Citizens against smog: Protesters in North Macedonia demand action against pollution

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — Thousands of protesters across North Macedonia took part in demonstrations Tuesday to demand better air quality in cities that are among the most polluted in Europe. In the capital, Skopje, demonstrators gathered outside the Environment Ministry, some...

Iran to shut offices, colleges and schools in Tehran because of air pollution

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran announced Tuesday that all governmental offices, universities, and schools in the province of Tehran will be closed for two days because of poor air quality, state TV reported. The capital city of Tehran — home to over 10 million people — saw the...

Indigenous Mayans want their sacred cenotes to have personhood status

HOMUN, Mexico (AP) — A huge poplar tree stands proud in Maribel Ek's courtyard, adorned with a sign that reads: “Florece desde adentro” ("It blooms from within"). Deep underground, the tree's long roots search for the water that makes this land special: a sinkhole lake, known...

New Mexico seeks record $47.8M fine for excess air pollution by natural gas processor

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico environmental regulators on Friday issued a $47.8 million fine on allegations of excess air pollution at a natural gas processing facility in a prolific oil production region near the Texas state line. The state Environment Department issued the...

EPA hails 'revitalized' enforcement efforts as Biden administration heads to exit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency enhanced enforcement efforts this year, doubling financial penalties issued to polluters and issuing the first-ever arrest for a climate change-related crime, the agency said in a report Thursday. The EPA said it concluded more...

Negotiators fail to reach an agreement on a plastic pollution treaty. Talks to resume next year

BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — Negotiators working on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution for a week in South Korea won’t reach an agreement and plan to resume the talks next year. They are at an impasse over whether the treaty should reduce the total plastic...

Climate solution: Sails make a comeback in shipping, to dent its huge carbon footprint

SAINT-MALO, France (AP) — Had he continued working aboard fuel-powered cargo ships, Yann Jourdan reckons he'd be earning perhaps four times what he now gets as captain of a sailboat that instead uses the wind's clean energy to transport goods across the Atlantic. But the hit to...

What to know about the plastic pollution treaty talks that have concluded in South Korea

BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — Negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution have concluded in Busan, South Korea without reaching an agreement. This was supposed to be the fifth and final round to produce the first legally binding treaty on plastics pollution, including in the...

Plastic pollution treaty talks are ending in South Korea with no agreement, negotiators plan to meet again next year

Plastic treaty talks draw to a close with production limits still under debate

BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — Negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution are drawing to a close Sunday as nations continue debating whether part of that should be putting limits on plastic production. Negotiators spent all of Saturday trying to reach agreement behind closed...