News & Commentary

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Explainer

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Dispatch

Read about activists tackling climate justice and other environmental causes in their communities and beyond.

Perspectives

Discover intersectional viewpoints from activists and artists on the environmental issues of the moment.

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Find out how NRDC protects people and the planet by learning about some of our key fights.

Expert Blogs

Hear from our policy advocates, scientists, and litigators about the challenges and solutions for building a healthier and more just world.

Q&A: Chicago’s Drinking Water Problem Needs a Real Solution

Expert BlogIllinois, ChicagoGina Ramirez, Ellen Lee

NRDC’s Ellen Lee sits down with Gina Ramirez to discuss her experience growing up in Chicago drinking bottled water to avoid lead poisoning, and the urgent need for the city to replace lead pipes.

Years Later, Lead Pipes Remain in Chicago

Expert BlogIllinois, ChicagoGina Ramirez

My mom has been applying for Chicago’s Equity Lead Service Line Replacement Program for the past two years. In response, she’s gotten nothing but rejections after jumping through hundreds of hoops.

Healthier Buildings as a Climate Solution for Chicago

Expert BlogChicagoGina Ramirez, Kyler Sumter

Communities of color must have a seat at the table as we come up with standards to remove emissions from our buildings and ultimately make them healthier to live in.

Food Waste Reduction in Chicago’s Climate Action Plan

Expert BlogChicagoMadeline Keating
The plan identifies co-benefits and strategies that are intended to not only drive down carbon emissions but also create a more just and equitable city, where all Chicagoan’s can thrive.

The Next Chapter in the Climate Fight for Chicago

Expert BlogChicagoValeria Rincon
Chicago just released a new Climate Action Plan this week that lays out its long-term strategy for how to address some of the biggest climate challenges facing the third-largest city in the country.

Why Illinois Has a Power Supply Crunch, and How to Fix It

Expert BlogIllinoisJ.C. Kibbey
Market forces have driven a lot of coal power offline in the past decade—but regulatory barriers and outdated thinking by some utilities has led to missed opportunities to expand affordable clean energy resources.

Saving Salmon—from One Generation of Fisherwomen to the Next

DispatchOregon, Washington, WestNicole Greenfield
Keyen Singer, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, carries on a maternal legacy of conserving salmon and preserving culture. Their efforts could soon pay off.

Oregon Looks to “Reach” Code for Energy, Carbon Savings

Expert BlogOregonRalph Cavanagh
Senate Bill 1518, to be considered during Oregon’s “short” February 2022 legislative session, is a critical pushback against the embedded lowest common denominator aspect of building codes when it comes to energy and climate.

WA & OR Solidify West Coast Vehicle Electrification

Expert BlogWashington, OregonPatricio Portillo, Dr. Simon Mui

Adopting the Clean Trucks Program in Oregon and the Advanced Clean Trucks and Zero Emission Vehicle Programs in Washington solidifies the West Coast as one of the world’s biggest markets for electric vehicles.

Portland POEM Project Models Equitable Transportation Plans

Expert BlogPortland (Oregon), OregonElizabeth Stampe

As Americans readjust to life as our communities reopen, we’re unfortunately also seeing more traffic and tailpipe pollution. But Portland, Oregon, is looking to chart a different path forward.