Blue and white Volkswagen logo.

Volkswagen executives convicted in emissions fraud as fallout from diesel scandal continues

A German court convicted four former Volkswagen executives for their roles in a years-long scheme to cheat diesel emissions tests, marking a key moment in the carmaker’s reckoning with its $30 billion pollution scandal.

Jack Ewing and Tatiana Firsova report for The New York Times.


In short:

  • A Braunschweig court found the former VW managers guilty of "particularly serious" fraud for concealing software that manipulated emissions during testing. Two received prison sentences, two others received suspended terms.
  • The manipulated software helped vehicles meet regulatory standards only during testing, while emitting significantly higher pollution under normal driving conditions.
  • The scandal undermined public trust in diesel vehicles, collapsing their market share in Europe and accelerating the shift to electric vehicles.

Key quote:

The scandal was the product of “a system based on fear and obedience created by authoritarian leaders.”

— Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, director of the Center Automotive Research in Bochum, Germany

Why this matters:

The Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal is more than a story about corporate deception. It exposed deep flaws in how environmental regulations are enforced and how easily they can be evaded. The vehicles in question emitted nitrogen oxides at levels many times higher than legal limits, contributing to air pollution that has been linked to respiratory problems, heart disease, and premature death. Millions of people, particularly in urban areas, breathed dirtier air because of decisions made in VW’s engineering departments. The fallout prompted tighter testing standards globally and helped spur a shift away from diesel engines, once promoted as a cleaner alternative to gasoline. In their place, electric vehicles are gaining ground. But the case also raises questions about accountability, as many higher-ranking executives have avoided trial.

Related: A German town's leap into the electric vehicle era

A colorful variety of national flags hanging from a ceiling.

Trump administration eliminates U.S. climate diplomacy office amid State Department cuts

The State Department has fired its last remaining climate policy staffers, ending U.S. participation in international climate negotiations as part of a sweeping agency reorganization.

Jake Spring reports for The Washington Post.

Keep reading...Show less
A car driving through a flooded street with trees in background.

Texas flood response prompts scrutiny of FEMA delays and leadership

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the Federal Emergency Management Agency's handling of deadly floods in Texas amid criticism over delayed contract renewals and a policy requiring her approval for large agency expenditures.

Gregory Svirnovskiy reports for POLITICO.

Keep reading...Show less
A person's legs with their feet standing in water.

Trump’s FEMA cuts leave flood-prone communities without early warning systems

President Trump’s administration has scaled back major Federal Emergency Management Agency programs aimed at flood prevention and disaster resilience, forcing many flood-prone communities to cancel or delay critical infrastructure projects.

Anna Kramer reports for NOTUS.

Keep reading...Show less
Woman with calculator looking at bills.

Democrats shift strategy to blame Republicans for rising energy bills and power shortages

Democrats are reframing their energy message ahead of the 2026 midterms, accusing Republicans of pushing policies that will raise electricity costs and threaten the reliability of the U.S. power grid.

Zack Colman reports for POLITICO.

Keep reading...Show less
The Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Wildfire burns historic Grand Canyon lodge as toxic gas leak complicates response

A wildfire fueled by extreme heat and winds has destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim and forced a season-long closure of the area.

Leah Sarnoff and Vanessa Navarrete report for ABC News.

Keep reading...Show less
Young Black man pouring a bottle of water on his face on a hot day.

UK scientists warn rising temperatures and rainfall now define the country's climate

Extreme heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and rising seas have become standard across the UK, according to a major new analysis of the nation's weather and climate records.

Damian Carrington reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
A man in a hard hat looks at solar panels in a golden landscape.

Pakistan’s solar surge is turning the energy system on its head

With power bills soaring and the national grid failing, Pakistanis are taking the energy transition into their own hands—and creating a bottom-up solar revolution.

Beth Gardiner reports for Yale Environment 360.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

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

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

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.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

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

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.