Latest Pollution News

After climate summit, California Gov. Gavin Newsom faces key decisions to reduce emissions back home

Sep. 24, 2023 00:16 AM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom made big waves in the climate world recently by announcing a lawsuit alleging major oil and gas companies deceived the public about the risks fossil fuels posed for global warming and saying he would sign the nation's most sweeping emissions...

Biden's clean-car rules face a crucial test as appeals court hears Republican-led challenges

Sep. 14, 2023 16:58 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Efforts by the Biden administration to limit pollution from automobile tailpipes — a major source of planet-warming emissions — face a crucial test as a federal appeals court considers legal challenges brought by Republican-led states. The U.S. Court of...

Earth is outside its 'safe operating space for humanity' on most key measurements, study says

Sep. 13, 2023 14:04 PM EDT

Earth is exceeding its “safe operating space for humanity” in six of nine key measurements of its health, and two of the remaining three are headed in the wrong direction, a new study said. Earth’s climate, biodiversity, land, freshwater, nutrient pollution and “novel”...

Hawaii health officials warn volcanic smog known as vog has returned during latest eruption

Sep. 12, 2023 15:20 PM EDT

HONOLULU (AP) — The latest eruption of a Hawaii volcano isn't threatening any infrastructure but health officials are warning the public about air-quality hazards from volcanic smog known as vog. Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, began erupting Sunday. On...

Groups sue EPA in an effort to strengthen oversight of livestock operations

Sep. 11, 2023 17:02 PM EDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A coalition of environmental groups is seeking to force the Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen its regulation of large livestock operations that release pollutants into waterways. Food & Water Watch and a dozen other environmental and...

Environmental Protection Agency delays new ozone pollution standards until after the 2024 election

Sep. 06, 2023 06:07 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency is delaying plans to tighten air quality standards for ground-level ozone — better known as smog — despite a recommendation by a scientific advisory panel to lower air pollution limits to protect public health. The decision...

Africa Climate Summit links 'unfair' debt burden with calls to make continent's green assets pay off

Sep. 05, 2023 21:45 PM EDT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Climate change is “relentlessly eating away” at Africa’s economic progress and it’s time to have a global conversation about a carbon tax on polluters, Kenya’s president declared Tuesday as the first Africa Climate Summit got underway. “Those who...

Groundwater treatment systems to address 'forever chemicals' planned near Michigan military base

Aug. 17, 2023 12:15 PM EDT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Groundwater treatment systems will be installed near a military base in northern Michigan to address contamination from high levels of toxic, widely used “forever chemicals,” the U.S. Department of Defense announced Thursday. Two systems will be deployed...

Pollution in Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo threatens life in one of the world's oldest lakes

Aug. 16, 2023 13:19 PM EDT

MARACAIBO, Venezuela (AP) — The fishermen of Lake Maracaibo say they face their worst nightmare everyday as fish stocks decline and pollution degrades the health of this great freshwater lake, one of the oldest — and largest — in the world. Lake Maracaibo, which once was at the...

The EPA is rejecting calls for tougher regulation of big livestock farms. It's promising more study

Aug. 15, 2023 19:43 PM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration Tuesday rejected pleas to strengthen regulation of large livestock farms that release manure and other pollutants into waterways, promising more study instead. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it had...