Inside Climate News
EPA Flags Microplastics as ‘Priority’ Water Contaminants, but the Move Doesn’t Guarantee Regulation
The EPA has added microplastics and pharmaceuticals to its draft Contaminant Candidate List, a formal step toward potential regulation of these substances in public drinking water. The designation signals official recognition of their risk but carries no binding regulatory requirements — inclusion on the list does not obligate the agency to act. The move aligns with the Trump administration's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, though critics and advocates will be watching closely to see whether priority status translates into enforceable standards.
Read article →Guardian Environment
New North Sea drilling would barely reduce UK gas imports at all, data shows
Britain's much-touted North Sea expansion would do little to ease the country's dependence on foreign gas, with new analysis revealing the Jackdaw field would offset just 2% of current imports and Rosebank a mere 1%. The findings undercut a central argument made by drilling proponents that new domestic production is key to achieving energy security. The UK would remain overwhelmingly reliant on Norwegian supplies and other external sources regardless of whether the fields are developed.
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Mongabay
Once lost, now found: Five “missing” bird species rediscovered in 2025, offering hope
Conservationists scored a rare win in 2025 as five bird species, each absent from scientific record for over a decade, were rediscovered in the wild. The findings come from the annual Lost Birds List update, which tracks species with no confirmed photographic, acoustic, or genetic evidence. Their return signals that targeted search efforts can still yield results even for species presumed functionally gone.
Read article →Inside Climate News
Virginia Republicans Want Tax Relief to Ease Gas Costs. There’s Also Electric Vehicles.
Virginia Republicans are pushing for a temporary suspension of the state's 32-cent-per-gallon gas tax as fuel prices climb amid tensions tied to Trump's Iran policy. The proposal reflects the party's continued prioritization of internal combustion vehicles, with lawmakers showing little enthusiasm for electric vehicles as an alternative solution. The debate puts Republicans in the awkward position of seeking short-term relief for a problem partly tied to their own president's foreign policy decisions.
Read article →Inside Climate News
Warming Waters in the Gulf of Maine May Affect the Future of Lobsters
Rising ocean temperatures in the Gulf of Maine are threatening one of the region's most iconic industries, with researchers warning that lobster populations may shift northward as waters warm. For fishermen like Curt Brown — who grew up harvesting lobsters before pursuing a master's degree studying those same waters — the stakes are both personal and scientific. The findings underscore a broader challenge facing coastal communities whose livelihoods depend on species increasingly on the move.
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