A federal committee poised to overhaul how the U.S. assesses flood risks was quietly dissolved by the Trump administration in January, halting key updates to outdated Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps.
FEMA's Technical Mapping Advisory Committee, which guided national flood map updates, was disbanded under President Trump in early 2025.
The committee had nearly completed its 2024 report, which aimed to improve the accuracy of flood risk data amid rising sea levels and extreme weather, but the report was never released.
Trump’s order eliminated all Department of Homeland Security advisory committees, leaving FEMA without expert input as climate-related flood risks increase.
Key quote:
“This is a group of seasoned professional people. They don’t have an axe to grind, there’s not a political issue.
— Glenn Heistand, University of Illinois water resources engineer
Why this matters:
Flood maps shape where homes are built, how insurance is priced, and who is required to buy it. But many maps are outdated or incomplete, failing to reflect modern flood patterns driven by climate change. When advisory panels like FEMA’s are dismantled, it stalls the technical work needed to modernize these tools, leaving communities blind to growing risks. With hurricanes intensifying and rainfall patterns shifting, inaccurate maps can lead to unprepared towns and uninsured homeowners. Without federal support, states and cities must fend for themselves — often with fewer resources and inconsistent standards — while new developments continue rising in harm’s way.
Negotiations on the world’s first global treaty to curb plastic pollution have hit a dead end, with nearly 100 countries rejecting a draft they say fails to tackle production or toxic chemicals.
Countries pushing for strong action, including the European Union, UK, and Colombia, say the draft treaty ignores plastic production caps and the risks of harmful chemicals.
Oil- and plastic-producing nations, backed by industry interests, want the treaty to focus only on recycling and waste management, avoiding limits on production.
Delegates warn that without binding measures on production, chemicals, and financing, the treaty risks being a “step backward” in global efforts to reduce plastic pollution.
Key quote:
“It certainly seems like it was very biased toward the like-minded countries [Saudi, Russia, Iran etc]. There’s problems across the board. There’s no binding measures on anything. There’s no obligation to contribute resources to the financial mechanism. There’s no measures on production or chemicals. This text is just inadequate.”
— Dennis Clare, negotiator for Micronesia
Why this matters:
The world’s first attempt at a global plastic pact has hit the skids, and it’s exposing just how deep industry influence runs. Without binding measures, experts warn, this treaty could be less a breakthrough and more a global shrug, leaving ecosystems and public health to bear the cost.
A coalition of environmental organizations sued the Trump administration Tuesday, alleging it relied on a secret panel of climate skeptics to justify weakening federal climate protections.
The Environmental Defense Fund and the Union of Concerned Scientists filed suit challenging a U.S. Department of Energy report that questioned the severity of climate change and its economic impacts.
The lawsuit alleges that Energy Secretary Christopher Wright assembled a covert working group of five climate skeptics to undermine the scientific basis for regulating greenhouse gases.
The plaintiffs argue the group functioned as a formal advisory committee and should have followed transparency laws, including public disclosure and balanced membership.
Key quote:
“The Climate Working Group worked in secret for months to produce a report for DOE and EPA that would provide justification for their predetermined goal of rescinding the Endangerment Finding.”
— Lawsuit filed by the Environmental Defense Fund and Union of Concerned Scientists
Why this matters:
Climate policy in the United States is heavily influenced by the scientific integrity of federal reports. The "endangerment finding," established in 2009, is the legal foundation for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Undermining it could reshape how the government addresses emissions from vehicles, power plants, and industry. If scientific assessments are guided by undisclosed panels without public scrutiny or peer review, public trust in environmental regulation could erode. Transparency in how science informs policy is especially critical as the nation faces escalating wildfires, heat waves, and flooding — all linked to rising global temperatures.
A surge of meltwater from Suicide Basin has triggered another glacial outburst flood near Juneau, Alaska, putting new flood defenses to a critical test.
The Mendenhall Glacier is again releasing floodwaters after Suicide Basin overflowed, prompting emergency evacuations in parts of Juneau.
City officials, working with the Army Corps of Engineers, installed a two-mile wall of Hesco barriers along the Mendenhall River to protect neighborhoods.
The river, already swollen from days of rain, is expected to crest above previous records, posing a serious challenge to the barriers.
Key quote:
“It’s pretty stunning how much water is in there right now.”
— Eran Hood, hydrologist, University of Alaska Southeast
Why this matters:
As Alaska’s glaciers retreat due to rising temperatures, glacial outburst floods — also known as jökulhlaups — are becoming more frequent and dangerous. These floods are unpredictable and can release massive volumes of water in a matter of hours, endangering communities built along waterways once considered stable. In Juneau, the combination of glacier melt and heavy rainfall can create a flash flood scenario with little warning. As glaciers thin and destabilize, the dynamics of meltwater flow become harder to predict, complicating emergency planning. Events like this expose the vulnerability of Arctic and sub-Arctic regions to climate change, where melting ice is not just a long-term concern but a pressing public safety risk. The ongoing flood response also reflects how much infrastructure and resources are being directed toward climate adaptation in even relatively remote parts of the U.S.
Once-reliable travel seasons are being upended by climate change, as early monsoons, heatwaves, and erratic weather disrupt activities once tied to specific months.
Tour operators say outdated information and siloed planning are leaving travelers unprepared, with many companies hesitant to share climate-related disruptions for fear of losing bookings.
Real-time local advice and flexible planning are becoming essential tools for navigating a world where shoulder and off-seasons increasingly offer better conditions than peak travel periods.
Key quote:
“Earlier, when clients asked for a snow trek in December, we could suggest options like Annapurna Base Camp. But now, it's harder to say confidently whether conditions will be right. We just don't know anymore.”
— Juliana Shrestha, co-founder of Duluwa Outdoors
Why this matters:
Tourism is deeply tied to weather, and as climate change accelerates, it's throwing long-held assumptions into disarray. Many destinations now face heat, pollution, drought, or floods during what were once considered optimal seasons. For travelers, this can mean ruined vacations and health risks; for local economies that rely on tourism, it creates instability and lost revenue. The broader environmental concern is that even as these impacts grow, much of the industry is slow to adapt or inform customers. Climate volatility not only affects where and when people can travel but also adds pressure to infrastructure, natural resources, and the communities that host visitors.
Major truck manufacturers are suing California to stop enforcement of its stricter emissions standards, citing federal preemption under laws signed by President Trump in June.
Daimler Truck, Paccar, Volvo Group North America, and International Motors filed suit against California regulators and Gov. Gavin Newsom, arguing that California’s heavy-duty vehicle emissions rules are now illegal under federal law.
The lawsuit follows President Trump’s June rollback of Biden-era EPA waivers, which had allowed California to enforce stricter standards under the Clean Air Act; California and ten other states have countersued the administration.
Truck makers claim conflicting state and federal demands are unworkable and say they were given only two years to meet California’s aggressive targets, which they argue violates the required four-year lead time under federal law.
Key quote:
“Plaintiffs are caught in the crossfire: California demands that OEMs follow preempted laws; the United States maintains such laws are illegal and orders OEMs to disregard them.”
— Truck makers’ legal complaint
Why this matters:
Heavy-duty trucks are among the largest contributors to smog-forming pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. California has long used its special authority under the Clean Air Act to push stronger standards, helping drive national improvements in air quality and vehicle technology. The conflict now playing out pits state-level innovation and public health protections against a federal rollback that threatens to slow progress on zero-emissions transportation. If California’s rules are blocked, it could delay the adoption of electric trucks and weaken efforts to reduce pollutants linked to asthma, heart disease, and climate change — especially in communities near ports, highways, and freight corridors already burdened by diesel exhaust.
Climate change is driving a surge in health risks for children and pregnant women, especially in low-income regions, by increasing exposure to extreme heat, air pollution, and malnutrition, according to a new report.
A new review from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine warns that climate change is fueling preterm births, infant and maternal deaths, and birth defects by increasing extreme heat and worsening food insecurity and air pollution.
Exposure to fine particulate matter from fossil fuel combustion and wildfire smoke is linked to 16% of low birth weight cases globally and significantly increases the risk of spontaneous preterm birth and postpartum depression.
In Africa, rising floods and droughts are worsening child mortality and malnutrition, while climate modeling shows that continued emissions could reverse expected improvements in maternal and child health.
Key quote:
"We’re still just beginning to understand the dangers, but the problem is clearly enormous."
— Authors of the report, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Why this matters:
Extreme heat can raise the risk of stillbirth, low birth weight, and developmental complications, while air pollution silently increases the odds of early labor and maternal mental health problems. At the same time, droughts and floods — intensified by a warming planet — threaten food security and clean water access, especially in low-income nations with fragile health systems. These stressors compound in ways that put a billion children at “extremely high risk,” even before birth. As global emissions climb and international aid wavers, many communities face a future where simply bringing a child safely into the world grows more perilous.
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