News & Commentary

What Is the Air Quality Index?

September 27, 2023 ExplainerUnited StatesShelia Hu

The national index reports real-time air quality issues across the country.

Indoor Workers Need Protection from Extreme Heat Too

August 10, 2023 ExplainerUnited StatesNicole Greenfield

Warehouses, restaurant kitchens, factories, and schools can get dangerously hot—but without adequate safety standards, employees are having to just sweat it out.

What Happens If the Supreme Court Ends “Chevron Deference”?

June 21, 2023 ExplainerUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

For one, the power of federal agencies like the EPA to set rules and enforce environmental protections would shrink.

Mercury’s Journey from Coal-Burning Power Plants to Your Plate

May 2, 2023 ExplainerUnited StatesSusan Cosier

The EPA wants to lower people’s exposure to this potent neurotoxin by going after the pollutant’s biggest source. 

Our Nation—and Its National Parks—Has a Smog Problem

April 21, 2023 ExplainerUnited StatesJason Bittel

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new rules to address air pollution. But experts worry it’s not enough.

California’s Climate Whiplash

April 17, 2023 ExplainerCaliforniaNicole Greenfield

The state broke snowfall records after three of its driest years ever. Now floods wreak havoc. These swings are the new normal—and they’re very hard to manage.

In the Face of a Winter Storm, Is Our Grid Reliable?

January 27, 2023 ExplainerUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

Yes and no. Holiday power outages revealed weaknesses with fossil-based electricity, but solar and wind power came through in the clutch.

Climate Tipping Points Are Closer Than Once Thought

November 15, 2022 ExplainerInternational, United StatesCourtney Lindwall

Exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming could trigger several and lead to irreversible climate impacts.

COP27: The Issues, the Tensions, and the Urgent Need for Unity on Climate

October 20, 2022 ExplainerInternationalJeff Turrentine

Here’s what to expect from the upcoming international climate change summit in Egypt.

Mutual Aid and Disaster Justice: “We Keep Us Safe”

October 6, 2022 ExplainerUnited States, Puerto Rico, Louisiana, Mississippi, FloridaNicole Greenfield

As climate-fueled disasters become more frequent—from Mississippi to Puerto Rico and beyond—relief efforts by communities, for communities, could become increasingly critical.

The Inflation Reduction Act Could Save Us Nearly $2 Trillion in Climate Costs

September 20, 2022 ExplainerUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

Public health, disaster relief, home energy bills—every way you slice it, spending goes down.

Three Ways We Can Make Schools Healthier This Year

August 24, 2022 ExplainerUnited StatesNicole Greenfield

From lead plumbing to a lack of air-conditioning, schools across the United States are jeopardizing the health and safety of students, teachers, and staff.

It’s Time to Fix Our Water-Logged National Flood Insurance Program

July 22, 2022 ExplainerUnited StatesBrian Palmer, Jeff Turrentine

The NFIP has made strides in reducing risk and promoting equity. But it’s still in hot water.

The Supreme Court’s EPA Ruling, Explained

July 7, 2022 ExplainerUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

What the West Virginia v. EPA decision means for the agency, climate action, and the future of federal protections.

Canada’s Boreal Forest: Why It’s So Important

July 1, 2022 ExplainerCanada

Protecting the boreal is not only about saving trees and wildlife, says NRDC’s Jennifer Skene. It’s also about the people who’ve been living on the land for millennia and the urgent fight against climate change.

The Particulars of PM 2.5

May 20, 2022 ExplainerNew Delhi, California, India, United States

Why particulate matter…matters.

Climate Migration and Equity

May 9, 2022 ExplainerInternational, United StatesNicole Greenfield

Inequality influences who can stay in climate-vulnerable locales and who can leave and thrive elsewhere. The world needs a plan that supports those climate refugees who can’t do either.

How We Can Help Europe End Its Reliance on Russian Gas

May 3, 2022 ExplainerInternationalJeff Turrentine

Simply replacing it with U.S. gas isn’t the answer.

Eight Ways Biden’s Plan Could Build Equity into Our Infrastructure

September 7, 2021 ExplainerUnited StatesCourtney Lindwall

From the workplace to the streets to the kitchen, the administration’s agenda could build back better for all. Here’s how.

What Is Climate Feminism?

March 18, 2021 ExplainerInternational, United StatesNicole Greenfield

The climate crisis disproportionately impacts women—and women of color in particular. This is why women must lead on its solutions.