Policy Archives - EcoWatch (original) (raw)
New York Finalizes Rule for New Buildings to Be Electric
New York is now the first state in the U.S. to require new buildings to be built entirely electric, without hookups to fossil fuels including gas, the New York State Assembly reported. The rule was initially passed in 2023 as the All-Electric Buildings Act and was finalized with the State Fire Prevention and Building Code […]
PFAS Levels in Tap Water for 73 Million People in U.S. Exceed EPA Thresholds: NRDC Report
According to new map data from Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), more than 73 million people living in the U.S. are exposed to tap water with toxic levels of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The data revealed that PFAS levels in tap water across the U.S. are higher than the safety thresholds set for […]
Bottlenose dolphins living off the coast of South Korea’s Jeju Island are threatened by boats, discarded fishing gear, construction noise, pollution and runoff from fish farms. But a group of the country’s environmentalists and experts are campaigning for the dolphins to be given “legal personhood” status to better protect them. It is the first attempt […]
20 States Sue Trump Administration for Slashing FEMA Disaster Mitigation Program
A group of 20 states sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over the shutting down of a multibillion-dollar grant program with the purpose of strengthening natural disaster preparation and mitigation. The lawsuit filed in a Boston federal court contends that the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) unlawfully eliminated its Building Resilient Infrastructures and […]
What Mountains Provide and Why They Need Protection
While mountains are formed by geologic forces deep underground, they create space for unique ecosystems to form high above the Earth. Mountains’ harsh conditions and relative isolation have encouraged and sheltered varied biodiversity.
Common Weedkiller Ingredient Harms Gut Bacteria and Multiple Organs: Study
The toxic chemical diquat, an ingredient used in place of glyphosate in weedkillers in the United States, has been found to cause multiple types of damage to organs and kill gut bacteria, according to new research. Diquat is sprayed extensively on orchards and vineyards, and its use has increased as controversial substances like paraquat and […]
In the introduction to Sharon Udasin and Rachel Frazin’s new book, Poisoning The Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America, the authors cite an alarming statistic from 2015 that PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are present in the bodies of an estimated 97% of Americans. How did we ever get to this point? Their book is […]
River Seine in Paris Reopens for Public Swimming for the First Time in 100 Years
After more than a century, a ban on swimming in the River Seine in Paris has been lifted. The river has been deemed clean and safe enough for swimming to once again be legal in this iconic waterway. According to the city’s official tourism office, 11 total swimming areas are reopening across Paris, with three […]
Higher Levels of PFAS Found in Waterways Downstream From Wastewater Treatment Plants: Report
Recent research from Waterkeeper Alliance warns that 98% of tested waterways across 19 states contain PFAS, and the problem is particularly noticeable in areas downstream from water treatment plants and sites where biosolids are applied. According to a new report, the PFAS Report Phase II, 95% of sampling sites that were downstream from wastewater treatment […]