Times Insider explains who we are, what we do, and provides behind-the-scenes insight into how our journalism comes together.
Cooking utensils. dental floss. shampoo.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, can be found in these items and hundreds of other household products. Nicknamed the “forever chemicals” because they do not completely decompose, PFAS are resistant to heat, oil, grease and water. (One of the first uses of PFAS chemicals was as a nonstick material in Teflon cookware in the 1940s.) But exposure to PFAS has been linked to health problems, including cancer, liver damage, and birth defects.
What's worse is that the chemicals have found their way into showers, sinks, and drinking glasses. A 2023 study found PFAS in nearly half of U.S. tap water. But there is good news. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is regulating PFAS for the first time. This month, the EPA announced it would require municipal water systems to permanently remove six chemicals from tap water.
Lisa Friedman, a climate desk reporter for The New York Times, wrote about the new rules. In a recent conversation, Ms. Friedman discussed the stormy month for climate news, factors that could delay implementation of regulations, and how her strategy has evolved over the past 15 years. This interview has been edited and condensed.
How meaningful is this moment?
This is a really big deal. The EPA has finalized regulations that require some PFAS chemicals in drinking water to be reduced to near-zero levels. However, PFAS chemicals are difficult to remove, and doing so requires costly processes. This is going to be quite a headache for water utility companies.
Last week, President Biden's administration Proposed industrial road in Alaska Announced expansion plans. Two National Monuments in California. Is there a reason there are so many climate policy changes happening in the United States right now?
Regulations on PFAS in tap water were first proposed last year, but under an obscure law called the Congressional Review Act. The law gives Congress at least 60 legislative days to overturn new rules issued by federal agencies. This rule could easily be overturned if Republicans take control of the Senate and Donald Trump becomes president.
Because we don't know what will happen in the presidential election, many organizations may inadvertently try to finalize the rules.
The EPA says it takes three years to monitor water quality for PFAS in public water systems and an additional two years to install new technology if PFAS levels exceed standards. Given that time frame, could a potential Trump administration overturn those rules?
totally. One thing to note is that release rules don't happen overnight. It often takes as long to roll back regulations as it takes to impose them. But the Trump administration could weaken regulations or take other steps to slow progress.
Many readers reacted strongly to this news. Did that surprise you?
I was amazed at the level of detailed comments on my post. I primarily write about climate change, and there are some very passionate and thoughtful people on the topic. But this story was very shocking and it was revealed in the comments. There is a lot of anger towards companies, and some wonder why there was no regulation like this before.
What is your beat’s biggest challenge?
I think the most difficult part is explaining complex topics such as carbon taxes or power plant regulations. Finding ways to show people why all of this matters is fun but challenging.
What is your journalism background?
I have been covering climate change for about 15 years. Before coming to The Times, I worked as an editor at Climatewire, now part of Politico. There I wrote about what climate change means for the world's poorest countries and covered UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen and Paris.
I stumbled upon climate change by chance. I thought I could do this for about a year. 15 years later, I'm still learning and discovering new things.
Does climate journalism look different today than it did 15 years ago?
The journalism landscape has changed. When I first started covering climate change, there were only one or two reporters in the media covering climate. It took time for climate news to get the coverage it deserved. The Times now has a huge climate team. The Washington Post and Associated Press have climate teams. Climate-related articles frequently appear on the front page of The Times. I think there is a lot more awareness of the climate issue and what needs to be done.