The State of Our Planet This Week: Insights from Inside Climate News (#306)
- RIck LeCouteur
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Inside Climate News was founded in 2007 and provides unbiased, non-partisan reporting on climate change to inform the national conversation around one of the most important issues of our time.
I highly recommend that readers subscribe to the Inside Climate News newsletter: https://insideclimatenews.org/about/
In 2025, the United States sits at a crossroads between two futures: one where political will matches the scale of the environmental crisis, and one where short-term interests erode the natural systems upon which all life depends.
Government actions have enormous power - to protect, to restore, and to heal. But they also have the potential to accelerate environmental decline if vigilance and advocacy waver.
The climate crisis isn’t waiting for policymakers to catch up. And neither should we. Each week, Inside Climate News exposes the forces driving environmental destruction and elevates the voices fighting for a livable future.
The latest newsletter reminds us that the clock is ticking, but that the window for meaningful action is still open if we choose to act.
Here’s a breakdown some of of the essential stories from the latest Inside Climate News newsletter.
The Hidden Climate Costs of Exporting US Liquefied Natural Gas.
An exclusive Inside Climate News analysis found that a single year of greenhouse gas emissions from tankers carrying LNG from the United States more than cancels out the annual reductions achieved through driving all the electric vehicles currently on U.S. roads.
How the Trump Administration’s Interpretation of One Word - ‘Harm’ - Could Gut Habitat Protections for Endangered Species.
A proposed rule from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would change the definition of “harm” to an endangered species, effectively allowing such activities as logging and oil drilling to be approved even if they harm protected plant and animal habitats.
Environmental Groups Sue the Trump Administration to Restore Web Tools Critical for Gauging Climate and Pollution Impacts.
The removal of websites designed to help disadvantaged communities will hurt those communities the most, lawyers argue.
South Texas Developers Make a Sales Pitch to Sell Groundwater. Will Laredo Buy It?
Laredo has long sought a secondary water supply to supplement the Rio Grande. A development in Webb County could provide a solution - but one with a hefty price tag.
Trump May Target Environmental Nonprofits in Executive Orders Expected on Earth Day
Environmental groups say they are preparing for the worst - and preparing to fight back.
More Than 60 Power Plants Exempted From Federal Mercury Limits
More stringent rules were scheduled to be enforced in 2027. Selected plants will now have two more years to comply.
Federal Judge Orders Florida to Address Pollution That Led to Manatee Deaths.
Nearly 2,000 manatees died in the state in 2021 and 2022, a two-year record. Widespread water quality problems and seagrass losses left the sea cows starving.
Trump Administration Halts Construction on New York Offshore Wind Project.
Empire Wind 1’s developer says it is considering its legal remedies. New York, meanwhile, needs renewable energy projects to meet its climate goals and to ensure the continued growth of green job opportunities in the city.
National Park and Forest Service Staffing Levels Have Been Dramatically Reduced.
“It’s a dire situation,” says one national parks advocate. “These spaces shouldn’t be taken for granted, and they are at risk.”
Oak Flat is Sacred to Western Apache. The Trump Administration Intends to Approve a Plan to Destroy It.
The fate of Arizona’s proposed Resolution Copper mine rested with the federal courts, but the administration announced Thursday it would move to approve the project before their rulings.
Trump Official Visits, Touts Alabama Coal Mine With Thousands of Federal Safety Violations.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum visited two Warrior Met mines to emphasize the administration’s commitment to lifting regulations on the extraction of ‘clean beautiful coal.’ He did not mention the company’s checkered safety and environmental record.
Rick’s Commentary
Staying informed is the first step. Acting on what we know is the next.
If these stories move you, as I think they should, don’t let them end with the last paragraph.
Share them. Talk about them. Support the organizations and individuals fighting for our climate future. And remember:
Change begins with those who refuse to look away.
Will future generations know the lion as a living being or only as a memory?
Comments