News & Commentary

Shifting Federal Funding to Communities: ECJ Program Could Be a Historic Opportunity

September 6, 2023 Expert BlogWashington, D.C.Chantelle "Ella" Mendonsa

The EPA ECJ program grants directed over $2 billion to marginalized communities to reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to respond to environmental and climate justice challenges.

Funding the Government for FY2024, Part 2: Calamity in the House

August 29, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Kyle T. Jones

In part 2, I review the shoddy work of the House of Representatives.

Funding the Government for FY2024, Part 3: The Senate to the Rescue?

August 29, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Kyle T. Jones

In part 3, I examine the more respectable work of the Senate and conclude with potential next steps.

Funding the Government for FY2024, Part 1: The State of Play

August 29, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Kyle T. Jones

In part 1, I summarize the overarching state of the federal appropriations process right now.

A Farm Bill Worth Fighting For

August 2, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Allison Johnson, Valerie Baron, Matthew Kaplan

We need a good Farm Bill – that advances climate, health, and worker protections – not one that turns back the clock.

Organic Needs a Boost in the Farm Bill

July 12, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, California, Iowa, Washington, D.C.Allison Johnson

Our public investments in organic food production have not kept pace with the organic sector’s growth – and that’s a missed opportunity for domestic economic development. The Opportunities in Organic Act would help U.S. farms meet consumer demand by reducing…

RGGI States Learning and Sharing On Climate and Equity

June 6, 2023 Expert BlogEast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, VirginiaJackson Morris

A new report finds that the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative delivers on jobs, emissions reduction, and economic benefits—and provides a framework to address equity in the future.

Recent Chemical Disasters Impel Stronger Federal Safety Regs

October 25, 2022 Expert BlogUnited States, New Jersey, Louisiana, North CarolinaSahana Rao

Why Congress Must Pass the Climate Bill

July 29, 2022 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Manish Bapna

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is the strongest congressional climate action yet—in the moment we need it most.

Documenting the Attempt to Overturn Our Election

June 9, 2022 Expert BlogWashington, D.C., United StatesMitchell Bernard

The January 6 committee’s public hearings will shine a bright light on the threats to our democracy.

EPA: It’s Time to Act. We need Clean Trucks Now

March 3, 2022 Expert BlogUnited States, California, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, WashingtonPatricio Portillo, Heather Kryczka

Cutting tailpipe emissions and moving to zero emission vehicles can eliminate the diesel fumes causing childhood asthma, emergency room visits, and loss of life.

An Environmental Justice Advocate Inspires Others to Become Agents of Change

February 22, 2022 DispatchNewark, New JerseyKyler Sumter

Yvette Jordan is teaching communities impacted by environmental injustice about the power of speaking up.

Clean Trucks Rules Are NJ’s First Step

December 20, 2021 Expert BlogNew JerseyKathy Harris, Patricio Portillo

By adopting the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule—which requires an increasing number of zero-emission truck sales each year in the state—New Jersey took a major step to reduce harmful air pollution.

Gibbstown Ends, Not with a Bang but with a Whimper?

November 30, 2021 Expert BlogNew JerseyKimberly Ong

PennEast Gas Pipeline Cancelled by Developers

September 27, 2021 Expert BlogNew York, New Jersey, Delaware, PennsylvaniaSahana Rao

Development of the PennEast Pipeline has been put on hold! This fracked gas pipeline would be disastrous for the Delaware River Basin and would exacerbate the climate crisis—here’s how we can stop the pipeline permanently.

Drinking Through a Lead Straw in the District

July 29, 2021 Expert BlogWashington, D.C.Valerie Baron

According to NRDC’s new report Washington DC just distinguished itself—we are in the top 10 most lead-pipes-per-100,000 people of any state (or District) in the US. Not great news for the as many as 31,000 households drinking water through a…

Brief Filed in Lawsuit to Protect Delaware River from PCBs

May 3, 2021 Expert BlogNew Jersey, PennsylvaniaMarisa Guerrero, Julia Jonas-Day

Water quality in the Delaware River is under threat of PCB chemical pollution from a proposed liquefied natural gas export terminal. To protect the river, NRDC filed an amicus brief in a federal lawsuit challenging the facility's dredging and construction…

As 2020 Ends, We Still Need All Hands In

December 28, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Gina McCarthy

In January, I will be joining the Biden–Harris powerhouse of a Climate Cabinet, and NRDC will continue the work to build a cleaner, healthier, more just and equitable world.

Bipartisan States Commit to Clean and Healthy Transportation

December 21, 2020 Expert BlogMassachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Washington, D.C.Bruce Ho

A bipartisan group of Eastern states announce an agreement to modernize transportation.

A New York Climate Justice Activist with Roots in the Blue Ridge Mountains

December 11, 2020 DispatchNew York City, Washington, D.C.Carmen Cusido

WE ACT’s director of environmental health and education, Taylor Morton, who found their path to environmental justice work through a childhood spent in nature, wants to help the next generation get outside without fear.