ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE
Working together to protect residents, Ventura Law and the City of Danbury achieved a significant PFAS settlement that ensures cleaner water and a healthier future for their community
The City of Danbury is set to receive a settlement award of nearly $3.5 million as part of a nationwide legal agreement aimed at addressing the contamination of public water supplies due to PFAS pollutants, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.” This significant settlement is part of multibillion-dollar deals reached with major corporations, including 3M, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva, which have been producing these harmful substances for decades.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been widely used since the 1940s in various products such as firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, and waterproof fabrics. Known for their persistence in the environment, these chemicals are associated with serious health risks, including cancer and immune system disorders.
Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves expressed relief and determination in the face of this settlement: “The settlement awards achieved through this national litigation ensure that polluters, not taxpayers, bear the costs of cleanup and remediation.” The City has already received payments amounting to approximately 65% of its settlement, with additional funds expected over the next four years.
In the broader context, 3M has agreed to pay up to $12.5 billion in these settlements, while DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva have collectively settled for up to $1.19 billion. The funds from these settlements are being allocated to public water systems nationwide to support both past and future testing, treatment, and infrastructure enhancements.
Mayor Alves emphasized Danbury’s commitment to ensuring safe drinking water for its residents, stating, “We are committed to protecting public health and will continue monitoring Danbury’s water to ensure safety and quality. These funds will help us…
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U.S. Treasury Sanctions Haitian Gang Facilitators Linked to Viv Ansanm Terror Network
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Mendenhall Glacier’s Seasonal Flood Mitigation Efforts Yield Positive Results
Last week, Juneau faced the annual challenge of the Mendenhall Glacier’s lake outburst flood as glacial waters streamed towards the city. Thankfully, extensive preparations made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) helped mitigate the potential threats to local infrastructure and public safety.
In an effort to protect the…
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Global Leaders Fail to Enact Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium at ISA Assembly
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Nations, NGOs, and Indigenous organizations unite to end bottom trawling on seamounts by 2026, marking a major victory for deep-sea conservation
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has reached a defining moment in global ocean governance, as delegates at the 2025 World Conservation Congress (WCC) overwhelmingly approved a motion to phase out destructive fishing practices on seamounts by the end of 2026.
Motion 032, spearheaded by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) and led by WWF Australia, calls for an end to bottom trawling on seamounts in international waters. The proposal passed with near-unanimous support — winning 95% of votes from States and government agencies and an extraordinary 99% from NGOs and Indigenous Peoples’ organizations.
“This is a tangible step toward ocean protection at a global scale,” said Bronwen Golder, Global Seamounts Campaign Director at the DSCC. “With the High Seas Treaty now ratified, 2030’s goal to protect 30% of the ocean fast approaching, and next year’s UN Bottom Fisheries Review, this is a critical moment to prioritize seamount protection worldwide.”
Seamounts — underwater mountains rising thousands of meters from the ocean floor — are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. They provide feeding grounds and habitats for deep-sea corals, sponges, whales, sharks, and turtles. Yet for decades, industrial bottom trawling has devastated these fragile ecosystems, destroying ancient coral formations…
Redefining careers: Sustainability becomes core requirement across industries
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Sustainability Has Left the Silo
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Global Call for Moratorium on Deep-Sea Mining to Protect Ocean Ecosystems and Future Generations
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Over the next three weeks, States will convene in Kingston, Jamaica, for…
New Research Highlights Importance of Clear Regulations in Agricultural Gene Editing
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Bodybuilding in Ancient Times: How the Sea Anemone Got Its Back
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In Memoriam: Kristina Washer, 30, Environmental Science Pioneer and Advocate for Planetary Health
The environmental science community mourns the loss of Kristina Comley Washer, a gifted and compassionate environmental scientist whose life was tragically cut short by Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) on June 9, 2025. She was 30 years old.
Kristina was more than a scholar—she was a force for change. A master’s…
First spotted in the 1980s, Bartram’s and Altamaha bass now officially distinct species
By Tina Geiger / Staff WriterA team of ecologists from the University of Georgia has made a significant discovery, identifying two new species of black bass: Bartram’s bass and Altamaha bass. This breakthrough is detailed in a new paper, expanding the understanding of these riverine fish.
Though these species are newly described, they have been known to local ecologists for years. Bud Freeman, the lead author of the study and a senior public service associate emeritus at the UGA Odum School of Ecology, first encountered what is now known as Micropterus pucpuggy, or Bartram’s bass, in the 1980s. Remarkably, a couple he met showed him the distinct fish in their cooler, but they declined his offer to buy it, opting instead to take the bass home for dinner.
Freeman’s interest was piqued by the fish’s unique characteristics, prompting years of research. The study involved collecting samples from 14 locations in the Savannah and Saluda River basins for Bartram’s bass and 14 locations in the Altamaha and Ogeechee River basins for Altamaha bass.
The two new species, previously thought to be the same as the redeye bass, display notable physical and genetic differences. Bartram’s bass are light gold with dark brown blotches, a rosy-pink fin, and striking red eyes. Altamaha bass, known scientifically as Micropterus calliurus, feature light gold scales with olive margins and orange-edged fins.
But the discovery goes beyond physical traits. The research team used advanced genetic analysis techniques to differentiate between pure and hybrid specimens, analyzing mitochondrial DNA and genome fragments from over 100 individual fish. This rigorous methodology helps ensure…
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Traditionally, scientists have relied on advanced microscopy or analytical tools like infrared and Raman spectroscopy to detect microplastics in water. While these techniques are accurate, they involve multiple steps for sample preparation and can be pretty time-consuming. In an effort to simplify the process, a team led by Song Lin Chua has engineered a living microplastics sensor using the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is commonly found in the environment and capable of forming biofilms on plastic surfaces.
The researchers modified a non-infectious strain of P. aeruginosa by incorporating two genes: one that activates when the bacterium comes into contact with plastic and another that produces a green-fluorescent protein in response. Laboratory tests revealed that the engineered bacteria glowed in the presence of various plastics,…
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