carbon capture biden pollution toxics
Big Stock Photo

'Down your throat': Biden pushes CCS on polluted places

Jean Chemnick reports for E&E News that the Biden administration is counting carbon capture as part of its promised funding for disadvantaged communities. But they don't want it.


In a nutshell:

Environmental justice advocates have expressed concerns about the implementation of carbon capture infrastructure in marginalized communities. Despite worries about potential risks such as pipeline bursts, storage leaks and prolonged use of fossil fuel power plants, the Biden administration has tied carbon capture to environmental justice goals. This move has sparked controversy, as some argue that the technology could inadvertently support the fossil fuel industry that has historically impacted disadvantaged areas. While carbon capture is supported by scientific research to address emissions, activists are urging for more careful consideration of its potential implications for the health of communities burdened with environmental injustices.

Key quote:

“The vibe that we’ve been getting now for a while is like, this is happening. It’s happening whether you like it or not,” said Irene Burga Márquez, climate justice and clean air program director for GreenLatinos. “Which is not a great starting point. It feels like there’s no room for discussion or flexibility. It’s more like, we’re forcing something down your throat with, like, some sugar.”

The big picture:

Industrial carbon management, such as carbon capture and storage, holds the promise of addressing carbon emissions and climate change. However, the health implications of these technologies deserve scrutiny. The process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide, often involving pipelines and underground facilities, can potentially pose risks to nearby communities, including air and water pollution. As policymakers push for cleaner energy solutions, environmental justice advocates want to ensure that the benefits of industrial carbon management do not come at the expense of public health, particularly in communities that have historically borne the brunt of environmental pollution.

Read the article at E&E News.

Find out more: In 2021, Douglas Fischer reported for EHN that more than 500 environmental and community groups called on United States and Canadian leaders to abandon efforts to capture carbon emissions from fossil fuels and work harder to curb fossil fuel use in the first place.

Meanwhile, Seth Mullendore argues that those holding up carbon capture and hydrogen as new climate solutions are leading us down the wrong path.

Image of Wind turbines, solar panels, and fossil fuel power plants.
Credit: jaroslavav/ BigStock Photo ID: 83377346

How China raced ahead on clean energy while America clung to oil

Even as the climate crisis intensifies, China and the U.S. are charting wildly different energy paths — one doubling down on clean tech, the other on fossil fuels.

David Gelles, Somini Sengupta, Keith Bradsher, and Brad Plumer report from four continents for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
Dakota Access Pipeline protesters hold signs  and raise fists.

Greenpeace faces ruin after oil giant wins lawsuit rewriting Standing Rock history

The company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) convinced a North Dakota jury to blame Greenpeace for protests led by Indigenous activists — and now the nonprofit faces a $666 million penalty.

Episode one of SLAPP’d, a multipart podcast focusing on the Greenpeace/DAPL trial.

Alleen Brown reports for Drilled.

Keep reading...Show less
Image of Wind turbines, solar panels, and power plant towers.
Credit: jaroslavav/ BigStock Photo ID: 83377346

Senate passes ​GOP budget bill, hampering US shift to clean energy

A Senate-approved Republican budget bill would gut core parts of the 2022 climate law, stalling clean energy growth and likely raising Americans’ utility bills. The bill now goes to the House for final approval.

Matthew Daly reports for the Associated Press.

Keep reading...Show less
Person holding No Nature No Future signage during a demonstration.

World leaders stall as Cop30 looms and climate pledges remain unfinished

With just four months until the United Nations climate summit in Brazil, most countries have yet to submit updated emissions plans, threatening the world’s ability to stay below the 1.5C warming threshold.

Fiona Harvey reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
Saudi Aramco flag with a skyscraper in background.

Saudi oil official’s role in climate science report raises conflict of interest concerns

A longtime Saudi Aramco employee’s nomination to help lead a major United Nations climate report has sparked fresh questions about fossil fuel influence inside the world’s top climate science body.

Karl Mathiesen reports for POLITICO.

Keep reading...Show less
four people on ice near icebergs during daytime.

Ocean salinity shifts are melting Antarctic sea ice faster, scientists find

Rising salt levels near Antarctica are altering ocean dynamics, drawing up warm water and accelerating sea ice loss, new satellite data reveal.

Sachi Kitajima Mulkey reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
Two soccer players collide mid-air as the ball bounces off one of their heads.

Vermont soccer club kicks toward a cleaner future

In Burlington, Vermont, a scrappy amateur soccer team is drawing crowds and taking climate action one game at a time.

Cara Buckley reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
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.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.