Signals from the Storm - 9 July 2025
Last week, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025," a massive $4+ trillion reconciliation bill that Republican lawmakers forced through Congress is an environmental stinker. This legislation has drawn significant criticism from environmental groups for its extensive rollback of climate and environmental protections. (And this is the improved version which passed!)
The bill eliminates clean energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act, cuts funding for electric vehicle incentives, phases out wind and solar tax credits, and opens federal lands to oil and gas drilling while creating new support for coal. Environmental advocates have called it "the most anti-environmental legislation ever passed in a chamber of Congress," arguing that it would "stop clean energy progress in its tracks, raise energy costs for everyday people, and exact a devastating toll on our environment."
The legislation also ends historic investments in poor and minority communities that bear disproportionate pollution burdens, eliminates environmental and climate justice block grants, and cuts funding to agencies like the National Park Service. Additionally, it allows oil and gas companies to avoid responsibility for pollution impacts by simply paying fees, essentially giving "polluters free reign to pollute as much as they want without regard for the impacts on communities and the environment." In the end, it prioritizes fossil fuel interests over environmental protection and public health at a critical time for addressing climate change. In short, it’s a mess. There’s more to see below, in the bad news section.
Young secondary forests may be the planet's most overlooked carbon sink (mongabay.com) - Young secondary forests, especially those aged 20–40 years, are highly efficient carbon sinks that can outperform newly planted forests by up to 820% per hectare, yet remain critically undervalued and at risk despite their potential to help meet global climate goals.
Senate passes bill cutting clean energy tax credits, but several senators help avoid the worst outcomes (Citizens' Climate Lobby) - The Senate narrowly passed a bill cutting clean energy tax credits, but several senators helped soften its impact by removing a new tax on solar and wind and preserving short-term incentives for clean electricity projects.
River Seine in Paris Reopens for Public Swimming for the First Time in 100 Years (EcoWatch) - After a €1.4 billion cleanup effort tied to the 2024 Olympics, Paris has reopened the River Seine for public swimming for the first time in 100 years, launching supervised swim sites despite ongoing concerns about water quality following heavy rains.
Atlanta is embracing a cheap, effective way to beat urban heat: 'cool roofs' (Grist) - Atlanta has adopted a new ordinance requiring reflective “cool roofs” on all new buildings to combat extreme urban heat, reduce energy costs, and improve public health, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods hit hardest by the urban heat island effect.
How communities are responding to Florida's worsening storms (planetforward.org) - Amid worsening tropical storms in Florida, residents, first responders, and scientists emphasize the growing importance of community resilience, cooperation, and mutual support to endure and recover from climate-driven weather disasters.
This Small Texas Town Is Fighting Back Against Big Ammonia (DeSmog) - Residents of Ingleside, Texas are battling a proposed $5 billion ammonia plant by Yara and Enbridge, citing serious environmental, health, and safety concerns despite the companies' aggressive local charm campaign and claims of producing “low-carbon” ammonia through controversial carbon capture technology.
A Decade After a Lead Crisis, Flint Has At Last Replaced Its Pipes (Yale e360) - Ten years after Flint’s lead water crisis began, the city has finally completed a court-ordered project to replace nearly 11,000 lead pipes, though hundreds of households declined the replacements and nationwide protections remain uncertain due to legal challenges.
Top Latin American court urges "control" of fossil fuels in climate ruling (climatechangenews.com) - In a landmark ruling, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights declared a legal right to a “healthy climate,” obligating states to regulate fossil fuel industries and take ambitious climate actions to uphold human rights and prevent dangerous environmental harm.
Coalition set sights on taxing luxury air travel to fund climate action (climatechangenews.com) - A coalition of eight countries is pushing to tax luxury air travel and private jets to generate billions in climate finance, aiming to launch national legislation and a global funding mechanism by COP30 to support resilience and fair transitions.
Most plant-friendly fungi are a mystery to scientists (The Conversation) - Up to 83% of vital mycorrhizal fungi species remain unknown to science, raising concerns that deforestation and poorly planned reforestation may disrupt essential underground ecosystems critical to plant health, carbon cycling, and biodiversity.
Climate Change Helped Fuel Heavy Rains That Led to Devastating Texas Flood (Inside Climate News) - Heavy rains that caused catastrophic flooding and over 100 deaths in Texas’ Hill Country were intensified by climate change, with scientists linking the event to warming-driven increases in atmospheric moisture, ocean heat, and stalled tropical weather systems.
Trump faces youth climate lawsuit over rollback of environmental protections (ehn.org) - A new youth-led lawsuit, Lighthiser v. Trump, challenges the legality of Trump-era environmental rollbacks by arguing they endanger young Americans' constitutional rights, potentially setting a powerful legal precedent in climate accountability.
Droughts are a 'slow-moving global catastrophe,' report finds (mongabay.com) - A global report warns that recent droughts from 2023 to 2025 have become a “slow-moving catastrophe,” devastating ecosystems and economies across multiple continents, worsening food and energy insecurity for over 90 million people, and demanding urgent, coordinated action to address escalating climate-driven risks.
Trump Administration Actions Could Make Hurricane Helene's Impacts Worse for Asheville (Union of Concerned Scientists) - Community members in Asheville, NC blame Trump administration rollbacks of climate and environmental protections for worsening the deadly impacts of Hurricane Helene, highlighting how weakened federal policies have left vulnerable communities less prepared for intensifying extreme weather events.
Trump's 'big, beautiful' law tethers the US to the past (Canary Media) - The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Trump dismantles core clean energy incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, threatening U.S. climate progress, manufacturing growth, and energy affordability while reinforcing reliance on fossil fuels amid rising global competition.
Trump Administration Sets Stage for Attack on National Monuments (Sierra Club) - The Trump administration is laying legal groundwork to revoke or reduce national monuments like Chuckwalla and Bears Ears, despite strong public and tribal support, by issuing a controversial DOJ opinion that contradicts longstanding legal precedent and threatens decades of public land protections.
Plastics Made the LA Fires Worse (earthisland.org) - The Los Angeles wildfires were intensified and made more toxic by widespread plastic use in buildings, highlighting the urgent need to rebuild with non-plastic, healthier materials to protect human health and reduce climate and fire risks.
Chart: Trump's 'big beautiful bill' blows US emissions goal by 7bn tonnes (Carbon Brief) - Trump’s repeal of Biden-era climate policies through the “big beautiful bill” is projected to add 7 billion extra tonnes of emissions by 2030, derailing U.S. Paris Agreement targets, weakening clean energy growth, and increasing household energy costs nationwide.
'Big Beautiful Bill' Set to Slash Through U.S. Climate and Justice Drive (Inside Climate News) - Trump’s $4 trillion “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” guts clean energy incentives, boosts fossil fuel development, slashes climate justice funding, and weakens environmental protections, marking a sweeping rollback of Biden-era climate and equity gains with profound consequences for emissions, public health, and vulnerable communities.
Exposure to Air Pollution May Cause Heart Damage (Environmental News Network) - Long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) is linked to early signs of heart damage, including myocardial fibrosis, according to cardiac MRI findings published in Radiology.
Violating California Residents' Right to Water (Inside Climate News) - The Trump administration’s cancellation of a federal grant to bring clean drinking water to contaminated rural communities in California has derailed vital infrastructure plans, leaving thousands—many elderly, low-income, and Latino—without safe water despite decades of known pollution and overwhelming state and community support.
Trump's tax bill could be a major win for Big Ag. Everyone else? Not so much. (Grist) - Trump’s new tax bill funnels billions in subsidies to large industrial farms while slashing food assistance, rural development, and immigrant protections—deepening inequality in the food system and leaving small farmers, farmworkers, and low-income families worse off.
'Blatant Political Capture' Feared as Saudi Aramco Economist Nominated to Lead IPCC Science Role (theenergymix.com) - The nomination of a long-time Saudi Aramco economist to lead a key IPCC chapter on fossil fuel emissions has sparked intense backlash from climate advocates and scientists, who warn it represents dangerous political capture that could undermine the credibility and urgency of global climate action.
California Undercuts Environmental Rules with YIMBY Law for New Housing (theenergymix.com) - California has passed a controversial law exempting certain housing and infrastructure projects from stringent environmental review, sparking backlash from environmental and labor groups who say it undermines protections while proponents argue it’s necessary to address the state’s housing crisis.
Trump's Plan to Eliminate FEMA Could Spell Disaster for Impacted Communities (Sierra Club) - Trump’s plan to eliminate FEMA and shift disaster recovery responsibilities to states has sparked alarm among experts, officials, and storm survivors, who warn that dismantling the federal agency amid increasingly extreme climate disasters would cripple recovery efforts and leave vulnerable communities without critical support.
Senate Republicans just voted to dismantle America's only climate plan (Grist) - Senate Republicans have passed a sweeping policy bill that slashes clean energy funding, accelerates the rollback of key climate provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act, and threatens America's only federal emissions-reduction strategy, setting up a high-stakes showdown in the House.
INFORMATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL:
Reduce, remove, reflect — the three Rs that could limit global warming (The Conversation) - Limiting global warming requires a coordinated approach of rapidly reducing emissions, responsibly scaling up carbon removal methods, and carefully assessing sunlight reflection technologies as a potential emergency measure, all while addressing scientific, ethical, and governance challenges.
How disaster relief and response work (Grist) - This comprehensive guide explains how disaster relief and response work in the U.S., outlining key steps individuals can take—from finding accurate information and shelter to applying for FEMA assistance, documenting damage, and cleaning up safely—while emphasizing coordination between local, state, and federal agencies.
What exactly is a natural disaster? (Grist) - Natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, floods, tornadoes, and winter storms are intensifying due to climate change, and while federal aid can support recovery, it requires a formal declaration process that often delays help and leaves many impacted communities without sufficient assistance.
What you should know about disaster recovery (Grist) - Disaster recovery is a long, complex process that involves rebuilding infrastructure, accessing mental health and federal aid resources, combating fraud, preparing for future disasters, and ensuring communities lead equitable, resilient recovery efforts with transparency and accountability.
How to prepare for a disaster (Grist) - Preparing for a disaster involves gathering accurate local alerts, building an emergency kit with critical documents and supplies, planning evacuation routes, safeguarding your home from multiple hazards, and ensuring accessibility and safety for people with disabilities, pets, and all household members.
How to access food before, during, and after a disaster (Grist) - Accessing food during a disaster involves stocking up on safe, nonperishable supplies in advance, locating local food distribution centers and aid organizations, navigating federal relief programs like SNAP and D-SNAP, and understanding barriers noncitizens may face, all while recognizing how disasters deepen existing hunger and economic disparities.
How climate change is intensifying hurricanes (Grist) - Climate change is making hurricanes more dangerous by warming ocean waters, which fuels stronger winds, heavier rainfall, faster intensification, and slower movement, while rising sea levels and outdated storm rating systems further increase the risks to vulnerable coastal communities.
How climate change may be affecting tornadoes (Grist) - While scientists haven’t confirmed a direct link between climate change and tornado frequency or strength, warmer temperatures may be shifting tornado patterns—causing more off-season storms, increasing activity in the eastern U.S., and catching communities unprepared.
Your essential guide to climate finance (The Conversation) - This guide demystifies climate finance by explaining key concepts like carbon pricing, green and blue bonds, climate resilience, emissions trading, and just transition, highlighting how financial tools and policies are shaping the global response to climate change and aiming to ensure a fair, sustainable future.