coal power energy emissions pollution
Image by Benita Welter from Pixabay

EPA overrules Texas plan to reduce haze from air pollution at national parks

Inside Climate News reporter Martha Pskowski writes that critics call the state’s plan, which rejected a request to cut sulfur emissions at coal plants, a “do nothing” strategy. The EPA now wants six power plants to slash emissions by 80,000 tons.

In a nutshell:

Environmental groups, led by the National Parks Conservation Association, are urging state and federal regulators to address air pollution at national parks through the EPA's Regional Haze Rule. While Texas submitted an initial plan, it was deemed inadequate by the EPA, leading to proposed strategies including emission reductions from major coal plants. The debate continues over reducing pollution and protecting iconic parks in Texas, such as Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend.

Key quote:

“Everyone tells you to go outside and get some fresh air,” says Cristina Ramirez, a participant in the Texas Young Leaders Advocacy Council. “But what happens when the places that you’re supposed to get outside are not really safe from the effects of air pollution?”

The big picture:

The burning of coal releases harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter into the air, which can lead to respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis. These pollutants also contribute to the formation of smog and haze, reducing visibility and exacerbating respiratory issues. In addition, coal-fired power plants emit toxic heavy metals like mercury, which can contaminate water bodies and enter the food chain, posing risks to neurological development and overall health.

Read the article at Inside Climate News.

Brian Bienkowski notes that swapping out coal energy for solar would prevent 52,000 premature deaths in the United States every year.

environmental justice

LISTEN: Robbie Parks on why hurricanes are getting deadlier

"In places where there are high minority populations they bear, by far, the most burden of deaths from tropical cyclones."

Dr. Robbie Parks joins the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice podcast for a bonus episode to discuss how hurricanes have become deadlier in recent years and how we can better protect vulnerable communities.

Keep reading...Show less
Senator Whitehouse & climate change

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.
ocean acidification climate impacts
Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

Ocean acidification set to triple by 2100—what this means for the US coast

The acidification of the Earth's oceans is expected to triple by 2100, and could lead to major impacts on biodiversity across U.S. coastlines.

Are we voting with our wallets to overheat the planet?

Surveys of Canadians have repeatedly shown that a majority would choose to prevent the bad things caused by climate change. Politicians think we won't make sacrifices. Maybe we won't have to.
north sea oil caroline lucas
Image by wasi1370 from Pixabay

Caroline Lucas: The Tories’ huge new oilfield is a moral obscenity – but Rosebank can still be stopped

Reliance on oil won’t slash our bills: this is a climate crime that will leave our economy more vulnerable.

climate cafe mental health
Photo by Compare Fibre on Unsplash

Climate change is hurting our mental health. How ‘climate cafes' can help

Similar to grief circles or other types of peer-support groups, these informal gatherings help people work through the emotional distress of living in a climate emergency.
night harvest extreme heat farming
Big Stock Photo

As extreme heat blasts farms, can night harvesting be a solution?

Farmworkers are at high risk from scorching daytime temperatures. Harvesting at night can help to keep them cool, but poses different safety and well-being risks.
From our Newsroom
children nature

Opinion: When kids feel the magic of nature, they will want to protect it

Improving our quality of life starts with the simple of act of getting kids outdoors.

birds climate change

In the Gulf of Maine, scientists race to save seabirds threatened by climate change

“I could see that, if successful, the methods developed could likely help these species."

fracking economics

Appalachia’s fracking counties are shedding jobs and residents: Study

The 22 counties that produce 90% of Appalachian natural gas lost a combined 10,339 jobs between 2008 and 2021.

Marathon Petroleum y una ciudad de Texas muestran una  potencial crisis de comunicaciones sobre sustancias químicas

Marathon Petroleum y una ciudad de Texas muestran una potencial crisis de comunicaciones sobre sustancias químicas

En los últimos tres años, Marathon ha violado repetidamente la ley de Aire Limpio y tuvo tres emergencias en el semestre de febrero a julio de 2023.

WATCH: How Marathon Petroleum and one Texas city show the potential for a chemical communication crisis

WATCH: How Marathon Petroleum and one Texas city show the potential for a chemical communication crisis

Marathon in Texas City has repeatedly violated the Clean Air Act and had three emergencies in the span of a six month period.

air pollution heart attack

ER visits for heart problems plummeted after Pittsburgh coal processor shut down

Levels of one highly-toxic pollutant fell by 90% and ER visits for heart problems decreased by 42% immediately after the shutdown.

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