proposed Chalk River nuclear waste site, citing risks of water contamination, seismic instability, and inadequate containment measures for waste that remains radioactive for thousands of years.

The report analyzes the benefits of diversified crop rotations compared to the dominant corn-soybean system in the US Corn Belt, specifically focusing on Iowa. Based on research from Iowa State University's Marsden Farm, the authors find that three- and four-year rotations increase yields for corn and soybeans and maintain similar net profits while reducing herbicide and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use. The report models the scalability of these systems, suggesting that implementing no-till diverse rotations on 3.6 million of Iowa's most erodible acres could reduce soil erosion by 91% and save taxpayers up to $198 million annually in water cleanup costs. It further suggests that up to 40% of Iowa's farmland could be converted to these systems if livestock feed markets adapt. To overcome financial, market, and technical barriers, the report recommends expanding USDA incentives, improving Whole Farm Revenue Protection insurance, and increasing funding for agroecological research.

The document argues that replacing a portion of Midwest corn and soybean acreage with diverse crop rotations—including oats and alfalfa—can increase yields and maintain profits while significantly reducing soil erosion, chemical runoff, and greenhouse gas emissions. Based on Iowa State University research and Union of Concerned Scientists modeling, the report suggests that such systems could be scaled to 20-40% of Iowa's farmland, potentially saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in water cleanup costs. However, adoption is hindered by market, financial, and technical barriers, necessitating federal policy reforms in crop insurance, USDA loan funding, and agricultural research.

Canada has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, joining 40 other countries in committing to domestic strategies for tracking and reducing transboundary mercury pollution, including the management of emissions, point source releases, and contaminated site remediation. Research from the IISD-Experimental Lake Area indicates that reducing mercury inputs into lakes leads to a decrease in mercury levels in freshwater fish consumed by humans.

The document is an open letter from ClientEarth and several environmental NGOs to the First Vice-President of the European Commission. It highlights a March 17, 2017, finding by the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) that the EU failed to provide adequate access to justice for individuals and NGOs in environmental matters, specifically breaching Article 9(3)(4) of the Aarhus Convention. The authors argue that while Member States and businesses can defend their interests, no individual or NGO has been granted legal standing before the Court of Justice of the EU to challenge institutional decisions on environmental issues, except for document disclosure refusals. To remedy this, the letter proposes that the European Commission amend Regulation 1367/2006 and that the European Court of Justice revise its interpretation of standing criteria under Article 263 TFEU to ensure environmental NGOs are considered to have "direct and individual concern" regarding acts impacting the environment.

The document criticizes the Trump administration's "one in, two out" executive order, which Earthjustice claims is illegal and prioritizes corporate profits over public health. It highlights the role of the EPA in preventing pollution-related illnesses and argues that the economic and health benefits of environmental regulations far outweigh their costs to industry.

The report highlights a critical lack of transparency in the antibiotic supply chain for the French market, noting that while formulation often occurs in Europe, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are primarily sourced from India and China. It documents severe environmental pollution and the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria around production sites in these countries, linking specific manufacturers like Aurobindo and Mylan to these impacts. The document argues that current French public procurement processes fail to account for these environmental risks and calls for a global audit and stricter transparency requirements to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Earthjustice, representing St. Johns Riverkeeper and Miami Waterkeeper, urges the EPA to reject Florida's proposed water quality criteria revisions. The statement claims the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) violated public participation laws and used an unsound probabilistic risk analysis that fails to protect sensitive populations, such as children and subsistence fishers. The document highlights drastic increases in allowable concentrations for several toxins and the failure to regulate 22 substances recommended by the EPA.

A group of Maine-based scientists urges Senators Susan Collins and Angus King to vote against the nomination of Scott Pruitt for EPA Administrator, arguing that his record of challenging science-based public health standards threatens the health and safety of Maine's residents.

The document analyzes how ecological challenges, such as severe droughts and storms, exacerbate social instability and violent conflict in Mindanao, Philippines. It highlights the displacement of millions due to both climate events and conflict, which creates opportunities for terrorist groups like ISIS to establish footholds. The text emphasizes the geostrategic importance of the region to the United States and recommends that U.S. policy support water-related programs and collaborative governance to build climate resilience and promote peace.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) warns that the appointment of Scott Pruitt to lead the EPA threatens the agency's ability to protect public health and the climate, citing Pruitt's record of questioning climate science and fighting emissions reductions.

Coal mining in Mpumalanga, South Africa, has severely contaminated water sources and degraded land, leading to health issues and increased poverty. Women are disproportionately affected due to their roles as caregivers, facing increased labor, economic instability, and risks of violence. Despite national and international legal frameworks, the document argues that economic interests and a lack of enforcement allow mining companies to operate with impunity.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that US farm and food policies are uncoordinated and often work at cross-purposes, leading to economic stagnation in rural areas, environmental degradation, and high public health costs. The brief urges the Trump administration to realign these policies to ensure access to healthy, sustainably produced food while supporting the livelihoods of farmers and food system workers.

The document critiques the ESIA for the 250km Lamu-Garissa road, highlighting risks to the critically endangered Hirola antelope and the Tana River ecosystem. It argues that the preferred route (Alternative I-1) lacks species-specific wildlife crossing data and fails to allocate budget for wildlife protection in its management plan. Additionally, the authors identify failures in stormwater management planning, a lack of impact analysis for the extraction of approximately 1.375 million cubic meters of construction materials, and procedural violations of Kenyan law regarding public participation and gazette notices.

The report identifies a critical link between irresponsible pharmaceutical manufacturing practices in China and India and the proliferation of 'superbugs'. Field sampling in India revealed high levels of antibiotic resistance in water sources near factories owned by Aurobindo Pharma, Orchid Chemicals, and Asiatic Drugs and Pharmaceuticals. The analysis shows that these polluting sites are integrated into global supply chains, providing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished drugs to major distributors and healthcare providers in the West, including McKesson in the US and various public hospitals in France. The document argues that antimicrobial resistance is driven by three factors—medical, agricultural, and industrial—and calls for the integration of environmental criteria into Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and greater supply chain transparency.

The report identifies pharmaceutical manufacturing waste in India and China as a significant driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Through water sampling in India and supply chain analysis, it links specific polluting factories to major global distributors and public health systems, including the UK's NHS. It argues that current Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) frameworks are insufficient because they lack environmental criteria, allowing 'superbugs' to proliferate and spread globally via trade and travel.

The document highlights the immediate threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), noting that the CDC estimates 2 million infections and 23,000 deaths annually in the US. It identifies key drivers of AMR, including the over-prescription of antibiotics, a lack of pharmaceutical research into alternatives, and the use of antibiotics for livestock growth. A significant emphasis is placed on pharmaceutical pollution in India and China, where high concentrations of antibiotics in water sources create reservoirs of resistance that can be exported globally.