News & Commentary

Weaker Building Codes in North Carolina's Future.

May 22, 2024 Expert BlogNorth CarolinaRob Moore

North Carolina already has some of the weakest building codes in the nation when it comes to protecting people from hazards and disasters, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Division of Building Sciences. But the state’s legislature is determined…

Poll: People Want Action on Plastics for Health and Wildlife

April 15, 2024 Expert BlogInternational, Canada, United States, Ohio, PennsylvaniaDaniel Rosenberg

New poll results show overwhelming public support for government action to address the plastic crisis, including a strong global plastics treaty.

The Issue with Tissue Fifth Edition

September 19, 2023 Expert BlogCanadaAshley Jordan

Five years in, laggards remain far behind a growing number of sustainable tissue brands.

Mapping Urban Heat Islands Is Helping These Neighborhoods Adapt

August 1, 2023 DispatchRaleigh, North Carolina, United StatesCourtney Lindwall

The Urban Heat Island mapping campaign is the largest national effort of its kind to identify why one section of a city can feel so different from another on any given summer day.

Auditor Calls for Canada’s Transparency on Logging Emissions

April 20, 2023 Expert BlogOttawaJennifer Skene

Canada's Environment Commissioner found that the Government of Canada has failed to transparently report on the climate impact of industrial logging, with potentially sweeping ramifications for its forest policymaking. 

World Ozone Day: What The Ozone Treaty Does for Climate

September 15, 2022 Expert BlogMontreal, InternationalDavid Doniger

The Montreal Protocol does more than save the ozone layer -- it's a double bonus for climate protection. Next stop: Ratifying the Kigali HFC Phasedown.

Charlotte Moves ‘Clean Ahead’ with Electric Bus Pilot

April 27, 2021 Expert BlogCharlotte, North CarolinaIrene Nielson, Zak Accuardi

Charlotte is leading on climate, air quality and health equity with a new battery electric bus pilot.

Latin America at the Leaders Summit on Climate

April 23, 2021 Expert BlogArgentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, MexicoCarolina Herrera, Jessica Carey-Webb, Marilyn Kunce, Amanda Maxwell

The five Latin American countries that participated in the Leaders Summit on Climate – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico – displayed a broad range of ambition. Once again, some countries demonstrated their willingness to be climate action leaders while…

Cities Are Leading the Way: 2020 Wins & Look Ahead

December 17, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, Charlotte, Honolulu, Pittsburgh, St. LouisJay Orfield, Kimi Narita

Cities made tremendous progress in their climate challenge goals throughout a difficult 2020. Now, cities are eyeing all that is possible in the new year.

Aerial Images Show Widespread Deforestation in Ontario

July 30, 2020 Expert BlogCanadaJennifer Skene

Deregulated industrial logging has rendered the ground inhospitable to regrowing trees, with dire implications for the forest, wildlife, and climate.

Kimberly-Clark’s 2030 Goals Take On its Forest Carbon Impact

July 24, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, CanadaAshley Jordan

With these new commitments, Kimberly-Clark steps further ahead of other major brands in the U.S. tissue sector by recognizing the critical role that forests like the Canadian boreal play in the fight against climate change.

P&G, You Can't Outsource Sustainability

July 16, 2020 Expert BlogCanadaShelley Vinyard

P&G's new commitment misses the mark. Until the company gets its own house in order by addressing its role in forest destruction, they will continue to put our only home and our future at risk.

Urban Innovator

June 30, 2020 NRDC in ActionCharlotte, North Carolina, St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Paul, Minnesota, Austin, TexasKeith Mulvihill

Through her work in the buildings sector, Wendy Lee helps propel cities into a fairer and more energy-efficient future.

Toilet Paper Is Driving the Climate Crisis with Every Flush

June 24, 2020 Expert BlogCanadaJennifer Skene

Despite the fact that we have only a matter of years left to act to avoid catastrophic climate change, tissue companies driving a tree-to-toilet pipeline and flushing away this essential climate ally.

NC's Missing the Big Picture on Climate Resilience

December 11, 2019 Expert BlogNorth CarolinaRob Moore

NC is applying for $168 million from HUD's CDBG-MIT fund. But NC is proposing to focus on a narrow range of projects and missing the larger opportunity to use these funds to make much-needed changes to a range of local…

Charlotte Is on Its Way to Becoming a Modern Transit Hub

December 11, 2019 DispatchCharlotte, North CarolinaJodi Helmer

The North Carolina city knows that as it grows, its residents will need (and want) to get out of their cars and catch the nearest bus, train, or streetcar.

With Dorian, NC Faces Same Hog Waste Threat as in Florence

September 5, 2019 Expert BlogNorth CarolinaValerie Baron

As Hurricane Dorian approaches a year later, not much has improved for North Carolinians since Hurricanes Florence and Michael.

Keys to the City

October 17, 2014 PerspectivesChicago, Pittsburgh, Bogotá, International, Reno, Canada, California

Nine leaders who are combating global climate change--starting with the places where they live.