1. EPA to unveil plans to weaken rule limiting toxic mercury pollution - EPA will unveil plans to start weakening the economic justification for a rule limiting toxic mercury pollution from coal plants, in order to roll back other pollution protections that depend on the mercury rule math, according to experts. The Trump’s administration has been revoking major environmental protections enacted by the Barack Obama administration, arguing Obama rules overestimated health benefits and undercounted costs.

2. EU countries pass single-use plastics ban - European Union countries backed the outlawing of certain single-use plastics, which account for huge quantities of waste in the world's oceans. The approval by the 28 member states follows an overwhelming vote in the European Parliament to ban single-use plastic items such as straws, cutlery, cotton swabs, and balloon sticks.