11-4: Five quick things for your Saturday

Winter's coming. We all have chores to do. Let's make this simple: Five quick hits to keep you up to date on our environment and health.



Gov't climate report at odds with Trump and his team

Coverage of the federal climate assessment takes Trump to task:

AP's Seth Borenstein:

As President Donald Trump touts new oil pipelines and pledges to revive the nation's struggling coal mines, federal scientists are warning that burning fossil fuels is already driving a steep increase in the United States of heat waves, droughts and floods.

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Drop us a line at feedback@ehn.org ("Attaboys" always welcome).

Three top stories for Saturday

  1. New Jersey sets new PFOA level below Vermont standard. New Jersey last week set its safe drinking water standard for the chemical PFOA at 14 parts per trillion, 30 percent lower than Vermont's standard. (Vermont Public Radio)
  2. Louisville neighborhoods use trees to fend off heart disease. The poets were right all along: Trees are a drug, in ways marvelous and often misunderstood. We underestimate at our peril the powers of a walk in the woods. (USA Today) (thanks to Univ. of Louisville's Alex Carll for pointing us to that story)
  3. Will the bird that dodged a bullet pay the price of peace? "Armed conflict is good for preventing deforestation." (Mike Shanahan, Under the Banyan)

One must-read opinion

As ice shelves crumble and the Twitter president threatens to pull out of the Paris accord, author Jonathan Franzen reflects on the role of the writer in time of crisis (The Guardian)

One beautiful thing

Those are my kids (and dog), at 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday. Eleven inches of snow fell overnight in Bozeman, Montana.

It's ski swap weekend here, and people are already to find a sweet deal on winter gear. I told my kids we weren't moving the car until the driveway was clear.

Amazing how much energy a motivated kid has.

Today's gift in Bozeman is reminder for us all: Get outside and enjoy the weather. It's beautiful out there.

IMF International Monetary Fund logo. 3d illustration
Credit: maxxyustas/BigStock Photo ID: 324871312

‘Can’t make a squeak’: Trump’s fossil fuel push puts IMF, World Bank on defensive

International financial institutions want to help countries achieve goals to move off imported oil and gas. The Trump administration would rather they don't.
climate demonstrator in a crowd wearing cardboard sign on back that reads "listen to the science!")
Credit: Mika Baumeister/Unsplash

Montana youth argue for 9th Circuit court to allow climate change case to proceed

Montana youth argue for 9th Circuit court to allow climate change case, Lighthiser v. Trump, to proceed.

Chemical fire - intense fire and toxic smoke

Chemical threats nearby? Trump’s EPA doesn’t want you to know

Climate change is making the risk of disastrous chemical accidents more likely. But the EPA wants to gut recently enhanced safety requirements for hazardous facilities.
A pair of dolphins leaping out of the water

Greens see chance to protect species in ‘God Squad’ fight

While saying the Trump administration is threatening Gulf of Mexico marine life, some groups see the attention galvanizing support for endangered species.
View of the St Louis skyline and arch

Missouri town fires half its city council over data center deal

Residents of a St. Louis suburb turned out in droves to unseat four incumbents just days after the council approved a development agreement for a $6 billion data center.
A rustic outhouse with a crescent moon in the door

The world ditched wasteful toilets, the US stayed behind

US toilets use far more water than many of their global counterparts. President Donald Trump is pushing to loosen water pressure standards, a move critics say would increase waste.
A person kicking a soccer ball into a goal

The 2026 men’s World Cup could be the dirtiest ever

The sprawling North American tournament could generate 9 million metric tons of climate-warming pollution, a report found.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

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