News & Commentary

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Dispatch

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Expert Blogs

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

Smart Housing Policy Is a Climate Strategy for Colorado

Expert BlogColoradoAlana Miller
Colorado leaders are looking for ways to expand housing availability, improve housing affordability, and ensure housing development advances climate goals, including proposed legislation from Governor Jared Polis and legislative leadership.

Holding Interior to Account on Gulf Oil and Gas Leasing

Expert BlogAlabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, TexasIrene Gutierrez
Continuing to extract oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico will have a steep price for the environment and coastal communities in the region. That's why NRDC and our partners took BOEM to court.

NRDC Sues to Close Huge California Pesticide Loophole

Expert BlogCaliforniaLucas Rhoads

NRDC has sued the California Department of Pesticide Regulation for its failure to regulate crop seeds treated with pesticides. These "treated seed' uses are major sources of widespread pesticide contamination, and pose threats to pollinators, other wildlife, and people. 

Cover Crops for Every Climate

Expert BlogWest, Midwest, East, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Idaho, New Mexico, TexasLara Bryant, Dr. Daniel Rath
Cover crops are adaptable, valuable, and effective enough that farmers can benefit from them in every region of the United States—even cold or dry areas.

Big Oil Sets Its Pants Aflame Fighting Setbacks

Expert BlogCaliforniaAnn Alexander
California's SB 1137, which established a health and safety setback buffer requirement to protect communities from oil drilling operations, is being attacked by Big Oil.

This Is Not Your Father’s Automobile Industry

Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaDavid Doniger
Seven automakers just filed a remarkable brief defending California’s leadership vehicle emissions standards in federal court.

In Colorado, Oil and PFAS Shouldn’t Mix

DispatchColoradoNicole Greenfield
We can add PFAS contamination to the list of ways the oil and gas industry is threatening Coloradans’ health. Two new laws aim to stop it—but are they enough?

Defense Bill Compromise for Northern Nevada Lands and Tribes

Expert BlogNevadaBobby McEnaney, Katie Hobbs
This year's annual defense bill contained an expansion of the Fallon Naval Air Station in northern Nevada—a compromise that strives to resolve complex land use issues and protect the environment.

CA Clean Buildings Progress Report: 2022

Expert BlogCaliforniaKiki Velez, Merrian Borgeson
California’s progress offers a roadmap for transitioning to healthy, clean, and efficient buildings. What's next for the decarbonization leader?

Equitable Building Decarbonization Across the Country: 2022

Expert BlogCalifornia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, OregonCaroline Keicher, Joe O'Brien-Applegate
Policies and programs aimed at new construction and existing buildings continue to gain traction as communities and elected officials realize the feasibility and benefits of ambitious and equity-centered action.

LA Becomes Largest CA City to Electrify New Buildings

Expert BlogCalifornia, Los AngelesMegan Ross, Olivia Walker
Los Angeles passed a policy directing new buildings to be constructed to use all-electric energy, a critical action to achieving LA’s community-driven building decarbonization goals.

Another Round of Oil & Gas Leasing, With Rules Still M.I.A.

Expert BlogUnited States, WestJosh Axelrod

With nearly 325,000 acres across five states now up for potential leasing in Spring 2023, the BLM continues to move forward with largely unfettered onshore oil and gas leasing on federal public lands despite the escalating climate crisis. 

Time to Fast-Track Africa’s Clean & Equitable Energy Future

Expert BlogInternational, AfricaShruti Shukla

The Biden administration must prioritize – at COP27 and beyond – providing the necessary tools for Africa to equitably decarbonize and sustain its economic potential in the face of rising climate impacts. At COP27 and beyond, leaders need to show…

A Monumental Plan for Bears Ears

Expert BlogUtahSharon Buccino

Indigenous wisdom provides another way of knowing for management of National Monument.