News & Commentary

RGGI States Learning and Sharing On Climate and Equity

June 6, 2023 Expert BlogEast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, VirginiaJackson Morris

A new report finds that the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative delivers on jobs, emissions reduction, and economic benefits—and provides a framework to address equity in the future.

The Proposed Colorado River Deal: A Short-Term Band-Aid for a Long-Term Problem

May 23, 2023 Expert BlogWest, California, Arizona, Nevada, MexicoDr. Mark Gold

The Colorado River conservation proposal from Arizona, California, and Nevada reduces diversions by 1 million acre feet a year. Is this enough to make river management sustainable?

A Blueprint for Advanced Industrial Manufacturing in New York

May 23, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, New YorkIan Wells

New York can lead the nation in low-carbon industrial manufacturing. Here is how.

Strengthen Power Plant Carbon Standards for Greater Climate Benefit

May 22, 2023 Expert BlogWashington, D.C.Amanda Levin, Sophia Ahmed

Power plants have operated without accountability for their carbon emissions for too long. The proposal represents a good first step, however, the EPA should seize the opportunity to strengthen the standards in both scope and speed. This approach will help…

New Buildings in NY to Be Electric, but the Job Is Not Done

May 22, 2023 Expert BlogNew YorkLauren Urbanek

New York's All-Electric Building Act makes it the first state to promote efficient electrification of new construction.

New York Governments Collaborate to Tackle Environmental Injustice

May 22, 2023 Expert BlogMount Vernon, New YorkSahana Rao

A three-way partnership between the City of Mount Vernon, Westchester County, and the State of New York makes headway towards correcting the city's sewer crisis

COVER Act Will Modernize Crop Insurance

May 18, 2023 Expert BlogWashington, D.C.Lara Bryant

The COVER Act, led by Senator Brown (D-OH) and Representative Sean Casten (D-IL), is a bipartisan bill that offers farmers a $5 per acre good stewardship discount on crop insurance if they plant cover crops to improve their soil health.

EPA: Neonics Likely Driving 200+ Species Toward Extinction

May 15, 2023 Expert BlogWashington, D.C.Lucas Rhoads

U.S. EPA's unprecedented findings confirm that widespread neonic pesticide use threatens critical pollinators, other wildlife, and whole ecosystems. 

NY Bills to Ban Harmful PFAS Chemicals & Protect Our Health

May 12, 2023 Expert BlogAlbanyKate Donovan

New York shows promise to ban toxic PFAS chemicals from consumer products to protect communities.

NWF Poll: 78% of Farmers Support Crop Insurance Incentives for Cover Crops

May 4, 2023 Expert BlogWashington, D.C.Dr. Daniel Rath, Claire O'Connor, Lara Bryant

House Majority Threatens Historic Investment in Buildings

May 4, 2023 Expert BlogWashington, D.C.Stephen Walls

H.R.1 Would Destroy Jobs and Increase Energy Waste

Western Electricity Grid Is Entering Its Day-Ahead Market Era

April 28, 2023 Expert BlogWest, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, WashingtonKelsie Gomanie

NRDC is working with stakeholders to safeguard consumer interests and environmental protections as utilities from California to the Great Plains weigh proposals to share energy resources through an organized market.

Public Land Grab: Senate Bill Gifts Miners Pass to Pollute

April 28, 2023 Expert BlogWest, Nevada, Idaho, United StatesJosh Axelrod

Senators Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV) and Jim Risch (R-ID) have introduced legislation that makes it easier for mining companies and others to acquire rights to federal land and to be able to use them as dumping grounds and worse. The legislation…

Army Corps' NY/NJ Storm Surge Barrier Project Must Protect Communities on Their Terms

April 17, 2023 Expert BlogNew York City, New Jersey, New YorkSahana Rao, Isabel Friedman, Anna Weber

The U.S. Army Corps' latest storm surge barrier proposal for New York and New Jersey is still missing meaningful community participation and a comprehensive approach to climate adaptation.

A Trojan Horse That Would Subvert Climate Justice in New York

April 5, 2023 Expert BlogNew YorkChristopher Casey

Senate Bill S6030 is a greenhouse gas accounting boondoggle.

Clean Cars Can Bring Over $145 Billion in Benefits to New York

April 3, 2023 Expert BlogNew YorkYeh-Tang Huang

A new study shows that the Advanced Clean Cars rule can bring over $145 billion in benefits to New York. 

2023 Farm Bill Can Help Address Climate Crisis

March 28, 2023 Expert BlogWashington, D.C.Dr. Daniel Rath, Nina Sevilla, Allison Johnson

With the upcoming Farm Bill, Congress has the chance to make the economy-wide investments in our food system that the IPCC report states are necessary if we are to combat climate change.

To Lead on Climate, New York State Should Aim High on Clean Industry

March 21, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, New YorkIan Wells

The federal government is rolling out programs to support deployment of emerging technologies that can dramatically reduce emissions from industrial manufacturing. New York should seize the opportunity to clean up its industrial base, attract new industrial investment, and become a…

Proposed Highway Expansion Will Undercut New York Landmark Climate Law

February 17, 2023 Expert BlogNew YorkMark Izeman, Isabel Friedman

A state proposal to spend $1 billion to expand a 47-mile stretch of Route 17 in Orange and Sullivan Counties runs counter to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

In War on Plastic Waste, New York City Council Strikes a Blow

February 17, 2023 Expert BlogNew York, New York CityEric A. Goldstein

New legislation will prevent large volumes of mostly plastic, unrecyclable waste from being generated by take-out food orders in the nation’s largest city.