Vermont becomes first U.S. state to ban throwing food waste in trash
Residents are now required to compost any unfinished food—including inedible scraps like peels, egg shells, and pits—in their yard or through a professional compost facility.
North & Central America
This archive covers progress stories from North and Central America, spanning the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the nations of Central America. Readers will find reporting on health, environment, community resilience, and policy advances across the region.
Companies cancel Atlantic Coast Pipeline after years of delays
Duke Energy Corp. and Dominion Energy Inc. are abandoning the proposed $8 billion pipeline—which aimed to carry natural gas 600 miles through West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina and underneath the Appalachian Trail
U.S. federal judge suspends Dakota Access pipeline over environmental concerns
A federal judge has sided with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and ordered the Dakota Access pipeline shut down until a more extensive environmental review is done. It must be emptied no later than August 5, 2020.
Oklahoma voters approve Medicaid expansion
At least 200,000 Oklahoman adults will be newly eligible for Medicaid, but program enrollment may climb even higher as the state’s unemployment rate has surged to nearly 13 percent.
Mississippi to remove state flag, the last in the United States to display the Confederate battle emblem
The removal of the flag marks the latest Confederate symbol to topple following George Floyd’s death as activists have called for a reexamination of the racism in American society.
California makes zero-emission trucks and vans mandatory by 2045
It’s the first rule of its kind in the United States, and it follows California’s 2018 decision to mandate that transit agencies purchase all-electric buses starting in 2029, as well as its long-standing Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program for passenger cars and trucks.
Los Angeles, Atlanta among cities joining coalition to test universal basic income
The mayors of Los Angeles, Oakland, Atlanta, Georgia, Tacoma, Newark, Saint Paul, Jackson, Compton, Shreveport, and Stockton have joined Mayors For A Guaranteed Income, a coalition advocating for UBI policies, or the idea of giving out recurring cash payments to all individuals without any strings attached.
Minnesota sues ExxonMobil, Koch Industries, & American Petroleum Institute over climate deceptions
The lawsuit, filed in state court, alleges violations of state laws pertaining to consumer fraud, deceptive trade practices, and false advertising. Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison says the companies devised plans to deceive the public about climate change science.
Growing list of major companies boycott Facebook ads over moderation practices
Ben & Jerry’s, Eddie Bauer, Magnolia Pictures, the North Face, Patagonia, REI, Verizon, and more have boycotted Facebook advertisements as the company declined to take action against misinformation from President Trump — the same ones that Twitter flagged as misleading or glorifying violence.
Nike, Target, Twitter and more make Juneteenth a paid company holiday
A handful of corporations in the U.S. announced this year that they are making Juneteenth, the day traditionally used to commemorate the end of slavery, a companywide holiday.