Pollution

How a Trainload of Toxic Chemicals Derailed Everyday Life in Ohio

How a Trainload of Toxic Chemicals Derailed Everyday Life in Ohio

Every thirty minutes, a Norfolk Southern train passes through East Palestine.  Three months ago, no one in this northeastern Ohio village of just under 5,000 people would have batted an eye at the sight of the long trains passing through. No one would have turned a head at the sound of the train’s whistle as […]

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    EPA Proposes First Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rules for Power Plants

    EPA Proposes First Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rules for Power Plants

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a wide-ranging new proposal for limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal– and gas-fired power plants. If finalized, the new rule will be the first time the federal government has restricted carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, which generate about a quarter of the country’s emissions. […]

    Environmental Justice: Everything You Need to Know

    Environmental Justice: Everything You Need to Know

    Quick Key Facts What Is Environmental Justice? Environmental justice is a facet of broader social justice movements. It considers how individual communities can be overburdened with a disproportionate amount of environmentally negative facilities or activities in their area compared to other, less vulnerable communities. Achieving environmental justice looks like “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement […]

    McDonald’s Lobbies Against New Packaging Waste Reduction Laws in UK

    McDonald’s Lobbies Against New Packaging Waste Reduction Laws in UK

    Following recent laws proposed by the European Commision in November 2022, fast food company McDonald’s is lobbying strongly against the legislation, which targets reductions in packaging waste.  In an open letter published in April, McDonald’s — along with other companies and trade associations, including Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin’ and Yum! — addressed the EU, asking for a […]

    Microplastics 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Microplastics 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Quick Key Facts We use a lot of plastic.  Since the 1950s, more than 8.3 billion tons of plastic has been produced by humans. All in all, only 9% of these plastics have actually been recycled, and the rest has either been incinerated or landed up in landfills — and, in many cases, in the […]