Moby and Alicia Silverstone Honored for Decades of Animal Advocacy
In November, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine celebrated its 40th anniversary in Los Angeles, recognizing decades of work in ethical medicine and plantbased nutrition. Actor Alicia Silverstone and musician Moby received the Voice of Compassion Award for their longstanding commitments to animal protection and a vegan lifestyle. The Washington, D.C. nonprofit works to eliminate animal testing in medical training and advises policymakers on adopting non-animal testing methods.
Global Push to Halve Food Waste by 2030 Launched at COP30
The UN Environment Programme and partners launched the “Food Waste Breakthrough” at COP30 to halve global food waste by 2030. Wasting over one billion tonnes of food annually contributes up to 10% of global greenhouse gases, including potent methane. Proposed as a 2030 Climate Solution, the initiative aims to cut up to 7% from methane emissions while addressing global hunger and saving an estimated $1 trillion per year.
J&J Talc Verdict Met with FDA Rule Withdrawal
A nearly $1 billion verdict against Johnson & Johnson for talc-related mesothelioma underscored the danger of asbestos in cosmetic talc. Yet the FDA recently withdrew a proposed rule to standardize testing methods to detect asbestos in these products, citing legal and scientific complexities. Safety experts warn that without a binding federal standard, consumers remain vulnerable to the carcinogenic risk posed by contaminated talc.
Canada Prioritizes Oil Pipeline Over Climate Goals
Prime Minister Mark Carney struck a deal exempting Alberta’s oil sands from climate laws to build a new pipeline to Asia, aiming to curb economic dependence on the U.S. The move, seen as antithetical to climate action, drew immediate condemnation from environmentalists and led to a key cabinet member’s resignation.
U.S. Delays Critical Methane Cuts
The E.P.A. has delayed the requirement for oil and gas f irms to curb methane emissions until January 2027. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin justified the move by citing $750 million in saved compliance costs for oil and gas companies. Methane is a potent “super pollutant” which traps 80 times more heat in the atmosphere than CO2, making the delay a major blow to U.S. climate efforts.
