United States EPA To Repeal Climate Change Determination

EPA to repeal endangerment finding

On Thursday, Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), plans to repeal a key climate change determination known as the endangerment finding. This 2009 scientific determination called on the federal government to regulate methane, carbon dioxide, and four other greenhouse gases, citing threats to public health. Revoking the endangerment finding would mean removing limits on emissions from industries, power plants, and automobiles. While a repeal like this usually takes three years to complete, this action will have taken less than a year, as the agency aims to bring it to the Supreme Court during Trump’s presidency.

Experts claim this is an effort not just to weaken regulations but to remove the federal government from environmental regulation entirely. Many believe that this repeal will overturn the 2007 Massachusetts vs. EPA ruling that granted the agency authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. This rapid move to repeal highlights the Trump administration’s continued efforts to end climate regulation in the United States. 

This comes immediately after the Federal Judicial Center removed a chapter on global warming from a judges’ reference handbook. 

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Further reading: The E.P.A. Is Barreling Toward a Supreme Court Climate Showdown

EU must prioritize lowering energy prices

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker is urging EU leaders to prioritize lower energy costs throughout the bloc. Ahead of a summit scheduled for Thursday, he told Politico, “The most urgent task is lowering energy prices. No other factor is suffocating European industry so much, and no other issue affects so many member states simultaneously.” At this informal summit, leaders are expected to discuss efforts to grow the European economy and strengthen the bloc’s independence. 

Stocker, along with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš,  claim that climate regulations are raising energy prices. Stocker went on to say, “ The approach we took with the Green Deal was certainly not sustainable: in Austria, for example, the reduction in CO2 emissions is ultimately primarily due to a decrease in production,” adding that environmental policies shouldn’t be a focus if it means a poorer EU. 

His comments come after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz published discussion papers calling for an “emergency brake” on climate legislation. 

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Further reading: EU must urgently bring down energy prices, says Austrian chancellor

Liberty Mutual Investments partners with Ara Partners

Liberty Mutual Investments (LMI) announced a new partnership with global private equity firm Ara Partners. Through this partnership, LMI aims to support Ara Partners’ Energy and Infrastructure investment platforms, which are focused on industrial decarbonization across the EU and North America.  The firms will collaborate on ethanol production facilities with carbon capture initiatives, JET fuel retail in Austria and Germany, and Centric Fiber, a fiber-to-the-home provider in the U.S. George Yong, Partner and Co-Head of Ara Infrastructure, said, “By combining Ara’s builder skillset with LMI’s broad reach across North America’s industrial, real estate, and infrastructure ecosystem, we see a significant opportunity to unlock value and accelerate growth.” As energy demand rises globally, this strategic partnership aims to support both economic growth and the decarbonization of value chains. 

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Further reading: Liberty Mutual Investments and Ara Partners Form Strategic Partnership

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Eurazeo allocates €175 million to maritime decarbonization

The French private equity firm Eurazeo has announced a €175 million investment aimed at decarbonizing the maritime sector. The Eurazeo Sustainable Maritime Infrastructure II (ESMI II) fund will support small and mid-sized shipowners and stakeholders in Europe. With a focus on port infrastructure, marine transportation, and offshore renewable energy, the fund is expected to aid 20 to 30 European marine stakeholders and ship operators navigate regulatory changes. The first closing of this fund is almost half of the final €400 million target and has already financed two brand new eco-friendly vessels for Longship Group, a midsize shipowner in the Netherlands.

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Further reading: Eurazeo Announces First Closing Of Its Esmi II Fund At €175million To Support The Eco-Transition Of The Maritime Sector

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: Lee Zeldin speaking at The People’s Convention at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan. Cover Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons