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This post was co-authored by Natalie Hurd, Western states climate policy intern at EDF. The Supreme Court’s recent ruling to constrain EPA’s ability to limit climate pollution from existing power plants took away a critical tool to fight climate change at the federal level, making state-level action more important than ever. On the West Coast …

Two new EDF studies suggest that tropical forest jurisdictions that engage in emissions trading for conserving their forests at large scales could generate significant revenues, and promote more ambitious, but attainable, climate goals.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the coal industry and its allies to curtail the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to tackle climate pollution from existing fossil fuel power plants. This setback makes action in Michigan and in states across the country – where governors and regulators have powerful tools to …

Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals This is the third in our Unleaded Juice blog series exploring how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets limits for toxic elements like lead, arsenic, and cadmium in food and the implications for the agency’s Closer To Zero program. FDA’s move to establish action levels on lead in juice …

Maria Doa, Ph.D., Senior Director, Chemicals Policy EPA has made the important and long-awaited decision to propose banning nearly all remaining uses of chrysotile asbestos in the United States. EDF submitted comments supporting this proposed ban (with some caveats) because of the high risk of cancer and fatal respiratory diseases for individuals who import, process,

By Christopher Free and Willow Battista Earlier this spring, 1.5 million livestock died in the Horn of Africa. The immediate culprit was a severe, prolonged drought spurred by the growing effects of climate change. It’s a sign of weakening food systems in a warming world. But while land-based food systems are carbon-intensive and increasingly unstable,

Dr. Beia Spiller is a Fellow and Transportation Program Director at Resources for the Future. She had previously served as a Lead Senior Economist at EDF. This post is the final in a series dedicated to the future of the electricity sector and new scholarship supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Each post is …

Scientists agree that agricultural soils can be part of the climate solution, but their estimates about how much soils could slow warming vary widely. The post Scientists agree: Soil health matters but climate mitigation potential still uncertain first appeared on Growing Returns.

By Larissa Koehler and Alice Henderson This week, the Environmental Protection Agency is hearing from scientists, mothers, healthcare professionals, public health and environmental advocates – including EDF – and many others who submitted comments in support of California clean truck standards. As EPA works toward finalizing federal heavy-duty emission standards proposed earlier this year, the …

Last week, Senator Joe Manchin and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced their agreement to an investment package including $369 billion in climate and energy programs over the next ten years (see summary). This is a remarkable turnaround after negotiations on these provisions seemed to stall earlier this month. Senate Democrats continued efforts to get them …

Many U.S. transit agencies, from New York to Los Angeles to Houston, are working to convert their bus fleets from diesel to electric. The number of electric transit buses currently on order or operating in the U.S. grew 112% from 2018 to 2021, according to CALSTART. Electric buses are cleaner, quieter and increasingly more cost-effective …

There is no single fix to the climate, air quality, political and economic challenges facing California, but the state’s early action to electrify its fleet of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles is one example of smart policy that can move us in a positive direction. As California’s legislative session concludes in August, lawmakers and the California …

The Iowa Watershed Approach offers a strategy for reducing flood risk and improving water quality in the state of Iowa. The post Iowa’s Watershed Approach provides a model for tackling big challenges on the Mississippi River. first appeared on Growing Returns.

A “Finding Common Water” rafting excursion developed by EDF and UC Merced was designed to get participants with a stake in California water off our desk chairs and onto rafts, out of the ordinary and into an extraordinary setting — a hot, highly regulated, wild and scenic river — to push everyone out of their comfort zone and get to work on addressing real water problems.

A “Finding Common Water” rafting excursion developed by EDF and UC Merced was designed to get participants with a stake in California water off our desk chairs and onto rafts, out of the ordinary and into an extraordinary setting — a hot, highly regulated, wild and scenic river —  to push everyone out of their comfort zone and get to work on addressing real water problems. The post Taking a big leap to solve California water problems: How uncommon partners are finding common ground on the water first appeared on On the Water Front.

After months of negotiations, the Arizona Legislature passed a major water spending plan last month with funding for new conservation efforts to address deteriorating water supply conditions. However, for the fourth year in a row, state leaders failed to pass legislation to address unlimited groundwater pumping, missing an opportunity to enable a water secure future for 1.5 million rural residents and the state as a whole. The post A conservation win and groundwater loss: Arizona ends 2022 session with mixed water record first appeared on On the Water Front.

It is obvious to any Texan that we are in a horrific drought. As Texas weather changes, so must our methods of managing groundwater, which will become increasingly precious. The post Texas is drying up. We better protect our groundwater. first appeared on On the Water Front.

EPA’s comment period saw broad support for federal methane regulation, but opportunities remain for leading companies to raise ambition in public comments later this year.

After months of negotiations, the Arizona Legislature passed a major water spending plan last month with funding for new conservation efforts to address deteriorating water supply conditions. However, for the fourth year in a row, state leaders failed to pass legislation to address unlimited groundwater pumping, missing an opportunity to enable a water secure future for 1.5 million rural residents and the state as a whole. The post A conservation win and groundwater loss: Arizona ends 2022 session with mixed water record first appeared on Growing Returns.

Donny Hicks, a longtime almond farmer near Modesto, participated in the Water Leadership Institute to better understand groundwater issues in his area. Read on to learn what Donny gained from the institute and how he is adapting to water scarcity by working with another institute graduate to test a new innovative irrigation system. The post This almond industry expert participated in the Leadership Institute to learn more about groundwater. Now he’s sharing that knowledge. first appeared on On the Water Front.

A new EDF map is making it easier to access information about the communities across the country who are impacted by pollution from small oil and gas wells with leak-prone equipment. There are over half a million wells across the country that are producing less than 15 barrels of oil and gas a day. But …

The gas can contribute to climate change. It’s prone to leak dangerously and often dirty to produce.

The last two months have seen encouraging momentum in the effort to tackle emissions of methane — a greenhouse gas that drives over a quarter of current warming — and the practice of flaring, which is a major source of energy waste and methane pollution. Starting with last month’s Major Economies Forum, one of the …

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent climate change ruling has unfortunately restricted the tools available to EPA in its effort to address climate pollution from power plants. However, it’s also important to recognize that the ruling in no way changed EPA’s longstanding authority and duty to address climate pollution under the Clean Air Act to address …

Critical funding for more zero-emission trucks in Texas is on the way. For the first time ever, a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality grant program that provides incentives to replace heavy-duty diesel vehicles will guarantee that at least half of the funding awarded will go to projects that include zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks.