January 17, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
Residents of Shiloh, Alabama, a majority-Black community, are seeking federal accountability for years of severe flooding linked to a highway expansion by the Alabama Department
Chemicals in Plastic Food Packaging Linked to 10% of Preterm Births in 2018
Summary
A study by environmental health experts at New York University reveals that phthalates, a class of chemicals commonly used in plastic food containers and cosmetic products, may have contributed to approximately 10% of preterm births in the United States in 2018. Phthalates, added to plastics for flexibility, are found in various products, including food packaging and beauty items. The study, published in Lancet Planetary Health, analyzed over 5,000 U.S. mothers and found a correlation between high phthalate levels during pregnancy and increased preterm births. The researchers estimate that phthalate exposure may have led to over 56,000 preterm births in 2018, incurring potential societal costs of up to $8.1 billion. Despite concerns, the plastics industry disputes the study, emphasizing the need for stronger regulations on phthalates in common items like food packaging. The study suggests minimizing plastic use and adopting safer alternatives to reduce the risk of phthalate exposure during pregnancy.
January 17, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative and EPA Administrator Michael Regan’s 2021 “Journey to Justice” tour aimed to address pollution and environmental racism in overburdened
January 16, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
The American Conservation Coalition (ACC), a conservative climate organization, aims to influence Donald Trump’s second term with an "America-first climate strategy" focused on nu
January 15, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
President Biden’s American Climate Corps, aimed at creating green jobs to combat climate change, is shutting down ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration. Launched in 2023 with a goa
January 15, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for a second term, state-level climate initiatives are poised to counteract federal rollbacks. States like California, bolstered by the U.
January 14, 2025
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
The Center for Microgrid Research at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, not to be confused with the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, is expanding its efforts to
January 9, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
New York City has implemented congestion pricing, making it the first U.S. city to adopt this policy, which charges vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The plan aims to
January 9, 2025
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
Jimmy Carter’s presidency made energy a central political issue in the U.S., emphasizing reduced oil dependency and energy conservation. As president, Carter created the Departmen
January 9, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
Texas is experiencing a rapid increase in microgrid adoption as extreme weather events, such as Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, expose vulnerabilities in the
January 9, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
New research highlights the growing prevalence of "weather whiplash," rapid shifts between extreme rain and drought, as a hallmark of climate change. In Los Angeles, this phenomen
January 8, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
Florida faces a looming water crisis as climate change, rapid population growth, and overuse of groundwater threaten its freshwater supply. The state relies on aquifers for 90% of
January 8, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
New Clark City, a $2.5 billion project in the Philippines, is designed to be a climate-resilient urban hub with plans for green infrastructure, renewable energy, and flood-resista
January 8, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
President Biden’s new ban on offshore oil and gas drilling excludes the western Gulf of Mexico, the area responsible for 97% of U.S. offshore oil production. The ban protects the
UN Special Rapporteur Elisa Morgera has called for fundamental reforms to the global climate regime, criticizing the current system as ineffective and dominated by misinformation
January 4, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
Rising sea levels caused by climate change threaten to severely damage 13 major oil ports globally, including key facilities in Saudi Arabia, the US, China, and the Netherlands. A