Section
Environment
Climate, energy, conservation and environmental regulation. Rule-making is checked against the Federal Register and scientific claims against the published literature.
EPA Proposes Reallocating 2025 Small Refinery Exemptions
The EPA proposed a rule on October 15, 2026, to reallocate additional 2025 small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Latest in Environment
EPA Extends Greenhouse Gas Reporting Deadline to March 2027
The EPA extended the 2025 greenhouse gas reporting deadline from October 30, 2026, to March 10, 2027. Approximately 8,200 facilities submit data each year under the program.
Bike Fire Erupts in Santa Clarita Prompting Evacuations
The Bike Fire erupted in Santa Clarita on Sunday, prompting mandatory evacuation orders for multiple zones. Emergency shelters were established for residents and large animals.
Forest Service Sets 15-Day Comment Period for Assessments
The U.S. Forest Service issued a final rule setting a 15-day minimum comment period for environmental assessments. This change reduces the previous review timeline of up to 150 days and limits objection filings to 15 pages.
Albanese Warns of Super El Niño Hazards in Fiji
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned of a hazardous summer with floods and cyclones due to a super El Niño. Sea levels in the western Pacific are rising at more than twice the global average.
San Luis Valley Farmers Challenge Groundwater Fee Hike
San Luis Valley farmers challenge a plan raising groundwater fees from $150 to $500 per acre-foot. State Engineer Kevin Rein warns he will curtail diversions if sustainability goals are not met by 2031.
Hawaii's Hōlei Sea Arch Collapses Into Pacific Ocean
The Hōlei Sea Arch in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park collapsed between September 23 and September 27. Officials warn visitors to avoid unstable cliff edges near the former site due to falling hazards.
Swiss Glaciers Lose 5.5% of Ice Volume in 2026
Swiss glaciers lost 5.5% of their ice volume in 2026, marking the second-largest annual decline on record. Scientists warn that reliance on meltwater is unsustainable as 1,200 smaller glaciers have vanished in 50 years.
Newsom Declares Emergency for El Niño Storms in California
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on September 21, 2026, to prepare for El Niño storms. Officials pre-positioned 500,000 sandbags as sea levels may rise 1.2 feet.
NOAA Declares Super El Niño With Record Strength in California
NOAA states this year's El Niño reached super status with a 75% chance of historic strength. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as officials warn of coastal flooding.
EU Ministers Meet in Dublin to Accelerate Electrification Plans
EU energy ministers discussed plans to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to electricity during a meeting in Dublin. The bloc has spent over 100 billion euros on additional energy imports since the Iran war began.
Palau President Says Two-Thirds of Helen Island Gone
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. told the U.N. that two-thirds of Helen Island vanished due to rising seas. The U.N. adopted a resolution earlier this week calling for statehood to persist despite land loss.
UN General Assembly Adopts Sea Level Rise Declaration
The UN General Assembly approved the UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise by consensus on September 24, 2026. The measure addresses risks to 770 million people living less than five metres above the high-tide line.
Al Gore Sees 2026 as Climate Tipping Point
Al Gore told reporters that 2026 could mark a positive turning point in global climate action. He cited renewable energy now receiving 65% of worldwide investment as evidence of shifting momentum.
Scottsdale Council Redirects $100M From Water Plan
The Scottsdale City Council moved $100 million from wastewater recycling to new water sources in June 2026. This action canceled a plan to add purified wastewater to the drinking supply by 2027.
Italy Senate Approves Nuclear Framework With 81 Votes
Italy's Senate approved legislation establishing a legal framework for next-generation nuclear power on September 23, 2026. The measure passed with 81 votes in favor and now requires implementing decrees within 12 months.
NOAA Verifies First Sea Turtle Nesting on U.S. West Coast
NOAA confirmed two olive ridley sea turtles nested on Orange County beaches in September 2026. Officials fenced both sites to protect an estimated 50 to 100 eggs per nest until they hatch.
France Culture Ministry Finds Gallo-Roman Wall in Paris
The France culture ministry announced a 20-meter wall discovery beneath the Hôtel-Dieu hospital this summer. The find dates between 200BC and 10BC and supports theories about ancient Lutetia.
Ukraine Ministry Reports 13 Million Books Destroyed
The Ukraine Ministry of Culture states Russian strikes destroyed 13 million books this summer. Officials plan a support package including grants and state book purchases.
Mediterranean Children Face More Extreme Fire Weather Days
A new study projects children born in 2025 in the Mediterranean will face up to 473 additional days of extreme fire weather.
Forest Service Lacks Staff for Record Wildfires in U.S.
The U.S. Forest Service states it does not have enough personnel to handle the record acreage burned in 2026. Workforce cuts of 16% last year reduced support staff needed for wildfire logistics.
California Sees Record Black Bear Encounters in 2026
California reports a record number of black bear encounters in 2026 as urban expansion and climate change drive animals into neighborhoods.
Cuba Grid Collapses for Sixth Time This Year
Cuba's national power grid failed on September 18, marking the sixth nationwide blackout this year. Restoration efforts returned electricity to half of Havana customers by Saturday.
Trump Administration Narrows Endangered Species Act Harm Definition
The Trump administration issued a September 14 directive redefining harm under the Endangered Species Act to exclude accidental killings. Twenty states and Washington, D.C.