Director's Picks Category

During his final overseas trip as president, Joe Biden highlighted the Lobito Corridor, an 800-mile U.S.-funded railway project in Angola connecting critical mineral-rich regions

Michigan's Public Service Commission faces a lawsuit from about 80 townships and counties challenging its implementation of a new law, Public Act 233, which expedites permitting f

The fifth and potentially final round of U.N. plastic treaty negotiations (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea, centers on whether to impose global caps on plastic production. Advocates,

Highways in the Twin Cities have perpetuated environmental and social inequities, disproportionately affecting urban communities. Black residents were displaced during their const

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled its "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution," the third installment in its series to build a circular economy b

Extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change are causing extended power outages, leaving medically vulnerable individuals at severe risk. In Houston, Hurricane Beryl cause

This article explores grassroots efforts to revitalize polluted lands across the U.S. by using innovative and community-driven remediation strategies. The Green Era Campus in Chic

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Lee Zeldin, former Republican congressman from New York, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Known for his loyalty

In the recent U.S. elections, voters in five states passed significant environmental ballot initiatives, allocating billions for climate resilience and conservation. Minnesota vot

In this op-ed, Richard Moore critiques the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, introduced by Senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso, arguing that it threatens environmental just

An Investigate Midwest analysis reveals that many U.S. meatpacking plants disproportionately pollute low-income, predominantly non-white communities. In Postville, Iowa, Agri Star

A new United Nations Environment Programme report warns that global efforts to reduce emissions remain insufficient to meet the targets set by the Paris Agreement. Global greenhou

Earthworks urges the EPA to deny a license for Texas GulfLink, a proposed large-scale offshore oil export terminal in Texas that could increase U.S. oil exports by one million

The Houston Housing Authority (HHA) is under scrutiny due to audit findings and allegations of suppressing information about toxic contamination on a property designated for low

Black residents in St. James Parish, Louisiana, are using legal action to fight against discriminatory industrial zoning that has disproportionately placed petrochemical plants in

Residents near the Houston Ship Channel are raising concerns about the Army Corps of Engineers’ plan to store dredged sludge from a $1 billion expansion project in local

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a mobile solar microgrid was deployed to assist recovery efforts in Georgia. Managed by the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist

FEMA is grappling with financial and staffing shortages as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, just weeks after Hurricane Helene's devastation. Despite receiving $20 billion

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has reached an agreement with Alabama's transportation department over claims that a highway expansion caused flooding in the historicall

A carbon capture monitoring well at Archer-Daniels-Midland’s (ADM) facility in Decatur, Illinois, leaked CO2, but most residents only learned of it through media reports. The EPA

A shelter-in-place order affecting over 90,000 residents near Atlanta, Georgia, was lifted after a weekend chemical fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers. The fire produced a toxic

Richmond, California, a predominantly minority, low-income community, fought a 20-year battle for environmental justice, culminating in the creation of a protected public park at

UN Special Rapporteur Marcos Orellana's recent report condemns the severe environmental pollution in South Africa, attributing it to corporate greed and governmental negligence.

A new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) offers recommendations for federal agencies to identify and support disadvantaged communities

Environmental justice advocates acknowledge that the Biden administration has made unprecedented efforts to address pollution in marginalized communities, providing substantial

In Salinas, Puerto Rico, the Steri-Tech medical sterilization plant has exposed workers and residents to dangerous levels of ethylene oxide, a toxic gas used to sterilize medical

WE ACT for Environmental Justice is addressing heat disparities in New York City, where heat kills around 350 people annually, disproportionately affecting Black residents.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an emergency order suspending the use of DCPA, a toxic herbicide known to cause irreversible developmental damage to

Nearly a month after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Houston, many communities, particularly Black and elderly residents, are still struggling with the storm's aftermath.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, Black neighborhoods in Houston are struggling to recover from severe power outages and damage.

As Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns for the presidency, advocates hope she will expand on the Biden administration's environmental justice initiatives.

Despite a ban, Pennsylvania oil and gas companies continue to spread fracking wastewater on roads, exploiting a regulatory loophole.

The Biden-Harris administration is initiating steps to potentially regulate vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic and flammable chemical used extensively in the production of PVC pipes a

The steel industry in Minnesota, dominated by U.S. Steel and Cleveland Cliffs, is heavily polluting, releasing mercury and other toxins.

A proposed offshore wind port on Sears Island, Maine, has sparked debate among residents, environmentalists, and labor advocates.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has signed a consent decree requiring the EPA to act on haze pollution plans from Texas and 31 other states.

Hurricane Beryl, a Category 1 storm, caused multiple fossil fuel plants on the Gulf Coast to release toxic pollutants due to power outages that led to flaring.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has greenlit a significant methane gas pipeline project through predominantly Black and brown communities in Tennessee, raising environmental

On June 27, the Supreme Court paused the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) "good neighbor" rule, which aimed to reduce interstate pollution by holding polluters accountable.

A new study by the University of New Mexico’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies links air pollution to low birth weight among infants born near industrial sites in

The Supreme Court's recent decision to eliminate the Chevron deference marks a significant shift in regulatory authority, potentially weakening numerous environmental protections.

Insurance companies are grappling with the financial fallout from PFAS, or "forever chemicals," which are increasingly linked to environmental and health damages.

A new report from Rice University's Kinder Institute reveals that while homeownership is becoming more historically affordable in some areas, it remains out of reach for many

A new investigation by The Examination has uncovered widespread toxic gas leaks from oil companies across Texas

A recent study has revealed alarming health risks in Louisiana's Cancer Alley, a region notorious for its high concentration of petrochemical plants.

A recent study has detected cancer-causing chemicals in the sediment of the Houston Ship Channel amid ongoing expansion efforts.

The development of the ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub in Appalachia has ignited a debate over its environmental justice implications.

The EPA announced a $115 million funding initiative to address the ongoing water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi.

A new study highlights the environmental and health impacts of sugarcane burning in Florida, framing it as a critical environmental justice issue.

Severe convective storms, or "kitty cats," are driving up home insurance costs in the Midwest. These storms cause significant damage through hail and tornadoes, resulting in

The Biden administration is accelerating the implementation of significant environmental regulations, including a historic ban on asbestos and stringent limits on toxic chemicals

Lylla Younes reports on the efforts of twenty-three Republican attorneys general to petition the Biden administration's EPA to cease using Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to regu

Over $300 million is being directed towards addressing the migrant crisis while longstanding issues of poverty in their communities have been overlooked for decades.

The activism of Black-led environmental organizations, such as Outdoor Afro and Justice Outside, in combating environmental racism and advocating for marginalized communities

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has granted Houston an extension to utilize or reimburse $5.7 billion earmarked for Hurricane Harvey housing recovery

Daji Aswad reports on the launch of a pollution tracker by Lone Star Legal Aid, enabling Houston residents to report environmental issues directly.

The United States Department of Justice issued an amicus brief supporting claims from a Wisconsin tribe that Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline is trespassing on tribal lands.

Grist’s examines President Biden’s ambitious environmental justice initiative, Justice40, aimed at directing 40 percent of certain federal climate and environmental

Walter Moorer and other residents of Chin Street in Africatown, Alabama, have long protested against the environmental hazards posed by the Hosea Weaver asphalt plant, which emits

The Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice released a comprehensive report unveiling the profound social inequities exacerbating environmental issues in New York City

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives investigated the link between long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker

Santander's investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in the Gulf Coast, despite its climate policy opposing fossil fuel investments.

Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, faces an unprecedented collapse of its water system, leaving millions without access to water.

Golden State Natural Resources' proposal to construct wood pellet plants in California's Lassen and Tuolumne counties for exporting a million tons annually raises environmental

The article discusses the environmental consequences of the Israel-Hamas conflict, noting over 30,000 fatalities and significant environmental damage.

Facing challenges with securing final financing in a high-interest rate environment, developers of a significant solar farm project in Sunnyside, Houston, announced a delay in con

The impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on clean energy investment in the U.S. According to an analysis, for every dollar invested by the government, the private sector

The New Mexico Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on March 11, 2024, regarding regulations for the state's community solar program.

Originating from the now-closed Houston Wood Preserving Works plant, the contamination has prompted concerns about health issues and led to a voluntary buyout plan proposed by Hou

The US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) updated 2023 Equity Action Plan, emphasizing its focus on incorporating equity, civil rights, and environmental justice into all asp

Residents living near the Houston Ship Channel are urging immediate action following a 131-page report by Amnesty International that designates the area as a "sacrifice zone.

Arizona faces a dire water crisis as the aftermath of extensive groundwater drilling becomes increasingly evident.

A civil court judge has issued an injunction temporarily halting the construction of an industrial warehouse in Southern Dallas, siding with Friendship-West Baptist Church.

A transition to zero-emission electric vehicles (EVs) could significantly improve the lives of millions of children growing up near highways in the U.S.

There's a concerted effort by the plastics industry, backed by fossil fuel companies, to influence classroom education and shift responsibility for plastic waste onto consumers.

A report by the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) reveals that plastic producers have been aware for over 30 years that recycling is not a economically or technically viable

Newly released FBI documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request indicate that the U.S. government initiated a decade-long campaign against the anti-pipeline

Earthjustice, along with over 65 climate and environmental organizations, has voiced strong support for President Biden's pause on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export approvals.

Inside Climate News presents a report from Port Arthur, Texas, highlighting the stark economic disparity between the thriving petrochemical industry and the impoverished.

14 public universities, including the University of Arizona, profiting in the billions from extractive industries on stolen Indigenous land.

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) proposes enhanced integration of community-generated environmental data into federal systems to improve environmental governance.

Anita Hofschneider highlights the increasing costs and delays faced by renewable energy projects that fail to recognize Indigenous rights.

Discusses research findings indicating that newborns in the heavily polluted areas of Louisiana, particularly in the infamous "Cancer Alley," experience low birth weights at over

The article delves into the Biden administration's decision to pause approvals for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports while reviewing regulatory approaches and assessing pote

Waste Management has found hidden value in the decomposition process.

The ongoing battle in St. James Parish, Louisiana, after the 19th Judicial District Court granted Formosa Plastics the air permit necessary to construct a petrochemical plant.

A Louisiana appellate court affirmed the Department of Environmental Quality's decision to issue air permits for Formosa Plastics' proposed petrochemical complex in St. James Pari

The article explores the prolonged struggle against North Carolina's largest landfill in Sampson County.

A recent study reveals the alarming environmental injustice caused by the disproportionate impact of pesticide exposure on communities, particularly highlighting racial, ethnic, a

On January 17, 2024, a coalition of nurses, physicians, and health experts in Michigan, represented by Earthjustice, filed an amicus brief challenging the EPA's decision to weaken

A recent study, published in Nature Communications on January 17, 2024 conducts an environmental justice analysis of air pollution emissions in the United States from 1970 to 2010

On January 17, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case involving Texas landowners, led by Richie DeVillier, seeking compensation from the state after a highway project resulted

President Biden's historic investment in environmental justice through the Justice40 initiative faces challenges as barriers hinder some Black organizations from benefiting.

More than a decade after Congress passed legislation to enhance pipeline safety, lawmakers are in disagreement over the need for increased oversight of the pipeline sector.

The controversial expansion plan for the Hawthorn Park Landfill in northwest Houston's Carverdale neighborhood has been withdrawn following strong opposition from residents.

The article investigates the challenges faced by residents and environmental activists in Alabama trying to shut down Rock Creek Stone, a sandstone quarry operating without requir

The Environmental Protection Agency named 11 “grantmakers” today, universities and nonprofit organizations that will be in charge of doling out $600 million of federal funding.

Monsanto, has been ordered by a jury in Washington State to pay $857 million to former students and parent volunteers who claimed they fell ill after being exposed to dangerous ch

The Jewel Streets, also known as the Hole, a low-lying neighborhood on the Brooklyn-Queens border, grapples with environmental challenges, including recurrent flooding, snakes, an