Communities Pushing Back on the EPA, Grounded in Faith

ChatGPT illustration of the new head of the EPA and religious leaders responding.

There's a short list of real whopper statements coming out of the Trump administration that illustrate the depth of its depravity to me.

The one about traumatizing EPA staff so they won't go into work and enforce environmental laws is at the top of my list.

But the EPA leader's saying "We are driving a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion" is a close #2 for me.

That's the starting point for a group of religious community leaders quoted in Inside Climate News's excellent story this morning titled "Faith Leaders Push Back After EPA Head Disparages Climate Action as ‘Religion’"

In addition to sharing that important article, I want to share direct links to the work of some of the leaders quoted in it. If this is a place you want to flow some of your energy, in order to connect with large, well organized, deep communities of organizing, check these folks out:

• Rabbi Jennie Rosenn and Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action

• Rev. Mitchell C. Hescox and Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) at CreationCare.org

• Rev. Michael Malcom and Alabama Interfaith Power and Light

• And Dr. Daniel R. DiLeo and the Catholic teaching at Creighton University – Justice and Peace Studies Program

Related news today: Why Indigenous nations are walking away from pipeline talks in Michigan

Let's come together in defense of our earth.

And now, our daily summaries of the weekend's selected updates from around the world of green tech and sustainability.

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• Agriculture (2 stories) - UAWC on Israeli land theft; Zumwalt Acres' regenerative agriculture in Illinois.

  
  

• Carbon (1 story) - England bans peatland burning.

  
  

• Circular (1 story) - Coca-Cola's plastic use projected to increase by 20% to over 9.1B lbs by 2030.

  
  

• Ecosystems (7 stories) - Australia floods threaten communities, England plans western forest expansion, global bee decline impacts ecosystems, Acapulco recovers from hurricanes, while California misses annual wildflower bloom

  
  

• Efficiency (1 story) - Evanston Green Homes Program's first all-electric affordable housing retrofit by Center for Neighborhood Technology

  
  

• Finance (1 story) - EU delays reporting, ING hits emissions targets, energy giants eye carbon capture.

  
  

• Grid (1 story) - Australia considers localized grids built around consumer energy resources.

  
  

• Industry (1 story) - Lariocidin Discovered in Soil Sample

  
  

• Policy (13 stories) - Global policy debates heat up: Myanmar earthquake relief efforts, China's Belt and Road Initiative criticized, Australian gas reservation proposal, US homeowner insurance concerns, US oil & gas tax breaks, clean energy grant uncertainties for farmers, Texas SB 388 impacting renewables, EU Omnibus regulation clarifies CSRD reporting, Brisbane 2032 drops "climate-positive" commitment.

  
  

• Renewables (4 stories) - Catalpa Offshore Wind Farm (2GW) planned for Western Australia; Australia's Canunda wind farm extended; solar-powered micromobility demo.

  
  

• Transport (6 stories) - Aptera's solar car road trip; NYC e-commerce emissions; Uruguay's EV surge (BYD); Geely's Riddara global expansion; Tesla Autopilot debate; Waymo scales robotaxi service.

Agriculture

UAWC on Israeli land theft; Zumwalt Acres' regenerative agriculture in Illinois.

• UAWC : On the Occasion of Palestine Land Day (Via Campesina) - On Palestine Land Day, UAWC denounces Israeli land theft, settlement expansion, and the devastating impact of the ongoing blockade on Palestinian agriculture and food security in Gaza.

• 🌱 Meet Remi & Gavi, sisters and co-founders of Zumwalt Acres! ⁠ ⁠ (YouTube) - Zumwalt Acres, run by sisters Remi and Gavi, aims to transform their Illinois family farm into a regenerative agriculture community using agroforestry and carbon capture techniques.

Carbon

England bans peatland burning.

• Peatland burning ban aims to protect wildlife and England’s carbon stores (The Guardian) - England plans to ban burning vegetation on peatland deeper than 30cm to protect wildlife habitats, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance carbon storage.

Circular

Coca-Cola's plastic use projected to increase by 20% to over 9.1B lbs by 2030.

• Coca-Cola’s Plastic Use to Reach 9.1 Billion Pounds By 2030: Report (Earth.org) - Coca-Cola's plastic use is projected to increase by 20% to over 9.1 billion pounds annually by 2030, raising concerns about plastic pollution and the company's environmental impact.

Ecosystems

Australia floods threaten communities, England plans western forest expansion, global bee decline impacts ecosystems, Acapulco recovers from hurricanes, while California misses annual wildflower bloom

• Queensland premier warns worst flooding yet to come after NSW man swept away by rising waters (The Guardian) - Heavy rainfall and flooding in eastern Australia have prompted warnings of further flooding and long-term isolation for some inland communities, while a search continues for a man swept away by floodwaters in NSW.

• The Guardian view on new forests: a vision born in the Midlands is worth imitating | Editorial (The Guardian) - A new "western forest" project in England, modeled after the successful Midlands National Forest, aims to increase tree cover, boost biodiversity, and provide economic benefits while integrating forestry with agriculture.

• What Happens to Ecosystems When Bees Disappear? (Earth.org) - Bees are crucial for global food production and ecosystem health, and their decline due to habitat loss and pesticide use threatens biodiversity, food security, and the economy.

• How hurricanes Otis and John exposed Acapulco’s big divide and left residents ‘scared for our lives’ (The Guardian) - Back-to-back hurricanes Otis and John devastated Acapulco, Mexico, exposing existing inequalities and leaving working-class communities vulnerable while the tourist hub recovered quickly.

• Phil Cook Translates Birdsong Into New Piano Album, Brought to Life by Bon Iver Frontman (Atmos) - Musician Phil Cook's new album, Appalachia Borealis, translates birdsong into piano meditations, produced by Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and accompanied by a nature film by Daniel Fox.

• Bloom or bust? Superbloom spectacle eludes California after dry winter (The Guardian) - California's anticipated "superbloom" of wildflowers has failed to materialize this year due to a dry winter, disappointing tourists and impacting local economies.

• Nature, Community, and Ramadan (Dogwood Alliance) - Ramadan's emphasis on conscious consumption, rest, and reflection offers a model for a more balanced relationship with nature, challenging the exploitative tendencies of capitalism.

Efficiency

Evanston Green Homes Program's first all-electric affordable housing retrofit by Center for Neighborhood Technology

• Federal freeze updates, Evanston Green Homes marks first retrofit and more March news (CNT) - Center for Neighborhood Technology highlights Evanston Green Homes program's first all-electric retrofit of affordable housing, advancing community resilience and sustainability.

Finance

EU delays reporting, ING hits emissions targets, energy giants eye carbon capture.

• ESG Today: Week in Review (ESG Today) - Several companies announced sustainability initiatives this week, including EU regulators delaying reporting rules, ING achieving science-based emissions targets, and energy giants investing in carbon capture.

Grid

Australia considers localized grids built around consumer energy resources.

• Gridlock: It’s time rethink the grid, make it local, and fit for consumers (RenewEconomy) - Australia should redesign its centralized electricity grid to a localized model built around consumer energy resources and local energy zones to optimize supply, demand, and storage.

Industry

Lariocidin Discovered in Soil Sample

• Scientists discovered a promising antibiotic in a box of dirt they’d left under a lab bench for a year (Nature) - Researchers discovered a new antibiotic, lariocidin, in backyard soil left under a lab bench for a year.

Policy

Global policy debates heat up: Myanmar earthquake relief efforts, China's Belt and Road Initiative criticized, Australian gas reservation proposal, US homeowner insurance concerns, US oil & gas tax breaks, clean energy grant uncertainties for farmers, Texas SB 388 impacting renewables, EU Omnibus regulation clarifies CSRD reporting, Brisbane 2032 drops "climate-positive" commitment.

• Myanmar earthquake: Search and rescue efforts continue in race against time (UN News) - Rescue efforts are underway in Myanmar following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that has killed over 1,700 people, injured thousands more, and left many missing, exacerbating the existing humanitarian crisis.

• China Is Reshaping Global Development. Is That Good for the Planet? (Inside Climate News) - China's Belt and Road Initiative, while funding crucial infrastructure projects in developing nations, faces criticism for environmental damage and lack of community consultation, exemplified by the controversial Santa Cruz River dams in Argentina.

• Election Watch – Will Dutton’s ‘methane election’ backfire? (RenewEconomy) - Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton's proposal to reserve some natural gas for domestic use to lower energy prices has been criticized by the gas industry, highlighting the conflict between his promise of cheap gas and the industry's resistance to lower prices.

• Insurance Industry Predicts More Future Losses — Now Tariffs Add To The Impact Of Climate Claims (CleanTechnica) - US homeowners are increasingly concerned about rising home insurance premiums due to climate change impacts, exacerbated by tariffs on building materials, and feel the government isn't doing enough to protect them.

• Congress is searching for trillions of dollars in cuts. Will the oil industry’s tax breaks skate by? (Grist) - As Congress seeks trillions in cuts, environmental groups highlight oil and gas tax breaks, including a provision allowing them to count foreign royalties as tax credits, potentially saving them billions while the industry lobbies to maintain and expand these benefits.

• Farmers feel the funding freeze (Canary Media) - Thousands of farmers who secured federal grants for clean energy projects face funding uncertainties as the Trump administration prioritizes projects aligned with its energy policies.

• Shifting goal posts for rural clean energy projects (Canary Media) - The Trump administration's new stipulations on clean energy grants leave thousands of farmers, predominantly in Republican districts, uncertain about promised funding for their projects.

• Texas takes aim at its own clean energy (Canary Media) - Texas Senate Bill 388 mandates 50% of new power plant capacity come from sources other than batteries, effectively favoring gas and potentially hindering the state's booming renewable energy sector.

• Texas aims to balance data center demand and grid stability (Canary Media) - Texas lawmakers are considering legislation to mitigate the impact of increased electricity demand from data centers on residential and small business utility rates.

• Answers to common questions about the EU Omnibus proposal (Watershed) - The EU's proposed Omnibus regulation clarifies questions around CSRD reporting, including potential changes to ESRS, reporting timelines for US parent companies, and the scope of emissions reporting, but maintains key requirements like Scope 3 emissions.

• Brisbane 2032 is no longer legally bound to be ‘climate positive’. Will it still leave a green legacy? (The Conversation) - Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games organizers quietly removed the legally binding "climate-positive" requirement from their contract, raising concerns about the event's environmental legacy despite claims of continued commitment to carbon reduction.

• Cadia goldmine operators fined $350,000 for breaches of NSW clean-air laws (Guardian) - Cadia goldmine operators fined $350,000 for repeatedly exceeding legal limits on heavy metal dust emissions.

• LAST CHANCE: 72 hours left to enter 2025 CCNow Awards — deadline March 31! (Covering Climate Now) - Journalists have 72 hours left to submit entries for the 2025 Covering Climate Now Journalism Awards, recognizing outstanding climate reporting from 2024.

Renewables

Catalpa Offshore Wind Farm (2GW) planned for Western Australia; Australia's Canunda wind farm extended; solar-powered micromobility demo.

• Renewables Are Key to Zero Waste in Fashion and Textiles (350.org) - Renewable energy is crucial for reducing waste in the fashion industry by powering sustainable manufacturing and recycling processes, enabling a circular economy.

• Offshore wind bidder signs up new partners for 2GW project in Bunbury zone (RenewEconomy) - Wind with Purpose partners with Barrington Energy and Gnaala Karla Booja Aboriginal Corporation to develop the 2GW Catalpa Offshore Wind Farm in the Bunbury zone, Western Australia.

• One of Australia’s oldest wind farms turns 20 today, and will live on for another decade (RenewEconomy) - Australia’s 20-year-old Canunda wind farm, one of the country’s oldest, will operate for another decade before facing decommissioning or repowering with larger turbines.

• From Phoenix to Vegas on Solar Power (Mostly) (CleanTechnica) - A cyclist traveled from Phoenix to Las Vegas primarily powered by a solar panel attached to a trailer carrying supplies, demonstrating the potential of solar-powered micromobility for long-distance travel.

Transport

Aptera's solar car road trip; NYC e-commerce emissions; Uruguay's EV surge (BYD); Geely's Riddara global expansion; Tesla Autopilot debate; Waymo scales robotaxi service.

• The Online Shopping Boom Comes at a Price—and Some New Yorkers Pay More Than Their Fair Share (Inside Climate News) - Increased e-commerce deliveries in NYC exacerbate air pollution in low-income neighborhoods due to last-mile warehouse proliferation and heavy reliance on diesel trucks, prompting calls for zoning reform, emissions reduction plans, and truck electrification.

• Aptera Takes Its First Road Trip (CleanTechnica) - Aptera showcases a production-intent version of its solar-charging two-seater on a road trip from Arizona to California, demonstrating its real-world capabilities.

• Uruguay EV Sales Report: 300% Growth in a Record February Brings BEV Market Share over 15% (CleanTechnica) - Uruguay's electric vehicle market share surged to a record 15.4% in February 2025, driven by a 300% year-on-year sales increase and continued dominance of BYD models.

• Geely Says Riddara Will Enter New Phase Of Global Expansion In 2025, Including South Africa! (CleanTechnica) - Geely's electric pickup brand, Riddara, plans to expand globally in 2025, targeting 30,000 sales and market leadership in key regions, including South Africa, with its flagship RD6 model.

• Tesla Stans Accidentally Highlight Shady AP Behavior (CleanTechnica) - Tesla fans' defense of Autopilot's poor performance in safety tests highlights the system's tendency to disengage before crashes, raising questions about Tesla's responsibility.

• Way more Waymo (Keep Cool) - Waymo is scaling its autonomous, all-electric ride-hailing service, expanding beyond San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin to Washington D.C. and potentially reaching one million weekly rides next year.