China is the largest producer and exporter of cars in the world, but you won’t find its vehicles on U.S. streets, due to tariffs that have made them virtually impossible to import. Travel to places like Mexico, Argentina, and many European countries and you’ll quickly notice the prevalence of Chinese cars, especially electric vehicles. Now, Canada is the next destination: The country has significantly decreased tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles amid a souring relationship with the United States.

As America continues to engage in trade wars with allies, Beijing has been ramping up overseas investments to their highest levels ever. For years, China has been looking to partner with other countries to develop its “Belt and Road Initiative.” This economic strategy aims to fund and build massive overseas infrastructure projects like roads, railways and ports, opening up new markets for the country’s domestic industries. Even though some of these projects involve green technology, there have been environmental consequences. For example, a hydroelectric dam in Indonesia built and financed in part by Chinese state-owned corporations, threatens to eradicate one of the world’s most endangered species of orangutan in the Sumatra forest.

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As Climate Week NYC kicks off on Sept. 20, Inside Climate host Jake Bolster speaks to U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and asks why so many Democrats are leaning away from climate messaging at a time when the fossil fuel industry’s influence is dramatically reshaping federal policy. If Democrats regain control of the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, Whitehouse could take a leadership role on the Judiciary Committee and has strong opinions on how the Supreme Court should be reshaped. Finally, the senator shares his thoughts about the recent actions in Venezuela and whether bipartisan permitting reform can be achieved with this Congress.

All of Inside Climate News’ reporting and media is made available free to our audience. Please consider donating to our newsroom to support nonprofit environmental journalism: insideclimatenews.org/support

Environmental regulations, particularly pertaining to the oil and gas industry, have undergone a dramatic overhaul during President Donald Trump’s second administration. To understand how the rollbacks are impacting people, Inside Climate News investigated a jet fuel pipeline spill that has tainted the drinking water source for more than 200 homes in Pennsylvania. Nearly two years since the spill was discovered, homeowners continue to struggle with the cleanup, while the fossil fuel company responsible has donated millions to the president and so far have avoided any significant penalties.

Elsewhere, a different type of pollution is wrecking havoc as Guatemala is inundated with cheap plastic imports and no infrastructure to manage the waste. As a result, many people have resorted to burning it, causing significant air pollution and health impacts.

All of Inside Climate News’ reporting and media is made available free to our audience. Please consider donating to our newsroom to support nonprofit environmental journalism: insideclimatenews.org/support