Flaw in Montreal Protocol allows U.S. facilities to pollute

Maxine Joselow reports for The Washington Post about a loophole in the Montreal Protocol that has led U.S. factories to emit gases that damage the ozone layer and contribute to climate change.

In a nutshell:

Despite the success of the Montreal Protocol in phasing out gases that damage the ozone layer, an exemption in the treaty has allowed U.S. factories to release ozone-depleting and climate-warming fluorinated gases, or F-gases. Using infrared technology, the Environmental Investigation Agency detected such emissions from facilities in Texas and Louisiana. The report reveals that although certain types of F-gases have been banned, their continued use in chemical production remains a significant concern, especially as international negotiators convene to evaluate the treaty's implementation.

Key quote:

"We’re not saying that all F-gases should disappear tomorrow,” said Avipsa Mahapatra, climate campaign lead at the EIA, told The Post. “What we’re saying is that F-gases should be limited to essential uses, and the companies that produce them should be able to control unnecessary emissions, which come at a massive cost to our ozone layer and our climate.”

The big picture:

Exposure to heightened levels of ultraviolet radiation, resulting from a depleted ozone layer, can lead to increased incidences of skin cancers and cataracts in humans. Prolonged exposure to UV rays also weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infectious diseases. The global warming impact of F-gases exacerbates extreme weather events, which bear direct and indirect health risks, including heat-related illnesses, respiratory issues, and vector-borne diseases.

Read the article at the The Washington Post.

Learn more about the Montreal Protocol in Peter Dykstra's piece for EHN, "A global I-told-you-so."

www.washingtonpost.com

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.

a bridge that is lit up at night with wave breaking on a nearby lake shore in foreground.

Credit: Brad Switzer/Unsplash

Tribes exit pipeline negotiations in Michigan over lack of consultation

Seven Indigenous nations in Michigan have walked away from federal talks over a proposed oil pipeline tunnel, citing a lack of meaningful engagement and treaty violations.

Izzy Ross reports for Grist and Interlochen Public Radio.

In short:

The tribes oppose Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project, which would replace part of a 72-year-old pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac, a critical freshwater corridor between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Their withdrawal follows the Army Corps of Engineers’ move to fast-track permitting under President Trump’s energy emergency order, which tribes say dismisses their environmental and legal concerns.
Tribal leaders and legal advocates argue that the project threatens water resources and violates both U.S. treaty obligations and international law requiring Indigenous consent.

Key quote:

“Tribal Nations are no longer willing to expend their time and resources as Cooperating Agencies just so their participation may be used by the Corps to lend credibility to a flawed [Environmental Impact Statement] process and document.”

— Letter from seven Indigenous nations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Why this matters:

Buried beneath the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron converge, Line 5 has become a flashpoint in the battle over fossil fuel infrastructure, Indigenous sovereignty, and environmental protection. The aging oil and gas pipeline — operated by Canadian energy giant Enbridge — moves millions of gallons of crude and natural gas liquids daily through a region that holds 20% of the planet’s surface freshwater. A proposed tunnel to house a replacement segment beneath the lakebed has drawn fierce opposition from tribal nations, who warn it risks catastrophic spills and continued desecration of sacred territory.

Read the Full Article on

grist.org

Flaw in Montreal Protocol allows U.S. facilities to pollute

Global economic losses from climate change may be far worse than predicted, new study warns

Urban wildfires may expose firefighters to toxic metals like lead and mercury

Texas water fight pits growing cities against each other over groundwater exports

Tribes exit pipeline negotiations in Michigan over lack of consultation

Dow seeks to replace fossil fuels with nuclear reactors at Texas plastics plant

DOE drops solar focus in revamp of student building competition

Offshore wind turbines may offer new habitat for key fish species

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.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

Op-ed: Toxic prisons teach us that environmental justice needs abolition

Prisons, jails and detention centers are placed in locations where environmental hazards such as toxic landfills, floods and extreme heat are the norm.

LISTEN: Reflections on the first five years of the Agents of Change program

The leadership team talks about what they’ve learned — and what lies ahead.