News & Commentary

New Rule Ups Big Oil’s Financial Responsibility for Offshore Clean-up

April 24, 2024 Expert BlogCaliforniaRebecca Loomis

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s new rule takes a meaningful step towards holding industry accountable for the true costs of oil and gas drilling. 

Reducing Water Loss Requires Upgrading Aging Ag Water Infrastructure

April 5, 2024 Expert BlogCaliforniaArohi Sharma

California’s ag sector will continue to struggle with unsustainable water use until it addresses broader inefficiencies across its aging water delivery system. Upgrades to California’s water delivery system, such as lining canals to reduce seepage, pressurizing water delivery pipes, installing…

The Long, Long Battle for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

March 15, 2024 ExplainerAlaskaBrian Palmer, Nicole Greenfield

For decades, politicians have vacillated between protecting Alaska’s refuge as one of the last unspoiled places on earth and plundering it for oil.

Progress in CA on Protecting People and Wildlife from Toxic Neonics

March 14, 2024 Expert BlogCaliforniaLena Freij, Allison Johnson

Just in time for spring, we’re seeing movement in California to curtail harmful and unnecessary uses of neonicotinoid insecticides, or “neonics.” 

Congress Responds to the Biden Administration’s Commonsense LNG Decision

February 15, 2024 Expert BlogUnited States, International, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, TexasAlexandra Adams

Not long after the administration’s pause on permits, the fossil fuel industry—and its supporters in Congress—pulled out all the stops to oppose the decision and spread misinformation. 

We Need Healthy Farm Ecosystems – Not Harmful Pesticides

December 14, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C., Florida, CaliforniaAllison Johnson

EPA should do more to protect pollinators – and we need to ramp up resources to help farmers build healthy ecosystems themselves.

Farm-to-Glass Supports Organic Farming

November 16, 2023 Expert BlogWashington, D.C., Ohio, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Michigan, Maine, CaliforniaAllison Johnson

Cheers! NRDC and our partners toasted a good cause on Capitol Hill: growing organic!

Why the Willow Project Is a Bad Idea

November 13, 2023 Latest NewsAlaskaJeff Turrentine

The oil drilling proposal would be disastrous for Alaska and the planet (not to mention President Biden’s climate legacy). 

CA’s Transformative Food & Farm Campaign Will Continue in 2024

November 7, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaArohi Sharma, Lena Brook

The California Legislature adjourned in September, officially turning the Food & Farm Resilience Coalition's climate bond campaign into a two-year effort. The bill proposes $3.65 billion for infrastructure that would reduce agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions while bringing healthier food options…

Taxpayers Still on Hook for Oil and Gas Clean-up, Despite New Rule

September 25, 2023 Expert BlogTexas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, AlaskaRebecca Ramirez

BOEM's proposed rule falls short in requiring oil and gas companies to demonstrate they are financially able to fully remove and clean up platforms & pipelines.

Nick Offerman "Face Plants" to Show Benefits of Cover Crops

September 20, 2023 Expert BlogLos AngelesArohi Sharma

Nick Offerman's quirky new video concludes with the tagline, "Don't treat soil like dirt," and is a key part of NRDC's campaign to promote cover crops in the next Farm Bill.

California Legislative Roundup, September 2023

September 18, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaVictoria Rome

Key bills on climate accountability and health reach Newsom’s desk

CARB Must Reform LCFS Program

August 23, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaKiki Velez

Will CARB listen to the community voices calling for change to the LCFS Program?

DOE Shrugs as U.S. Natural Gas Exports Surge

August 11, 2023 Expert BlogLouisiana, Texas, Florida, Alaska, New Jersey, PennsylvaniaGillian Giannetti, Morgan Johnson

A decade-long expansion of U.S. liquefied natural gas export terminals has transformed American energy policy.

General Iron Looms Over the Return to School

August 11, 2023 Expert BlogChicagoGina Ramirez

As we gear up for another school year, there's a constant worry hanging over us: the possibility of the General Iron facility starting up just across the street from George Washington High School. 

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…

Better Energy Options for Chicago: Clean and Affordable Buildings

July 12, 2023 Expert BlogChicago, Illinois, MidwestMeghan Hassett

A thoughtful transition toward clean and affordable buildings would help reduce high energy bills and indoor air pollution harming Chicago residents.

A Tale of Two Capacity Auctions—and Still Too Much Coal

July 10, 2023 Expert BlogMidwest, IllinoisMeghan Hassett

A capacity price spike impacted Illinoisans’ electricity bills last June. What has MISO done to prevent it from happening again? It’s a mixed bag—with too many fossil fuels inside.

Midwest states need a modern grid to supercharge clean energy goals

June 15, 2023 Expert BlogMinnesota, Midwest, Illinois, MichiganMeghan Hassett

Midwest states are already leading on clean energy, but achieving their goals depends on the power grid's readiness. We need the electricity system to catch up.

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.