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Aerial view of the National Petroleum Reserve in northwestern Alaska

The Biden Administration Protects Millions of Acres of Arctic Alaska

Latest NewsAlaskaJenny Shalant
The new Special Areas Rule in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska could boost biodiversity and empower Indigenous Peoples to defend the lands they’ve relied on for generations.
Two adults and a child walk along a sandy shoreline

“Forever Chemicals” Called PFAS Show Up in Your Food, Clothes, and Home

ExplainerUnited StatesMolly M. Ginty, Courtney Lindwall
These toxic chemicals are so common in consumer products and manufacturing that they’re everywhere—including inside our bodies.
A river with green trees on either side, with yellow hills in the background

In Planning for Climate Change, Native Americans Draw on the Past

ExplainerUnited States, CanadaTim Vanderpool
Across North America, Indigenous tribes and nations are consulting their traditional ecological knowledge to help prepare for a warming world.

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China Commits to Strictly Control and Phase Down Coal

Expert BlogChinaAlvin Lin
At the Leaders’ Summit on Climate, President Xi reiterated China’s commitment to climate action, including by strengthening its efforts to cap and bring down its coal consumption and to transition decisively from coal.

Crisis to Opportunity: China Moves Fast to Protect Wildlife

Expert BlogChinaNing (Lisa) Hua
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, China accelerated the pace of wildlife protection over the last year, which included the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress adopting a decision to ban the trade of wildlife as food and to…

China Gives a Cool Boost to Effort to Reduce Global Warming

Expert BlogChinaAlex Hillbrand, Mona Yew
President Xi Jinping's announcement that China has decided to accept the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a major global climate win that should also lend a boost of confidence to broader…

China Outlines Additional Steps on Climate Action

Expert BlogChinaJake Schmidt, Brendan Guy, Han Chen, Alvin Lin
At the Climate Ambition Summit 2020 on the five-year anniversary of countries agreeing to the Paris Agreement, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China would take additional steps to deliver its 2030 ambitions.

Cooling with Less Warming: Updates from US, India and China

Expert BlogInternational, China, India, United StatesAnjali Jaiswal, Alex Hillbrand, Christina Theodoridi, Prima Madan
Find out the latest on sustainable cooling in the United States, India and China during the NRDC side event on Cooling with Less Warming during the Montreal Protocl meeting this week.

Puerto Rico Chooses Clean Energy 3 Years After Maria

Expert BlogPuerto RicoLuis Martinez

Three years after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico reaffirms its commitment to clean energy and climate resiliency. Even after a 2019 law committing Puerto Rico to 100% renewable energy by 2050, questions remained. A new ruling by the PR Energy Bureau…

China, Top Player in World A/C Market, Raises Efficiency Bar

Expert BlogChinaNoah Horowitz, Alex Hillbrand
China implemented one of the world’s most stringent energy efficiency requirements for room air conditioners today. The move by the globe’s largest buyer and manufacturer of these appliances will save huge amounts of carbon-intensive electricity, putting a formidable dent in…

China Leveraging Green Finance for a Green Economic Recovery

Expert BlogChinaAlfonso Pating
China’s decarbonization can leverage assets owned by its commercial banks, with total outstanding loan balance of Chinese commercial banks is approaching 120 trillion RMB, to stimulate a green economic recovery.

How EV Charging Can Clean Up China's Electricity Grid

Expert BlogChinaBarbara Finamore, Hyoung Mi Kim
Shanghai has just completed an historic EV-Grid Integration pilot program, the first project in China to make use of electric vehicles (EVs) as a flexible energy resource for the power grid system. Since China’s electricity system is still primarily coal-powered…

International Analyst

NRDC in ActionIndia, China, United StatesJeff Turrentine
Han Chen, energy policy manager in NRDC’s International Program, keeps the big picture in view as she works to advance a global clean energy transition.

Ten Environmental Stories to Mark a Decade in Latin America

Expert BlogInternational, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, BrazilAmanda Maxwell, Carolina Herrera, Jessica Carey-Webb, Marilyn Kunce
The Latin America team at NRDC reflects on the incredible environmental milestones we've witnessed in our work, and beyond.

America Should Export Clean Energy, Not Climate Chaos

Expert BlogUnited States, China, InternationalDan West, Han Chen

As Congress revisits America’s foreign development strategies, it should prioritize clean energy solutions both at home and abroad to chart a more sustainable path forward and provide other countries with a truly clean energy financing alternative to Russia and China.

Are My Denim Jeans Bad for the Environment?

ExplainerUnited States, ChinaCourtney Lindwall
Environmental reporter Tatiana Schlossberg, author of "Inconspicuous Consumption," says the American staple needs a 21st-century overhaul for the sake of our water, climate, and health.

Giraffes Win International Protections to Limit Their Trade

Expert BlogInternational, AfricaElly Pepper

The protections will ensure that all giraffe parts trade were legally acquired instead of from poached giraffes trade by requiring countries to make non-detriment findings before allowing giraffe exports.

China to Strengthen Climate Target Next Year: Could Be Huge

Expert BlogChina, InternationalJake Schmidt, Alvin Lin

On the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Osaka at the end of June, China and France issued a statement with UN Secretary-General Guterres committing to strengthen their climate targets, or national determined contributions (NDCs), under the Paris Agreement next…

Will CITES Parties Stick Necks Out for Giraffes at CoP18?

Expert BlogAfrica, InternationalElly Pepper

Giraffes receive little international protection even though they face many threats, including habitat loss, disease, international trade in giraffe parts, and hunting trophies.