News & Commentary

Considering Health and Energy Efficiency Together: A Pilot

January 10, 2024 Expert BlogLos Angeles, CaliforniaOlivia Walker, Dr. Veena Singla

As California continues to ramp up its efforts to support building retrofits targeting energy efficiency, decarbonization, and electrification, other housing issues regarding health and safety have also become more apparent. While existing and emerging energy retrofit programs present an opportunity…

New Brief: Creating Healthy Resilient Homes & Reducing GHGs

December 21, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaOlivia Walker

Equitable building decarbonization works to resolve mistakes of the past and creates a way to move forward to a livable planet.

Now Is the Time to Go All In on California Water Reuse

December 20, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaDr. Mark Gold

The state now has the country’s most robust, comprehensive water reuse regulations—and it must commit to investing in water reuse facilities for a more climate-resilient future.

Drought-Proofing Los Angeles County

December 8, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaDr. Mark Gold

L.A. County releases an ambitious new plan to switch to 80 percent local water to address increasing droughts from climate change.

Breathing Easy: Truckers’ Health and the Rise of Zero-Emission Trucks

August 18, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaGuillermo A. Ortiz

Truck drivers face a hidden health crisis due to diesel exhaust emissions. Zero-emission trucks can safeguard drivers’ well-being while bringing positive changes to the industry and the planet.

Golden State Natural Resources’ Biomass Boondoggle

July 19, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaRita Frost

Community leaders, environmental groups, and residents oppose greenwashed biomass production and export scheme in California.

The Proposed Colorado River Deal: A Short-Term Band-Aid for a Long-Term Problem

May 23, 2023 Expert BlogWest, California, Arizona, Nevada, MexicoDr. Mark Gold

The Colorado River conservation proposal from Arizona, California, and Nevada reduces diversions by 1 million acre feet a year. Is this enough to make river management sustainable?

Triangle T Water District and the Absurdities of CA Water

May 3, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaDoug Obegi

While it may not be an outlier, the absurdity of the Triangle T Water District is a great example of why people say that in California, water flows uphill towards money.

Leveling the Playing Field Toward an Equitable Clean Freight Trucks Transition

April 11, 2023 Expert BlogChicago, San Diego, San Jose (California)Sarah Elkotbeid

Our climate and health crises are so vast and complex, we have to change the way we tackle our problems to move the needle. The Delivering Zero Emissions Communities (DZEC) clean truck accelerator program is exploring new models.

Is This the End of California’s Rivers?

April 10, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaDoug Obegi

Documentary film River's End explores the threats to California's rivers and fisheries, and the people fighting to save them.

Riparian Forests: How California Farmers Can Protect Waterways

March 22, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaArohi Sharma

California can work with growers to scale up riparian forest buffers along farm and rangelands to help sequester carbon, protect waterways, and improve biodiversity.

Six Colorado Basin States Lay Down a Marker for California

January 31, 2023 Expert BlogArizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, WestEd Osann

The "Consensus Based Modeling Alternative" is a positive development in addressing the current water emergency. It’s unfortunate that California did not join in this recommendation.

Proponents of CA Water Infrastructure Cause Permit Delays

January 31, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaDoug Obegi

The permitting process isn’t broken. What’s most lacking is good faith by proponents of new infrastructure projects.

Fighting a Flood of Misinformation about CA Water

January 26, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaDoug Obegi

For more than a decade, the science has been clear that we need to reduce diversions from the Bay-Delta in average and drier years.

Earth to EPA: “End the Threat,” Protect Bristol Bay Now

January 12, 2023 Expert BlogAlaskaTaryn Kiekow Heimer

Broad-based coalition calls on EPA to finalize its recommended Clean Water Act veto of the Pebble Mine.

DWR's Unsustainable Initial Water Supply Allocation for 2023

December 12, 2022 Expert BlogCaliforniaDoug Obegi

Instead of gutting environmental protections, maybe this is the year that California finally reforms these unreasonable water supply contracts.

Pebble Mine Veto: China Laughing?! It’s Pebble Weeping!

December 5, 2022 Expert BlogAlaska, United StatesJoel Reynolds

Replying to EPA’s recommended veto of destructive Bristol Bay mine, desperate Canadian owner argues yet again, against law and science, that the proposed agency decision after 12 years of federal review remains “peremptory,” based on “wildly speculative” assumptions, and an…

Oxnard Reviews Port Project Threatening Community, Wetlands

December 5, 2022 Expert BlogLos Angeles, California, United StatesNatalia Ospina

Submit a letter by December 5th to the City of Oxnard telling them to put people and health over profit and carry out a complete study of the 34-acre GLOVIS project!

Protection for Bristol Bay Is Within Reach

December 1, 2022 Expert BlogAlaska, United StatesTaryn Kiekow Heimer

EPA just released a recommendation under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act that would prohibit the Pebble Mine—a giant gold and copper mine proposed at the headwaters of the world’s greatest wild salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, Alaska. This…

Making Good on California's Clean Transportation Promises

November 21, 2022 Expert BlogCalifornia, United StatesCarter Rubin, Zak Accuardi

Environment, health, and justice groups are looking for the Governor and Legislature to ensure California's transportation investments match its lofty climate goals.