News & Commentary

Environmental Advocacy Is a First Amendment Right

October 31, 2017 ExplainerUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Industrial polluters have gone to great lengths to stifle environmental advocacy, but their expansion of censorship laws has finally crossed a line for some federal judges.

What Is the Clean Power Plan?

September 29, 2017 ExplainerUnited States

In short, it’s the first-ever plan to curb carbon pollution from U.S. power plants. Here’s how it works and why it matters.

Still No Approved Route for KXL in Nebraska

June 1, 2017 ExplainerUnited States, NebraskaBrian Palmer

Yes, Trump has green-lighted the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. But Nebraska’s got a slew of public hearings on the calendar, and legal challenges loom large.

The Pesticide in Your Crisper Drawer

May 2, 2017 ExplainerUnited States, CaliforniaNicole Greenfield

Shown to be toxic to kids, chlorpyrifos is nevertheless still being sprayed on crops across the country—and making its way into our bodies. So why has the EPA refused to ban it?

Flint Drinking Water Settlement FAQ

March 28, 2017 ExplainerUnited States, Michigan, Flint, MidwestNRDC

The residents of Flint, Michigan, will finally get their lead pipes replaced and have access to safe drinking water. Here's what you need to know.

Cut Environmental Justice at the EPA, and We All Lose

March 17, 2017 ExplainerUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Trump likens our “inner cities” to war zones . . . then guts the programs geared to safeguard clean air and water for low-income communities of color.

Why We Need the EPA

February 14, 2017 ExplainerPuerto Rico, New York City, United States, ClevelandBrian Palmer

Let’s not forget what America looked like before we had the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Our rivers caught on fire, our air was full of smog, and it stank (literally).

Shake-Up for the Federal Coal-Leasing Program

February 2, 2017 ExplainerUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Trump is pushing a fossil fuel–heavy energy agenda, but in the final days of the Obama administration, the Bureau of Land Management left a hurdle in his path.

Scott Pruitt Wants to Take Us Back to the ’50s

January 13, 2017 ExplainerUnited StatesBrian Palmer

The incoming head of the EPA believes states should be in charge of their own environmental regulations. Been there, done that, got the oil-soaked T-shirt.

Trump’s Cabinet of Horrors

January 6, 2017 ExplainerUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Congressional hearings kick off for those who will lead our government’s top agencies. Earth has reason to worry.

The Petcoke Problem: Where to Store the Risky Tar Sands Refining By-Product

November 1, 2016 ExplainerUnited States, Canada, Chicago, Detroit, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Virginia

Petroleum coke, typically stored outdoors in big open piles, can blow right into nearby homes and cause serious health problems. Unsurprisingly, communities are fighting Big Oil to keep this noxious material out of their backyards.

What We Learned from the BP Oil Disaster

April 20, 2016 ExplainerUnited States, LouisianaPatrick Rogers

The resulting loss to life, livelihoods, and the environment hasn't slowed offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. But it should.

Does Nuclear Power Have a Future in America?

April 4, 2016 ExplainerUnited StatesBrian Palmer

As the country seeks to cut its carbon emissions, we look into whether clean-burning nuclear reactors are a worthwhile option.

2,4-D: The Most Dangerous Pesticide You've Never Heard Of

March 15, 2016 ExplainerUnited StatesDanielle Sedbrook

This toxic herbicide comes with known health risks, but it’s still being used on crops, in parks, and maybe even in your own backyard.

The Rise and Fall of Diesel

March 15, 2016 ExplainerUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Clean diesel is an object lesson on "too good to be true." Any kind of diesel exhaust is truly terrible—both for the environment and for our health.

Disaster in the Gulf

March 14, 2016 ExplainerUnited StatesNicole Greenfield

Years later, not much has changed—including the impulse to drill.

EJ: Getting Us (All of Us) to Environmentalism 4.0

March 2, 2016 ExplainerUnited States, Flint, Michigan, ChicagoBrian Palmer

“Environmental justice” isn’t only about what is put in whose backyard—it’s the future of the environmental movement.

The Final Fifth

February 2, 2016 ExplainerUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Current regulations will achieve 80 percent of the country’s climate goal. Where will the rest come from?

The Public Transit Paradox

January 19, 2016 ExplainerUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

Gas is crazy cheap. Car sales are through the roof. So why isn’t taxpayer support for mass transit tanking?

Mo Methane, Mo Problems

January 14, 2016 ExplainerUnited StatesPerrin Ireland

When it comes to harmful greenhouse gases, methane’s some pretty potent stuff. Here’s why.