News & Commentary

Pollinators Notch Big Wins in Minnesota

May 26, 2023 Expert BlogSt. PaulLucas Rhoads

In a historic 2023 session, Minnesota reined in pesticide use, increased pollinator habitat, and built momentum toward additional protections. 

Idaho Approves Statewide Wolf Reduction Plan

May 24, 2023 Expert BlogIdaho, United StatesDr. Jennifer Sherry

The Proposed Colorado River Deal: A Short-Term Band-Aid for a Long-Term Problem

May 23, 2023 Expert BlogWest, California, Arizona, Nevada, MexicoDr. Mark Gold

The Colorado River conservation proposal from Arizona, California, and Nevada reduces diversions by 1 million acre feet a year. Is this enough to make river management sustainable?

Community Science Is Changing How People Can Fight Pollution

May 23, 2023 PerspectivesHouston, Texas, St. Louis, Missouri, Chicago, IllinoisCourtney Lindwall

Grassroots groups are collecting their own pollution data to increase accountability and demand environmental justice.

Study Shows 14,000 Unplugged Oil and Gas Wells in Gulf of Mexico

May 23, 2023 Expert BlogTexas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, FloridaRebecca Loomis, Rebecca Ramirez

Industry has neglected thousands of unused oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico. They will cost an estimated $30 billion to plug and decommission.

Shared Knowledge Is Power in the Northern Mariana Islands

May 22, 2023 DispatchInternationalShelia Hu

As Indigenous groups seek to comanage the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, elders help the next generation find opportunity on the islands in science and conservation. 

Lawmakers Propose Modern Approach to U.S. Mining

May 19, 2023 Expert BlogUnited StatesJosh Axelrod

Representative Raul Grijalva and Senator Martin Heinrich today are introducing legislation to tackle the historic harms and inequities of U.S. mining law and to chart a path forward on mineral supplies as we look to rapidly electrify our economy.

Congress Could Use a Reminder of What’s at Stake for Our Wildlife

May 19, 2023 Expert BlogUnited StatesKatie Hobbs

On Endangered Species Day, Congress can do more to combat the threats to wildlife survival.

Clean Cars Yields $95 Billion in Benefits for Coloradans

May 18, 2023 Expert BlogColoradoYeh-Tang Huang

A new study shows that the Advanced Clean Cars II Program can bring over $95 billion in benefits to Colorado. 

Home Depot's Shareholders Should Oppose Board Leadership

May 17, 2023 Expert BlogWashingtonShelley Vinyard

One year after shareholders requested the company report on reducing its forest-sourcing risk, Home Depot has failed to address shareholder concerns.

Indigenous-led Collaborations Are Transforming Conservation

May 17, 2023 Expert BlogCanadaJulee Boan

The pressure is immense and the clock is ticking to ensure the course correction needed to stave off the worst climate and biodiversity impacts predicted for our industrialized world. A new collective, called the Restore, Assert, Defend (or RAD) Network…

A Good Week for Forests, a Bad Week for Bioenergy

May 16, 2023 Expert BlogInternationalMatt Williams

UK power company Drax had a VERY BAD WEEK recently.

EPA: Neonics Likely Driving 200+ Species Toward Extinction

May 15, 2023 Expert BlogWashington, D.C.Lucas Rhoads

U.S. EPA's unprecedented findings confirm that widespread neonic pesticide use threatens critical pollinators, other wildlife, and whole ecosystems. 

President Biden Celebrates Pebble Veto: “The Mine Will Not Be Built.”

May 15, 2023 Expert BlogAlaskaJoel Reynolds

In the Rose Garden celebration of conservation achievements, President Joe Biden elevated the Pebble Mine veto—calling the Bristol Bay fishery “a marvel,” citing scientific consensus of unacceptable risk from large-scale mining, and thanking Alaska Natives and the broad-based coalition for…

Illinois Needs to Address Transportation Pollution—Not Widen I-55

May 15, 2023 Expert BlogIllinois, ChicagoMeghan Hassett, J.C. Kibbey

Illinois has a transportation pollution problem. Expanding I-55 would only worsen it, putting vulnerable communities at risk.

It’s Time for IMO to Regulate Underwater Ship Noise

May 15, 2023 Expert BlogInternationalRegan Nelson

To protect ocean biodiversity, the International Maritime Organization must take action to require commercial ships to reduce underwater noise.

The EPA Tackles Power Plants’ Carbon Pollution

May 11, 2023 Expert BlogUnited StatesLissa Lynch

The agency’s proposal to limit carbon pollution from coal- and gas-fired power plants—which until now has gone nearly unchecked—is a vital step toward combating climate change.

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.

The Debt Limit: How Do We Get Out of This Mess?

May 9, 2023 Expert BlogUnited StatesKyle T. Jones

The United States is on the brink of a devastating debt default, but a bold new effort is underway in the House to help pave the way to fiscal sanity.

Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing—the Next Carbon Bomb?

May 8, 2023 Expert BlogUnited StatesValerie Cleland

President Biden’s decision on the next offshore oil and gas leasing program is expected just as polling shows that a majority of voters do not want to expand offshore drilling.