News & Commentary

Western Climate Initiative: OR & WA Add Caps to CA's AB32

January 4, 2022 Expert BlogCalifornia, Oregon, Washington, WestRalph Cavanagh

In 2021, fifteen years after California made climate history by becoming the first US state to adopt an economy-wide carbon emissions cap, Oregon and Washington completed a West Coast hat trick by becoming the second and third. Well, almost.

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.

WA & OR Solidify West Coast Vehicle Electrification

November 30, 2021 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.

For Thousands of Years, Indigenous Tribes Have Been Planting for the Future

November 30, 2021 DispatchIowa, Canada, Pennsylvania, OklahomaSusan Cosier

With yields of biodiversity and a more climate-resilient food supply, a movement is sprouting in BIPOC communities across North America to save heirloom seeds and preserve culture.

On Climate, Pittsburgh Puts Its Money Where Its Goals Are

November 19, 2021 Expert BlogPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaJay Orfield, Irene Nielson

Transforming city budgets to address climate change will be essential to meeting our climate goals, and Pittsburgh has taken a first step.

Pebble Mine's Economics: Garbage In, Garbage Out

September 23, 2021 Expert BlogAlaskaJoel Reynolds

Canadian owner of embattled Bristol Bay mining scheme promises preliminary economic analysis within 45 days to demonstrate financial feasibility of mine predicted to lose billions.

EPA Takes Major Step toward Permanently Protecting Bristol Bay

September 9, 2021 Expert BlogAlaskaTaryn Kiekow Heimer

Thank you, EPA, for listening to tribes, communities, and supporters—and moving closer to forever stopping catastrophic projects like Pebble Mine.

Saint Paul Prioritizes People, Not Parking Spaces

August 24, 2021 Expert BlogMinnesota, St. PaulZak Accuardi

Saint Paul has taken an ambitious and important step toward meeting its climate and equity goals, passing two new ordinances—one eliminating parking minimums, and the other introducing rules that prioritize safer, healthier, low-carbon transportation options in new development projects.

Washington State Adds Emergency Rules to Protect Workers from Heat and Wildfire Smoke

August 13, 2021 DispatchWashingtonLora Shinn

But many advocates point out that to fully address our new climate reality, we also need national solutions.

NRDC Sets Region Specific Water Targets for Each Office

August 10, 2021 Expert BlogUnited States, New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Bozeman, Beijing, San Francisco, Santa MonicaMaria McCain

NRDC has seen a steady decline in total water usage institution-wide and has taken steps to advance water stewardship.

New Ads Urge EPA to Finish the Job and Veto Pebble Mine

July 13, 2021 Expert BlogAlaskaTaryn Kiekow Heimer

Broad-based coalition rolls out new media campaign on TV, print, and digital platforms in Washington DC, calling on EPA to “Finish the Job” and permanently protect Bristol Bay from the Pebble Mine.

Monster Heat Wave Harming Health in Pacific Northwest

June 30, 2021 Expert BlogOregon, WashingtonJuanita Constible

Workers and other at risk populations need better protections from extreme heat.

Biden Administration Starts to Restore Protections for Alaska’s Tongass National Forest

June 11, 2021 Expert BlogAlaskaNRDC

The move would reverse one of Trump’s numerous environmental rollbacks, which had opened half of this pristine wilderness to industry.

Minnesota Advances to Become First Midwest Clean Cars State

May 7, 2021 Expert BlogMinnesotaDr. Simon Mui

The proposal to adopt a Clean Cars Minnesota program was given a greenlight today, which would mean Minnesota will become the first Midwest state to adopt a Clean Cars program to introduce more electric vehicles together with cleaner internal-combustion engine…

Setting the Stage for an EV Future in Washington State

May 3, 2021 Expert BlogWashingtonDr. Simon Mui, Noah Long

Washington State has passed two leading laws on electric vehicles as the state moves toward a new goal of all new passenger vehicles being zero-emitting by 2030.

Our Climate Future Is Rooted in North America’s Forests

April 26, 2021 Expert BlogCanada, AlaskaJennifer Skene

The Biden administration needs to embrace a bold new vision for forest protection that looks at how we can protect the climate-critical forest resources in our own backyard.

Brazil’s Bolsonaro Shows Little Progress at Climate Summit

April 23, 2021 Expert BlogBrazilJessica Carey-Webb

Brazil, home to some of the most globally important ecosystems, failed to demonstrate leadership and doubled down on weak goals during the Leaders Climate Summit.

Alaska Natives Lead a Unified Resistance to the Pebble Mine

April 20, 2021 DispatchAlaskaNicole Greenfield

The effort to stop a massive mine project in Bristol Bay, Alaska, has been a decades-long fight for the region’s Indigenous People. Five tribal leaders share their experiences.

Pittsburgh Poised to Thrive on Biden’s Plan

March 30, 2021 Expert BlogPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaMitchell Bernard

An equitable recovery powered by climate action means millions of well-paying jobs—with the Steel City, and other places like it, at the center of it all.

Fighting Inequity with Solar Power

March 30, 2021 DispatchMinneapolis, St. PaulSusan Cosier

Minneapolis’s 4d program to boost energy efficiency and affordable housing in the city is kicking it up a notch.