Disasters

"Pandemic prompted states to temporarily ban reusable grocery bags and stalled legislation aimed at reducing plastic packaging".

"More than 350 facilities nationwide have taken advantage of a temporary Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that lets companies forgo monitoring their water pollution during the pandemic."

"The UN Secretary-General has told a meeting of ministers it is "vital" the world moves towards clean energy. Antonio Guterres said decisions on recovery strategies must account for the need to transition to a more sustainable future."

"With COVID-19 lockdowns, Brazil’s capacity to monitor for illegal fishing has plummeted. Many on the ground say people have been quick to take advantage of the situation."

"Political leaders at the White House and Commerce Department pressured the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to back up President Donald Trump’s false claims that Hurricane Dorian would strike Alabama, Commerce’s internal watchdog said in a report released Thursday evening."

"The country recorded its sixth single-day record in 10 days." "States that were among the earliest to reopen have driven the surge in cases in the U.S."

"Fifty-seven former government scientists and public health officials of both parties called on Monday for a science-based approach to the coronavirus pandemic and criticized the Trump administration for marginalizing science and expertise in its response."

"More than 5,600 companies in the fossil fuel industry have taken a minimum of $3bn in coronavirus aid from the US federal government, according to an analysis by Documented and the Guardian of newly released data."