Trump Tillerson Environment Q and A

President-elect Donald Trump this week tapped Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson to serve as his secretary of state. If confirmed by the Senate, where opposition is emerging, the move could have broad consequences for U.S. environmental policy and affect the role the U.S. plays in multinational discussions about climate change.

EPA review of new chemicals slows

It's been six months since Congress made major changes to the Toxic Substances Control Act , the law that governs the use of chemicals in industrial and household products in the U.S. One unanticipated outcome of the overhaul is a backlog of new chemicals waiting to be reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Chemical manufacturers are up in arms about the delays, claiming EPA's slowness is impeding their innovation.

Utah Supreme Court hears 2nd refinery expansion challenge

A second challenge to a refinery expansion proposed along the Wasatch Front wound up on the desks of Utah Supreme Court justices, but it remains a big question mark if there will ever be a legal probe of the actual merits of the case. The Utah Supreme Court, in a decision last year, rejected an appeal by environmental groups over Tesoro's planned action, and Wednesday the justices were asked to look at the case involving HollyFrontier Corp. in Woods Cross.

U.N. environment chief concerned at climate science skeptics among Trump picks

Erik Solheim, executive director of the UN Environment Programme , speaks during an interview with Reuters in Jakarta, Indonesia December 14, 2016. Erik Solheim, executive director of the UN Environment Programme , speaks during an interview with Reuters in Jakarta, Indonesia December 14, 2016.

Trump’s Secretary Of State Nominee Could Face Criticism From Anti-Exxon Crusaders

Rex Tillerson, chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, testifies about the company's acquisition of XTO Energy before the House Energy and Environment Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington in this January 20, 2010 file photo. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/Files President-elect Donald Trump's choice for secretary of state will likely face the ire of Democrats who believe the oil man helped hide decades-worth of climate research.

Cornucopia Institute Calls For Investigation Of USDA’s National Organic Program

In a letter to the USDA's Office of Inspector General, The Cornucopia Institute has requested an independent audit of the National Organic Program , charging a multiplicity of illegal actions and inactions. The Wisconsin-based farm policy research group alleges that the National Organic Program has failed to enforce the laws governing organic agriculture, thereby allowing multinational corporate agribusinesses to squeeze out family-scale farmers, compromising the integrity of the organic label.

US Court of Appeals: States and counties can ban GMO crops despite federal laws

The entire organic community of the United States just won a massive victory that many may not yet even realize. Even though the DARK Act was passed by Obama and some Senate goons to prohibit labeling of GMOs nationwide, the US Court of Appeals just passed a law that enables states and counties to completely ban genetically engineered crops from ever being planted in the first place.

Businesses see key ally coming to White House

Yet much of corporate America appears to view Trump not as an adversary but as a powerful friend. For all his bullying stance toward some companies, businesses have been cheered by his vows to slash taxes and soften Obama-era rules that were designed to protect workers, the environment and the financial system and by his choices to lead the Labor Department and Environmental Protection Agency.

Five Things We’ve Learned From Trump’s Cabinet Picks So Far

First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter. President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet selections are now almost complete -- save for that secretary of state position, as well as Agriculture, Energy, and Interior.

Trump’s Cabinet will serve corporate interests, not the chumps who voted for him

To understand what kind of president Donald Trump will be, do not listen to what he says, watch what he does. In a series of campaign-style events, he has repeated all the favorite lines that convinced millions of voters that he was on the side of Americans who feel abused by the establishments on Wall Street, K Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Trump defends cabinet as hardline picks criticized

President-elect says secretarial picks will be 'one of the greatest cabinets' ever assembled, says members 'committed to advancing common good' US President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a Victory Tour Rally, on December 8, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. Trump is taking time time to speak several of the states that helped him win the election .

Biden calls on Trudeau to defend international ‘rules of the road’

U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be a defender of the international "rules of the road" to help shepherd the world through a period of deep uncertainty. Biden delivered that message in a stirring speech at a state dinner in his honour in Ottawa on Thursday night, in which he singled out the fight against climate change as the most important issue of this generation.

Trump cons the media on climate

President-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the media in the lobby at Trump Tower in New York, Dec. 6, 2016. CREDIT: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik This week, President-elect Donald Trump met with some of the biggest names in climate activism: former vice president Al Gore and actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

Trump picks climate sceptic Pruitt

ELECT Donald Trump has tapped Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, criticised as a climate change denier and a staunch fossil fuel ally, to head the Environmental Protection Agency. The announcement on Thursday morning comes after Leonardo DiCaprio met with Mr Trump on Wednesday to discuss how jobs centring on preserving the environment can boost the economy.