political influence
UN
Credit: Glynnis Jones/BigStock Photo ID: 120471452
Chemours and DuPont's knowledge of PFAS risks leads to UN intervention
A United Nations human rights panel has spotlighted a North Carolina PFAS plant for its environmental negligence, highlighting the ongoing production of toxic chemicals despite known health risks.
In short:
- The UN panel accuses Chemours and DuPont of continuing PFAS production in North Carolina, ignoring the chemicals' toxic impacts on health and the environment.
- Regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are criticized for being overly influenced by these corporations, undermining efforts to regulate PFAS effectively.
- Despite corporate denials and claims of responsible manufacturing, the UN calls for global action to address the harmful effects of PFAS chemicals on communities worldwide.
Key quote:
“This does need to be a global fight. These are forever chemicals.”
— Emily Donovan, co-founder of Clean Cape Fear
Why this matters:
PFAS, a.k.a. "forever chemicals," persist in our global ecosystem and have had an adverse impact on global health since their inception. Scientists are scrambling for effective solutions to this ubiquitous toxic scourge and we are reminded that "forever" is a long time.
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Newsletter
Oilsands giants lobbied to weaken emissions cap
Through the Pathways Alliance, an organization of some of Canada’s largest oil producers, high-level bureaucrats were asked for long lead times and a ‘flexible, non-regulatory approach’ to usher in a limit on the sector’s air pollution. Carl Meyer writes for The Narwhal.
In a nutshell:
In a strategy that we've seen play out all too often, yet another unholy alliance has arisen to carry the banner of fossil fuels forever. The Pathways Alliance, a consortium of Canadian oil giants, employed multiple proxies and personas to spin a net-zero fantasy to the public, while angling for favors and muscling aside opposition on the political front. Six major oil companies joined forces, seeking to stall, obfuscate or outright eliminate meaningful climate action.
Key quote:
“They’re clearly pursuing slower, weaker emissions caps as part of what I see as a more general trend towards climate delay in the sector, and even globally,” said Chris Russill, an associate professor and academic director at Re.Climate, an environmental communications center at Carleton University.
Big picture:
Formed in 2021, The Pathways Alliance moved quickly to put their stamp on Canadian climate policy. The organization has advanced an energy agenda recommending a flexible approach to emissions caps defined by loose regulations and a long, slow walk into a carbon-free future built on promises so fanciful that they triggered a deceptive marketing investigation. The centerpiece of the Pathways plan to decarbonize is of carbon capture and storage, which the group admits must rely on considerable government support to fund the unproven technology and clear the regulatory runway. Critics are quick to point out that eliminating emissions from oil and gas production won't address the 80% of greenhouse gas emissions associated with burning oil and gas.
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Oilsands giants lobbied to weaken emissions cap
Through the Pathways Alliance, an organization of some of Canada’s largest oil producers, high-level bureaucrats were asked for long lead times and a ‘flexible, non-regulatory approach’ to usher in a limit on the sector’s air pollution.
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