Climate and environmental policy shifts dominate headlines as Trump administration rolls back protections while communities face intensifying climate impacts and innovative solutions emerge.
Key Points
Vermont becomes the first US state to ban paraquat herbicide over mounting evidence linking the weedkiller to Parkinson's disease, intensifying pressure for broader federal action despite industry opposition.
Trump administration EPA plan to weaken Biden-era PFAS drinking water regulations draws criticism from public health advocates who warn the rollback will harm communities while benefiting chemical manufacturers.
Michigan emerges as one of America's worst-hit climate states after experiencing 33 tornadoes in 2024 and severe flooding, with researchers confirming undeniable links to climate change.
Balcony solar panels gain traction among American homeowners as an accessible clean energy solution to combat rising electricity bills and provide renewable power generation at smaller scale.
Trump immigration enforcement flights produce hundreds of thousands of metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions as the administration accelerates deportations, raising concerns about the climate cost of policy decisions.
Forecasters predict a below-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2025, though experts caution against complacency given increasing severity of individual storms due to climate change.
New technology systems designed to prevent ship strikes on critically endangered North Atlantic right whales are coming into use, though Trump administration may weigh whether innovations can replace existing protections.
Industrial farming's century-long impact has depleted food flavor quality, but a growing movement of chefs, breeders and farmers is working to restore taste and nutrition to American agriculture.
Ebola researchers and emerging infectious disease centers face uncertain funding and visa complications under Trump administration cuts, hindering critical pandemic preparedness work begun during COVID-19 response.
H5N1 bird flu evolution poses growing pandemic risk if the virus successfully jumps to humans, with experts warning it could trigger an outbreak more severe than COVID-19.