Articles tagged with "environmental-policy"
Florida City Real Estate Market Crashes After Being Super Hot A Few Years Ago — Costs of Climate Change - CleanTechnica
The real estate market in Cape Coral, Florida, has sharply declined after a period of rapid growth, now being labeled the “worst housing market in America.” Housing prices have fallen by 11% over the past two years, with a large inventory of about 12,000 homes for sale and prices continuing to drop. This downturn is largely attributed to the increasing frequency and severity of hurricanes hitting Florida’s Gulf Coast from 2022 to 2024, which have caused extensive flooding, property damage, and rising insurance costs. These climate change-driven impacts are making homeownership and rentals less affordable and less attractive, contributing to the market’s collapse. Beyond the housing market, Cape Coral faces broader economic and livability challenges. Residents report a mismatch between the cost of living and available wages, with limited job opportunities exacerbating financial strain. Politically, Florida’s Republican leadership has largely downplayed or ignored climate change risks, actively restricting discussion and blocking clean energy initiatives such as offshore wind projects and federal funding
energyclimate-changeclean-energyelectric-vehiclesrenewable-energyinfrastructureenvironmental-policyGreen 10 to Ursula von der Leyen: Defend the European Green Deal - CleanTechnica
The Green 10, a coalition representing over 50 million Europeans from all EU member and candidate countries, has urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to steadfastly defend the European Green Deal (EGD). In a letter, they emphasize the critical importance of the EGD amid emerging geopolitical challenges, disinformation campaigns, and attacks on civil society that threaten to undermine the deal, EU democracy, and the broader European project. Citing the June 2025 Eurobarometer, the group highlights that 85% of Europeans recognize climate change as a major global threat, underscoring the public mandate for continued climate action. The letter stresses that the European Commission must champion the Green Deal as a strategy of hope, resilience, and fairness, warning against any political backtracking motivated by short-term economic interests. The coalition points to recent extreme heat events, such as record-breaking temperatures at Wimbledon causing health emergencies, as tangible evidence of the urgent climate crisis. They call for high-level attention to the intertwined
energyEuropean-Green-Dealclimate-changesustainabilityenvironmental-policyrenewable-energyclimate-actionPope Leo And Senator Whitehouse Call For Climate Action - CleanTechnica
The article highlights contrasting responses to climate change from political and religious leaders amid recent extreme weather events. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, despite facing deadly flooding, has dismissed climate change as unpredictable natural weather, while benefiting financially from fossil fuel industry donations. Meanwhile, the oil and gas sector has been privately preparing for severe weather impacts on infrastructure, even as it publicly denies climate science. This political stance is criticized for prioritizing fossil fuel interests over acknowledging and addressing climate change risks. In a significant religious development, Pope Leo XIV has introduced a new Mass dedicated to the care of creation, continuing the ecological advocacy initiated by Pope Francis. This Mass, inspired by the 2015 encyclical Laudato Si, emphasizes humanity's responsibility to protect the environment and address social injustices linked to environmental degradation. The Pope framed this mission as a spiritual calling to respond to the "cry of the earth" and the poor, reinforcing the Church’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island condemned the fossil fuel
energyclimate-changefossil-fuelsenergy-gridenvironmental-policypipeline-infrastructurerenewable-energyCalifornia Pivots: Cutting CEQA Red Tape To Boost Housing & Climate Goals - CleanTechnica
California has enacted a significant reform to its longstanding environmental review law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), by exempting many urban multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) from its extensive review process. This legislative change, embodied in Assembly Bill 130 (AB 130) signed in 2025, aims to accelerate infill housing development in urban areas by reducing delays, costs, and legal uncertainties that have historically hindered housing projects. The reform applies to projects on parcels under 20 acres that meet density requirements, are properly zoned, and avoid environmentally sensitive or historic sites. Some taller projects must also comply with labor provisions as part of political compromises. CEQA, originally enacted in 1970 to protect the environment and provide public accountability, has over time been criticized for being exploited to block or delay developments, including those aligned with climate and housing goals. Lawsuits often came from groups with limited environmental credentials, serving as tools for neighborhood opposition or competing interests, which impeded urban
energyclimate-changehousing-developmentenvironmental-policyurban-planningCalifornia-legislationsustainabilityHousing Policy Has Consequences For Urban Communities ... And Nations - CleanTechnica
The article critiques the housing policy vision outlined in the conservative Project 2025 plan, which emphasizes prioritizing single-family homeownership as central to the American Dream and generational wealth building. The plan advocates for local control over zoning laws but paradoxically supports federal intervention to block progressive urban policies like New York City’s congestion charge. This contradiction highlights a broader political hypocrisy: conservatives decry government overreach unless it serves their agenda. The focus on single-family homes implicitly favors suburban and rural living, often at the expense of urban environments where multi-family housing is common, and which tend to support more diverse and dense populations. The article also discusses the environmental implications of housing patterns, referencing urbanist Lloyd Alter’s experience in Toronto. Alter’s lifestyle, enabled by living in a walkable, transit-accessible neighborhood, results in a significantly smaller carbon footprint compared to suburban or rural living reliant on cars. This contrasts sharply with the Project 2025 agenda, which disregards carbon emissions and promotes suburban sprawl through
energyurban-housingpollution-controlzoning-lawscarbon-emissionssuburban-livingenvironmental-policyLet's Consider A Couple Of Workable Solutions To The Plastic Crisis - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica addresses the ongoing global plastic crisis, focusing particularly on plastic bag pollution and microplastics. It highlights how plastic bags, due to their lightweight and widespread use, pose significant environmental threats by harming wildlife and eventually breaking down into microplastics that enter ecosystems and human bodies. The article references a June 2025 Science study that analyzed data from over 45,000 shoreline cleanups to evaluate the effectiveness of plastic bag policies worldwide. The study found that full bans and fees on plastic bags lead to a substantial reduction—between 25% and 47%—in plastic bag litter on beaches compared to areas without such policies. State-level policies were especially effective, and these measures also correlated with a 30-37% decrease in wildlife entanglement incidents. Beyond plastic bags, the article touches on the pervasive issue of microplastic pollution across various environments, including aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric habitats. Microplastics are closely tied to human activity and pose increasing health risks
materialsplastic-pollutionenvironmental-policymicroplasticswaste-reductionsustainabilityplastic-bag-bansFunding Cuts, Then Loss Of Life In Texas - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the tragic consequences of funding and staffing cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS). Despite a warning letter from all five living former NWS leaders cautioning that such reductions could lead to "needless loss of life," these cuts proceeded. Shortly after the warning, a severe disaster occurred in Kerr County, Texas, resulting in fatalities that the experts had feared. The article suggests that the decision-makers acted with "depraved indifference," ignoring expert advice and failing to adequately protect public safety. The piece also connects these funding cuts to broader challenges posed by climate change, noting that extreme weather events—such as unprecedented rainfall, tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes—are becoming more frequent and severe. Reduced NOAA and NWS capacity undermines the ability to forecast and respond to these disasters effectively. The author calls for thorough investigations into the disaster’s causes, including the impact of staffing reductions, and warns
energyclimate-changeNOAANational-Weather-Serviceweather-disastersdisaster-managementenvironmental-policyWMO Weather Forecast For 2050 Comes True 25 Years Early - CleanTechnica
The article highlights that a 2015 fictional weather forecast by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which projected extreme heat in Europe by 2025 and 2050, has alarmingly come true 25 years ahead of schedule. Recent heatwaves across Europe, with temperatures surpassing 40°C in countries from Spain to Hungary, mirror or exceed the WMO’s earlier projections. This rapid onset of extreme weather contradicts the misleading narrative of a “new normal” and signals a climate emergency that demands urgent attention and action. CleanTechnica criticizes the widespread climate misinformation propagated by certain media outlets and political figures who downplay the crisis or promote fossil fuel interests. The article underscores the need for truthful reporting and stronger climate policies, referencing a report by a UN special rapporteur advocating for criminalizing deliberate climate disinformation and phasing out fossil fuels to protect human rights and the environment. Additionally, the recent Global Tipping Points Conference in Glasgow, attended by 200 climate scientists, issued stark
energyclimate-changeglobal-warmingfossil-fuelsweather-forecastenvironmental-policysustainabilityHydrogen Isn’t The Answer: 0.7-1.5 Billion Tons CO2e Would Make It A Climate Liability - CleanTechnica
The article challenges the widespread perception of hydrogen as a clean-energy solution for decarbonizing difficult sectors such as heavy industry, aviation, maritime shipping, and long-haul trucking. It highlights findings from the EU-funded HYDRA project, which investigates hydrogen leakage throughout its production, transport, storage, and use. The project’s analysis, particularly a study by Politecnico di Torino, reveals that hydrogen leaks could result in 726 million to nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2-equivalent emissions annually by 2050 when measured by the Global Warming Potential over 20 years (GWP20). This significant climate impact largely undermines the presumed environmental benefits of scaling up hydrogen use. The study also points out that electrolysis, often promoted as the cleanest method for green hydrogen production, has notably high leakage rates averaging around 4%, with some real-world cases reaching over 9%. In contrast, conventional steam methane reforming (SMR) and SMR with carbon capture
energyhydrogen-economyclimate-impactCO2-emissionshydrogen-leaksclean-energyenvironmental-policyRepublican Plan Would Gut CAFE Rules - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the potential impact of a Republican plan to undermine the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which have been a key regulatory mechanism in the US auto industry since the 1970s. CAFE rules set minimum fuel efficiency targets for automakers, with financial penalties imposed for failing to meet these standards. Under the Biden administration, these standards have been raised significantly, aiming for passenger cars to achieve an average of 65 miles per gallon, up from 48 mpg currently. Automakers like General Motors and Stellantis have paid substantial fines for noncompliance, while companies producing only electric vehicles, such as Tesla and Rivian, benefit by selling excess credits to those who fall short. Tesla, in particular, has profited heavily from this system, with credit sales contributing significantly to its profitability and stock valuation. The Republican plan aims to weaken or dismantle the CAFE program, either through a lengthy regulatory overhaul or more directly by reducing the penalties for noncompliance to zero.
energyfuel-economyautomotive-industryelectric-vehiclesCAFE-standardsTeslaenvironmental-policyHelium & Hot Air: Saskatchewan’s Greenwashing Sustainability Claims - CleanTechnica
The article critiques Saskatchewan’s government for promoting misleading sustainability claims, particularly highlighting an ad campaign that touts the province as a leader in environmental stewardship. A key example is the province’s helium production being equated to planting billions of trees. While Saskatchewan’s helium extraction produces relatively low greenhouse gas emissions compared to global standards—due to a unique geological occurrence where helium is found alongside nitrogen rather than methane—this advantage is a matter of geological luck rather than deliberate environmental policy. The province is essentially marketing this natural quirk as a conscious sustainability achievement, despite continuing significant emissions from oil and gas extraction, which accounts for about 30% of its greenhouse gases. The article further contextualizes Saskatchewan’s overall environmental impact, noting that it remains one of Canada’s highest per-capita emitters of greenhouse gases, with roughly 74 million tons of CO2 equivalent emitted in 2023—about six times the per-capita emissions of Ontario or Quebec. Besides oil and gas, major emission sources include coal and natural
energyhelium-extractionsustainabilitygreenhouse-gas-emissionsmethane-emissionsnatural-gasenvironmental-policyThe EPA, Power Plants And Planetary Boundaries - Everything Is Connected - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the recent announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to repeal all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, effectively eliminating regulations established under previous administrations, notably those of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The EPA’s justification centers on the claim that carbon dioxide emissions from thermal power plants have decreased from about 5.5% of global emissions in 2005 to approximately 3% today, arguing that further reductions would have minimal impact on public health. The proposal includes repealing emission guidelines for existing fossil fuel steam units and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) standards for coal-fired plants and new turbines, signaling a significant rollback of environmental protections. Supporters of the rollback, including EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, former President Donald Trump, and industry representatives like the National Mining Association and West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, praise the move as a boost to coal power, energy dominance, and economic development. They emphasize the importance of
energyEPApower-plantsgreenhouse-gas-emissionsfossil-fuelscarbon-captureenvironmental-policyA No Kings Day Demand For Climate Action And Democracy Protections - CleanTechnica
The article emphasizes the importance of standing up for social safety programs and democratic protections on No Kings Day, highlighting critical programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and veterans' services. It stresses the need to defend immigrants' rights and the right to peaceful assembly while calling for urgent climate action. The article critiques former President Donald Trump’s policies, arguing they undermine the U.S.’s ability to combat climate change, damage international alliances like the Paris Agreement, and threaten democratic principles by concentrating power in a manner reminiscent of monarchy. The piece explains that the Founding Fathers designed the U.S. government as a republic with checks and balances to prevent tyranny, contrasting this with the autocratic tendencies seen in Trump’s leadership. It notes that the climate crisis is a unique challenge that spans both present and future generations, requiring consistent, long-term policies rather than erratic measures like the “TACO” (Trump Always Chickens Out) tariff approach. The article calls for strong,
energyclimate-changeenvironmental-policyrenewable-energysustainabilityclimate-actionfossil-fuelsEmpire Offshore Wind Project Back On, Pipeline Still Mothballed
energyoffshore-windrenewable-energyinfrastructurenatural-gasenvironmental-policyenergy-transitionSenate votes to revoke California’s ability to set air pollution standards
energyzero-emissionselectric-vehicleshydrogen-fuel-cellsCalifornia-emissions-standardsenvironmental-policyclean-technologyVermont Reverses Course On EV Sales Targets
electric-vehiclesclean-energyemissions-regulationscharging-infrastructurezero-emission-vehiclesenvironmental-policyWhy Losing ENERGY STAR Would Be A Tragedy For The US
energyenergy-efficiencyENERGY-STARenergy-savingsconsumer-appliancesenvironmental-policyutility-incentivesHow to Defuse the EU’s Carbon Tax Time Bomb
energycarbon-pricingclean-energyEU-regulationssustainabilityenvironmental-policyenergy-costsClimate accountability report highlights need to modernize B.C.’s approach to climate action
climate-actionBritish-Columbiaclean-energyclimate-accountabilityzero-emission-vehiclescarbon-pricingenvironmental-policyAirline Emissions Soar to Pre-COVID Levels as Europe Fails to Price Their Pollution
airline-emissionsaviationEU-carbon-marketpollution-pricingclimate-changeEuropeenvironmental-policyThe industrial carbon price rewards innovation, efficiency, and aligns us with our Asian and European trading partners
industrial-carbon-pricingclean-energyinnovationeconomic-policytrade-partnershipsemissions-reductionenvironmental-policy