Environmental law

Australia’s coal is fueling China’s growth, quite literally. For the past two years, that fuel has been subjected to a carbon tax. But now Australia’s new government is poised to put an end to the carbon tax.

After years in the White House, the Environmental Protection Agency has withdrawn a proposed rule that would force companies to label certain potentially harmful chemicals. Many of the EPA’s proposal have been frozen as protests from Congress threaten to limit the agency’s power.

New EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy has formidable forces, like the electric power industry and some members of Congress, standing between her and her job as mandated by President Barack Obama. She’s been tasked with forming a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants – and fast.

After passing the United States as the top carbon emitter, one researcher says China’s now making a commitment to reduce the country’s carbon output. But in order for China to reduce large amounts of CO2, they say, the U.S. will need to do more.

Thousands of former professional football players and their wives have filed a class action lawsuit against the National Football League. Now, the NFL is faced with ameliorating the problem, as well as, perhaps, a legal battle that the organization could lose.