Environmental Politics

"Energy Dept. Adds ‘Climate Change’ And ‘Emissions’ To Banned Words List"

"The Energy Department has added “climate change,” “green” and “decarbonization” to its growing “list of words to avoid” at its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, according to an email issued Friday and obtained by POLITICO."

Source: Politico, 09/30/2025

"EPA’s Effort to Pull Back PFAS Limits Spurs Statutory Tug of War"

"The EPA is attempting an end run around the Safe Drinking Water Act by trying to rollback drinking water limits it previously set for four PFAS, attorneys representing affected communities said in legal briefs."

Source: Bloomberg Environment, 09/30/2025

Trump Can't Condition Disaster Grants On Immigration Policy, Judge Rules

"A federal judge this week blocked the Trump administration from conditioning disaster and security funds for states on their immigration policies."

Source: The Hill, 09/30/2025

Indigenous Land Defender Killed As Ecuador Cracks Down on Activists

"An Indigenous land defender was shot and killed on Sunday in Cotacachi, Ecuador, where he was marching in protest of high costs of living and government crackdowns on Indigenous and environmental activists."

Source: Inside Climate News, 09/30/2025

Citing ‘AI Arms Race,’ Trump Admin Aims to Rekindle US Coal Industry

"The administration is opening millions of additional acres of public land to mining while slashing royalty rates and environmental regulations for coal. Environmentalists warn of skyrocketing costs and threats to land, water and air."

Source: Inside Climate News, 09/30/2025

The Dark Side of ‘Bothsidesism’

Journalistic values — whether code of ethics-style values like truth, context and fairness, or news-style values like impact, novelty and human interest — are nothing to be shy about and can make for great journalism. But some values can be distorted and drag journalism down a dead end, argues the new WatchDog Opinion. Two environmental cases where false balance does damage.

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"EPA Wants Staff Members to Skip Law Association’s Events"

"Environmental Protection Agency employees are being told not to participate in events hosted by one of the nation’s premier environmental legal associations, according to a letter reviewed by Bloomberg Law."

Source: Bloomberg Environment, 09/29/2025

UNESCO Names 26 New Biosphere Reserves Amid Biodiversity, Climate Challenges

"An Indonesian archipelago that’s home to three-fourths of Earth’s coral species, a stretch of Icelandic coast with 70% of the country’s plant life and an area along Angola’s Atlantic coast featuring savannahs, forests and estuaries are among 26 new UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves. The United Nations cultural agency says the reserves — 785 sites in 142 countries, designated since 1971 — are home to some of the planet’s richest and most fragile ecosystems."

Source: AP, 09/29/2025

Trump’s DOT Pulls Trail And Bike Grants It Deems ‘Hostile’ To Cars

"President Donald Trump’s transportation department has been pulling back grants already announced for recreational trails and bicycle lanes, telling local officials their projects fail to promote road capacity or are “hostile to motor vehicles.”"

Source: AP, 09/29/2025

Bureau of Land Management to Sell Off Federal Coal Reserve Leases in Wyoming

"The Trump administration has offered coal reserves in Wyoming in its latest move to reinvigorate the country’s coal industry. One environmental lawyer says it’s “ludicrous” to be selling leases for the most expensive and dirtiest form of energy."

Source: Inside Climate News, 09/29/2025

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