ClimateWire News
Fired FEMA chief threatened to quit weeks ago
Cameron Hamilton, the acting disaster chief, appeared to contradict Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem by defending the agency on Wednesday.
Congress counters Trump with massive FEMA restructuring plan
Republicans and Democrats are trying to give Congress a voice in the future of the disaster agency.
Trump targets carbon removal project in speaker’s district
The president’s budget threatens a $3.5 billion direct air capture initiative that has benefited Republican-led states.
2 offshore wind projects move forward despite Trump’s threats
The Danish wind giant Ørsted said its project near Rhode Island was 75 percent complete.
Colorado legislators nix plan to tame property insurance costs
A bill to create a wildfire reinsurance program failed in committee, even though it had the support of Gov. Jared Polis (D).
Amtrak to ax 450 jobs as part of $100M spending cut
The layoffs amount to a roughly 10 percent reduction of Amtrak managers.
California drivers could pay an extra $700 a year for gasoline
Extending the state cap-and-trade program would be “particularly burdensome for lower-income households,” the Legislative Analyst’s Office said.
New York governor’s budget boosts environmental, climate spending
The state's spending plan includes a slight boost to a key environmental fund, plus $1 billion for climate programs.
Bank watchdogs flag near-term risks of delaying climate efforts
“Extreme weather events and abrupt changes in transition policies can significantly affect our economies and financial sectors in the short run,” they warn.
Zimbabwe sets up carbon markets watchdog to govern trading activity
The step is part of a drive by African countries, including Kenya and Zambia, to regulate the industry and gain greater control over it.
UK water firms warned to protect supply amid drought worries
The country's environment regulator says that with reservoirs at 84 percent full, there's a summer shortage risk.
This April was world’s second-hottest on record, EU scientists say
This past April was 1.51 degrees Celsius hotter than the preindustrial average, continuing a now nearly 2-year-old trend.
Meet the 4 influencers shaping Chris Wright’s worldview
A common refrain: Climate policy hurts the poor, and the continued use of fossil fuels is a boon for humanity.
Judge asks lawyers to assess Trump’s order targeting state climate cases
A South Carolina judge told attorneys for Charleston and the fossil fuel companies that it's suing to determine if the executive order affects their case.
Oregon lawmakers ready to junk contentious wildfire map
The map came with new requirements for risky properties. Scrapping it would end a “prolonged and ultimately pointless argument with rural residents,’” a key Democrat said.
Top House appropriator backs disaster program killed by Trump
Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma told Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that the canceled grants are "extraordinarily valuable to communities."
Canada’s climate leader goes to Washington
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who until recently was a U.N. climate envoy, met with President Donald Trump, who has tried to dismember climate policy.
Clean-tech firm that turns CO2 into rock secures new funding
Exterra’s process creates magnesium oxide, which is then combined with carbon dioxide that’s captured by industrial emitters to create rocks .
Credits tied to shutting Asia coal plants early win backing
Sales of the credits can help offset a shortfall in revenue from those power assets shuttered ahead of schedule.
Clear plans needed to deploy climate adaptation funds, UN says
Signatories to the Paris Agreement are expected to file adaptation strategies with the United Nations this year.