Global Scans · Pollution · Weekly Summary

• [New] EPA's determination rescinds the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which found that climate pollution is a threat to public health and welfare. American Public Health Association
• [New] The air quality index in West Palm Beach is in the moderate range, meaning the air pollution levels may pose a moderate health risk for a small number of unusually sensitive individuals. National Today
• [New] Marine plastic pollution, as a big global environmental concern, potentially threatens marine ecosystem and even human health. Nature
• [New] Costs to industry will be the EPA's focus when assessing the impact of regulations surrounding PM2.5 and ozone, two major forms of air pollution. The BMJ
• [New] A North Carolina State University professor is warning that a recent policy change implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency could understate the true benefits of air pollution regulations, potentially affecting public support for stronger standards. College of Natural Resources News
• Plastic pollution is recognised as one of the greatest threats to both the planet and human health. North Devon Today
• The draft treaty envisions a more holistic approach to dealing with marine plastic pollution by encompassing the entire life cycle of plastics, introducing stricter enforcement and supervision systems, and emphasizing global cooperation. Nature
• The Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls for the elimination of plastic pollution by 2030. SciTechDaily
• Regular rail freight traffic through the Channel Tunnel will help reduce pollution, potholes and congestion while providing new jobs across the UK. GOV.UK
• France's first new reactor will not come online until 2038: a timeline that guarantees continued fossil fuel dependence and the millions of annual global air pollution deaths that Jacobson documents. youth4planet
• Organizations such as the Clean Arctic Alliance warn of pollution, black carbon emissions and the severe risks of oil spills in one of the world's most fragile ecosystems. Default
• Some climate policies could inadvertently make air pollution inequalities worse, specifically for developing nations that might rely heavily on their neighbours for clean air. EurekAlert!
• Pollution from diesel back-up generators at data centers is an emerging air quality threat in Northern Virginia. Virginia Mercury
• EPA has declared that it will no longer monetize the benefits of reducing PM2.5 and ozone pollution, on the basis that the benefits of their reduction are uncertain. U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
• Air pollution and climate change are among the most significant threats to respiratory health globally. ERS - European Respiratory Society
• Annual GHG emissions from new motor vehicles and engines contribute to the air pollution consisting of the total global concentrations of the six well-mixed GHGs previously identified as a danger to public health or welfare. Federal Register
• Global concentrations of six well-mixed GHGs constitute air pollution that endangers public health and welfare. Federal Register
• The Trump administration's changes are boosting pollution and could exacerbate health conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease and neurological development issues. Insurance Journal
• The repeated delays in adopting the updated water pollution standards leave little time for Member State authorities to plan and incorporate measures to address new pollutants in the next River Basin Management Plans, which must be finalised by the end of 2027. Global Agriculture
• The Trump administration's actions to block support for renewables, while continuing to boost funding for fossil fuels, will have major consequences for energy affordability, reliability, and pollution. Center for American Progress
• Using that $64 million to fund incentives for cleaner, efficient electric appliances could help tens of thousands of Californians eliminate indoor air pollution and climate emissions. Los Angeles Times

Last updated: 16 March 2026