Data, Reports & Resources

NRDC is a leader and trusted source in environmental policy and research. 

From reports to issue briefs, we ensure accountability through peer review led by our Science Office, which provides data and scientific analysis that help shape and guide NRDC’s policies and positions. We also offer a range of other resources, such as 101 guides and consumer-focused scorecards to increase access to knowledge about how everyone can be a catalyst for change. 

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A view of the cross-section of a cut water pipe

Getting the Lead Out: Removing Lead Pipes Would Yield Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in Health Benefits

Issue BriefUnited StatesErik D. Olson
Removing lead service lines could save the United States an estimated $786 billion from avoided health impacts over the next 35 years.
Bits of plastic waste float underwater

The Worst of the Worst: High-Priority Plastic Materials, Chemical Additives, and Products to Phase Out

Fact SheetUnited States, InternationalDr. Veena Singla
Two workers installing a battery in a vehicle in an assembly plant

Building Batteries Better: Doing the Best With Less

ReportUnited StatesJordan Brinn
Reducing the amount of mining needed through improvements in battery technology, second-life applications for vehicle batteries, and better recycling is key to reducing harms caused from battery supply chains.

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Energy-Burdened Communities Tool

MapLos Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, New Orleans, Birmingham, Atlanta, Memphis, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, Kansas City (Kansas), Chicago, Milwaukee, Flint, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Richmond (Virginia), Greensboro

Energy burden has disproportionately impacted low-income communities of color for decades. NRDC is actively working to bring justice to these communities through this mapping tool.

Waiting Game: How the Interconnection Queue Threatens Renewable Development in PJM

ReportUnited States, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, D.C.Dana Ammann
New NRDC analysis has found that even under recent reforms, the country’s largest grid operator is unlikely to approve new renewable projects quickly enough to meet even mandatory minimum state standards.

State-Based Food Waste Policy Gap Analysis and Inventory Reports

ReportMaryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, ColoradoDarby Hoover, Yvette Cabrera
Food waste costs the US $408 billion each year. Producing food that we do not consume swallows up roughly 18 percent of America’s cropland and 14 percent of our fresh water, and generates about 270 million metric tons CO2 equivalent…

What Is the Keystone XL Pipeline?

GuideNorth Dakota, Alberta, Montana, South Dakota, NebraskaMelissa Denchak, Courtney Lindwall
How a single pipeline project became the epicenter of an enormous environmental, public health, and civil rights battle.

Lead Pipes Are Widespread and Used in Every State

SurveyUnited States, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Texas, MinnesotaErik D. Olson, Alexandra Stubblefield
An NRDC survey estimates that there are at least 12.8 million water pipes that are, or may be, lead, spread across the entire country. Use our map to find out about your state.

Food Matters Regional Initiative

OverviewAtlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Jersey City, Madison, Memphis, Nashville, North Carolina, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C.
Cities are addressing food waste in a holistic way—through prevention, rescue, and recycling.

Reduce China’s Coal and Oil Use

Issue BriefChinaAlvin Lin, Barbara Finamore
NRDC is helping the country reduce its fossil fuel consumption, boost energy efficiency, and accelerate the shift to clean, renewable energy.

Guide to Building Healthy Soil

Issue BriefNorth Dakota, Montana, Idaho, United StatesArohi Sharma
As farmers prepare for the future, they cannot overlook the importance of soil health.

Fracking 101

GuideTexas, Pennsylvania, New York, California, North Dakota, FloridaMelissa Denchak
Hydraulic fracturing has upended the global energy landscape and made fossil fuels big business in the United States. Mounting evidence shows that it poses serious threats to our health, environment, and climate future. Here’s a look at the fracking boom…

States Benefit from Clean Energy and Environmental Programs

Fact SheetUnited States, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania
Trump’s budget would slash many of the most important clean energy and environmental programs to the detriment of all.

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change

Issue BriefUnited States, International, Brazil, Canada, China, India, MexicoHan Chen
While the Paris Agreement does not “solve” climate change, it is a critical inflection point that brings us much closer to a safer climate trajectory and creates an ambitious path forward for decades to come.

Improve Management in the Bakken

OverviewNorth Dakota
The scale of industrialization is staggering, and NRDC is pushing oil and gas companies to reduce their impact on people’s health, the local environment, and the global climate.

The Clean Power Plan and State Pathways to Cutting Carbon Pollution

Issue BriefUnited States, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Montana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, VirginiaAriana Gonzalez, Ashok Gupta, Noah Long, Luis Martinez, Katharine McCormick, Walton Shepherd, Dylan Sullivan, Mark Szybist, Samantha Williams, Starla Yeh