News & Commentary

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.

A Blueprint for Advanced Industrial Manufacturing in New York

May 23, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, New YorkIan Wells

New York can lead the nation in low-carbon industrial manufacturing. Here is how.

To Lead on Climate, New York State Should Aim High on Clean Industry

March 21, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, New YorkIan Wells

The federal government is rolling out programs to support deployment of emerging technologies that can dramatically reduce emissions from industrial manufacturing. New York should seize the opportunity to clean up its industrial base, attract new industrial investment, and become a…

New York Is Exposing the Fashion Industry for What It Is: a Climate Nightmare

February 13, 2023 DispatchNew York, New York City, InternationalNicole Greenfield

The state’s Fashion Act seeks to set a new trend of holding big brands accountable for their exploitation of workers and the environment.

New York Can Cut Emissions, Create Jobs with Industrial Decarbonization

January 24, 2023 Expert BlogNew YorkIan Wells

Policymakers now have the opportunity to capture billions in new federal incentives, grow the state’s clean industrial economy, and save and create good jobs through investing in industrial decarbonization.

NY and NJ: Centers of Action on Low Carbon Concrete Buying

October 13, 2022 Expert BlogNew York, New York City, New Jersey, EastSasha Stashwick

This has been a breakout year for policies aimed at reducing embodied carbon in the built environment, with Buy Clean and other public procurement initiatives emerging as among the most critical platforms for decarbonizing heavy industry. 

After General Iron Fire, Sims Should be Shut Down

April 29, 2022 Expert BlogChicagoGina Ramirez

The EPA and the city of Chicago must do the right thing and keep harmful industries out of our neighborhoods.

One Year After Hunger Strike to Stop General Iron

February 8, 2022 Expert BlogChicagoGina Ramirez

This time last year, Chicago Southeast Siders vowed not to eat until the city denied a permit for General Iron. Now it’s time to deny the permit.

A Look Back on Another Year Fighting General Iron

December 21, 2021 Expert BlogChicago, IllinoisGina Ramirez

And where things stand today.

Green Hydrogen Opportunities for the Midwest

August 25, 2021 Expert BlogUnited States, MidwestAmulya Yerrapotu, Christian Tae

Decarbonizing the power sector to avert a climate crisis will require working at more emissions-heavy sectors like steelmaking and long-distance trucking, which are prominent in the Midwest but challenging to electrify and clean up.

No, We Don’t Need a Mine on the Southeast Side

July 22, 2021 Expert BlogChicagoGina Ramirez

Yes, you read that right.

In NY, a Chance to Create a Model Policy to Green Concrete

June 9, 2021 Expert BlogNew YorkSasha Stashwick

Decarbonizing concrete and, by extension, cement, is a key opportunity for climate action. We can’t hit our climate targets without policies to zero out emissions from this sector. 

Chicago Officials Halt Permit Process for Move of General Iron’s Notorious Metal Shredding Operation to Southeast Side

May 10, 2021 Expert BlogIllinois, ChicagoNRDC

This marks a major step forward in dismantling the environmental racism that has plagued the neighborhood for decades.

Victory in California

March 30, 2021 Expert BlogCalifornia, Chicago, IllinoisLauren P. Phillips

A court rules that California must stop exempting metal shredding facilities from hazardous waste laws, clearing a path to finally protect California communities from metal shredder pollution.

Environmental Justice in Chicago: It’s Been One Battle After Another

October 29, 2020 PerspectivesChicagoKeith Mulvihill

Cheryl Johnson and Peggy Salazar have been speaking out against pollution and environmental injustice for decades, but the city of Chicago sees their South Side neighborhoods as sacrifice zones. They are demanding change.

House Votes—Again—to Suspend Pebble Mine Funding

July 30, 2020 Expert BlogAlaska, United StatesTaryn Kiekow Heimer

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an appropriations minibus package that includes an amendment barring funding to issue a permit for the Pebble Mine.

Trump Administration Ignores Pebble Mine’s Dangers to Alaska

July 23, 2020 Expert BlogAlaskaTaryn Kiekow Heimer

Army Corps issues recklessly rushed and fatally flawed environmental review of the Pebble Mine.

NY Legislature Passes Bill to Close Fracking Waste Loophole

July 22, 2020 Expert BlogNew YorkRob Friedman

After years of deadlock, key legislation that regulates oil and gas waste passed the New York State Legislature this week. The legislation closes a longstanding and dangerous loophole that exempts dangerous oil and gas industry waste from New York’s existing…

Pebble Mine, Tom Collier, and 12.5 Million Pieces of Silver

July 16, 2020 Expert BlogAlaskaJoel Reynolds

Showing it “doesn’t give a rat’s ass what happens in Alaska,” the Army Corps of Engineers is expected this month to issue its fatally flawed EIS for the reckless Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, ignoring overwhelming opposition in Alaska but…

“Stop Pebble Mine” Coalition Gets the Word Out

July 14, 2020 Expert BlogAlaskaTaryn Kiekow Heimer

The ad is part of a Stop Pebble Mine media campaign developed by Bristol Bay Tribes, Alaskan business leaders, commercial fishermen, and community and nonprofit organizations dedicated to protecting Bristol Bay from the imminent threat of the proposed Pebble Mine.