Environmental news from mainstream news sources Reuters, CNN, New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press USA Today and BBC America.
- CBS Suspends Two Executives Accused of Racist and Sexist Conduct The executives, Peter Dunn and David Friend, were placed on leave after a report in The Los Angeles Times in which they were accused of creating a hostile work environment.
- Biden’s Executive OrdersOn his first day, President Biden reversed some of his predecessor’s most divisive policies. But governing by decree can be fraught.
- How Biden Plans to Reverse Trump’s Environmental StrategyPresident Biden has promised to reinstate more than 100 environmental rules and regulations reversed by his predecessor. It won’t happen overnight.
- Julie Payette: Canada governor general quits amid bullying claimsThe Queen's representative says she is sorry for the lack of a healthy work environment at her office.
- Biden, in a Burst of Climate Orders, Rejoins the Paris AgreementThe president also canceled the Keystone XL pipeline and ordered federal agencies to begin the process of reinstating environmental regulations reversed under the Trump administration.
- Biden, in a Burst of Climate Orders, Rejoins the Paris AgreementThe president also canceled the Keystone XL pipeline and ordered federal agencies to begin the process of reinstating environmental regulations reversed under the Trump administration.
- Harris Is First Woman and First Woman of Color to Be Vice PresidentAfter taking the oath of office in at noon, he is set to issue several executive orders aimed at reversing policies on issues like the environment and immigration. President Trump, who won’t attend the inauguration, issued a raft of pardons overnight.
- Suriname Could Be Latest Big Oil Find as Industry Cuts CostsThe small South American country has become a hot prospect for oil companies looking to produce fossil fuels while spending less.
- SLS: Nasa finds cause of 'megarocket' test shutdownAn issue with hydraulic systems led to the early shutdown of a test for Nasa's new "megarocket".
- Biden to Cancel Keystone XL Pipeline in Inauguration Day Executive OrderThe project had already been languishing, but the action by Mr. Biden would signal his determination to undo President Trump’s environmental legacy.
- SLS: Nasa's 'megarocket' engine test ends earlyA critical engine test for Nasa's new "megarocket" - the Space Launch System (SLS) - ends early.
- Why Isn’t Kelp Catching On?It’s a superfood and good for the environment. So, what’s the problem?
- Climate change: US emissions in 2020 in biggest fall since WWIIUS greenhouse gas emissions tumbled below their 1990 level last year, because of Covid-19 shutdowns.
- Nancy Bush Ellis, Sister and Aunt of Presidents, Dies at 94Unlike most of her family, she was a liberal Democrat for a time, supporting the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and environmental causes.
- It Spied on Soviet Atomic Bombs. Now It’s Solving Ecological Mysteries.Imagery from the Cold War’s Corona satellites is helping scientists fill in how we have changed our planet in the past half century.
- Saudi Arabia Will Cut Its Oil Production, Allowing Russia’s to GrowOil prices rose to levels not seen since February. The two major oil producers had been moving in lock step since an April agreement to cut output.
- South Korea Will Send Delegation to Iran Over Seized ShipTehran said the ship, which was taken with its crew, had been violating environmental protocols, but its owner has called the accusation “absurd.”
- Home Solar Is Growing, but Big Installers Are Still Losing MoneySome companies are having trouble surviving and making money installing panels because of intense competition and the high costs of doing business.
- New 2021 state laws ranging from banned sunscreens to robot deliveriesOne state has banned sunscreens containing certain ingredients in an effort to protect their marine environment.
- Environmental heroes to inspire you in 2021The new year is a time for resolutions, and few could be more important than choosing to do better by nature.
- Not Just Another PipelineThe expansion of Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline is a breathtaking betrayal of Minnesota’s Indigenous communities — and the environment.
- Small Donations Aiming to Make a Big SplashEnvironmental issues may seem too big to tackle, but some smaller foundations have figured out ways to have an impact.
- Norway’s Supreme Court Makes Way for More Arctic DrillingThe top court ruled against environmental groups Tuesday, saying the right to a clean environment did not bar the government from drilling for offshore oil.
- In Last Rush, Trump Grants Mining and Energy Firms Access to Public LandsThe outgoing administration is pushing through approval of corporate projects over the opposition of environmental groups and tribal communities.
- Biden Announces Climate Team, Including Gina McCarthy, Deb Haaland and Michael ReganThe president-elect said he has chosen a team that prioritizes making clean energy jobs and environmental protection a cornerstone of his economic plans.
- Fight over Biden's EPA pick highlights a crack in the Democrats' climate coalitionUnder President Donald Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency became an oxymoron, run by people who'd spent their careers suing or lobbying the EPA on behalf of oil and coal companies. Trump pulled out of the Paris Accords and rolled back more than 100 protections for land, air, water, wildlife and human health.
- Unlike Trump, Biden believes in climate sciencePresident-elect Joe Biden will restore key features of the presidency that have been absent for the past four years, chief among them a belief that humans cause climate change. Biden made his commitment to science abundantly clear in announcing the nominations of his economic, health and environment teams.
- Can I refuse to attend my company's diversity training? Ask HRIn today's changing landscape, diversity, equity, and inclusion training is one important step toward building a better workplace environment.
- Biden Picks Michael Regan, North Carolina Environment Chief, to Head E.P.A.Mr. Regan, if confirmed, will take over an agency central to achieving the new administration’s climate agenda.
- Biden expected to nominate North Carolina environmental official to run EPAPresident-elect Joe Biden is poised to nominate Michael Regan of North Carolina to run the Environmental Protection Agency, two people familiar with the matter tell CNN.
- In Landmark Ruling, Air Pollution Recorded as a Cause of Death for British GirlLegal and environmental experts hailed a coroner’s ruling that, for the first time in Britain, directly linked a specific person’s death to air pollution.
- Biden to Pick Brenda Mallory to Run the Council on Environmental QualityThe office, the Council on Environmental Quality, is expected to have an expanded focus on environmental justice under Ms. Mallory, an environmental lawyer.
- Biden to name Gina McCarthy to top domestic climate jobPresident-elect Joe Biden will name Gina McCarthy as his White House climate czar, a source familiar with the decision tells CNN, making the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency his top domestic climate coordinator.
- Is an iceberg weighing hundreds of billions of tons on a penguin collision course?On South Georgia, a remote island in the South Atlantic, millions of penguins in some of the largest colonies on the planet live out their days amid a pristine environment shared with only a handful of humans. An ex-whaling outpost, today it sits in over one million square kilometers of marine protected area, allowing species to thrive despite its rugged, sometimes hostile climate.
- ‘Is Exxon a Survivor?’ The Oil Giant Is at a Crossroads.Exxon Mobil is struggling to find its footing as demand for oil and gas falls and world leaders and businesses pledge to fight climate change.
- Inspector General Criticizes V.A.’s Handling of Sexual Assault ComplaintThe inspector general’s report also expressed disappointment that the V.A. did not determine whether to take action “to provide a safer and more welcoming environment” for women at its facilities.
- Elon Musk's Starship prototype makes a big impactThe US entrepreneur's latest Starship rocket prototype impresses in flight, but crashes on landing.
- New EPA rule could make it more difficult to limit air pollutionThe Trump administration on Wednesday finalized a rule that could prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from strengthening measures to combat air pollution and the climate crisis in the future.
- Big Push Into Helium Could Have the World on Russia’s StringIt’s not just party balloons. A huge Siberian production plant is expected to reshape the market for a gas that’s essential to many critical industries.
- Xavier Becerra Brings Environmental Justice to ForefrontJoseph R. Biden, Jr.’s choice to run the Department of Health and Human Services is the first state attorney general to create an environmental justice bureau.
- Trump administration pushes 'midnight regulations' after breaking records for final-year rulemakingPresident Donald Trump's political appointees are finalizing an array of last-minute federal regulations ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration, including rules that would make it harder to enforce environmental protections, tighten immigration, remove penalties for killing birds, and possibly eliminate food assistance for millions of Americans.
- Google widely criticized after parting ways with a leading voice in AI ethicsMany Google employees and others in the tech and academic communities are furious over the sudden exit from Google of a pioneer in the study of ethics in artificial intelligence—a departure they see as a failure by an industry titan to foster an environment supportive of diversity.
- Namibia is auctioning 170 wild elephants amid drought and rising populationNamibia has put 170 "high value" wild elephants up for sale due to drought and an increase in elephant numbers, the southern African country's environmental ministry announced on Wednesday.
- Meet Biden’s Energy and Climate Cabinet ContendersPresident-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s energy and environment team will have the difficult task of crafting climate policies that can bypass Congress and survive judicial review.
- Oil Refineries See Profit in Turning Kitchen Grease Into DieselStruggling energy companies are increasing the production of renewable diesel, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Humanity is waging a 'suicidal' war on nature, UN chief warnsUN Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a searing indictment of humanity's "war" on the environment Wednesday, in a speech on the state of the planet in which he urged everyone to prioritize "making peace with nature."
- Hidden in Plain Sight: The Ghosts of SegregationVestiges of racism and oppression, from bricked-over segregated entrances to the forgotten sites of racial violence, still permeate much of America’s built environment.
- E.P.A.’s Final Deregulatory Rush Runs Into Open Staff ResistanceAs President Trump's Environmental Protection Agency rushes to complete its regulatory rollbacks, agency staff, emboldened by the Biden victory, moves to stand in the way.
- Swiss to Vote on Tougher Responsibility Proposal for CompaniesA referendum on Sunday, if approved, would make Swiss companies liable for human rights violations and environmental damage by their subsidiaries abroad.
- Knife-edge Swiss vote could make businesses liable for global rights abusesSwiss voters are about to decide whether a business should be held liable for human rights and environmental abuses, even if the wrongdoing was committed in a foreign country by a subsidiary or a supplier it works closely with.
- Musical Travel Companions for a Year of Going NowhereThe composer John Luther Adams combines immersive sound worlds with environmental activism.
- Permit Denied for Pebble Mine Project in AlaskaThe immense project would have been one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines, but regulators found it “contrary to the public interest” due to environmental risks in the pristine Alaskan tundra.
- SLS: Nasa 'megarocket' assembly begins in FloridaNasa has stacked the first pieces of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
- GM withdraws support for Trump lawsuit seeking to roll back auto emissions rulesIn a letter to environmental groups, General Motors announced it was withdrawing its support from Trump administration litigation that aimed to take away California's right to set its own auto emissions rules.
- Trump rails against Paris climate accord in virtual G20 eventPresident Donald Trump railed against the Paris climate accord and touted American oil and natural gas production during a virtual session focused on safeguarding the environment on the final day of the Group of 20 summit.
- Erin Brockovich on Biden pick: The fox is in the henhouseEnvironmental activist Erin Brockovich tells CNN's Brianna Keilar why environmentalists denounce President-elect Joe Biden's transition EPA review team pick Michael McCabe over his work with DuPont on PFOA.
- COVID-19 outbreaks at US mink farms raise alarm after mutant strain spreads to humans in DenmarkCoronavirus outbreaks have been reported in Wisconsin, Utah and Michigan mink farms. Environmental groups call on Oregon to act.
- Trump’s E.P.A. Chief Plans 2 Foreign Trips Before Leaving OfficeAndrew Wheeler, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, looks to squeeze in two overseas trips in the Trump administration's last days.
- Elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan civilians amid a culture of 'bloodlust,' report allegesAustralian elite forces allegedly killed 39 Afghans civilians and prisoners unlawfully in an environment where "blood lust" and "competition killings" were a norm, according to a long-awaited report.
- How to Do Thanksgiving With Less WasteFor environmental advocates, it includes small measures like reusing ingredients, and broader efforts like rethinking our relationship to the holiday.
- A Lesson for Humanity From 17 Million Doomed CreaturesIf this pandemic has taught us anything it’s that we cannot escape the world we have shaped.
- Trump administration begins last-minute leasing process for arctic drillingThe Trump administration on Monday started a leasing process for oil and gas drilling sites off the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, something environmental groups feel is a potential last-minute giveaway to the energy industry before the Biden administration takes over.
- California Needs to Do More to Fight Environmental RacismThe state may be phasing out gas-powered cars, but it’s still legal to put an oil well right next to an elementary school.
- Nasa SpaceX launch: Astronaut crew heads to orbitA team of four leaves Florida on a SpaceX rocket and capsule, bound for the orbiting laboratory.
- In Kenya, a Cherished Fig Tree Gets a ReprieveThe 100-year-old tree, slated for removal to make room for a new expressway, will be preserved following a backlash from environmentalists concerned about shrinking green spaces in Nairobi.
- Joe Biden: How the president-elect plans to tackle climate changeWhat will a Joe Biden presidency mean for the global battle against rising temperatures?
- Skull Fossil Shows How Human Cousin Adapted to Changing ClimateA skull found in a South African cave suggests that the species went through a process of microevolution during a chaotic environmental shift.
- Trump's Climate Policies Accelerated Global WarmingPresident-elect Biden can restore many of the 100-plus environmental regulations that President Trump rolled back, but much of the damage to the climate cannot be reversed.
- 9 Things the Biden Administration Could Do Quickly on the EnvironmentThe first 100 days of the Biden administration are likely to see a flurry of executive actions on climate change.
- Controversial Indian news anchor arrested for allegedly abetting architect's suicideOne of India's most well-known and controversial news anchors has been arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide of an architect, local police said, in a case that reflects the country's increasingly fraught and politicized media environment.
- Norway’s Supreme Court Hears Rights Challenge to Arctic Oil DrillingEnvironmental groups argue that exploratory drilling licenses violate a constitutional right to a healthy environment. It’s a test case taking on an industry that is key to the country’s economy.
- The US has left the Paris Agreement. What now?Christiane discusses the climate crisis and the US leaving the Paris Agreement with fmr. UN climate chief Christiana Figueres and environmentalist Bill McKibben.
- Indonesian President Quietly Signs Divisive Bill Into Law OvernightPresident Joko Widodo sold the law as necessary to make the world’s fourth most populous country a better place to do business. But activists say it eliminates critical protections for workers and the environment.
- How Trump's Wall Hurts Arizona's EnvironmentLiving and working along the U.S.-Mexico border has meant watching the surreal, slow-motion leveling of the fragile ecosystems I’ve spent my career fighting to protect.
- ‘They’re Calling You on the Squid Phone’Cephalopod researchers were surprised by the sighting of a ram’s horn squid, a peculiar animal never before filmed in its natural environment.
- Advertisers Flock to Election Night, When Live TV Is the Main Event AgainIn a media environment dominated by streaming and battered by the pandemic, companies see a rare opportunity to catch a huge audience all at once.
- Trump administration removes gray wolves from federal Endangered Species Act protectionEnvironmentalists decried the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision as 'bad science' that will endanger gray wolves across the lower 48 states.
- Humans are causing Koala populations to declineIt has been a stressful year for Australia's koalas. Their health and natural environment, however, have been under threat for a long time.
