Very dark days for the US EPA

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♻️ This week’s sustainability news

Trump admin uses the EPA to wreak carnage

What’s happening: The Trump administration has decided to cancel $20 billion in funding that was meant for solar power, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and other projects that help save money and reduce carbon emissions. This funding was intended for US companies and low-income communities. This decision is part of an ongoing legal fight over a major climate program from the Biden era. On Tuesday, Lee Zeldin, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced the end of these grants, which were part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. This program, also known as the federal ‘green bank’, was created by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Zeldin claimed, without providing evidence, that the program had issues like misconduct, conflicts of interest, and possible fraud.

Then on Wednesday, Zeldin announced a series of actions to roll back landmark environmental regulations, including rules on pollution from coal-fired power plants, climate change and electric vehicles. In an essay published in The Wall Street Journal, he stated “We are driving a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion and ushering in America’s Golden Age”. If approved after a long process that includes public consultation, he claimed the Trump administration's actions will save trillions of dollars in regulatory costs and "hidden taxes" which will make living cheaper for American families and lower prices for essentials like buying a car, heating homes, and running a business. Zeldin announced that he is undoing 31 environmental rules, including an important scientific finding that has been a key reason for US efforts to fight climate change. The endangerment finding is a decision that came after the US Supreme Court said the EPA could regulate greenhouse gases because they are harmful to public health. This decision supports all the rules designed to reduce pollution, which scientists clearly say is making the climate crisis worse.

If all of that wasn’t enough, the EPA has ended its programs for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and will close parts of the agency that work on environmental justice, according to Zeldin. In an internal memo viewed by The New York Times, Zeldin told agency leaders that he plans to reorganise and close the environmental justice offices at all 10 EPA regional offices and the one in Washington. This decision ends 30 years of efforts by the EPA to reduce pollution in poor and minority communities, which are often near highways, power plants, and other polluting sites. Research shows that people in these areas have higher rates of asthma, heart disease, and other health issues than the national average.

Why it’s happening: Since last month, Zeldin has been criticising the green bank program, starting with a video he posted on Twitter (X). He often repeats a phrase from a Biden EPA staffer, comparing the program's funding to "throwing gold bars off the Titanic." This phrase was taken out of context in a video by Project Veritas, a right-wing group known for making unproven accusations. Former officials from the Biden administration explained that the program was designed to use $20 billion through a financial agreement with Citibank, rather than the usual grant process of the EPA. This approach was chosen to attract private investments alongside public funds. They also mentioned that the EPA closely monitors the spending in detail and in real-time.

The other aggressive changes announced on Wednesday are also part of the ideological assaults on climate action and DEI that was foreshadowed during Trump’s election campaign and the Project 2025 manifesto. These announcements will also likely be seen as the dividends expected when big oil spent $455 million during the last election cycle to influence the Trump admin and Congress (and that amount doesn’t include impossible-to-verify dark money donations).

Why it’s important: The green bank program was ended one day before a federal judge lambasted the decision after the Trump administration was unable to offer any evidence of wrongdoing by the grant recipients. The judge was reviewing a lawsuit from Climate United Fund, one of eight nonprofit groups that didn't receive funding from the program they were awarded last year. The group says that Trump administration officials pressured Citibank to block an account managed for the nonprofit by threatening a criminal investigation. Citibank closed off access in mid-February and in court documents filed earlier Wednesday, the bank revealed it had done so at the recommendation of the FBI, which the EPA then turned into an official order earlier this week. Some other groups who were supposed to receive part of the $20 billion in previously frozen funds have also taken legal action to get their money back. The Coalition for Green Capital sued Citibank on Monday, and Power Forward Communities did the same on Tuesday. While all these cases are ongoing, the EPA hasn't confirmed if it has asked Citibank to transfer the money back to the federal treasury.

Meanwhile, the changes to the environmental regulations won't happen right away, and most will need a long law-making process to be put in place. Environmental groups promised to fight against these changes, saying they would lead to the biggest rise in pollution in the US in many years. Environmentalists and climate scientists also call the endangerment finding a bedrock of US law and say any attempt to undo it will have little chance of success. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, a leading Republican in the Senate who oversees the EPA, expressed a similar opinion. She said that Zeldin's plan to challenge the endangerment finding would be more complex than other regulatory changes he announced on Wednesday due to the 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA Supreme Court case, which determined that the EPA could regulate greenhouse gas emissions because they are considered air pollutants according to the Clean Air Act.

📖 Read the full articles: Trump admin says it’s ​‘terminated’ $20B green bank in latest escalation and EPA head says he’ll roll back dozens of environmental regulations, including rules on climate change and EPA plans to close all environmental justice offices and Judge slams EPA’s climate grant cancellations: ‘You have to have some kind of evidence’

Global sea levels rose faster than expected last year

What’s happening: A NASA-led study found that global sea levels rose more quickly than expected in 2024 as the world experienced the hottest year ever recorded. The study found that in 2024, the sea level was rising by 0.59 centimetres per year, which is more than the expected 0.43 centimetres per year. An uninterrupted series of ocean-observing satellites starting with TOPEX/Poseidon in 1992 makes the long term measurements of ocean height possible, with last year’s data sourced via the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite. Since satellites started measuring ocean height in 1993, the yearly increase in sea level has more than doubled. Overall, the global sea level has risen by 10 centimetres since 1993.

Why it’s happening: In recent years, most of the sea level rise was due to melting ice sheets and glaciers adding water to the ocean. A smaller part was because seawater expanded as it warmed. However, in 2024, this ratio flipped, with most of the sea level rise due to the expansion of warmer seawater.

Why it’s important: The UN has warned that more people are at risk because sea levels are rising. Places in danger include low-lying coastal areas in India, Bangladesh, China, and the Netherlands, as well as island countries in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

📖 Read the full article: ‘Faster and faster’: Why did global sea levels rise more than expected in 2024?

France prepares for 4 degrees Celsius heating by 2100

What’s happening: This week, the French government introduced its third national plan to deal with climate change. The plan includes many steps to keep people safe if temperatures rise by 4 degrees Celsius by the year 2100. The plan outlines 52 national-level measures that aim to address the impacts of climate change while focusing on four priorities in geographic terms: coastlines, mountains, forests and agriculture. There are also five main types of actions: keeping people safe, making sure territories and essential services can handle challenges, adjusting how humans do things, preserving nature and culture, and using national resources wisely. Some specific steps include making a national map to show areas at risk from natural disasters, keeping insurance affordable even in risky places, and upgrading homes to stay comfortable as temperatures rise.

Why it’s happening: France wants to stop adding carbon to the atmosphere by 2050. Since 2017, the country has already reduced its emissions by 20%. However, even if France reaches this goal by 2050, scientists believe that temperatures will still rise by at least 4 degrees Celsius by 2100 because of ongoing fossil fuel use. The national plan was originally shared by former Prime Minister Michel Barnier last October. It received nearly 6,000 suggestions from the public and was created with help from scientists and other experts.

Why it’s important: Since taking office in January, US President Donald Trump has been reducing the resources of federal agencies focused on climate science. In contrast, the French government, despite facing criticism for reversing some environmental policies recently, has shown a commitment to a different approach with its climate plan. France has been getting ready for future climate challenges after a deadly heatwave in 2003. The country has a national plan to deal with heatwaves, and cities like Paris are preparing for very hot summers, possibly reaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). Starting in 2025, France will spend €1.6 billion on this plan. This includes €1 billion from water agencies and €300 million from the Barnier Fund, which is meant to prevent major natural disasters. Environmental groups like the plan but are worried about how it will be carried out and if it’s strong enough. A recent report from the Institute for Climate Economics suggests that each year, between €1 billion and €2.5 billion is needed just for new buildings, €4.4 billion in renovating homes, and at least €1.5 billion in agriculture.

📖 Read the full article: ‘Adapting is not giving up’: How France is preparing for 4C of heating by 2100

😇 People doing great things

A green, healthy and economical way to cook at home

The world’s first battery-equipped electric range: A California startup called Copper created ‘Charlie’, an electric range with an induction stovetop that can simply be plugged into a regular outlet. The sleek four-burner electric range uses 120 volts, so you don't need an electrician to rewire your home to 240 volts, which many other electric ranges need. It has a built-in battery that can automatically charge when renewable energy is available to save costs and lower emissions. It can also cook 3-5 meals during a power outage with its stored power. Unlike gas stovetops, which lose about half of their heat directly into the room, electric stovetops are more efficient with induction stovetops the most efficient at up to 90%. This is partly because they only heat the surface touched by the pot or pan. Gas ranges also leak methane, a greenhouse gas, even when off, contributing to emissions comparable to 500,000 fossil-fuel powered cars. Additionally, gas ranges release harmful pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and benzene, which can badly affect your health. According to a 2013 report in the International Journal of Epidemiology, children who live in homes with gas ranges are 42% more likely to have asthma symptoms. The manufacturer has a deal with the New York City Housing Authority to supply 10,000 of the Copper ranges by 2026, each costing up to $3,200. Eden Housing, a nonprofit, has already installed them in a 32-apartment building in California and plans to buy more.

⭐️ Weekly inspiration

Leaders at Davos pledge to continue climate action

Will continue with or without US participation: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering in Switzerland that Europe would not change its plans because of President Trump's actions, while Simon Stiell, the UN climate leader, stated that the move to clean energy will occur regardless of the United States' involvement.

Private funding for nature has surged to over $102 billion

From $9.4 billion four years ago: The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, decided at COP15, aims to collect at least US$200 billion each year by 2030 for biodiversity projects from local and international sources, both public and private, with the aim for private companies to invest, combine different types of funding, find new ways to raise money, and encourage business to support biodiversity via various financial tools.

UK and German greenhouse gas emissions fell in 2024

Countries record similar falls from the previous year: UK's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 3.6% with coal use the lowest since 1666, the year of the Great Fire of London, according to Carbon Brief, while Germany's Federal Environment Agency announced that emissions in Germany decreased by about 3.4% due to a sharp rise in renewable energy use, helping the country to achieve its 2030 climate targets.

Ozone layer is healing due to human-led remedial actions

New study published in Nature: The MIT-led study shows that the ozone layer over Antarctica is getting better because of global efforts to cut down on harmful substances; while scientists have noticed signs of recovery before, this study is the first to determine with 95% confidence that the improvement is mainly due to reducing these harmful substances, rather than other factors like weather changes or more greenhouse gases.

US Supreme Court declines to block suing of oil companies

Republican-led states sought to end the lawsuits: Democratic-led states have taken legal action against big fossil fuel companies, accusing them of misleading people for years about the impact of their greenhouse gas emissions, including a 2023 lawsuit from California's attorney general against five major oil and gas companies, such as BP and Exxon Mobil, and the American Petroleum Institute, which supports fossil fuel interests.

Wind and solar number one in US energy for the first time

US transition to clean energy continued in 2024: Wind and solar energy made up 17% of all electricity, surpassing coal at 15%, its lowest ever; solar energy increased by 64 TWh, more than gas, which increased by 59 TWh, and wind energy also increased by 32 TWh to help reduce coal use by 22 TWh and met growing electricity demand of 128 TWh.

866 and counting new marine species identified

Only around 10% of marine life discovered so far: According to Ocean Census, a global group working to protect sea life who shared their first big update since starting in 2023, the species are all considered new to science and include a guitar-shaped shark, a fan-like coral and a venomous deep-sea snail equipped with harpoon-like teeth.

Londoners breathing much easier with ultra low emission zone

New report published by the Greater London Authority: The levels of harmful pollutants, which can cause various health issues like cancer, lung problems, heart attacks, and early births, have decreased with the most significant improvements being seen in the poorest areas of the capital; London’s air quality is now improving faster than that of the rest of England particularly in outer London.

Florida number two US state for solar power in 2024

More large-scale solar built in Florida than in California: Despite state leaders who oppose climate action, with a Florida law introduced last May that deleted any reference to climate change from most of its state policies, Florida built 3 gigawatts of large-scale solar in 2024, making it second only to Texas, while the state has ranked No. 2 behind California for the most rooftop panels installed each year from 2019 through 2024.

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