Most climate disaster deaths in Pakistan go uncounted as heat and floods strain health care
A new Amnesty International report reveals that the majority of climate-related deaths in Pakistan are not recorded, obscuring the full human toll as extreme weather events worsen and overwhelm the country's fragile health system.
In short:
- Pakistan’s health system, already stretched thin, is unable to track the true number of deaths caused by climate disasters such as floods and extreme heat.
- Most deaths occur after the initial disaster, often due to disease or lack of access to health care, yet they are rarely classified as climate-related or recorded at all.
- The report criticizes both Pakistan’s government and wealthier, high-emitting countries for inadequate responses and support amid escalating climate health crises.
Key quote:
“You’re only getting a tiny piece of the picture of who’s dying.”
— Laura Mills, Amnesty International
Why this matters:
What's happening in Pakistan reflects a larger global crisis: the failure to measure and address the true human cost of climate change. With over 95% of deaths in Pakistan going unregistered, the lack of data hinders both disaster response and public health planning. Poor and marginalized populations — children, the elderly, people with disabilities — are often the most vulnerable and the least likely to have their deaths recorded or linked to climate impacts. As floods and heat waves increase in frequency and intensity, they amplify risks of disease, malnutrition, and displacement, deepening poverty and health inequities. Wealthier nations, while historically the biggest polluters, are retreating from international aid and climate commitments, leaving frontline countries like Pakistan to bear disproportionate burdens.
Related: Extreme heat arrives weeks early in India and Pakistan as climate change accelerates
Energy Star program faces shutdown as EPA reorganizes under Trump administration
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to eliminate the Energy Star program and other climate initiatives as part of a major agency reorganization, according to internal documents and recordings.
Lisa Friedman and Rebecca F. Elliott report for The New York Times.
In short:
- EPA managers announced that climate change and energy efficiency divisions, including Energy Star, would be shut down, affecting programs that have saved $500 billion in energy costs and prevented four billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions since 1992.
- The restructuring aligns with President Trump’s previous attempts to defund Energy Star, despite widespread consumer recognition and bipartisan support for the program’s role in promoting energy efficient appliances.
- Industry groups and environmental advocates warn that eliminating Energy Star undermines efforts to reduce household energy costs and meet rising electricity demand projected through 2040.
Key quote:
“Eliminating the Energy Star program is counterintuitive to this administration’s pledge to reduce household costs.”
— Paula R. Glover, president of the Alliance to Save Energy
Why this matters:
Energy Star has long been a key part of U.S. efforts to promote energy efficiency, offering consumers a simple way to identify appliances and products that conserve energy and lower utility bills. Its potential elimination reflects a broader rollback of federal climate initiatives under the current administration. The program not only helps consumers save money but also plays a significant role in reducing environmental pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. As demand for electricity is expected to surge in the coming decades, sidelining efficiency programs like Energy Star could increase reliance on fossil fuels, exacerbate air pollution, and place greater financial burdens on households. The move also raises concerns about the privatization of energy standards, which could erode quality and accountability.
Learn more: Trump administration rolls back energy-saving rules for appliances, citing consumer choice
Political shifts stall $8 billion in clean energy projects as U.S. renewables boom
The U.S. clean energy sector has grown dramatically, but policy uncertainty under President Trump has already led to the cancellation or downsizing of nearly $8 billion in renewable projects this year.
In short:
- Solar, wind, and geothermal power production in the United States has more than tripled over the past decade, cutting emissions and reducing power plant pollution.
- Republican-led states in the South have seen some of the largest increases in renewable energy growth, though overall production still varies widely.
- A wave of project cancellations totaling $7.9 billion has been linked to political uncertainty and possible repeal of clean energy tax credits, despite continued market demand.
Key quote:
“Clean energy companies still want to invest in America, but uncertainty over Trump administration policies and the future of critical clean energy tax credits are taking a clear toll.”
— Michael Timberlake, E2 spokesman
Why this matters:
The dramatic expansion of renewable energy in the U.S. has been an important countermeasure against climate change, slashing emissions and diversifying the nation’s energy portfolio. But as tax credits and federal support waver under the Trump administration, investors are pulling back. The cancellation of billions in clean energy projects threatens jobs, infrastructure progress and the health gains achieved by reducing fossil fuel dependence. The growth of renewables has also been a rare area of bipartisan advancement, particularly in traditionally conservative states, where local economies and public health have begun to benefit from cleaner, more resilient energy systems. Policy instability now jeopardizes this momentum, raising concerns about the long-term trajectory of the U.S. energy transition amid escalating climate risks.
Related: House Republicans push sweeping fossil fuel expansion in budget bill
Despite Pope Francis' call for divestment a decade ago, Catholic institutions have made uneven progress
Ten years after Pope Francis urged Catholic institutions to move away from fossil fuel investments, only a fraction have fully divested, with many still prioritizing profit or opting for shareholder engagement.
In short:
- The Vatican’s 2015 Laudato Si’ encyclical and later recommendations spurred 1,600 institutions globally — 384 of them Catholic — to pledge fossil fuel divestment, though full transparency and completion remain elusive.
- Germany’s Bank für Kirche und Caritas (BKC) and Pax-Bank have made significant though incomplete strides toward divestment, favoring sustainable investments and green bonds.
- Some Catholic groups prefer influencing fossil fuel companies through shareholder engagement, but recent research shows most oil and gas firms continue expanding fossil fuel development.
Key quote:
"In short, the reason many continue to invest in fossil fuel companies is profit."
— Tommy Piemonte, head of sustainable investment research at BKC
Why this matters:
The fossil fuel divestment movement reflects a growing recognition of the financial and moral risks of continued investment in industries driving climate change. While faith-based institutions like those in the Catholic Church wield substantial economic and moral influence, their varied responses highlight the complexity of shifting global capital away from fossil fuels. As oil and gas companies persist in expanding exploration and drilling, even amid escalating climate impacts, the effectiveness of divestment versus shareholder engagement remains hotly debated.
Read more: Pope Francis made climate change a moral crisis. Following his death, the world needs a new voice
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals
HOUSTON — Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have previously violated the pollution limits in their permits have recently applied for new federal operating permits or renewals.
These facilities include the Chevron Pasadena Refining facility, the LyondellBasell Houston refinery, and the Chevron Phillips Chemical Sweeny Complex in Brazoria County, all of which are seeking renewed Title V permits.
Title V air permits are required for facilities that are considered major sources of air pollution by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In general, a facility is considered a major source when it emits more than 100 tons of most pollutants or more than 10 tons of hazardous air pollutants, which are known to cause cancer or serious health effects, each year.
There are 1,455 Title V facilities in Texas, according to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) spokesperson Victoria Cann. This represents more than 10% of all Title V facilities in the U.S., according to data from 2020, which puts the national total of Title V facilities at 12,726. There are currently 88 facilities seeking new or renewed Title V permits in Texas, according to TCEQ.
Chevron’s Pasadena refining facility
Chevron is seeking a renewal of their Title V operating permit for the company’s Pasadena refining facility.
The facility violated the Clean Air Act in eight of the past 12 quarters and violated the Clean Water Act in seven of the past 12 quarters, including elevated effluent water discharges of benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes at levels up to 520% as high as the legal limit, according to the EPA’s compliance database. Benzene has been linked to a number of health problems, including an increased cancer risk and cell disruption. Ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes have been linked to short-term impacts like headaches, dizziness, and fatigue, and long-term problems like memory, vision, and hearing loss.
Houston area residents recently gathered to attend a hearing on Chevron’s Pasadena Title V permit renewal. Some attendees shared support for renewing the permit, citing economic and community donations, while others shared concerns about health impacts from the refinery’s operations.
Inyang Uwak, an environmental epidemiologist and research and policy director at the environmental group Air Alliance Houston, said the refinery’s benzene fenceline monitoring levels have been above the EPA action level since April of last year.
While exceeding the action level is not a violation in itself, it does require the refinery to determine a “root cause analysis and take corrective action.” In the past two years, Chevron Pasadena Refinery has exceeded the EPA action level for benzene 18 times.
“I know benzene can be very scary,” Chevron Pasadena Refinery’s environmental manager Steph Seewald said at the hearing, stating that the new data for the first quarter of 2025 should be available soon, and is “trending downward.” Federal data to confirm this is not yet available at the time of publication.
Pasadena Refining’s general manager Tifanie Steele said that since Chevron purchased the refinery six years ago from Petrobras, the facility has made “several improvements” and cited decreases in overall emissions by “investing time and money into improving compliance.”
LyondellBasell’s Houston refinery
LyondellBasell's Title V permit hearing for its Houston-area refinery is scheduled for May 6, 2025, despite an announcement that this facility will soon close.
Violations in the last three years at this facility, according to EPA data, include one quarter violating the Clean Air Act, four quarters violating the Clean Water Act and three quarters violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which governs the disposal of solid, hazardous waste.
The future of the facility remains unclear, but the company stated it plans to start operations of “circular projects” in 2025. Residents and environmental groups like Air Alliance Houston say they hope this hearing will provide clarity about the company’s future in Houston.
Chevron Phillips Chemical’s manufacturing facilities in Brazoria County
Chevron Phillips Chemical’s second largest manufacturing facility in Brazoria County, which spans across three sites, is also seeking a renewal of their federal operating permit.
According the the EPA, the Chevron Phillips Chemical Sweeny Complex has violated its permits numerous times during the past three years: for one quarter it violated the Clean Air Act, for seven quarters it violated the Clean Water Act, for six quarters it violated the Safe Drinking Water Act, and for five quarters it violated the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
The Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area is home to one of the nation’s largest concentrations of petrochemical facilities, accounting for nearly 42% of the nation’s supply. The dense population of petrochemical facilities creates concern about cumulative impacts for communities that live in these regions, which recent studies suggest are often underestimated.
In order to keep community members in the Greater Houston area informed, Air Alliance Houston told Environmental Health News that they maintain a database called AirMail to alert residents of upcoming public meetings regarding permits. The TCEQ has made attempts in the past five years to increase public participation in meetings through avenues like increasing language accessibility, but participation is still lacking.
“Similar to voting, [attending public meetings] is your opportunity to have a voice,” Air Alliance representative Cassandra Cassados Klein told EHN. “We know that civic engagement is a great tool in protecting our air quality.”
17 states sue Trump administration over blocked wind energy development
Seventeen Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., are suing the Trump administration for halting wind energy projects on public lands and waters, citing harm to energy diversification efforts.
In short:
- President Trump’s first-day executive order barred new offshore wind auctions and blocked rights for wind projects on public lands.
- Federal agencies have since stopped approving wind energy projects and even ordered an approved wind farm to halt construction.
- The lawsuit claims these actions hinder states' access to diversified, affordable energy amid rising electricity demand.
Why this matters:
Wind energy has become a vital component of the United States’ shift toward cleaner, renewable power sources, offering a carbon-free alternative to fossil fuels that drive climate change. By blocking wind projects, the administration’s policies not only stymie innovation but also jeopardize states' goals to diversify energy supplies and improve grid reliability. This comes as energy demand rises and extreme weather events, often worsened by climate change, strain existing infrastructure. Wind farms also represent economic opportunities for rural communities and public coffers through lease revenues. Additionally, slowing renewable energy development undermines efforts to reduce air pollution, improve public health, and meet international climate commitments.
Read more: Trump administration halts offshore wind project already under construction in New York
EPA plans to dismantle key offices overseeing climate and air pollution regulation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will dissolve two main offices responsible for regulating greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, signaling a broad retreat from federal climate oversight.
In short:
- The EPA will eliminate the Office of Atmospheric Protection and the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, moving some remaining duties to two new offices within the Office of Air and Radiation.
- Many programs, including the greenhouse gas reporting system and the annual emissions inventory, are likely to be discontinued unless legally mandated by Congress.
- The Office of Research and Development, which employs over 1,500 staff focused on science and research, will also be shut down unless Congress intervenes.
Key quote:
“This kind of information is just vital for us to understand where the heat-trapping emissions are coming from and how that’s changing over time. There’s no reason to get rid of it, except to try to bury the evidence.”
— Rachel Cleetus, senior policy director, Union of Concerned Scientists
Why this matters:
The dismantling of these EPA offices reflects a major shift in U.S. climate policy, one with deep implications for public health, environmental transparency and global climate commitments. Federal data collection on greenhouse gas emissions has long served as the backbone for state and local governments, businesses, and scientists striving to understand and combat air pollution and climate change. Without reliable federal tracking and reporting, policymakers and researchers may face serious blind spots in addressing emissions trends. This move could also limit the public's ability to hold polluters accountable. Additionally, the phase-out of research and development functions threatens progress in environmental science and innovation.
For more: EPA moves to cancel nearly 800 climate justice grants issued under Biden
Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities
“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”
Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study
"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”
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
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.