Media Center

New Study: Tar Sands to Skyrocket West Coast’s Climate and Air Pollution

April 28, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO (April 28, 2015) – The Pacific coast faces a looming health, climate, and environmental crisis posed by an influx of tar sands fuel from oil interests in Alberta, Canada, according to new analysis released today by the Natural Resources…

Bill Protecting Against Chemicals is a Step Forward, but Needs Further Improvements

April 28, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (April 28, 2015) – The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today approved a chemical safety bill that would reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which empowers the Environmental Protection Agency to better protect public health and the…

NRDC Statement on Mayor de Blasio’s First Sustainability Plan

April 22, 2015 Press ReleaseNew York

NEW YORK (April 22, 2015) – Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration today released its first-ever sustainability plan for New York City, One New York: The Plan for A Strong and Just City (OneNYC). The plan builds and expands on former…

Five Years After the BP Disaster, We’re Still Not Safe

April 16, 2015 Press ReleaseNew York

NEW YORK (April 16, 2015) – Next Monday, April 20, marks five years since the catastrophic BP blowout in the Gulf of Mexico that killed 11 workers and dumped millions of barrels of crude oil into the sea. Five years…

New Report: China’s Sustainable Fashion Leaders Save $14.7 Million Annually Through Major Cuts in Water, Energy & Chemical Use

April 14, 2015 Press Release

SHANGHAI (April 15, 2015) – Over 30 Chinese textile mills, many of which create clothing for major high-volume apparel brands and retailers including Target, Gap Inc., Levi Strauss and Company and H&M, are saving $14.7 million annually by adopting simple…

Allowing Shell to Rush Back into Arctic Drilling Could Be Disastrous For Climate, Pristine Ocean

April 10, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (April 10, 2015) – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today determined that Shell’s exploration plan for drilling in the Arctic Ocean is complete, clearing the way for a full review by the agency. BOEM now has 30 days…

Report: Low-Income Americans Will See Major Health, Job, Cost Saving Benefits from Clean Energy, Reduced Carbon Pollution

April 8, 2015 Press Release

CHICAGO (April 8, 2015)—While climate change threatens the public health and economic well-being of everyone, low-income Americans are especially vulnerable to the extreme weather and dramatic increases in electricity costs associated with global warming, according to a new report released…

President Obama is Right to Highlight Health Threats Posed by Dangerous Climate Change

April 7, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (April 7, 2015) – President Obama today unveiled an unprecedented and sweeping array of actions to lessen climate change’s adverse impacts on human health.

FRACKING’S MOST WANTED: Report Identifies Top 10 Oil & Gas Companies for Spills & Legal Violations

April 2, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (April 2, 2015) – Only three out the 36 states with active oil and gas operations make information about companies’ spills and legal violations easily available to the public, according to a report by the Natural Resources Defense Council…

First-Ever Mandatory Water Reductions for Urban and Agriculture Across California

April 1, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (April 1, 2015) – In response to the ongoing drought and record low snow in California, Governor Jerry Brown today announced a statewide directive including mandatory water reductions, investment in new technologies, implementation of conservation pricing in water…

Court Rules Navy War Games Violate Law Protecting Whales and Dolphins

March 31, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

LOS ANGELES (March 31, 2015) —A federal court today announced that the U.S. Navy’s training and testing activities off the coast of Southern California and Hawaii illegally harm more than 60 whale, dolphin, seal, and sea lion populations. The U.S…

Senate Leader Reid “A Giant” for Our Health and the Environment

March 27, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (March 27, 2015) – Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who has served in the Senate since 1987, announced today that he will retire when his current term expires in 2016.

DOE’s Petroleum Council Dead Wrong on Arctic Drilling

March 27, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (March 27,2015) - The National Petroleum Council, the largely industry-based oil and gas advisory committee to the Department of Energy, released a study Friday predicting the twilight of oil production through fracking and calling for drilling in the Arctic…

White House Antibiotics Plan Too Weak on Curbing Misuse of Drugs in Livestock

March 26, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (March 26, 2015) – In response to the Administration’s National Action Plan For Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, which leaked today, Mae Wu, health attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), issued the following statement:

House Budget An Assault on Our Health and Environment

March 25, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (March 25, 2015) – The Republican-led House today passed a 2016 federal budget resolution. David Goldston, director of government affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council, made this comment:

GOP Launches “Brazen Bid” to Give Polluters Free Rein

March 24, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (March 24, 2015) – Congressional Republicans are proposing a bill and an amendment this week that would allow states to opt-out of the Obama Administration's pioneering plan to curb carbon pollution from our power plants. The budget amendment by…

Boxer Chemical Safety Bill a “Significant Improvement” Over Current Law

March 17, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (March 17, 2015) – Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is holding a press conference today to discuss a bill she has introduced with Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) to reform the nation’s chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)…

Energy Efficiency Recommendations Could Save Missouri Multifamily Housing Owners and Occupants Millions

March 13, 2015 Press Release

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (March, 13, 2015) – Saving money is always a good thing. Saving money and power is even better. Today, a multifamily affordable housing network discussed potential policy recommendations to increase energy efficiency in multifamily housing structures throughout…

New FEMA Requirements Will Better Prepare Communities for Climate Change Risks

March 13, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (March 13, 2015) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Thursday it finalized new policy guidance requiring states to consider climate change’s projected effects when they plan and prepare for natural disasters.

Boxer-Markey Bill Is Forward-Thinking Chemical Reform

March 12, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON (March 12, 2015) – Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) today introduced a bill to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976. The bill is a response to a measure introduced earlier this week by…