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25 results for "environmental law"
A federal judge cleared the way for Hawaii to sue major oil companies for climate damages, dealing a setback to federal efforts blocking state climate action. The ruling means Hawaiian taxpayers may no longer bear the full cost of climate impacts alone.
Thousands of volunteers fanned out across 77 Jersey Shore locations to collect trash and turn it into data that's already changing New Jersey's environmental laws. From rubber ducks to refrigerators, what they found tells a hopeful story about how cleanup efforts and smart legislation are making beaches cleaner year after year.
A federal court just struck down harmful changes to America's most successful conservation law, restoring protections that have saved 99% of species from extinction. The ruling protects vital habitats for bald eagles, sea turtles, and hundreds of other at-risk animals.
In a groundbreaking legal victory, whales in the Gulf of California won a court battle blocking massive tankers from their habitat. A federal judge ruled that ships over 300 meters tied to a planned LNG terminal cannot enter the gulf until the case concludes.
In Ecuador, where nature has legal rights, local residents turned "paraecologists" are using science to protect endangered ecosystems from copper mining. Their evidence is winning in court.
A groundbreaking lawsuit in New Zealand questions whether governments can rely heavily on tree planting instead of cutting emissions to meet climate goals. The decision could reshape how countries worldwide approach their climate commitments.
Police in Argentina discovered five endangered monkeys sealed inside a taped box during a routine patrol, stopping wildlife traffickers in their tracks. The rescued primates are now safe with animal welfare experts who will prepare them for release back into the wild.
A tiny Caribbean island just defeated one of Europe's wealthiest nations in court, forcing action on climate change. Eight residents proved their government discriminated against them by failing to protect their sinking home.
In Ecuador's Amazon, Indigenous paraecologists are documenting jaguars and endangered species to stop a massive copper mine. Their secret weapon? The country's groundbreaking "rights of nature" laws that give ecosystems legal protection.
A Brazilian city just made history by granting legal personhood to ocean waves, giving them the right to exist, regenerate, and stay clean. It's the first time any government has recognized part of the ocean as having its own legal rights.
A Zimbabwean court just delivered a landmark ruling that puts environmental protection ahead of mining profits. The decision canceled two mining certificates and sent a clear message: follow environmental laws or lose your mining rights.
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South Africa's iconic Table Mountain is being recognized as a rights-bearing entity under law, not property to exploit. Environmental lawyer Cormac Cullinan is leading the quest to shift how humans relate to nature through legal frameworks.
After the USDA deleted climate resources farmers needed, nonprofits sued and won access to critical weather planning tools. The settlement ensures farmers can prepare for extreme weather even if government websites change again.
A federal judge rejected the Trump administration's withdrawal from a landmark salmon recovery plan, ordering immediate protections for seven species of salmon and steelhead on the brink of extinction. The ruling restores water flow levels and marks a crucial win for Native American tribes and conservation groups fighting to save fish populations that once made the Pacific Northwest the world's top salmon producer.
A surprising twist in federal climate policy could help cities and states hold fossil fuel companies accountable. Legal experts say removing federal greenhouse gas regulation may clear the path for local climate lawsuits to succeed.
France's first major climate trial against an oil giant began in Paris, asking courts to enforce real emission cuts instead of empty promises. Communities displaced by TotalEnergies' African pipeline project are watching closely, hoping the ruling will protect people over profits.
Costa Rica's highest court just ruled that the government must fix dangerous power lines killing monkeys and sloths. The landmark decision could protect wildlife across the entire country.
A Dutch court ruled the government's approach to managing PFAS pollution is legally sound, even as environmental groups push for faster action. The decision validates current cleanup efforts while acknowledging the massive complexity of addressing forever chemicals nationwide.
The European Union just made its boldest climate promise legally binding. By 2040, the bloc will slash greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels.
Costa Rica's Ombudsman is demanding independent verification of government forest reports to ensure a threatened wildlife refuge gets proper protection. The move could strengthen how the country enforces environmental laws across all protected zones.
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