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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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NRDC at COP28: Taking Stock of Global Progress

Expert BlogInternationalAmanda Maxwell
The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), held in Dubai from November 30 through December 12, is a critical moment for global action to fight climate change.

Lithium Mining Must Not Dry Up the Atacama Desert

Expert BlogChileAmanda Maxwell, James Blair

Our report offers eight recommendations for communities, governments, and the private sector throughout the lithium-ion battery supply chain to avoid further damage to this unique area and the people who live there.

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…

U.S.-Mexico Climate Priorities for the Biden Administration

Expert BlogCarolina Herrera, Amanda Maxwell
President-elect Biden could—and should—open the door for renewed North American collaboration and leadership on climate change and clean energy, which has all but disappeared during the past four years. For that to happen, his administration will need to successfully encourage…

Latin America’s 2020 Climate Leaders and Laggards

Expert BlogInternational, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, BrazilAmanda Maxwell, Carolina Herrera, Jessica Carey-Webb, Marilyn Kunce
2020 was a turbulent year in Latin America—and a mixed bag on climate action. It will be important for the incoming Biden-Harris administration to put climate change front and center in its engagement with the region.

Mario Molina's Life Understanding, Protecting Our Atmosphere

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.

California-Chile Water Nexus 1: Urban Drought Solutions

Expert BlogCaliforniaAmanda Maxwell, Tracy Quinn
Though the two places are separated by thousands of miles, a quick glance at California and central Chile reveals striking similarities. Both share a long Pacific coastline, large agriculture economies, and similar Mediterranean climates perfect for wine growing, leading to…

Supporting Renewables & Resilience with Better Transmission

Expert BlogInternationalAmanda Maxwell
As countries around the world invest in renewable energy, they need to also ensure that the investments in transmission lines are as sustainable as they can be. The LIFE-Elia project—as well as many other examples of integrative vegetation management—proves that…

Beyond COVID-19: Tackling Water Challenges in Chile & Mexico

Expert BlogAmanda Maxwell
Millions in Latin America are grappling with COVID-19 without access to clean water to wash their hands and prevent infection, as recommended by the World Health Organization. In Chile, 42.5 percent of the rural population—a total of one million people—does…

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.

USMCA Is a Huge Missed Opportunity to Act on Climate

Expert BlogAmanda Maxwell, Dan West
The House of Representatives passed the new version of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which unfortunately fails to address climate change and meet baseline environmental criteria to protect the environment. With it, we have missed a critical opportunity…

COP25 Moves, Need for Climate Action in Chile Remains

Expert BlogCarolina Herrera, Amanda Maxwell
Even without hosting a COP in Santiago this December, Chile will need to advance a climate agenda locally as an integral part of addressing the inequities and pressing social demands these past two weeks have brought to the fore.

Sustainable Public Transport in Latin America

Expert BlogInternationalAmanda Maxwell
Latin America has already shown that it is testing a variety of innovations and solutions for clean and sustainable public transportation systems.

Revisiting Nahuelbuta (2 of 2)

Expert BlogChileAmanda Maxwell
In honor of this year’s United Nations (UN) International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, environmental anthropologist James J. A. Blair revisits ongoing efforts to restore native forests and protect river ecosystems in the Nahuelbuta Mountains, an integral part of…

Revisiting Nahuelbuta (1 of 2)

Expert BlogChileAmanda Maxwell
In honor of this year’s United Nations (UN) International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, environmental anthropologist James J. A. Blair revisits ongoing efforts to restore native forests and protect river ecosystems in the Nahuelbuta Mountains, an integral part of…

Latin America’s Air Pollution Impacts Climate and Health

Expert BlogChile, Columbia, InternationalAmanda Maxwell

Air pollution is the biggest environmental risk for health in the Americas, according to the World Health Organization. The theme of World Environment Day this year is Air Pollution, and this opportunity to highlight the seriousness of the problem could…