News & Commentary

Governor Newsom Looking toward Recovery, Guided by Science

March 18, 2021 Expert BlogCaliforniaVictoria Rome

The fight against the climate crisis continues and California legislators are approaching the battle in new ways, with new coalitions. Here are some key environmental bills to watch.

School Districts Commit to Responsibly Raised Turkey

March 11, 2021 Expert BlogNew York City, New York, Los Angeles, California, Dallas, TexasLena Brook

Urban School Food Alliance sets new responsible antibiotics use standard for turkey in school meals.

California Proposes to Transition Away from Toxic Pesticides

March 9, 2021 Expert BlogCaliforniaAllison Johnson

California's proposal to update pesticide fees could offer better protections for farm workers, agricultural communities, and vulnerable ecosystems, as well as help farmers adopt more sustainable practices.

Honolulu Charts a Path Away from Fossil Fuels

March 2, 2021 DispatchHawaii, HonoluluCourtney Lindwall

As part of the American Cities Climate Challenge, a coalition of climate advocates just helped pass a series of bills that will curb emissions and rein in Honolulu’s sky-high cost of living at once.

Texas Shows Us Our Water Future with Climate Change: It Ain’t Pretty

February 26, 2021 Expert BlogTexasErik D. Olson

Texas was just a glimpse of what’s to come. With increasing wildfires, drought, flooding, and sea-level rise, we must make sure our water systems can continue to operate during such events.

Preventing the Next Drinking Water Emergency

February 19, 2021 Expert BlogTexasAaron Colangelo

States must update emergency response plans to avert the next water crisis.

Taking Care of the Food Workers Who Take Care of Us

February 10, 2021 NRDC in ActionColoradoNicole Greenfield

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the inequities faced by food- and farmworkers who put their health in danger just by coming to work each day. NRDC is pushing to change that.

Goodbye, Yucca. It’s Now Time for Consent for Nuclear Waste.

January 28, 2021 Expert BlogNevadaGeoffrey H. Fettus, Dr. Matthew McKinzie

NRDC stands ready to work with Granholm upon her expected confirmation, the Administration, and Congress to solves this Rubik’s Cube of environmental challenges.

Los Angeles Edges Closer to Phasing Out Urban Oil Drilling

December 16, 2020 Expert BlogLos AngelesDamon Nagami

The Los Angeles City Council’s Energy, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice Committee earlier this month voted unanimously to pass a motion to pursue a citywide phase-out of oil drilling.

Liane Randolph Appointed to CARB Chair

December 10, 2020 Expert BlogCalifornia, United States, InternationalDavid Pettit

CARB is a world-leading agency that has led the fight nationally and internationally to prevent climate change and to reduce air pollution that harms the health of our children and communities.

The Cost of the Delta Tunnel Threatens SoCal’s Water Future

October 30, 2020 Expert BlogCaliforniaDoug Obegi

COVID-19 Has Exposed the Gross Exploitation of Meatpacking Workers

October 30, 2020 DispatchColoradoNicole Greenfield

The ongoing health and safety failures at the JBS meat-processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, highlight an industry-wide truth: It’s production over people, even in a deadly pandemic.

Systems Based Ag Solutions Required for Systemic Ag Problems

October 29, 2020 Expert BlogCaliforniaArohi Sharma, Lena Brook

Now is the time for reimagining what our natural and working lands, and broader food and agricultural economy, looks like.

Nature Thrives with Diversity; California's Food Systems Can, Too

October 22, 2020 Expert BlogCaliforniaArohi Sharma

Our decisionmakers need to think long-term and tie economic recovery with support for our small- and mid-sized farmers, our essential workers, and climate-smart agriculture programs.

Albuquerque Partners with Jicarilla Apache Nation Solar Farm

October 21, 2020 Expert BlogNew Mexico, AlbuquerqueEloisa Portillo-Morales

Known for its beautiful lakes, majestic landscapes, and abundant wildlife, the Jicarilla Apache Nation reservation in northwestern New Mexico will soon become known for another impressive environmental feature: a 400-acre solar farm.

San Francisco Grocers Report: Beef & Pork Antibiotic Use Still Hidden

October 19, 2020 Expert BlogSan FranciscoAllison Johnson

For the second year in a row, San Francisco grocers reported almost no details about antibiotics used to produce beef or pork sold in the city. It's time for grocers—and their meat producers—to step up.

Raising Shasta Dam Is an Even Worse Idea Than We Knew

October 5, 2020 Expert BlogCaliforniaDoug Obegi

The Trump Administration’s efforts to enlarge Shasta Dam was always a bad idea. In addition to being illegal under California law, it’s been clear for years that raising the height of the dam would destroy Native American sacred sites, harm…

Mussels Help Keep Watch on Pollution in Puget Sound

August 20, 2020 DispatchWashingtonStarre Vartan

The humble bivalves, which concentrate everything from heavy metals to cancer drugs in their tissues, provide an ideal way for scientists to monitor nearshore water health.

EPA Tries to Sign Away Authority to Regulate Water-Polluting Uranium Mining

July 23, 2020 Expert BlogWest, United StatesNRDC

Every single instance of uranium mining leads to the contamination of the surrounding aquifer. Yet the agency is leaving the industry virtually unchecked.

More Work Ahead to Protect California from Toxic Pesticides

July 21, 2020 Expert BlogCaliforniaAllison Johnson, Miriam Rotkin-Ellman

The state's Department of Pesticide Regulation and Department of Food and Agriculture must end the use of toxic pesticides and invest in diversified organic and regenerative agriculture.