Environmental and Government News #11: 6/4/26

 Hello everyone! Here's a recap of Environmental Policy news from May 2026.

State Level

In May, Illinois lawmakers advanced legislation, Illinois Senate Bill 3772, legislation that will require the state to consider environmental justice concerns when they review permits for industrial facilities. Under the proposal, companies that are applying for permits to build new or expand facilities in designated environmental justice areas will face additional review to assess the potential impacts on nearby residents. This bill will address the fact that low-income communities often experience disproportionate exposure to environmental issues like global warming and pollution. Opponents worry that this bill will make economic development projects harder to pass and, therefore, hurt the economy. In my opinion, this bill's benefits outweigh the negative economic impacts it could have. Historically, low-income and minority communities have faced the negative impacts of climate change far more than other communities, so bringing environmental justice to these communities is a step in the right direction. 

National Level

In May, the EPA proposed repealing federal drinking-water limits for several PFAS chemicals. For those unaware, PFAS are nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment for long periods. PFAS have been linked to health concerns, including cancer and immune system damage. The EPA argues that some of the 2024 regulations were improperly developed and needed to be “reconsidered”. However, I think this proposal will weaken protections for the health of millions of Americans. This proposal has led to huge debates between environmentalists and the people in charge of our environment.

Global Level

A report released in late May by the U.N.'s weather agencies has projected that global temperatures will likely remain near record highs over the next five years. Scientists have warned that at least one year between now and 2030 will likely exceed 1.5 °C above pre-industrial temperatures. Further reports have found that April 2026 was the fourth-warmest ever recorded. Some of the effects of this global warming are rapid Arctic warming and continued sea ice decline. This is undeniable proof that global warming is a real problem, and one that needs to be addressed more.

This Month’s Environmental Fun Fact: One of the most effective ways to predict an imminent earthquake is to pay attention to animal behavior. Scientists can tell when an earthquake is coming by counting the number of missing cats in local news!

Sources:

https://legiscan.com/IL/bill/SB3772/2025 https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/05/18/epa-wants-repeal-limits-forever-chemicals-drinking-water  

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/global-temperatures-reach-near-record-highs-next-five-years-report-finds-2026-05-28/

https://kpwb.org/environmental-fun-facts/ 


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