Trump changed climate policy - and these are the data measured on the ground

A review by the Israeli Climate Forum reveals 1,097 methane plumes measured in US oil and gas production areas, alongside extensive regulatory rollbacks by the Trump administration. A UCLA study found methane emissions 64% higher than official data. Meanwhile, new research indicates a 65% acceleration in the rate of Himalayan glacier mass loss compared to the previous decade, and a document from the Catholic theological committee calls for urgent action on the climate crisis.

A new review by the Israeli Climate Forum, based on a UCLA study, reveals alarming data on the impact of the Trump administration's climate policy. Satellite research identified 1,097 methane plumes in three major US oil and gas production areas between January 2025 and June 2026. A site owned by Energy Transfer in Louisiana ranked as the largest emission hotspot, with an average rate of 1.56 tons of methane per hour—15 times the EPA threshold. Researchers estimate actual methane emissions are 64% higher than official figures. Under the Trump administration, the EPA effectively eliminated limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal and gas power plants, a move expected to add about 123 million tons of carbon emissions over the next decade, compared to the 2024 Biden administration regulations aimed at reducing about one billion tons of greenhouse gases by 2047. Separately, a new study found that Himalayan glaciers are losing mass at a rate 65% faster than a decade ago, with only 21 out of about 40,000 glaciers being regularly monitored. The melting threatens hundreds of millions of people and India's economy, with 56 glacial lakes in India classified as very high risk. Himalayan waters support about 20% of India's GDP. The article also cites a new document from the International Catholic Theological Commission, approved by Pope Leo XIV, stating that the ecological crisis is a theological issue requiring urgent action.