News & Commentary

The Particulars of PM 2.5

February 8, 2024 ExplainerNew Delhi, California, India, United States

Why particulate matter…matters.

The Uinta Basin Railway Would Be a Bigger Carbon Bomb Than Willow

December 13, 2023 ExplainerUtah, Colorado, United StatesNicole Greenfield

The project could sabotage U.S. climate goals, send oil-filled trains along the Colorado River, and pollute the air from Utah to the Gulf Coast.

What Is the Air Quality Index?

September 27, 2023 ExplainerUnited StatesShelia Hu

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

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.

Community Science Is Changing How People Can Fight Pollution

May 23, 2023 PerspectivesHouston, Texas, St. Louis, Missouri, Chicago, IllinoisCourtney Lindwall

Grassroots groups are collecting their own pollution data to increase accountability and demand environmental justice.

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.

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.

Living Among the Diesel Trucks: My Environmental Injustice Story

September 13, 2021 PerspectivesCaliforniaAndrea Guerra

To a college student who grew up surrounded by heavy truck traffic, warehouses, and commercial hubs in one of California’s most polluted communities, the push to electrify transportation is more than just urgent health policy—it’s personal.

In a Segregated Chicago, Art Puts Environmental Racism on Display

December 22, 2020 PerspectivesChicagoZaria Howell

If the General Iron plant is too dirty for the city’s North Side, it’s also too dirty for the Southeast Side.

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.

When a Virus Exposes Environmental Injustice

April 17, 2020 PerspectivesUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

Reducing air pollution isn’t just something to strive for. COVID-19 is illustrating why it’s a moral imperative.

We Could Do a Lot More to Regulate Fracking

July 18, 2018 ExplainerUnited States

Lax monitoring of the country’s fracking boom does little to allay concerns about the air, water, and health impacts of this oil and gas extraction method.

How Can I Fix Mold and Lead Paint Issues in My House on a Small Budget?

July 9, 2018 ExplainerUnited States, New York City

Both problems pose significant health risks, but many people grappling with them can’t afford major renovations—and can’t move out. NRDC attorney Albert Huang shows us the range of solutions to consider.

The Connection Between Mass Incarceration and Environmental Justice

January 19, 2018 ExplainerUnited States, Pennsylvania, KentuckyNicole Greenfield

The country’s prison industry has little regard for where its facilities are located—even if that means building on noxiously polluted ground.

This Start-Up Has Figured Out How to Turn Diesel Pollution Into Art

December 20, 2017 PerspectivesUnited StatesClara Chaisson

Graviky Labs keeps air pollution from entering our lungs by capturing carbon and turning it into ink.

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.

With a Few Creative Touches, Pollution Masks Become Symbols of Hope

July 12, 2017 PerspectivesUnited StatesClara Chaisson

Maskbook invites people around the world to express their environmental anxieties.

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.