Recent Events

EPA Sued By More Than 20 States Over Canceled Solar Grants

The Environmental Protection Agency recently canceled a $7 billion program intended to make solar power accessible to low-income households. The “Solar For All” program was established in 2022 under the Inflation Reduction Act, passed during the Biden administration, to increase access to solar power for approximately 1 million lower-income households. However, the Trump administration has undone many of these environmentally-conscious actions, this being no exception. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July 2025, gave the Trump administration some ability to rescind Inflation Reduction Act funds. Following this, in August, the EPA announced that the “Solar For All” program was canceled and withdrew around 90% of grant funds from the accounts in which states received the awards. Now, more than 20 states are suing the EPA, claiming that the agency used “an erroneous and bad faith interpretation” of the One Big Beautiful Bill to justify its actions. They claim that the EPA has overstepped its authority by seeking to take away funds previously approved by Congress and already awarded to grantees. Another similar lawsuit has been filed in the US District Court in Rhode Island on behalf of solar companies, homeowners, nonprofits, and unions, and it relies on similar arguments.

Conservation Groups Vote Yes For Genetic Engineering

In a vote on Tuesday, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) approved further preliminary exploration of genetic engineering tools to save the environment. The IUCN, the world’s largest network of conservation organizations, governments, and Indigenous groups, has more than 1,400 members from about 160 countries. It meets once every four years, and at their latest meeting, there seems to be a tentative consensus that using genetic modification to preserve particular species and ensure their survival should be pursued. Although the IUCN's decisions do not carry any legal weight, their approval of this is symbolically important. It marks a significant first step in what could be an international revolution to invest more resources into genetic engineering. There is already much work being done in this field, such as genetically modifying mosquitoes to reduce their disease-transmission capacity, synthesizing horseshoe crab blood for drug development, and editing the genes of endangered species to increase their resilience. Proponents of this research point to this work as evidence that such findings could potentially help both humanity and the environment. However, not everyone agrees. Dana Perls, a senior food and agriculture program manager for the nonprofit Friends of the Earth, expressed her disappointment with the decision, stating that “We need to focus on contained research that doesn’t make our environment a live experimental field trial.” According to dissenters, even releasing genetically modified mosquitoes resistant to disease-causing parasites could pose unforeseen risks and be impossible to reverse. However, no matter one’s opinion on the matter, it is impossible to deny that this decision reflects a feeling of desperation among all who care about the environment, as current regulations and environmental efforts have all but fallen short. Both conservationists and government officials may now see genetic engineering as one of the only remaining options to address worsening climate change and decreasing biodiversity.

Earth’s First Catastrophic Tipping Point: The Widespread Death of Coral Reefs

Our planet has quickly been approaching “the brink” of reaching our tipping point—from the Amazon rainforest to polar ice sheets—and we’ve finally reached it. Tipping points, as scientists describe them, are moments when a major ecosystem reaches a point at which severe degradation is inevitable. Since 2023, the ocean’s coral reefs have been enduring a mass bleaching, turning our once-vibrant, lively ocean into a bland, seaweed-dominated landscape. Coral reefs are considered one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change, and Mike Barrett, the chief scientific advisor at the Worldlife Fund UK, speculates that they have been “pushed beyond what they can cope with.” They play an essential role in our ecosystem, from providing a habitat for marine species to buffering coastal areas from storms.

However, the coral reefs can still be saved. Currently, some coral reefs serve as refugia where climate impacts are less pronounced. Protecting these locations will be crucial to ensure that we have seeds of recovery. Scientists predict we will overshoot our 1.5-degree goal, but the key right now is to minimize further warming and bring temperatures down as efficiently as possible.

Fortunately, this report comes just a month before COP30, the annual United Nations climate conference. This meeting is crucial for setting our goals to bring down emissions over the next decade. This unfortunate event must be a wake-up call for the world. If we don’t act now, we will also lose the Amazon rainforest, the ice sheets, and vital ocean currents. If this situation continues until that point, it could be a catastrophic outcome for all of humanity.

Tips: Sustainable Transportation

As we continue to feel the effects of transportation emissions, it becomes increasingly important to explore ways we can promote climate-friendly modes of transportation in our day-to-day lives. 

1. Walk or bike for short trips

Oftentimes, we may find ourselves in situations where it is not necessary to drive a car. For many trips under 2 miles, it can be helpful to walk or bike instead. Doing either of these activities helps reduce emissions while also improving our overall fitness and well-being.

2. Drive efficiently

Another way that we can help mitigate the effects of car emissions is by driving efficiently. This includes accelerating smoothly rather than making quick starts, maintaining steady speeds on the road, and ensuring our tires are properly inflated. Keeping our tires in good condition is especially important, as low tire pressure increases rolling resistance and causes cars to use more fuel.

3. Smart Charging 

As we continue to see an increase in EVs, it becomes increasingly vital for us to know how to charge them efficiently. This can include charging EVs during off-peak hours, when electricity demand is much lower. Additionally, regulating how much we charge our vehicles is key. Many daily activities do not require a full charge, so being mindful about how much we charge allows us to use energy more efficiently and help extend battery life.

4. Carpooling

For most of us, it is extremely common to find ourselves heading to the same places as our friends, classmates, or coworkers. With this in mind, greater carpooling is a simple way to reduce car emissions while also building a stronger sense of community. Carpooling helps reduce the number of cars on the road, leading to less traffic congestion and lower transportation costs.