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Hey New York, We Can Save a Lot of $ and GHG Right Now!

Expert BlogNew YorkSamantha Wilt

There is a critical bill awaiting action in the New York State Legislature that will significantly reduce energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for decades to come, and save New Yorkers billions of dollars on their utility bills.

A Leader for Conservation in Gabon and Beyond

DispatchAfricaMelissa Denchak
Dr. Aurélie Flore Koumba Pambo works to preserve and protect the biological wealth of this central African coastal nation while also advocating for a global agreement to safeguard one-third of earth’s ecosystems by 2030.

Plastic Straws Only On-Request Coming to NYC

Expert BlogNew York, New York CityEric A. Goldstein

In New York’s latest move to curb the ever-growing amount of plastic trash, the City Council is about to enact legislation that will prohibit restaurants from providing plastic straws to customers, except on request.

NYC Moves Modestly to Restore Composting; More Is Needed

Expert BlogNew York CityEric A. Goldstein
The DeBlasio Administration, seeking to dispel criticism that it broke one of its cornerstone sustainability promises, has announced plans to restore voluntary food waste composting opportunities in the nation’s largest city.

Latin America at the Leaders Summit on Climate

Expert BlogArgentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, MexicoCarolina Herrera, Jessica Carey-Webb, Marilyn Kunce, Amanda Maxwell
The five Latin American countries that participated in the Leaders Summit on Climate – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico – displayed a broad range of ambition. Once again, some countries demonstrated their willingness to be climate action leaders while…

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…

Canadian Trade Group Opposes U.S. Anti-Deforestation Bills

Expert BlogCanada, New York, CaliforniaAnthony Swift
The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) claims that applying proposed anti-deforestation legislation in California and New York to the boreal forest would threaten its business model.

Latinx Leaders Paving the Way for Climate Action

Expert BlogLos Angeles, Chicago, New York City, San AntonioEloisa Portillo-Morales
Cities are leading the charge on climate action—reimagining how streets can be used, passing bold climate legislation, and creating green, equitable jobs. At the core of many of these efforts are Latinx leaders, whose activism has been instrumental in paving…

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…

Transportation Policies for NY to Achieve Its Climate Goals

Expert BlogNew YorkKathy Harris
If New York is to succeed in reaching its ambitious climate goals, it will need specific and bold transportation-focused goals and policies—while also considering long-term, sustainable ways to fund them. The comprehensive package of goals and policy recommendations can be…

New York’s Constitutional Right to Water: A First Step

Expert BlogNew YorkAngela Guyadeen
A constitutional amendment on this November’s ballot will allow New Yorkers to vote on amending the state’s constitution to include a right to clean air and water, stating, “Each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and…

UPDATED: Science, Polling Support NY Bill to Save Bees

Expert BlogNew YorkDaniel Raichel

Senator Brad Hoylman introduced new language today for the Birds and Bees Protection Act, a bill that would make the state a national leader in safeguarding its bees, birds, water, and people from widespread neonicotinoid pesticide contamination.

Kicking Butts: NY Bill Proposes Banning Filtered Cigarettes

Expert BlogNew YorkMarisa Guerrero, Rich Schrader

A new bill introduced in the New York State legislature would ban the sale of harmful filtered tobacco products, which are a known threat to human health and are destructive to our environment and waterways.