Circle of Blue

MAY 9, 2022

Short-Changing Michigan Local Governments Has Resulted in Deteriorating Water Systems and Other Services. Getting enough money from the state and federal governments to help maintain city services has become a struggle for many Michigan municipalities. Throughout the Great Lakes region and across the U.S., water systems are aging.

Government 246

Government 2022 Clean Water Act 2009 246

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 19, 2021

As governments in California and across the United States wrestle with how to address soaring housing costs, a significant flashpoint has been the issue of local control. Most land-use regulation in the United States is done by local governments: cities, counties, towns, villages.

Government 130

Government Regulations Carbon Emissions Politics 130

Legal Planet

JANUARY 2, 2023

As a second benefit, they claim to be engaged in political symbolism, trying to disrupt a stuck debate over effective climate responses and get people to talk about solar geoengineering – of which stratospheric aerosol injection is the most promising method being discussed. This may be on the cusp of changing, but it hasn’t yet.).

Cooling 364

Cooling Atmosphere Regulations Government 364

Legal Planet

APRIL 1, 2025

What public participation requirements that do apply came either from other statutes that might apply to an agency action such as the Administrative Procedure Act or from the regulations implementing NEPA by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Public participation is not an unalloyed good, however.

Regulations 130

Regulations Politics 2023 Government 130

Legal Planet

AUGUST 5, 2021

In much of the country, those wholesale transactions are under the control of regional transmission organizations established by federal power regulators, but that’s not true everywhere. In those states where rates are regulated, regulators can do some things to shift these incentives.

Fossil Fuels 299

Fossil Fuels Regulations Clean Energy Renewable Energy 299

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 20, 2021

CARLA relied on the state’s Housing Accountability Act (HAA), which limits the ability of a local government to reject housing projects that are consistent with the local government’s zoning rules. Instead, I want to discuss the question of whether the state can even constrain local government regulation of land-use in California.

Regulations 130

Regulations Government Law Politics 130

Legal Planet

MARCH 16, 2023

Its mission is to investigate state government operations and policy and, through reports and legislative proposals, make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature “to promote economy, efficiency and improved service in state operations.” CEQA imposes key responsibilities on all three branches of state government.

Politics 277

Politics Law Government Regulations 277

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 9, 2024

If governments bypass or undermine science and public comments in policy making, our health could be in jeopardy from increased pollution, cases of foodborne illnesses, politically-driven medicine approvals or disapprovals, and more. This is a major federal law that governs if a chemical will be regulated, limited, or even banned.

Toxic Substances Control Act 317

Toxic Substances Control Act Air Pollution Regulations Clean Air Act 317

Clean Energy Law

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

On 5 February 2024, the European Parliament and Council of the EU announced that they had reached a provisional political agreement on the text of the ESG Ratings Regulation (the Regulation). The agreed text was subsequently published on 14 February 2024. Refer to this Latham blog post for previous commentary on the proposal.

Regulations 130

Regulations 2024 Politics 2023 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

It galvanized the environmental movement and it pushed the federal government and Congress to carry out scientific research on pesticide contamination and to act on that research. Carson also explicitly called out the hypocrisy inherent in government agencies at the time. And yes, they really were that hyperbolic.

Toxic Substances Control Act 325

Toxic Substances Control Act Regulations Government Technology 325

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Their omnipresent influence on national politics and international negotiations has trapped consumers in a fossil fuel-dependent system and threatens to delay climate action even further, with the most severe consequences for those already in the most vulnerable situations. What is an advisory opinion?

Climate Change 299

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Law Government 299

Enviromental Defense

OCTOBER 31, 2024

CNRL is a member of the Pathways Alliance – a tar sands lobby group that is trying to rebrand this polluting industry as a clean one while pushing back against government climate action behind closed doors. He spent years giving encouragement for the federal government to approve and build the Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline project.

Fossil Fuels 128

Fossil Fuels Natural Resources 2015 Carbon Dioxide 128

Legal Planet

MAY 19, 2023

County of Monterey –a major case involving the authority of California local governments to limit oil and gas development within their borders. County of Monterey case raises important and difficult questions for both the justices and the Executive Branch of California state government.

Law 264

Law Fossil Fuels Climate Change Regulations 264

Legal Planet

AUGUST 22, 2023

States and local air quality regulators have the legal authority to set particulate matter (PM), ozone, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions standards and adopt regulations for these pollutants when they are already in attainment of the national ambient air quality standards ( NAAQS ) set by the U.S.

Regulations 130

Regulations Ozone Air Pollution Clean Air Act 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

I’ve written previously about how the truck industry is fighting regulations at the state and federal level with everything they’ve got. One of the scare tactics truck manufacturers have been pushing is the old industry canard of job-killing regulations. Why would truck regulations impact jobs? Source: ERM 2022 ).

2007 299

2007 Nitrogen Oxides Regulations 2004 299

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 16, 2024

How we do this, and how well it happens, depends on planning and collaboration across local, state and federal government. At the state level, governments need to do more to facilitate new transmission lines. State government roles, economic considerations, and local interests all must be recognized.

Electricity 299

Electricity Renewable Energy Clean Energy Law 299

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 20, 2022

Last year, the California Legislature enacted SB 9 , which required local governments to allow duplexes (and with ADUs, sometimes triplexes and quadraplexes) in single-family zones. But localities can deal with their own regulations.). As former Secretary of State George Shultz said of American politics: It’s Never Over.

Government 246

Government 2018 Regulations Law 246

Circle of Blue

SEPTEMBER 28, 2022

Water-related crises around the world have shown that current systems of governance and economic organization are unsuited for a world altered by global warming. First, damage to freshwater supplies is increasingly straining human societies, especially the poor, with far-reaching implications for economic, social, and political stability.

Government 130

Government Climate Change Deforestation Sustainable Development 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

At a time when we are experiencing increased reliance on and benefits from advancements in science, alongside the need to regulate emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence , we need STEM students and professionals to be politically engaged.

Politics 299

Politics Technology Technology 2018 299

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 8, 2024

That means virtually every regulation on private action intended to serve the public good will be delayed, delayed, and delayed. Aside from the political consequences, if a president and their appointees are immune from consequences for inappropriate, even illegal, meddling in agency actions has any accountability gone by the board?

Environmental Protection 306

Environmental Protection Regulations Conservation Law 306

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 23, 2023

Sprinkle (above right, and hereafter “RHS”), an MD/PhD, works at the intersection of politics and the life sciences at the UMD School of Public Policy and has published on clinical medicine, health policy, bioethics, bioengineering, biosecurity, environmental health, environmental policy, and policy history. Dr. Robert H.

Regulations 279

Regulations Law Politics Air Pollution 279

Legal Planet

AUGUST 26, 2021

The Supreme Court interpreted the statute to place an absolute priority on preserving endangered species, regardless of the impact on the economy or other government goals. In an opinion by Justice Stevens, the Court held that the threat of sea level rise gave a state government standing to bring the suit. This case is a century older.

Clean Air Act 246

Clean Air Act Endangered Species Act Regulations Air Pollution 246

Clean Energy Law

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

3] In the future, the Commission can introduce further repairability requirements for new products through the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. 2] Provisional agreement on the text of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation was reached by the EU Parliament and Council in December 2023.

Politics 130

Politics Regulations 2023 Law 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 17, 2023

A more thorough history would include the settling and colonization of California by the Spanish (1500s) and Mexican (early 1800s) governments, but for brevity, I focus here on the intentional and duplicitous actions of the California state government (established in 1850) and its co-conspirator: the United States federal government.

Government 361

Government Climate Change Natural Resources Regulations 361

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 18, 2022

Right now, states and the federal government have a choice that will define our country’s options for clean energy and planning the power grid for the challenges ahead. This choice reveals how the electric grid, and the work to cut global warming emissions, are shaped by our political structures. Shared Duties, with Leadership.

Electricity 264

Electricity Renewable Energy Clean Energy Government 264

Circle of Blue

NOVEMBER 1, 2021

In the Nile River basin last week, a political power shift in Sudan could turn up the heat on a long-simmering dispute over a major dam in the region. In that decade, the federal government created the U.S. And state governments began to secure those same rights for individuals in their constitutions.

2021 278

2021 Electricity Environmental Protection Politics 278

Legal Planet

JULY 29, 2021

They will be working alongside our faculty director (formerly faculty co-director) Ted Parson—an accomplished scholar of environmental governance—as well as me and my colleague Cara Horowitz, shaping the strategic direction of the Emmett Institute. Wang is a leading expert on environmental governance and the law and politics of China.

Law 246

Law Climate Change Carbon Dioxide Deforestation 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 4, 2022

Now the reports driven by these resolutions are beginning to roll in, and while they certainly provide some insight into the fossil fuel industry’s investment in political influence, a sleight of hand is preventing investors from seeing the companies’ full strategy. The company spent $6 million to lobby federal and state governments in 2020.

Fossil Fuels 264

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement 2020 Politics 264

Enviromental Defense

MARCH 17, 2023

Late in the federal court hearings last week, in their lawsuit against plastics regulations , Big Plastic’s arguments went completely off the rails. The government doesn’t actually know how many turtles we’ve killed with our plastic, and what that number represents of the total number of turtles in the world. We’ve seen the pictures.

Precautionary Principle 98

Precautionary Principle Regulations Government Climate Change 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Since 1999, after the Chinese government approved the reactor plans, TVEL, Russia’s nuclear fuel company and a Rosatom subsidiary, worked with the China Institute of Atomic Energy to supply highly enriched uranium fuel (64.4% U-235) for China’s CEFR. Chinese imports of enriched uranium and plutonium, all sources.

Nuclear Power 351

Nuclear Power 2016 2017 2018 351

New Scientist

AUGUST 9, 2023

As news feeds overflow with videos of raw sewage gushing into UK rivers, the government here needs to step up with tougher regulation and more joined-up thinking

Politics 98

Politics Regulations Government 98

Circle of Blue

JULY 6, 2021

Until better regulations are finalized, the easiest way to protect your water is through a filtration system. But dealing with chemicals seems more complicated for regulators. I think that the only way we can reduce exposures, we need better regulation and in some cases that may mean that we need new laws,” Birnbaum said.

Waste 312

Waste Regulations Climate Change Environmental Protection 312

Circle of Blue

JUNE 21, 2022

Environmental groups are celebrating a victory in Albania, where the government has blocked the construction of a dam on one of Europe’s last wild rivers. To plan the national park, the Albanian government has called on the environmental groups EcoAlbania and RiverWatch. Last month, Chile’s environmental regulator rejected the project.

2022 246

2022 2030 Recycling Politics 246

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 7, 2021

If the government of Ontario hoped that abolishing the Environment Commissioner, and transferring the position’s responsibilities to the Auditor General would free it from accountability on climate change, wilderness conservation, pollution and species at risk protection, it must surely be disappointed. . ENDANGERED SPECIES.

Government 98

Government Carbon Emissions Climate Change Environmental Protection 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 1, 2022

California’s leadership on reducing truck pollution has been on full display the past few years, passing critical regulations requiring 90 percent reduction in smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NO X ) emissions from diesel trucks and requiring manufacturers sell an increasing share of electric trucks to move away from fossil fuels altogether.

Nitrogen Oxides 246

Nitrogen Oxides Clean Air Act Ozone Fossil Fuels 246

Circle of Blue

APRIL 14, 2022

A bare-chested old man lies in the emergency room of a government hospital in northeast Nigeria. In the pre-colonial era, mechanisms such as the traditional administrative system which regulated grazing activities and demarcated cattle migratory routes, known as the burti, were key to establishing clear boundaries between farmers and herders.

Government 338

Government Climate Change 2016 2018 338

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 2, 2023

Government adopts a sector-by-sector plan to reach 2050 climate goals. Germany agrees on EU regulation to make cars carbon neutral by 2035 (either zero emissions or net-zero). The government proposes new measures to help meet the 2030 climate target, including 80% renewables by 2030. Fifteen percent of electricity is renewable.

Nuclear Power 203

Nuclear Power Renewable Energy 2030 Carbon Emissions 203