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A joint letter from 54 organizations calling for an independent health impact assessment and the suspension of public financial support for LNG projects due to excessive flaring and emissions at the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, BC.

Climate Central's analysis of 65 major U.S. cities reveals that approximately 76% of the 6.2 million K-12 public school students in these areas attend school in 'extreme urban heat zones,' where the built environment adds at least 8°F of additional heat. The average student in these cities attends school in a neighborhood that is 8.3°F hotter due to the built environment, with the highest average additional heat found in New York City (9.6°F). The report highlights that children are particularly vulnerable to heat-related health risks, which can impair academic achievement and development, while noting that 41% of public school districts need to update or replace HVAC systems in at least half of their schools.

The report examines various legislative attempts to curb the growth of corporate landlords in the US, focusing on strategies to deconsolidate the housing market. It analyzes proposed and enacted measures such as ownership caps in North Carolina, excise taxes in California and Ohio, and right of first refusal laws in California and Colorado. While many of these bills failed in committee due to political opposition, the report highlights successful examples like Los Angeles's 'mansion tax' and Colorado's protections for manufactured housing residents as models for future housing justice efforts.

Virginia has four commercial sterilizers located in Richmond and Virginia Beach, with nearly 726,000 residents living within five miles of these facilities. In Richmond, the Sterilization Services of Virginia facility is linked to elevated cancer risks, with EtO emissions contributing 70 percent of the air toxics cancer risk in its census tract. The area surrounding this facility has a higher concentration of people of color and low-income residents compared to the county average. In Virginia Beach, Lifenet Health owns two sterilizers, one of which was penalized over $64,000 by the EPA for Clean Air Act violations.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) urges the Edmonton City Council to ban cosmetic pesticides, asserting that such bans are popular, cost-effective, and essential for protecting human and environmental health. CAPE argues that the current risk assessment approach is insufficient and advocates for an 'alternatives assessment' paradigm that prioritizes hazard prevention over acceptable risk. The document links pesticide use to broader planetary health crises, noting that pesticides can negatively impact soil biodiversity and carbon sequestration, thereby exacerbating the climate emergency. CAPE cites various health risks associated with pesticides, including links to cancers, reproductive problems, and Parkinson's disease, and points to successful bans in other jurisdictions as models for Edmonton to follow.

The document examines the dual role of U.S. ports as both victims of climate change (facing sea level rise and extreme storms) and contributors to it through significant greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. It details mitigation strategies such as electrification of machinery, shore powering for berthed ships, and the adoption of renewable energy. It also discusses adaptation measures, contrasting 'gray infrastructure' like seawalls with nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration and living shorelines. The brief highlights specific initiatives at ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Savannah, Miami, and others, while noting the role of EPA programs and international certifications in driving sustainability.

The report analyzes British Columbia's position in the global transition to carbon neutrality, highlighting a low overall proportion of workers in vulnerable sectors (3%) but significant localized risks in rural communities dependent on metallurgical coal and natural gas. It identifies strong competitive advantages, including the CleanBC roadmap and a low-carbon electricity grid, and notes the growth of 175 transition-supporting companies. However, it warns that policy misalignment and a focus on multinational firms over small-to-medium enterprises may hinder the province's ability to fully capitalize on clean tech opportunities.

The briefing advocates for increased stimulus funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to combat energy insecurity and racial disparities in the US. It highlights that low-income and non-White households face disproportionately high energy burdens and insecurity. Drawing on the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the document suggests that expanding WAP to include electrification, investing in workforce diversity, and improving administrative coordination can maximize public health and economic benefits.

The report finds that Canadian municipalities can maintain acceptable weed control without toxic pesticides by shifting to cultural practices and mechanical methods, with stable budgets and supportive public attitudes.

The document argues that federal light-duty vehicle standards set by the EPA and NHTSA provide significant financial savings, job growth, and emissions reductions for Virginia, warning that rolling back these protections would jeopardize this progress.

The document argues that the EPA's proposed 20-month delay of the Chemical Disaster Rule is unlawful, arbitrary, and dangerous to public health and national security. It contends that the delay violates the Clean Air Act's three-month limit on reconsideration stays and ignores the agency's own findings regarding the urgent need for updated risk management programs to prevent catastrophic chemical releases.

Earthjustice, representing several environmental and community groups, opposes the proposed Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal's (OBOT) plan to export coal. The letter contends that coal shipment was never part of the original environmental reviews or development agreements, poses severe health risks through coal dust emissions, and lacks sufficient regulatory protections. It argues that the City of Oakland has the legal authority to prohibit coal exports to protect public health and safety without hindering the broader economic development of the former Army Base.

The report argues that the proposed Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal (OBOT) poses significant risks to public health, water security, and local ecosystems, particularly if used to export coal. The author highlights that current design plans are conceptual and lack enforceable controls for dust and emissions. Key concerns include the consumption of 79.2 million gallons of water annually for dust control during a record drought, the release of up to 18,300 tons of coal dust per year within California from uncovered rail cars, and increased cancer risks from diesel particulate matter in West Oakland. Additionally, the report notes that the project's scale would cause significant traffic congestion at 55 at-grade rail crossings and create substantial noise pollution. The author concludes that these impacts were not addressed in the project's CEQA review.

The report profiles ten U.S. cities where residents live in close proximity to petroleum refineries, documenting systemic exposure to toxic air pollutants, high rates of cancer and asthma, and frequent industrial accidents. It highlights a pattern of 'significant violation' of the Clean Air Act by major refineries and notes that these facilities are often located in low-income and minority neighborhoods. The document calls for the EPA to implement more stringent air toxics standards and improved fenceline monitoring to protect public health.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a report to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) following a series of community workshops in the Karoo. The CER argues that public participation by Shell's consultants, Golder Associates, was insufficient, as only 14% of workshop attendees had participated in those meetings. The document details widespread community concerns regarding water contamination, food security, and health, while noting a regional divide where some Eastern Karoo residents welcome potential economic benefits. The CER recommends additional consultation and the creation of simplified information brochures to ensure disadvantaged communities can exercise their constitutional rights.

Western Oil & Gas Company evaluated a $2 million capital improvement project to upgrade motor systems at its Richmond, California refinery to improve energy efficiency and equipment reliability. Despite these benefits, the project was initially deemed unwise because the necessary diversion of resources risked disrupting 24-hour plant operations and the project did not compete favorably with other capital expenditures. To address these risks and balance them against the benefits, Western engaged an energy services company (ESCo) called Energy Services and a financing firm, ABB Energy Capital, to explore various financing options.

The document details a proposed $2 million upgrade to the diesel hydro treater (DHT) motor system at Western Oil & Gas Company's Richmond refinery. Despite potential energy savings and improved reliability, the project was initially stalled by internal resource constraints, low strategic priority, and the high cost of operational downtime. To resolve this, Western partnered with Energy Services (an ESCo) and ABB Energy Capital to explore alternative financing—including internal funding, lease financing, and performance-based 'shared savings' models—while leveraging demand-side management (DSM) subsidies from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).

The document alleges that Wavemaker has spent over two decades helping Chevron mask its environmental and human rights record through misleading advertising. It highlights Chevron's toxic waste dumping in the Ecuadorian Amazon and pollution in Richmond, California, as evidence of the company's actual impact, contrasting these with its public image campaigns.

British Columbia is positioning itself for the low-carbon transition by leveraging a low-emissions electricity grid and a growing clean technology sector, though it faces risks from its reliance on metallurgical coal and natural gas exports. While the province has 175 transition-opportunity companies, primarily concentrated in Metro Vancouver, challenges remain regarding the domestic adoption of these technologies and the alignment of provincial policy to support small and medium-sized domestic firms. Vulnerable workers are concentrated in rural communities and among Indigenous populations, necessitating a shift in support toward new growth areas to ensure economic resilience.

The report argues that corporate housing investment, particularly by private equity firms seeking high returns on short timelines, leads to rent increases, maintenance neglect, and instability for tenants. It proposes a toolkit of regulatory measures: landlord registries to uncover beneficial ownership behind shell LLCs, licensing systems to potentially cap the number of properties owned by a single entity, and proactive inspections to ensure habitability before occupancy. The document highlights Minneapolis's use of licensing to force corporate landlord Progress Residential to adopt strict tenant safety and maintenance conditions, and Toronto's use of a registration and grading system for rental properties.