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.

Our new look and feedback

Two weeks into our new look, and we continue to refine and adjust it. Like it? Loathe it? Let us know how we can better serve you.

It's time to be loud: We deliver news that drives the discussion on environmental health and climate change.

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.

Three Chinese scientists scrutinizing six test tubes of blue liquid

China is the new science power: how will Europe respond?

China is taking the lead in international science: A new study shows how China overtakes the US in key areas of research and increasingly dominates the agenda. What does this mean for Europe?
Scientist examines the result of a plaque assay, which is a test that allows scientists to count how many flu virus particles (virions) are in a mixture.
Credit: Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Insiders warn how dismantling federal agencies could put science at risk

From NASA to the National Institutes of Health, federal agencies conduct research that universities cannot. Agency scientists speak out about the irreplaceable facilities, institutional knowledge and training opportunities that the country is losing.
A bobblehead of President Donald Trump on the floor of the Arizona House of Representatives

‘Trump is against humankind’: World leaders at climate summit take swipes at absent president

Some of Thursday's speeches reflected anger and dismay at U.S. policies but could not hide the ambivalence that many countries feel about this year's climate talks.
Large crowd gathered at the Place de la République, Paris, France for climate protest
Credit: Photo by Jean-Baptiste D. on Unsplash

10 years after the Paris Climate Agreement, here's where we are

Has anything really changed in the decade since the Paris Agreement was reached? Actually, quite a lot.
A 3D illustration of a bar chart with orange and blue bars

Planet in peril: 30 years of climate talks in six charts

As leaders gather for the U.N. climate summit in Brazil this month - three decades after the world's first annual climate conference - the data charting progress in the fight against global warming tells a sobering story.
Huge solar array in Dunhuang, China
Credit: Photo by ダモ リ on Unsplash

China, world’s top carbon polluter, likely to overdeliver on climate goals. Will that be enough?

Experts say China is likely to exceed its modest climate goals, but question if it will be enough to help the world curb warming.
Abigail Spansberger speaking at TEDx MidAtlantic
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tedxmidatlantic/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

Elections set up national battleground over electricity

Republicans got hammered in Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, but Democrats still need to find their message on energy policy.
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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