The comfortable life Ana Morazan built from years of hard work and sacrifice disappeared in a span of two weeks when she became part of the estimated 1.7 million people displaced by the hurricanes Eta and Iota that pummeled Honduras and Guatemala in November 2020.
A rightwing think tank tied to Leonard Leo is accusing a nonprofit’s climate change seminars for judges of unfairly influencing the judiciary to favor climate lawsuits.
In short:
Key quote:
"ELI’s seminars are giving judges the ABCs of climate change, which is a complicated subject that they ought to know about."
— Kert Davies, director of special investigations at the Center for Climate Integrity
Why this matters:
Climate-related litigation could hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in the climate crisis. Efforts to educate judges about climate science may be key to ensuring fair and informed legal outcomes in these cases.
Related: After Supreme Court ruling, judges take the lead on environmental regulation
More than 20 scientists expressed frustration with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization for not correcting errors in a livestock emissions report, which two cited academics say underestimates the impact of dietary changes on greenhouse gas reduction.
In short:
Key quote:
"Our concerns have barely been acknowledged, let alone seriously engaged with. It’s been like hitting a brick wall."
— Paul Behrens, Leiden University
Why this matters:
Livestock contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, and misleading data can delay urgent shifts needed to combat climate change. Accurate reporting is critical to guide policy and public behavior.
Related coverage:
As the U.S. seeks more domestic sources of electric vehicle battery metals, geologists are exploring Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Minnesota for nickel deposits.
In short:
Key quote:
“Exploration is opening Pandora’s box. Once it’s open, it gets harder and harder to close the lid.”
— John Coleman, environmental scientist with Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
Why this matters:
As demand for electric vehicle batteries grows, finding domestic nickel sources becomes increasingly urgent for energy security. However, this exploration may affect Indigenous lands and ecosystems, raising concerns about long-term environmental impacts and human rights.
Scientists are grappling with replanting forests after wildfires, struggling to find solutions as climate change, seed shortages and resource gaps widen.
Tammy Webber, Brittany Peterson and Camille Fassett report for The Associated Press.
In short:
Key quote:
“Trees live for hundreds of years so we need to be thinking about what’s right as we plant trees today. Are we putting the right species and densities on the landscape given what the next 100, 200 and 300 years will look like?”
— Matthew Hurteau, forest ecologist at the University of New Mexico
Why this matters:
As wildfires increase in size and intensity, forests that supply water, regulate climate and support biodiversity may disappear, converting to grasslands and shrublands if replanting efforts fail.
Related EHN coverage:
More than 190 people have died in Nepal following severe flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains, with rescue and recovery operations accelerating as weather improves.
In short:
Why this matters:
Natural disasters like this flooding underscore the vulnerability of mountainous and low-lying regions to extreme weather. With rising climate volatility, the risks of such catastrophes may increase, straining local resources and communities.
Related: Climate change poses a growing threat to Kathmandu's air quality
Britain is closing its final coal-fired power station, marking the end of over 200 years of reliance on coal to power its economy.
In short:
Key quote:
“This will be the end. This has been a personal journey for me, as well as a national journey.”
— Peter O'Grady, plant manager
Why this matters:
Britain’s coal phase-out shows how rapidly energy transitions can occur, with other major economies set to follow. The shift reflects broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change on a global scale.
Learn more about the health effects of coal energy: Want healthier babies? Shut down coal plants
Experts warn that bottled water, often marketed as safer than tap, exposes users to harmful chemicals and contributes heavily to plastic pollution.
In short:
Key quote:
“The widespread use of bottled water contributes significantly to pollution; it exposes people to potentially harmful contaminants and also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.”
— Amit Abraham, lead author
Why this matters:
Plastic pollution from bottled water harms ecosystems and disproportionately affects low-income communities. Reducing bottled water use could improve public health and lessen environmental damage.
Related:
“Coalitions become this interesting way to create buy-in.”
A plastics treaty for the climate and health must address overproduction of plastics and head off the petrochemical and plastic industry’s planned expansion.
Last year Pennsylvania Department of Health studies showed increased risk of childhood cancer, asthma and low birth weights for people living near fracking. Advocates say not enough has been done since.
“Women, in all of their diversity, must be at the center of climate and energy decision-making.”
The discourse on climate resilience must include affordable housing policy solutions.
“Pennsylvania steel communities have lived with dangerous air quality for generations. That needs to end.”
