News & Commentary

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

May 3, 2022 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Market forces have driven a lot of coal power offline in the past decade—but regulatory barriers and outdated thinking by some utilities has led to missed opportunities to expand affordable clean energy resources.

Colorado Governor Ushers in a New Era of Boreal Protection

May 2, 2022 Expert BlogColorado, CanadaJennifer Skene

In a few sentences inked in an Earth Day announcement, Colorado has sent a strong signal to boreal countries that the world can no longer afford to ignore their industrial logging practices.

Lithium Mining Is Leaving Chile’s Indigenous Communities High and Dry (Literally)

April 26, 2022 DispatchChileNicole Greenfield

As the metal fuels the clean tech boom, companies race to mine the Atacama Region. At stake: fragile ecosystems, scarce water resources, and ancient ways of life.

For Earth Day, A Growing Chorus Calls on P&G to Take Action

April 20, 2022 Expert BlogCanada, United StatesAshley Jordan

On the eve of Earth Day, consumers delivered an overwhelming message to Procter & Gamble (P&G): stop flushing away the world’s last remaining primary forests.

Canada Is Hiding its Inaction Behind Certification

April 5, 2022 Expert BlogCanadaCourtenay Lewis

Canada has one of the world’s highest rates of logging primary forests, which are irreplaceable ancient forests that have never been industrially disturbed.

Canada Is Undermining Meaningful Certification

April 5, 2022 Expert BlogCanadaCourtenay Lewis

Canada is taking a page out of industry’s playbook by characterizing all of its voluntary certifications as being strong indicators of sustainable forestry.

Canada’s Climate Plan Has a Logging Industry-Sized Hole

March 29, 2022 Expert BlogCanadaJennifer Skene

Canada’s approach to industrial logging has been one of obfuscation and denial, pushing these emissions off the books.

Scientists Urge Canada to End Primary Forest Logging

March 23, 2022 Expert BlogCanadaJennifer Skene

As Canada prepares to release its plan for achieving its climate targets, scientists from around the world have warned that Canada’s logging practices are incompatible with climate leadership and global climate goals.

Canada Should Mark Forests Day by Rejecting Logging Giveaway

March 21, 2022 Expert BlogCanada, OntarioCourtenay Lewis

Canada has near-finalized an ill-named “Conservation Agreement” with the province of Ontario, whose current government has attracted international attention for slashing environmental protections while promising to ramp up widespread industrial logging.

The True Cost of Undervaluing Our Forests

March 21, 2022 Expert BlogInternational, United States, CanadaJennifer Skene

As countries begin implementing the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, success will depend on embracing a truly global framework that looks beyond forests’ utility.

New Report Recognizes Some Risks of Bioenergy, Misses Others

March 8, 2022 Expert BlogInternational, United States, CanadaElly Pepper

The true test of the IPCC’s thoughts on bioenergy will be its report – expected to be released in April – on how the world should cut emissions.

Representative Huffman Champions Bristol Bay, Again

March 7, 2022 Expert BlogAlaskaTaryn Kiekow Heimer

House letter urges EPA to use its authority under the Clean Water Act to permanently protect Bristol Bay, AK from the Pebble Mine.

Promoting Provincial Coal Power Transition Pathways in China

February 25, 2022 Expert BlogChinaAlvin Lin

New research by NRDC and the Peking University (PKU) Institute of Energy sheds light on the critical role that Chinese provinces can play in phasing out coal power and meeting national targets for carbon peaking and neutrality. 

One Year After Hunger Strike to Stop General Iron

February 8, 2022 Expert BlogChicagoGina Ramirez

This time last year, Chicago Southeast Siders vowed not to eat until the city denied a permit for General Iron. Now it’s time to deny the permit.

The Trees Are Our Climate Keys

February 8, 2022 Expert BlogUnited States, AlaskaGarett Rose

To meet its domestic and international climate commitments, the Biden administration must take bold steps to protect older forests and trees on federal forestlands nationwide.

Stopping Pebble Mine: A Test of Our Democracy

February 2, 2022 Expert BlogAlaska, United States, CanadaJoel Reynolds

Isolation grows for Canadian owner of widely condemned Bristol Bay mine, faced with broad-based opposition at all levels and intensifying calls for permanent protection of the region.

EPA Reaffirms Need to Protect Bristol Bay but Slows Process

January 28, 2022 Expert BlogAlaskaTaryn Kiekow Heimer

Sends formal letter reasserting concern for proposed mega-mine's unacceptable adverse effects while announcing new timeline that may extend final determination.

China’s Top Industries Can Peak Collective Emissions in 2025

January 18, 2022 Expert BlogChinaJake Schmidt

Joint research by NRDC and Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning (CAEP) finds that China’s top coal-consuming sectors—power, steel, cement, and coal-chemicals—can collectively peak both coal consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in 2025.

Pebble Mine 2021 Year in Review: Back to the Future at EPA

December 22, 2021 Expert BlogAlaskaJoel Reynolds

Destructive Bristol Bay mega-mine is all but dead following EPA’s re-start in 2021 of Clean Water Act 404(c) process for region’s lasting protection, long sought by Bristol Bay tribes and communities.

Illinois Shows Us What the Road to Clean Energy Should Look Like

December 2, 2021 NRDC in ActionUnited States, IllinoisCourtney Lindwall

Here’s how a formidable clean energy coalition helped pass the most equitable climate legislation in the country—and developed a blueprint for other states to follow.