
21 March 2019
Faeces in the kitchen: South Africans call for better sewage systems
Access to water is a hot topic in South Africa - and a growing number of countries hit by climate change, burgeoning populations and poor governance
US power plants emit so much carbon that, if they were a country, they would rank sixth globally in greenhouse gas emissions — yet the Trump administration plans to end climate regulations for them.
In short:
Key quote:
““All of these harms stack up on top of each other. Climate change will be the most important public health issue this century and we can’t just ignore the US power sector’s contribution to that public health crisis.”
— Jason Schwartz, co-author of the NYU report
Why this matters:
Power plants are among the largest sources of air and climate pollution in the U.S., trailing only transportation. Burning coal and gas for electricity doesn’t just warm the planet — it sends fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and other toxins into the air we breathe. These pollutants increase the risk of heart attacks, asthma, strokes, and premature deaths, especially in communities near power plants. Although carbon dioxide is colorless and odorless, its cumulative effect drives extreme heat, floods, and other climate disruptions. Efforts to roll back existing rules ignore not only environmental science but also public health consequences that stretch across generations. While emissions from the power sector have declined since their 2007 peak, they still play a major role in accelerating climate breakdown and placing added burden on health systems and vulnerable populations.
A pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling could reshape the power of federal judges to block government actions nationwide, potentially altering how future climate and energy programs are challenged in court.
In short:
Key quote:
“There are lots of obstacles that can be put in the way of getting a case approved by a court as a class action. And the solicitor general, when pressed, was very much aware of those [obstacles].— Suzette Malveaux, a law professor at Washington and Lee University
Why this matters:
Universal injunctions have become a powerful check on executive authority, especially on sweeping regulatory and environmental actions. In recent years, they’ve been used to preserve billions in federal climate funding and enforce environmental protections. Restricting these injunctions could make it harder for citizens, states, or organizations to block harmful policies before damage is done — especially in areas like public health, energy infrastructure, or environmental enforcement. With one judge able to affect national policy, the stakes of limiting that authority are high, and the outcome could shift how fast and broadly new rules — sound or not — take effect.
Related: Judge halts Trump administration attempt to block Manhattan congestion toll
The Trump administration plans to weaken regulations that limit mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants, potentially putting vulnerable communities at greater risk.
In short:
Key quote:
“This administration wants to take a wrecking ball to our health protections and they don’t care about the health of the future generations whose developing brains are damaged by this highly toxic pollutant.”
— Matthew Davis, vice president of federal policy at the League of Conservation Voters and former EPA official
Why this matters:
Weakening these standards is a public health threat, especially for communities already suffocating under decades of pollution. This is a full-scale retreat from science-backed policies meant to keep people safe, happening at a time when climate-related disasters are getting deadlier and more expensive.
Read more: Closing coal plants in environmental justice communities first would save more lives
Eighteen more nations signed onto a United Nations treaty to protect biodiversity in international waters, leaving the agreement just 11 ratifications short of taking effect.
In short:
Key quote:
“Until now, it has been the wild west on the high seas. Now we have a chance to properly put protections in place.”
— Megan Randles, global political lead for oceans at Greenpeace
Why this matters:
Nearly half the planet’s surface lies in the high seas — international waters that until now have had no enforceable conservation rules. These waters hold rich ecosystems crucial to planetary health, but they face growing threats from overfishing, climate change, and industrial ambitions like deep-sea mining. Without legal guardrails, fragile marine habitats could suffer irreversible damage. The High Seas Treaty represents a long-awaited step toward global ocean governance, providing a means to designate protected zones and regulate harmful activities. Scientists and advocates stress that achieving the treaty’s goal of protecting 30% of Earth’s oceans by 2030 is essential not only to preserve marine biodiversity but also to maintain the oceans’ role in carbon storage and climate regulation. What happens on the high seas can shape the future health of the entire planet.
Recent news: World leaders to meet in France to confront ocean crisis and push for $100 billion in pledges
Flash floods killed more than 200 people in Valencia last fall, and now Spain is investigating whether delayed emergency alerts and poor crisis leadership contributed to avoidable deaths.
Chico Harlan, Michael Robinson Chávez and Roser Toll Pifarré report for The Washington Post.
In short:
Key quote:
“The problem did not lie in the absence of information — there was more than enough of it, from countless sources, in real time.”
— Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra
Why this matters:
As climate change intensifies storms across Europe, Valencia, long vulnerable to flash flooding, must reckon with how public institutions prepare and respond. This case challenges the assumption that no one is to blame for natural disasters, especially when early warning systems exist and go unused. Human decisions — from emergency staffing to political appointments — can turn a dangerous weather event into a lethal one. The Valencian flood illustrates the deadly consequences of bureaucratic hesitation, political cronyism, and miscommunication in the face of foreseeable risk. The tragedy reveals that public trust, especially during extreme weather, hinges not just on infrastructure but also on leadership that understands when to act — and how fast.
Learn more: Spain's devastating floods reveal gaps in regional preparedness
A punishing heat wave pushed temperatures past 117 degrees Fahrenheit across parts of northern India this week, disrupting daily life and overwhelming the region’s fragile power and health infrastructure.
BiswaJeet Banerjee and Rajesh Roy report for The Associated Press.
In short:
Key quote:
“We are seeing the worst of both heat and humidity. This is no longer just a matter of discomfort. It is becoming a public health emergency.”
— Atul Kumar Singh, senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Lucknow
Why this matters:
Heat waves are growing longer, hotter, and more frequent in India, fueled by climate change and rapid urbanization. These extreme events hit the poorest the hardest — outdoor workers, the elderly, and families in overcrowded housing often lack access to cooling or clean water. Power outages compound the danger, disabling fans, coolers, and health services. As cities like Delhi and Lucknow face both rising temperatures and unreliable infrastructure, the risks to public health become acute. Heat strokes, dehydration, and even death follow when bodies can’t cool down fast enough. While monsoon rains may bring relief in weeks, the expanding heat season signals a deeper crisis for one of the world’s most densely populated regions.
Related: Smartwatches and cool roofs help Indian neighborhoods battle deadly heat
The Biden-era battery recycling boom faces major uncertainty as President Trump rolls back clean energy policies and shakes up trade rules, leaving recyclers navigating a volatile political and economic landscape.
In short:
Key quote:
“Critical minerals are central to creating a resilient energy economy in the U.S., and resource recovery and recycling companies will continue to play an important role in providing another domestic source of these materials.”
— Ajay Kochhar, CEO of the battery recycling firm Li-Cycle
Why this matters:
Lithium-ion battery recycling offers a vital alternative to mining, a process that scars landscapes, pollutes waterways, and often exploits labor. With electric vehicles and renewable energy storage demanding ever more lithium, cobalt, and nickel, recycling old batteries into new ones reduces dependence on geopolitically fraught and environmentally harmful extraction. China has already cornered the battery recycling market with government support, while the U.S. is only just beginning to scale. But the industry’s success hinges on stable policy and trade relationships. If federal support wanes or tariffs disrupt exports, recyclers may not find enough financial ground to stand on. That threatens the broader clean energy supply chain and undermines efforts to transition from fossil fuels.
Read more: Recycling old batteries could ease pressure on mining for clean energy minerals
One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.
“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”
"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”
A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations
“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”
“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.