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Fixing clothes is becoming a quiet, powerful rebellion against fast fashion
A global movement of visible mending is transforming the simple act of repairing clothes into a personal and environmental statement.
In short:
- Groups like the Edinburgh Street Stitchers are embracing public mending as a way to reduce textile waste and spark conversations about overconsumption.
- The fashion industry emits more carbon than aviation and shipping combined; extending a garment’s life by nine months can cut its environmental footprint by up to 30%.
- Once viewed as outdated or elitist, mending is increasingly regarded as a social, inclusive act that fosters community and mental health while resisting fast fashion culture.
Key quote:
“People are becoming more aware that the way we produce is harmful to people and the environment. It’s a smaller, quieter form of activism that I think is really exciting.”
— Sam Bennett, partner with Repair Shop
Why this matters:
From city streets to living rooms, people are sitting down with worn-out jeans and torn sweaters, patching them not with shame, but with intention. Teaching people to repair instead of replace clothing offers a simple, tangible way to protect health and climate while building community in the process. But it’s also personal. Mending becomes meditation. It’s a chance to reclaim a sense of agency, connect with others, and heal in more ways than one.
Read more: I tried to sew a compostable stuffed animal for my friend’s newborn. It did not go well.
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Trump’s first 100 days bring sweeping rollbacks to climate protections and environmental oversight
President Donald Trump has issued dozens of executive orders in his first 100 days, targeting climate policy, energy regulation, and environmental science across the federal government.
In short:
- Trump signed 54 executive orders on his first day back in office, including re-exiting the Paris Agreement and declaring a national energy emergency to boost fossil fuel production.
- The administration dismissed the authors of the National Climate Assessment and established a new agency, the Department of Government Efficiency, which has overseen significant cuts to staffing and funding for federal science agencies.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans for the biggest regulatory rollback in U.S. history, including reversing limits on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.
Key quote:
"It has long been understood that good policy depends on careful analysis and good science, and we're seeing the capacity to deliver that foundation systematically undermined."
— Dan Esty, professor of environmental law and policy, Yale University
Why this matters:
Environmental protections are often built slowly, layer by layer, based on years of scientific research and public input. Undoing those protections can happen much faster, especially through executive orders and budget cuts that bypass Congress. Trump’s second-term push to deregulate climate and energy policy comes as scientists warn that the window to avoid the worst effects of global warming is rapidly closing. The rollback of carbon regulations, suppression of climate science, and weakening of federal oversight on air and water pollution can contribute to increased exposure to harmful pollutants, particularly for vulnerable communities.
These moves could also undermine the U.S.'s credibility in global climate talks, weaken international cooperation, and entrench fossil fuel dependence at a moment when climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and severe. For families, communities, and ecosystems, the health consequences could last well beyond a single administration.
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Trump greenlights deep-sea mining as U.S. companies clash with global law and environmental warnings
President Trump’s executive order jump-started a controversial push for commercial seabed mining, igniting a partisan battle in Congress and drawing international criticism.
In short:
- The Metals Company filed the first U.S. permit application for seabed mining just days after President Trump signed an executive order encouraging the practice in both U.S. and international waters.
- At a congressional hearing, Republicans emphasized the need to reduce mineral dependence on China, while Democrats questioned the business viability and environmental safety of seabed mining.
- The Clarion-Clipperton Zone, where the Metals Company aims to mine, holds massive mineral deposits, but critics warn of unknown ecological impacts and international legal conflicts.
Key quote:
“The industry’s financial models are based on wildly optimistic assumptions and fail to reflect the volatility and reality of global mineral markets.”
— Representative Maxine E. Dexter (D-Oregon)
Why this matters:
Seabed mining targets vast stretches of the ocean floor rich in metals like nickel, cobalt and manganese — key ingredients in modern electronics, renewables, and energy storage. But the deep sea is Earth’s least explored ecosystem, and disturbing it risks harming species that haven’t even been identified. The ocean floor between Hawaii and Mexico, where these mineral-rich nodules lie, is thought to harbor hundreds of unique marine species. Mining could unleash sediment plumes, disrupt life cycles, and alter the food web from the bottom up. International law has long held that these waters are a global commons managed by the International Seabed Authority, but the U.S. is now asserting its own path. With geopolitical tensions around rare earth elements rising — particularly with China’s dominance in refining — industry pressure is building. Yet the potential ecological impacts remain uncertain and possibly irreversible.
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New study drills into Mount Everest glaciers to reveal faster melting patterns
A team of international researchers is drilling deep into Mount Everest’s Western Cwm glaciers to better understand why Himalayan ice is melting faster than climate models predict.
In short:
- Researchers from universities in the UK, Norway, and Sweden are drilling 15-meter boreholes at high altitudes to study how solar radiation may be warming glacial ice from within.
- Earlier studies revealed that Khumbu Glacier ice temperatures are much warmer than expected, suggesting a flaw in current glacial melt predictions.
- The project aims to update climate models to better forecast the future of water supplies for millions living downstream of the Himalayas.
Key quote:
"If the glaciers are warmer than we have been able to understand previously, they will melt faster than currently predicted. So we need to take our observations and incorporate them into future simulations which can indicate how long these glaciers will survive."
— Duncan Quincey, professor at the School of Geography, University of Leeds
Why this matters:
Himalayan glaciers are a crucial water source for nearly two billion people across Asia, feeding rivers like the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus. As the planet warms, these glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, endangering the steady water supplies needed for agriculture, drinking, and sanitation. If glaciers are warmer than previously believed, they could vanish far earlier than forecasts suggest, hastening water shortages and increasing the risk of floods from glacial lakes. This also threatens biodiversity, as freshwater ecosystems depend on consistent glacial flows. Meanwhile, communities already stressed by climate change would face greater hardships. Understanding the precise drivers of glacier melt is essential for preparing for a future where freshwater scarcity could intensify regional conflicts and humanitarian crises.
Read more: Sherpas question safety of Everest villages after floods devastate homes
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Maryland’s conservation streak shows how far a small state can go
Maryland just became the first U.S. state to meet the “30 by 30” conservation goal — six years early — and it's already aiming for 40% by 2040.
In short:
- Maryland has permanently protected nearly 1.9 million acres of land from development, including forests, farms, and coastal areas vital for wildlife, carbon storage, and clean water.
- The state's success is credited to bipartisan cooperation, smart use of real estate tax funds, and coordination among government agencies, nonprofits, and military needs.
- Despite reaching the milestone, a recent $100 million cut to conservation funds due to budget shortfalls may slow progress toward Maryland’s new 40 by 40 goal.
Key quote:
“Being able to sequester carbon and mitigate climate impacts makes us more resilient in the face of climate change.”
— Josh Kurtz, secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Why this matters:
As federal goals falter, states like Maryland show what’s possible when conservation and economic growth work hand in hand. More than preserving pretty places, Maryland's land protections encompass carbon sinks, wildlife habitats, natural water filters, and buffers against the intensifying wrath of climate change. What’s even more unusual is how they got here — not with grandstanding or greenwashing, but with something increasingly rare: bipartisan cooperation.
Read more:
Pollution is one of the top drivers of biodiversity loss. Why is no one talking about it at COP16?
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Federal court orders U.S. to pay North Dakota $28 million over handling of pipeline protest
A federal judge ruled that the U.S. government must pay North Dakota nearly $28 million for mishandling its response to protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016 and 2017, citing negligence by the Army Corps of Engineers.
In short:
- U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor found the federal government at fault for failing to manage land used during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, which led to widespread damage and safety concerns.
- The Corps of Engineers was criticized for not enforcing property rules, issuing a misleading press release about a tribal permit, and allowing conditions that escalated the situation.
- The court awarded North Dakota $28 million in damages, reduced from its initial $38 million claim due to previous grants and donations related to the protests.
Key quote:
“The damages here were caused by tumultuous, unsanitary, and otherwise horrific conditions that caused significant violence to the land and responding law enforcement officers.”
— Judge Daniel Traynor, U.S. District Court
Why this matters:
The Dakota Access Pipeline protest drew global attention to tribal sovereignty, environmental protection, and the militarization of police. At its core was the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s concern over the pipeline’s path beneath Lake Oahe, a vital water source and sacred site. Nearly a decade later, the federal government faces financial penalties for enabling the camps without clear rules or enforcement. This case illustrates the ongoing conflict between large-scale fossil fuel infrastructure and Indigenous rights. The pipeline continues to operate despite unresolved environmental reviews and lawsuits, raising ongoing fears about water contamination and treaty violations.
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Trump’s science cuts could backfire on his own energy agenda
The Trump administration’s push to shrink federal science programs could end up sabotaging its own efforts to fast-track energy and mining projects.
In short:
- Federal agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Geological Survey are losing scientists due to layoffs, retirements, and budget cuts, threatening their ability to conduct the environmental reviews necessary to permit energy projects.
- Experts warn that eliminating research infrastructure not only stalls permitting but may also undermine long-term planning, like in the past when basic permafrost research saved the Alaska pipeline from disaster.
- Morale is collapsing in science agencies, graduate students are leaving the field, and efforts to clear chemical backlogs may compromise research on air, water, and “forever chemicals.”
Key quote:
“There’s nothing to permit if you don’t know what the mineral potential is, or the oil and gas potential.”
— Mary Lou Zoback, former U.S. Geological Survey senior research scientist
Why this matters:
Retirements, political pressure, and plummeting morale are emptying out the ranks of scientists responsible for everything from reviewing the risks of new drilling sites to analyzing the spread of toxic chemicals. Without them, the legally mandated environmental reviews that these projects depend on grind to a halt. It’s like trying to build a pipeline with no engineers — except in this case, it’s also the air, water, and public health at stake.
Read more:
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