News & Commentary

A Full Colorado Clean Cars Brings $20 Billion in Additional Benefits

July 10, 2023 Expert BlogColoradoYeh-Tang Huang, Alana Miller, Kathy Harris

A new fact sheet shows that adopting a full Colorado Clean Cars program can bring $20 billion of health and environmental benefits to the state. 

Equitable Rate Reform FAQ

June 30, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaMohit Chhabra, Sylvie Ashford

Improving how we pay for shared electric system costs in California

Connecting Youth to Nature Supports Equity and Climate Change Goals

June 29, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaChris Clark

Helping youth overcome barriers and connect to blue spaces supports current equity goals and lays the foundation for a bright future in the climate movement

California Pesticide Bills on the Move—Again

June 2, 2023 Expert BlogSacramento, CaliforniaLucas Rhoads

The California Assembly  passed two bills that would help address widespread contamination of the state’s environment with pesticides like neurotoxic neonics.

CA Assembly Passes Climate-Resilient Food & Farming Bill

June 1, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaArohi Sharma

To help reduce agriculture-related emissions and create a more resilient food system, Assemblymember Lori Wilson introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 408, the Climate-resilient Farms, Sustainable Healthy Food Access, and Farmworker Protection Bond Act of 2024. The Assembly passed AB 408, sending…

The Farm Bill Needs Opportunities in Organic

May 11, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, Vermont, CaliforniaAllison Johnson

The Opportunities in Organic Act will put organic in reach for more producers and consumers.

Colorado Legislative Roundup: 2023

May 9, 2023 Expert BlogColoradoAlana Miller

A suite of important, yet heavily negotiated, environmental bills are making their way to Governor Polis’s desk.

Colorado's Win for Clean Trucks

May 5, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, ColoradoClaire Lang-Ree

Colorado voted to adopt historic standards to promote clean trucks in the state, which will reduce harmful air pollution from trucks and buses. It's time for other Western states to move forward with these safeguards.

State Leadership Required to Bolster the Actions of CA Cities and Tackle Pollution from Buildings

May 2, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaMerrian Borgeson, Julia de Lamare

While the 9th Circuit Court ruling threatens local government action to cut pollution from gas appliances, California policy makers have several opportunities this legislative session to reinforce that local leaders are far from alone in the important work to get…

California Accelerates its Fight Against Freight Pollution

April 28, 2023 Expert BlogSacramento, CaliforniaHeather Kryczka, Guillermo A. Ortiz, Patricio Portillo

Reforming CA's Electric Rates for Decarbonization and Equity

April 14, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaSylvie Ashford, Mohit Chhabra

NRDC and The Utility Reform Network submitted an electric rate design proposal to the California Public Utilities Commission to promote equity and encourage beneficial electrification. This is the first stage in a regulatory process to implement income-based fixed charges.

Riparian Forests: How California Farmers Can Protect Waterways

March 22, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaArohi Sharma

California can work with growers to scale up riparian forest buffers along farm and rangelands to help sequester carbon, protect waterways, and improve biodiversity.

The Lower Klamath River Will Soon Flow Freely Again

March 21, 2023 DispatchCalifornia, WestNicole Greenfield

Sparking hope for the West’s rivers and beyond, a decades-long battle leads to the world’s biggest dam removal project.

NRDC Sues to Close Huge California Pesticide Loophole

February 19, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaLucas Rhoads

NRDC has sued the California Department of Pesticide Regulation for its failure to regulate crop seeds treated with pesticides. These "treated seed' uses are major sources of widespread pesticide contamination, and pose threats to pollinators, other wildlife, and people. 

Cover Crops for Every Climate

February 17, 2023 Expert BlogWest, Midwest, East, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Idaho, New Mexico, TexasLara Bryant, Dr. Daniel Rath

Cover crops are adaptable, valuable, and effective enough that farmers can benefit from them in every region of the United States—even cold or dry areas.

CA Electric Rates Should Support Equity and Climate Goals

February 17, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaSylvie Ashford, Mohit Chhabra

The California Public Utilities Commission has started a process to better align electric rates with the state’s climate and equity goals.

MPAs Work, Let’s Make Them Work for Everyone

February 16, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaAnupa Asokan

If California is to remain a leader in marine protection, we as advocates, scientists, and state agencies must adapt our perspectives on who values our ocean and its resources.

A ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ Card for Stealing the Delta's Water

February 15, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaDoug Obegi

It’s time for the federal government to once again intervene to protect the Bay-Delta before it’s too late.

A Once-Thriving Black-Owned Beach Is Returned to Its Rightful Owners

February 10, 2023 DispatchLos AngelesCourtney Lindwall

The victory at California’s Bruce’s Beach, improperly seized 100 years ago, has reignited the conversation around land restitution for Black Americans.

How California’s Water Rights System Gouges You and Me

February 6, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaKate Poole

It's time for California’s water managers to reform this antiquated system and prioritize water for human health and safety and for the shared environment over water for farms.