ClimateWire News
Trump gets his chance to upend FEMA
Long-anticipated recommendations to revamp the disaster agency were approved Thursday. Now, President Donald Trump has to make a decision.
Virginia’s carbon market comeback risks a multistate affordability crunch
State policymakers appear unprepared for a potential increase in power bills driven by a doubling of emissions credit prices as Virginia gears up to rejoin a regional climate program.
State judges rebuff oil industry bids to halt climate cases
The moves bring the cases a step closer to trial, even as a pending Supreme Court battle threatens to derail the lawsuits.
Georgia residents seethe over 30M gallons of missing water
A massive data center near Atlanta took the water but didn't get a bill until months later.
New York moves toward climate reset
Gov. Kathy Hochul said she’s secured changes to the state’s climate law, delaying a transition off fossil fuels while soothing affordability concerns.
EU floats making it easy for oil companies to break methane rules
Countries would be able to exempt companies from the rules on energy security grounds, even before major disruption occurs, under draft guidelines seen by POLITICO.
Iran war shows EU must keep course on climate laws, Dutch minister says
With the war in Iran driving up energy prices, “we have every argument, every reason to make sure that we become less dependent on fossil fuels,” said Climate Minister Stientje van Veldhoven.
Spanish government under fire over handling of hantavirus ship
Authorities have issued contradictory statements on whether passengers will have to quarantine.
Everest season opens late, with climbers undeterred by huge ice block
There have been rising concern over the fast melting of the glaciers because of global warming and climate change.
FEMA said it answered the phone during the Texas floods. Most callers didn’t get through.
The agency’s top official told lawmakers that the “vast majority” of calls were answered. New data indicates most people couldn’t get through.
Opening of world’s largest carbon removal plant delayed
Occidental Petroleum, which is developing the Stratos megaproject, discovered an issue with some of its components.
US offshore wind projects advance, even as developers turn toward Europe
Ørsted and Equinor reported progress on three projects that the Trump administration has tried to halt.
Hawaii’s bid to let insurers sue fossil industry fails
The latest legislative effort fizzled, in part, because of legal principles established after the catastrophic 2023 wildfires in Maui. Democrats say they will try again.
Most other states keep climate laws intact as New York weakens targets
Gov. Kathy Hochul has said New York is unique in having a statutory emissions reduction requirement, but legal experts and environmental groups disagree.
Scorched scenes show how Florida’s wildfire seasons could look in the future
Eastern wildfires could become more common in the coming years, wildfire ecologists say.
Hantavirus surges in Argentina, where stricken cruise ship began journey
Many local public health researchers are attributing the surge to the recently accelerating effects of climate change.
Antarctica’s tourism boom raises concerns about contamination and disease
A deadly outbreak of the rare hantavirus aboard a Dutch ship on a weekslong polar cruise has brought attention to the growing tourism trend.
Enviros say Supreme Court decision boosts states' ‘climate superfunds’
The Trump administration is suing Vermont and New York for using novel tactics to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Colorado lawmakers eye coal plant extension
A plan to postpone the retirement of the Ray Nixon Power Plant comes as Colorado wrestles with its climate targets.
Diesel price spike raises stakes for Trump, GOP ahead of midterms
A surge in diesel costs is set to ripple through the U.S. economy, raising prices on everything from groceries to housing and adding new political risk for Republicans.
