Sam's News — climate-change — 2026-08-27¶
Policy¶
8 West Point's only climate scientist fired for teaching human-caused climate change¶
Adam Kalkstein, West Point's only climate scientist, was fired after refusing orders to remove content about human-caused climate change from his curriculum. The 17-year civilian geography professor objected on moral and legal grounds during a November 2025 meeting with the academic dean, comparing the directive to teaching law without mentioning the constitution. His lawsuit is the second academic freedom case filed by a West Point educator under the current administration.
- Adam Kalkstein fired after spring 2026 semester
- Taught at West Point for 17 years
- Ordered to remove human-caused climate change content
- Compared directive to 'teaching law without mentioning the constitution'
- Second West Point academic freedom lawsuit filed under current administration
Sources: The Guardian AI Web Searched, The Guardian — Climate Crisis RSS
Environment¶
7.5 Trump Administration Unravels Biden's Chemical Plant Pollution Rule Through Exemptions and Rewrites¶
The president of the United States is dismantling the Biden administration's 2024 HON rule designed to reduce toxic emissions from petrochemical plants. The administration has granted exemptions to over 50 facilities, with 20 additional temporary exemptions issued in July 2026, and the EPA plans to propose a significantly weakened rewrite in fall 2026. All nine Biden-era air toxics rules have been rescinded, revised, or reconsidered.
- HON rule enacted April 2024 to reduce six pollutants from 200+ plants
- President granted exemptions to 50+ petrochemical facilities
- July 2026: 20 additional temporary exemptions issued
- EPA proposing rewritten rule fall 2026, expected to scale back protections
- All nine Biden air toxics rules rescinded, revised, or reconsidered
- St. John Parish, Louisiana cancer risk from air pollution: 50x national average
Sources: Yale Environment 360 AI Web Searched
7 Chinese-Owned Miner Devastates Mozambique Mangrove Forests in Coastal Sand Extraction¶
Mozambique Heavy Sand Company VIII, part-owned by Chinese mining company Jinan Yuxiao Group, has destroyed hundreds of hectares of mangrove forests along Mozambique's coast through sand mining between 2022 and 2026. The destruction occurred in a delta system described as one of the world's most diverse and productive. Most mineral sand mining companies operating in Mozambique's coastal zones are Chinese-owned.
- Hundreds of hectares of mangroves destroyed 2022–2026
- Located in Zambezia Province's Chinde district
- Part-owned by Jinan Yuxiao Group (Chinese company)
- Mining targets heavy mineral sands, primarily titanium ores
- Mozambique contains 304,263 hectares mangroves, greatest expanse in East Africa
- Most coastal mineral sand miners in Mozambique are Chinese-owned
Sources: Mongabay AI Web Searched
7 Louisiana's Shrinking Coast to Host Nation's Largest Natural Gas Terminal¶
A major natural gas terminal is set to be built on Louisiana's rapidly eroding coastline, becoming the largest in the United States.
Sources: Grist RSS
7 Fossil Fuel Industry Spending Record Amounts to Block California Environmental Regulations¶
Oil and gas companies are investing record sums to prevent California from enacting stricter environmental regulations.
Sources: Grist RSS
6.5 Iowa's Fertilizer Industry Profits Surge Amid Water Pollution Concerns and Rising Costs¶
North American fertilizer manufacturers CF Industries and Nutrien are recording record profits even as fertilizer runoff threatens Iowa drinking water sources and farmer costs remain elevated.
Sources: Inside Climate News RSS
Energy & Environment¶
7 Microsoft-backed AI datacenter accused of violating federal law with unpermitted generators¶
A Microsoft-backed AI datacenter called DataOne in Vineland, New Jersey is being investigated for operating at least 45 unpermitted diesel generators in violation of federal environmental law. Thermal drone footage captured August 26, 2026 revealed the generators running without permits; the facility is located roughly a mile from two schools. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection confirmed it has issued no permits for the generators.
- 45 of 62 generators operating without permits
- Located 40 miles outside Philadelphia, ~1 mile from two schools
- Part of $17 billion Microsoft-Nebius AI infrastructure deal
- Federal law requires final permits before generators brought on site
- NJDEP: no permits issued or applications received
- Diesel generators linked to asthma, heart attacks, premature death
Sources: The Guardian AI Web Searched, The Guardian — Climate Crisis RSS
Energy Policy¶
6.5 Rooftop solar industry struggles under tariff and policy headwinds¶
The rooftop solar industry faces mounting pressure as the president of the United States imposes tariffs on photovoltaic panels and has signed measures phasing out tax credits.
Sources: Inside Climate News RSS
Water Policy¶
6.5 Corpus Christi Suspends Wetland Water Requirements While Relaxing Lawn Watering Rules¶
Texas environmental regulators suspended drought-relief water releases to coastal wetlands for Corpus Christi while the city lifted restrictions on residential lawn irrigation.
Sources: Inside Climate News RSS
Conservation¶
6 Environmental groups plan Endangered Species Act lawsuit to relist Eastern Pacific gray whales¶
Environmental organizations announced their intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service to relist Eastern Pacific gray whales under the Endangered Species Act.
Sources: Mongabay RSS