News & Commentary

HFC Phasedown Marks Top Climate Win of 116th Congress

December 20, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.David Doniger, Alex Hillbrand

Year-end omnibus legislation includes a bill to phase down HFC super-pollutants—the biggest action this Congress has taken to meet the climate crisis.

Monarch Butterflies Struggle as Feds Delay Protection

December 15, 2020 Expert BlogMexico, United StatesDr. Sylvia Fallon

In the last six years, many voluntary efforts have been made to help boost monarch populations. Now the butterflies will have to wait even longer to receive more help.

China Outlines Additional Steps on Climate Action

December 12, 2020 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.

A New York Climate Justice Activist with Roots in the Blue Ridge Mountains

December 11, 2020 DispatchNew York City, Washington, D.C.Carmen Cusido

WE ACT’s director of environmental health and education, Taylor Morton, who found their path to environmental justice work through a childhood spent in nature, wants to help the next generation get outside without fear.

Pepco Advances Climate Action in DC

December 8, 2020 Expert BlogWashington, D.C.Ben Longstreth

Local energy distribution companies like Pepco are critical to helping their customers reduce pollution and save money by supporting energy efficiency measures for their homes and businesses, helping customers switch to electric vehicles, and promoting electric space and water heating.

Public Transit Is in Crisis, but Essential to our Recovery

December 8, 2020 Expert BlogNew York City, Washington, D.C., San FranciscoAnn Shikany

Local and national advocates call on Congress to include emergency aid for transit in a relief package before 2020 ends.

EPA Declines to Limit Deadly Soot Air Pollution

December 8, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Emily Davis, John Walke, Dr. Vijay Limaye

On its way out the door, the Trump Administration undermines the Clean Air Act and public health in a profound way.

Setting the EPA Back on Track

November 30, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Gina McCarthy

After 50 years, what does the future of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hold?

House Doubles Down on Pebble Mine

November 25, 2020 Expert BlogWashington, D.C., United StatesTaryn Kiekow Heimer

Leaders of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure requested records about the proposed Pebble Mine to determine whether Pebble executives duped Congress, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the public about the size and scope of the project.

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

November 24, 2020 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.

The Federal Reserve’s New Signals on Climate

November 18, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Sarah Dougherty

The Fed, the U.S. central bank, has moved from irregular mentions to a concerted effort to roll out a spate of new ideas and endeavors that highlight the risks of climate change to our financial system.

Biden Plan Promises Better Buildings, for Climate and Equity

November 17, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Khalil Shahyd, Lauren Urbanek

The incoming Biden-Harris administration faces four interlocking crises that must be tackled head-on.

Job for Day 1: Restore & Expand Efficiency Standards Program

November 17, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Kit Kennedy

When President-elect Joe Biden takes office, he’ll lead the United States in a time in which our country faces intertwined crises related to climate change, COVID-19 and its related economic effects, and racial injustice. Ambitious, cross-cutting and well-designed climate action…

In Biden’s Win, a Unifying Call for Bold Action on Climate

November 13, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C.Gina McCarthy

It’s now time to turn campaign promises into climate progress. Here’s what that looks like.

Return of Delhi Smog: Even More Life Threatening with COVID

October 14, 2020 Expert BlogNew Delhi, IndiaAnjali Jaiswal

Find out more at during our webinar.

Mario Molina's Life Understanding, Protecting Our Atmosphere

October 13, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, MexicoDavid Doniger, Amanda Maxwell

Remembering Dr. Mario Molina, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his 1974 discovery of the mortal threat to the earth’s protective ozone layer from chlorofluorocarbons.

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

July 1, 2020 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

June 30, 2020 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

June 23, 2020 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…

Sustainable Design in NRDC's Washington, D.C. Office

June 23, 2020 Expert BlogWashington, D.C.Maria McCain

Join us on Tuesday, July 14th for a virtual open house at our newly renovated Washington, D.C. office!