In environmental news, newly released data shows that carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. increased by 3.4 percent in 2018, the largest increase in eight years. The spike comes despite a large number of coal plants closing in the past year. Researchers say the increase can be attributed to a rise in emissions from transportation, buildings and factories. Last month, scientists said carbon dioxide emissions surged globally in 2018, describing the alarming trend as a “speeding freight train.”

In response to Tuesday’s report, May Boeve of 350.org said, “There are consequences to government inaction. … [W]ithout taking critical measures to cut fossil-fuel emissions much more drastically, we are locking ourselves into the devastating consequences of climate change, including rising sea levels, more severe hurricanes and storms, wildfires, and more. … With a new Congress in session, we demand they heed these warnings and step up to act at the scale of the crisis.”