News & Commentary

Meet the activists and NRDC staff propelling change, read our expert analysis, and learn about the latest challenges and solutions to advancing a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable world.

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Explainer

Get a breakdown of complex climate, public health, nature, and equity topics to inform your activism.

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.

NRDC in Action

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.

CA Legislature Passes Two Historic Clean Heating Bills

Expert BlogCaliforniaPierre Delforge, Merrian Borgeson

In a timely move in these times of historic wildfires and smoky days, California has taken a big step toward reducing carbon emissions and air pollution from heating and hot water in homes and buildings.

Race to Reduce Launched to Energize Saint Paul

Expert BlogMinnesotaKatharine McCormick

Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter has kicked off an energy efficiency challenge directed at the city’s largest buildings. Through the program, dubbed the “Race to Reduce,” buildings will be invited to join a cohort that will collectively strive to streamline…

Saving Science in the Age of Trump

NRDC in ActionWashington, D.C., CaliforniaNicole Greenfield
The current administration’s suppression of data and information is unprecedented. But so are NRDC’s efforts to combat it.

Why Women Rule NRDC’s Science Center

NRDC in ActionSan Francisco, Washington, D.C., New York City, Ahmedabad, India, United StatesJenny Shalant
And why female leaders tend to be more attuned to issues of environmental equity.

California’s Quest for Gold in Zero Emissions Buildings

Expert BlogCaliforniaPierre Delforge

The 2018 Winter Olympics have just closed, but California’s pursuit of clean energy is continuing unabated. After initiating the energy efficiency, the solar, and the electric car revolutions over the past two decades, several state lawmakers are looking to tackle…

CA 2020 Building Code Draft: Zero-Net-Electricity New Homes

Expert BlogCaliforniaPierre Delforge

California is seeking input on a plan to update its building energy standards to increase energy efficiency, clear the way for clean energy heating and hot water, and, for the first time, require new homes to install rooftop solar panels.

Flint Drinking Water Settlement FAQ

ExplainerUnited States, Michigan, Flint, MidwestNRDC
The residents of Flint, Michigan, will finally get their lead pipes replaced and have access to safe drinking water. Here's what you need to know.

The Moss That Saved Portland

DispatchPortland (Oregon), OregonBecca Cudmore
Roadside plants helped officials trace the source of a public health crisis and led to new standards for clean air in Oregon.

Oregon Is Having a Tiny Home Boom

DispatchOregonBecca Cudmore
Some members of the small-house movement live off the grid—but Oregon’s cities want them to stay on it.

The Petcoke Problem: Where to Store the Risky Tar Sands Refining By-Product

ExplainerUnited States, Canada, Chicago, Detroit, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Virginia
Petroleum coke, typically stored outdoors in big open piles, can blow right into nearby homes and cause serious health problems. Unsurprisingly, communities are fighting Big Oil to keep this noxious material out of their backyards.

NRDC's Commitment to Green Starts with Its Offices

NRDC in ActionNew York City, Chicago, Santa Monica, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, BeijingMelissa Denchak
Each one of our six workplaces in the United States and China is a model of earth-friendly design.

Docking Diesel Pollution

NRDC in ActionLos Angeles, California, Long BeachNicole Greenfield
How NRDC is protecting the health of communities by helping clear the air at some of the world’s busiest ports.

The Long Road to Safer School Buses

NRDC in ActionWashington, California, New Jersey, TexasAmanda MacMillan
A landmark NRDC study showed that standard-issue diesel-spewing school buses could put kids at risk of cancer—and drove a national effort to clean the vehicles up.