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Wildfire smoke pollution in the U.S. has increased significantly, with per-person exposure four times higher between 2020-2024 than during 2006-2019. Research indicates that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke caused approximately 164,000 premature deaths in the U.S. from 2006 to 2020, with human-caused climate change accounting for about 15,000 of those deaths. While the West and Northwest experience the most smoke days, smoke is a nationwide issue, with every county in the contiguous U.S. seeing at least 16 smoke days annually. The rise in smoke since 2016 has stalled or reversed air quality improvements in 30 U.S. states, threatening the goals of the Clean Air Act.

The document highlights the environmental and health risks associated with spreading sewage sludge on approximately 70 million acres of U.S. farmland, noting that such sludge often contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It criticizes the EPA for failing to finalize risk assessments for PFOA and PFOS and for underestimating the risks of over 150 other PFAS chemicals detected in sludge. The text cites specific farm failures in Maine and Michigan due to contamination and notes that while some states like Maine have banned the practice, others still encourage it. The author calls for federal regulations, the protection of local government authority to restrict sludge use, and corporate accountability for clean-up.

A coalition of 42 organizations, including Earthjustice and the NRDC, submitted comments on the EPA's Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for PFOA and PFOS. The coalition argues that the EPA's assessment confirms that these 'forever chemicals' in sewage sludge pose unacceptable risks to human health and the environment, particularly through land application on farms. They claim the EPA's risk calculations are underestimates because they use low-end concentration models and ignore combined exposure effects. The document calls for the prompt finalization of the assessment, the establishment of numerical limitations and management practices under the Clean Water Act, and the expansion of future risk assessments to include other PFAS, synthetic organic fluorine compounds, and microplastics. Additionally, they advocate for stricter pretreatment standards for industrial dischargers to prevent PFAS from entering publicly-owned treatment works.

A coalition of environmental organizations argues that Arendalsuka, a major Norwegian democratic festival, should drop Equinor as a sponsor. The authors claim Equinor is one of 36 'fossil giants' responsible for over half of global CO2 emissions and accuse the company of using 'petroganda' to manipulate public perception. They highlight that in 2023, only 0.15% of Equinor's total production was renewable energy, contrasting this with the company's image as a pioneer in low-carbon solutions. The statement further notes that Equinor spent 833 million NOK on sponsorships over the last five years to preserve its image.

The brief contends that the Wind Directive lacks a reasoned basis and ignores the public health, climate, and economic benefits of wind power. It argues that existing permitting frameworks already sufficiently protect wildlife and that the sudden ban on wind permits contradicts the administration's own goals of increasing domestic energy production and its simultaneous efforts to expedite fossil-fuel projects.

Following catastrophic flash floods in Central Texas in July 2025, digital discourse was dominated by cloud seeding conspiracy theories. These claims, which alleged that a program over 100 miles away triggered or worsened the floods, were amplified by GOP representatives including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Michael Flynn to reach millions of viewers on X.

The document asserts that global trends in China, the EU, and India demonstrate that decarbonization is now aligned with basic economics. It argues that Canada must overcome its fragmented energy grid to leverage its 'dispatchable clean power' and attract investments in industry, buildings, transportation, and AI, warning that failing to modernize its electricity system will result in a loss of competitive advantage.

The document analyzes how employment in outdoor sectors—such as agriculture and construction—correlates with public concern about extreme heat in the US. It finds a moderate positive correlation overall, though this varies by region: concern is higher in the South and West but lower in the Midwest and Northeast. The briefing highlights the disproportionate impact of heat on marginalized groups and the economic risks of inaction, while comparing state-level heat protections and international policy examples.

A forecast for extreme heat across the Southwest U.S. and northern Mexico indicates temperatures up to 18°F above normal, with the Climate Shift Index (CSI) attributing a level 5 likelihood to human-caused climate change. Approximately 53 million people are expected to be affected by these conditions, which are compounded by persistent drought in the region.

The briefing examines how the prevalence of outdoor work correlates with worry about extreme heat in the U.S., finding a modest positive correlation at the county level and a stronger one at the state level, though results vary significantly by region.

The analysis finds a modest positive correlation between the proportion of outdoor workers and worry about extreme heat at the county level, though this relationship varies by region. While the South and West show positive correlations, the Midwest and Northeast show negative correlations. At the state level, a stronger positive correlation exists. The document also notes a gap between heat worry and the implementation of worker protections, highlighting that some high-worry states like Texas and Florida have blocked local heat safety standards, while California's 2005 standards are linked to a 30% reduction in heat-related injuries.

The report details how the Trump EPA used a rare Clean Air Act provision to grant pollution exemptions to 52 facilities owned by 25 companies, including BASF, Shell, and Westlake. It highlights that these exemptions undermine the HON Rule, which aimed to reduce carcinogenic emissions by nearly 80%. The document further links these regulatory rollbacks to significant lobbying expenditures by the chemical industry and the American Chemistry Council, noting that several companies are expanding the very facilities that received exemptions.

The policy brief outlines six priorities for U.S. states to leverage the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and other federal incentives: immediate electric vehicle fleet conversion, permitting and interconnection reform, filling financial gaps via public-private partnerships and aggregate purchasing, improving energy affordability, launching home energy rebates, and attracting cleantech manufacturing. It emphasizes the urgency of acting before federal tax credits expire, specifically noting a September 30, 2025, deadline for EV credits and a July 2026 construction start deadline for certain solar and wind credits.

The document examines how climate change is creating a home insurance crisis in the U.S., characterized by skyrocketing premiums and widespread policy non-renewals. It asserts that 'Big Oil' companies, who knew about the risks of fossil fuels as early as 1954, are responsible for these conditions. The report highlights specific state-level crises in Florida, California, and Hawaiʻi, and advocates for policy solutions—such as subrogation and legislative surcharges—to shift the financial burden from policyholders to the fossil fuel industry.

Between 1980 and 2024, the U.S. experienced 403 billion-dollar disasters resulting in over $2.9 trillion in direct costs and nearly 17,000 deaths. The frequency and cost of these events have risen sharply, with the average time between disasters dropping from 82 days in the 1980s to 19 days in the last decade. Tropical cyclones are the costliest event type, while severe storms are the most frequent.

Earthjustice reports on its efforts to secure and defend health protections against pollution and toxic chemicals. The organization highlights the use of 'citizen suits' under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to hold polluters accountable, such as litigation against Suncor Energy and the County of Hawai‘i. The report emphasizes a strategic shift toward state and local legal avenues—including constitutional 'right to a healthy environment' claims in Hawai’i and New York—to mitigate the impact of federal rollbacks by the Trump administration. Key achievements include pushing for bans on PFAS in menstrual products in New York, reducing flame retardants in Washington state, and implementing zero-emissions truck rules in California. The document also details the projected life-saving impacts of federal rules secured in 2024, such as the Air Toxics Rule and the Mercury and Air Toxics Rule Update.

The document analyzes how federal clean energy incentives have driven over $321 billion in investments across the U.S. between Q2 2022 and Q1 2025, highlighting that these investments are heavily concentrated in Southern and Western states and Republican-held congressional districts. It argues that rolling back these incentives would disproportionately harm these regions and jeopardize significant outstanding investments in states like Louisiana and North Dakota, as well as major projects in emerging hubs like Southern Arizona and the Southeast.

The US power sector is experiencing unprecedented load growth, requiring the grid to expand more than five times faster than in the previous two decades. To address this, the report recommends maximizing existing grid value through grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and demand-side flexibility, accelerating connections via 'energy parks' and streamlined interconnection processes, and adopting proactive, scenario-based planning. It also suggests targeted affordability measures for low-income customers and specialized rate designs for large loads to prevent cost-shifting and stranded-asset risks.

The report analyzes the incursion of private equity into private duty nursing (PDN), a critical service for medically complex individuals. It argues that the private equity business model—characterized by leveraged buyouts, roll-up strategies, and high debt—diverts Medicaid funds away from direct patient care to service debt and generate investor returns. Through case studies of Team Select Home Care and Aveanna Healthcare, the document illustrates how these financial pressures lead to staffing shortages, low wages, and compromised patient safety. It highlights the 'preferred payer' strategy used by Aveanna to deprioritize patients with lower-reimbursing payers and notes industry opposition to the CMS 80/20 pass-through rule. The report concludes with policy recommendations including antitrust enforcement, limits on healthcare debt, and the expansion of paid family caregiver programs.

This report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes the potential for repurposing abandoned and soon-to-be-closed surface coal mines into solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants. It argues that these sites are ideal for solar development due to their existing proximity to grid infrastructure and the need for land reclamation, offering a pathway to align clean energy goals with local job creation and environmental restoration.