February 28, 2025
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Yale Climate Connections’ bookshelf for February begins with a title that beautifully captures the mission of climate activism during Black History Month
CCS Redux: Carbon Engineering Was Always A Figleaf For Fossil Fuel Industry, Now It’s Owned Outright By Them
Summary
In a recent article published on CleanTechnica by Michael Barnard, the author discusses the acquisition of Carbon Engineering by Occidental Petroleum for $1.1 billion. The article challenges the effectiveness and viability of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies, particularly mechanical direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide, emphasizing the high cost, inefficiency, and limited potential of such approaches. The author criticizes Carbon Engineering's DAC technology, pointing out its association with fossil fuel interests and its primary application in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The article questions the claims of creating carbon-neutral fuels through DAC, highlighting more practical and sustainable alternatives like wind and solar energy. The author also addresses the economic and environmental implications of using taxpayer money to fund CCS initiatives and the role of major investors, including Bill Gates and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, in such ventures.
Following President Donald Trump’s day-one Executive Orders, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced 31 actions to deregulate the agency.
March 11, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
According to the National Resources Defense Council, states on the East and West coasts are doing a better job than the rest of the country in cutting emissions...
March 10, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
The U.S. Treasury Department has formally pulled out of the International Climate Loss and Damage Fund.
March 10, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
Space is becoming more littered. That’s the headline coming from researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Two members of Congress are working together to end a popular tax incentive. Reps. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) announced efforts to repeal 45Q.
March 10, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
Women and girls are more likely to suffer the health consequences of environmental issues like floods, droughts, and air pollution, but they are largely underrepresented...
March 7th marked the 60th anniversary of the infamous civil rights march that would later be named “Bloody Sunday”.
March 7, 2025
Education
Education
Dismantling of Education Department puts future of trillions of dollars in student loans in question
As President Donald Trump prepares to order the dismantling of the Department of Education, the financial arm of the agency – which makes loans directly to borrowers...
March 7, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recalled dozens of environmental justice staffers who were previously placed on administrative leave under the Trump...
March 7, 2025
Environmental
Environmental
The Trump administration has dismantled the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) authority over the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)...
March 6, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
A recent cancer rate assessment has identified a 250-square-mile area along the San Jacinto River in Texas, including the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site...
Rising energy demand, fueled by artificial intelligence, data centers, and electrification, has intensified debates over the future of U.S. energy policy.
The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing a case that could establish the country’s first independent nuclear waste storage facility in West Texas, despite strong opposition from state
March 5, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The U.S. State Department has ended its global air quality monitoring program, which used sensors at over 80 embassies and consulates to track pollution levels in countries...