Environment Focus Washington from

Biden Says U.S., Canada to Work toward Achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2050

February 24, 2021 Focus Washington

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that he and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to work toward achieving net zero emissions by 2050, Reuters reported. “We’re launching a high-level, climate-ambition ministerial and to […]

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Investors Push Companies to Come Clean on Climate

February 24, 2021 Focus Washington

In the past, shareholder votes on the environment were rare and easily brushed aside. Things could look different in the annual meeting season starting next month, when companies are set to face the most investor […]

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White House Says Severe Winter Storm Likely Due to Climate Change

February 18, 2021 Focus Washington

The White House on Thursday said a severe winter storm engulfing Texas and other states was the type of extreme weather event that climate change is triggering and proof that “we’re not adequately prepared for […]

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Millions Endure Record Cold Without Power

February 17, 2021 Focus Washington

A winter storm that left millions without power in record-breaking cold weather claimed more lives, including three people found dead after a tornado hit a seaside town in North Carolina and four family members who […]

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Biden Pauses Oil and Gas Leases, Cuts Subsidies in ‘Bold’ Climate Steps

January 27, 2021 Focus Washington

President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a raft of executive actions to combat climate change, including pausing new oil and gas leases on federal land and cutting fossil fuel subsidies, as he pursues green policies […]

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Record-Breaking Storm Unleashes Travel Havoc on U.S. Northeast

December 18, 2020 Focus Washington

A winter storm piled record-breaking amounts of snow onto parts of the U.S. Northeast on Thursday and wreaked havoc throughout the region, killing at least four people in traffic crashes and hobbling travel, Reuters writes. […]

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U.S. Formally Exits Global Climate Pact Amid Election Uncertainty

November 4, 2020 Focus Washington

The United States formally exited the Paris Agreement on Wednesday, fulfilling an old promise by President Donald Trump to withdraw the world’s second-largest greenhouse gas emitter from the global pact to fight climate change, Reuters […]

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Storm-Battered U.S. Gulf Coast Braces for Hurricane Delta

October 9, 2020 Focus Washington

Hurricane Delta is now strengthening over the Gulf of Mexico and churning toward the U.S. Gulf Coast after largely sparing Mexico. Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana have declared states of emergency, and parts of Louisiana are […]

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California Hits Milestone With 4 Million Acres Burned in Historic Wildfires

October 2, 2020 Focus Washington

California is poised to hit a fearsome milestone: 4 million acres burned this year by wildfires that have killed 30 people and incinerated hundreds of homes in what is already the worst fire season on […]

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White House to Announce $11.6B Aid Package for Puerto Rico: Sources

September 18, 2020 Focus Washington

The White House on Friday will announce a $11.6 billion aid package for Puerto Rico, three years after the territory was hit by Hurricane Maria, sources tell Fox News. The aid package will be to assist Puerto Rico’s […]

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Trump and Biden Clash Over U.S. Wildfires

September 15, 2020 Focus Washington

Democratic candidate Joe Biden branded President Donald Trump a “climate arsonist” on Monday for refusing to acknowledge global warming’s role in deadly wildfires sweeping the western United States, while Trump blamed lax forestry and declared, […]

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Trump Administration to Deny Pending Retroactive U.S. Biofuel Waivers, Say Sources

September 9, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump has instructed that dozens of oil refiner requests for retroactive waivers from U.S. biofuel laws be denied amid concerns the issue could cut into his support in the Farm Belt, three sources […]

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U.S. Utilities Say Biden Plan to Cut C02 Hinges on Breakthroughs

September 8, 2020 Focus Washington

The U.S. power industry would struggle to meet presidential hopeful Joe Biden’s proposed mandate that it become carbon neutral by 2035 without some big breakthroughs in clean energy technology, according to a Reuters analysis of […]

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California Wildfires Prompt Evacuations

September 7, 2020 Focus Washington

More than 200 people were airlifted to safety overnight after a fast-moving wildfire cut off the only road out of the Mammoth Pool Reservoir, a popular recreational site in California’s Sierra National Forest, Reuters reported. […]

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Trump Tours Parts of Louisiana, Texas Hit by Hurricane Laura

August 30, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump on Saturday toured areas hit by Hurricane Laura in Louisiana and in Texas receiving briefings on emergency operations and relief efforts, Reuters reported. “One thing I know about this state, it rebuilds […]

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NFL Legend Brett Favre Says Trump Golf Outing Was ‘an Honor,’ Praises President’s Skills

August 7, 2020 Focus Washington

Legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre said Thursday that it was “an honor” to become the latest sports star to play a round of golf with President Trump late last month. Trump invited Favre to tee off at his National Golf […]

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Storm Isaias Churns Close to Florida’s East Coast

August 2, 2020 Focus Washington

Isaias, downgraded from a hurricane but still a powerful tropical storm, churned close to Florida on Sunday, set to brush the state’s east coast with strong winds and potential coastal flooding, Reuters reported. By 5 […]

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Trump Announces Rollbacks of Environmental Reviews for Infrastructure Projects

July 16, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a new federal rule to cut out bureaucratic red tape and speed up environmental review processes for proposed highways, gas pipelines and other major infrastructure, Fox News informed. The rule, […]

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Democratic Party Irked by Council’s ‘Insurgent’ Climate Plan

June 15, 2020 Focus Washington

The Democratic National Committee’s council on climate change irked party leadership when it published policy recommendations this month that ventured beyond presidential candidate Joe Biden’s plan, according to three people familiar with the matter, Reuters […]

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Oil Refineries, Offshore Drillers Face Hurricane Challenges Amid Pandemic

June 4, 2020 Focus Washington

As oil and gas companies began shutting offshore production before the first tropical storm of the season in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, experts said restarting wells and refineries will take longer and prove more […]

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Saudi Wind Farm Wins International Award

February 14, 2020 Focus Washington

A wind farm in the Kingdom’s northwest has won an international award for its low production costs. The project, which generates electric power from wind energy in Dumat Al-Jandal, won the 2019 Middle East and […]

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Refineries Show Benzene Levels over EPA Recommendation

February 6, 2020 Focus Washington

At least 10 refineries showed levels of benzene that were above the government’s “action level” for the pollutant at their fence lines as of September of last year, a report has shown. Oil refineries are required to […]

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Trump Administration Reduces Federal Protections For Streams And Wetlands

January 24, 2020 Focus Washington

The Environmental Protection Agency is dramatically reducing the amount of U.S. waterways that get federal protection under the Clean Water Act — a move that is welcomed by many farmers, builders and mining companies but […]

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High EU Official Detects Hints of U.S. Climate Shift

January 24, 2020 Focus Washington

There are signs President Donald Trump is starting to engage more seriously on climate change and listening to the concerns of corporations, the European Commission’s vice-president and head of its ‘Green Deal’ said on Thursday, […]

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Treasury Secretary Mnuchin Scolds Climate Activist Greta Thunberg

January 23, 2020 Focus Washington

Just when the Swiss mountain spat between President Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg seemed to have blown over, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin took a new dig at the young climate activist on Thursday, Reuters writes. […]

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Greta Thunberg Urges World Leaders to Give Voice to Young Activists

January 21, 2020 Focus Washington

Climate activist Greta Thunberg, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos this year, urged world leaders to listen to young people on Tuesday, Reuters informs. “I’m not a person that can complain about not being heard,” […]

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Rain and Hail Pelt Fire-Ravaged Australian States

January 16, 2020 Focus Washington

Severe thunderstorms are pelting some regions of Australia suffering from historic wildfires with powerful rain and large hail, CNN writes. The storms could bring some much-needed relief to the firefighters battling some of the worst […]

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AP: Australians Leave Homes as Heat, Winds Escalate Fire Danger

January 10, 2020 Focus Washington

Thousands of people fled their homes and helicopters dropped supplies to towns at risk of nearby wildfires as hot, windy conditions Friday threatened already fire-ravaged southeastern Australian communities, The Associated Press writes. The danger is […]

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Thunderstorms Bring Relief, but also Danger to Australian Wildfires

January 8, 2020 Focus Washington

Thunderstorms and showers brought some relief for firefighters battling deadly wildfires across Australia’s drought-parched east coast on Wednesday, but also raised concerns that lightning will spark more fires before dangerous hot and windy conditions return, […]

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Australia Urges People to Flee as Fires Could Surge over the Weekend

January 4, 2020 Focus Washington

Authorities urged Australians on Friday to evacuate parts of the eastern states of Victoria and New South Wales to escape bushfires they fear are set to burn out of control this weekend, Reuters informed. In […]

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