Air
Trump Proposes Replacement for Clean Power Plan That Favors Coal

Trump Proposes Replacement for Clean Power Plan That Favors Coal

The Trump Administration yesterday proposed to replace one of the signature domestic climate change achievements of the Obama Administration — the Clean Power Plan to cut emissions from coal plants — with the “Affordable Clean Energy” or ACE Rule — that essentially gives coal power plants more time and flexibility to cut toxic air emissions, which experts say could give those plants authority to increase their emissions in the short run.

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Automakers Urge Trump To Keep Obama Fuel Efficiency Standards

Automakers Urge Trump To Keep Obama Fuel Efficiency Standards

OK, it almost NEVER happens that industry comes together and asks the government for tougher regulations. But thanks to President Trump that just happened.  Last week, 17 of the biggest auto companies sent President Trump a letter warning that if he goes ahead with this plan to roll back the fuel efficiency standards set by […]

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China Breaching International Ozone Treaty

China Breaching International Ozone Treaty

According to a study recently published in the journal Nature, scientists have traced a recent spike in emissions of an ozone-destroying gas to plants northeast China, where they suspect the chemical is being produced and used in violation of the international treaty called the  Montreal Protocol that protects the Earth’s ozone layer. 

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Trump EPA Overruled Own Scientists to Help Taiwanese Co. Build a Plant in WI

Trump EPA Overruled Own Scientists to Help Taiwanese Co. Build a Plant in WI

A recent freedom of information request by the Sierra Club and Clean Wisconsin revealed that EPA officials under pressure from President Trump, overruled concerns of career scientists about air pollution and public health in an effort to help Taiwanese technology giant Foxconn secure $4 billion in tax breaks to build a flat-screen factory in Racine […]

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Reductions in air pollution reduce rates of childhood asthma in Los Angeles

Reductions in air pollution reduce rates of childhood asthma in Los Angeles

According to the EPA, researchers have long linked asthma— a serious and life-threatening chronic respiratory disease that affects the quality of life of more than 23 million Americans— with exposure to air pollution. Cities with some of the worst air pollution have the highest rates of asthma but if those cities cleaned up their air […]

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London marathon demonstrates positive impact of taking cars off the road

London marathon demonstrates positive impact of taking cars off the road

We recently wrote about the London Marathon’s commitment to sustainability by issuing runners electrolyte water contained in edible seaweed pouches. But avoiding plastic pollution wasn’t the only environmental achievement from the marathon’s organizers, it turns out air pollution along the marathon route dropped significantly and almost instantly during the event after vehicles were temporarily taken off the roads.

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American Lung Association: Forty Percent of the U.S. Breaths Unhealthy Air

American Lung Association: Forty Percent of the U.S. Breaths Unhealthy Air

The American Lung Association issued their 2019 “State of the Air” Report which found that more than 40% of Americans — 141 million — live in a county with unhealthy air, which represents an increase of 7 million people more than last year.   Despite some progress, “in 2015-2017, more cities had high days of ozone and […]

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Oil and Gas Drilling In New Mexico Scrutinized, Methane Leaks Soar

Oil and Gas Drilling In New Mexico Scrutinized, Methane Leaks Soar

A surge in oil and gas drilling in the Permian Basin of New Mexico is causing a dramatic increase in methane emissions according to a new study by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).  The Associated Press reports that the EDF analysis showed that in 2018 statewide methane gas emissions from oil and natural gas production is five times higher than what the petroleum companies are reporting to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and more than twice what EDF estimated these emissions to be two years ago.

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US Air Pollution Causes More Than 100,000 Premature Deaths

US Air Pollution Causes More Than 100,000 Premature Deaths

A new study by the National Academies of Science published on Monday concluded that in 2011, the finest scale particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5)  caused 107,000 premature deaths in the U.S. and cost the economy nearly $900 million dollars.  The study’s authors, using data from the Environmental Protection Agency, calculated location-specific estimates of the damage […]

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CO2 Emissions At Highest Levels In Three Million Years

CO2 Emissions At Highest Levels In Three Million Years

Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are over 410 parts per million (PPM) and rising, and according to a new study published in Science Advances last week, that is the highest levels in the last 3 million years. 

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Air Pollution Causes More Deaths Than Alcohol, Malnutrition and Drug Addiction

Air Pollution Causes More Deaths Than Alcohol, Malnutrition and Drug Addiction

The 2019 State of Global Air (SOGA) report, released on Wednesday stated that children born today will be exposed to so much toxic air pollution over their lifetimes, that it will dramatically shorten their life expectancy. CNN reported that the study found that countries in Asia and Africa had the highest risk because they have high levels of harmful soot or particulate matter (PM 2.5) and they rely on coal-powered energy plants and regularly use fuels like charcoal for cooking.  

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Texas chemical explosion kills worker, 3rd plant explosion in 3 weeks

Texas chemical explosion kills worker, 3rd plant explosion in 3 weeks

Yesterday in Crosby, Texas (about 25 miles northeast of Houston) a tank holding a flammable chemical caught fire at a KMCO chemical plant, killing one worker, critically injuring two others and sending panicked employees fleeing over a fence to safety. This was the third explosion in the petrochemical industry in the past 3 weeks (the […]

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