Union of Concerned Scientists

The Trump administration plans to reduce public comment periods for fossil fuel leasing on federal land, shift financial cleanup risks to taxpayers, and increase planet-warming emissions. Advocates argue this undermines democracy by limiting scrutiny of polluters and propping up companies.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill that would have allowed utility companies to build small nuclear reactors at data centers without environmental studies or public hearings, while restricting most counties from regulating them. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Frank Carroll, aimed to exempt the technology from local regulations if co-located with high-power-demand facilities like data centers, but Hobbs called the approach 'irresponsible' for an emerging technology.

A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump's executive order to remove educational information from national parks and museums sets a 'dangerous precedent of censorship' and ordered the government to restore the removed content. The judge, Angel Kelley, granted a preliminary injunction against the Department of the Interior, requiring the restoration of interpretive materials by July 4 to ensure 'our shared history be honestly told.'

El Nino has arrived and could reach historic intensity by late 2023, according to NOAA. Scientists warn it may exacerbate extreme weather events, including droughts and floods, and combine with fossil fuel-driven climate change to push global temperatures to record levels. Governments in Central America and East Africa are preparing for potential food crises.