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Across Arizona, the consequences of unlimited groundwater pumping are becoming untenable for many communities. In response, Arizona state Rep. Regina Cobb, R-Kingman, has introduced legislation, for the third year in a row, to enable rural communities to manage their groundwater through a new opt-in program called Rural Management Areas (RMAs). Although the bill again did …

Cutting methane pollution is the single fastest, most effective strategy we have to slow the rate of warming. The benefits to the climate will be almost immediate. If we are to meet net zero targets, companies need to take innovative approaches to slash both carbon dioxide and methane pollution.  The dairy industry is particularly well …

Climate change poses major risks to the stability of the U.S. financial system. To manage these risks, investors need comparable, specific, and decision-useful corporate climate disclosures that are not provided through existing voluntary frameworks.  New draft rules for mandatory climate risk disclosure, published by the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2022 would, if …

By Elizabeth B. Stein and Cole Jermyn New Jersey, like many other states, has been hard at work developing a strategy to drastically reduce its own climate impact. The state’s residents are already experiencing more than their share of climate change. With 130 miles of coastline, including population centers near much-loved beaches, more frequent extreme …

Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was called out for falling short of its mandate to protect consumer health. The investigation exposes the agency’s long track record of failing to effectively act in a timely manner on several food safety issues, including heavy metals in baby food and foodborne illnesses from contaminated produce.  These …

Today’s energy system has become a liability we can no longer afford. As dependence on oil and gas restrains the response to Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, scientists on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change this week issued yet another urgent warning that society is running out of time to avoid dangerous climate change caused …

When you think about harmful chemicals, you might imagine a hazardous waste site or contamination in water. But toxic chemicals also lurk in the food we eat and products we use every day. The issue of toxic chemicals in products, namely beauty and personal care products, is particularly personal for me. I grew up getting …

Your skin color or the texture of your hair shouldn’t put you at greater risk of exposure to toxic chemicals. It's time for brands and retailers to act.

Last week, I spoke among tech, business and environmental leaders who are bringing bold solutions to the forefront of the climate crisis. Katharine Hayhoe, a leading climate scientist, kicked off Techonomy Climate with a clear directive: “Every bit of warming matters. And every action matters.” Here’s my view of the state of climate tech. 1. This is …

By Ilissa Ocko and Tianyi Sun A new report out this week from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is once again shedding more light on the climate crisis. According to the latest research, we’re on a dangerous trajectory that will result in significantly more warming than what policymakers aimed for. As part of the …

EDF President Fred Krupp spoke at the Techonomy Climate conference in April 2022 about the future of climate tech. Here’s a look at what experts discussed.

Maricel Maffini, consultant and Tom Neltner, Chemicals Policy Director This blog is the fourth in our Broken GRAS series where we explore the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) voluntary notification system for novel chemicals added to food, how the process works in practice, and why it is broken. Companies voluntarily …

Climate change poses physical and transition risks for investors and the U.S. economy. Rigorous, standardized climate disclosures can help.

This project is an example of what can be funded through California's new Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program. The post This farmland repurposing project is delivering 3 benefits. A park may be next. first appeared on Growing Returns.

This project is an example of what can be funded through California's new Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program.

Here are key practices for BRIC applicants. The post FEMA’s community resilience program is in high demand. This guide can help strengthen applications. first appeared on Growing Returns.

(This post was co-authored by David G. Victor, nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. It is also posted here.) The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted recently to move a proposal forward that would require publicly traded companies to disclose the financial risks they face from climate change. These rules aim to bring corporate obligations …

How small-scale farms are adapting to a rapidly changing climate. The post Small North Carolina farms find profitability in climate resilience first appeared on Growing Returns.

Many regions in California are embarking on a new era of water and land management strategies as local agencies implement sustainability initiatives and climate change intensifies droughts and water scarcity. However, too often low-income rural communities have had little opportunity to influence land and water decisions that directly impact — and often harm — them,

This month Gov. Gavin Newsom took another important step in supporting the San Joaquin Valley and sustainable groundwater management by proposing $40 million in additional funds for the new Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program, which he and the Legislature created last year with $50 million in initial funding. This voluntary program aims to help farmers reduce …

Crop-switching to a desert shrub called guayule used to produce rubber is one of just many strategies that will be needed in Arizona and other regions to adapt to water scarcity and maintain agricultural economies in a new era of aridification.

With this newsletter, EDF humbly hopes to share tools and strategies to build resilient groundwater systems through diverse partnerships and across geographies.

Today’s business students want the private sector to do more – a lot more –  to address the climate crisis. That’s one of the key takeaways from a new report by the Yale Center for Business and the Environment. The thousands of global students surveyed in the report also share a strong belief that climate …

Maria Doa, Senior Director, Chemicals Policy This week Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) filed comments on EPA’s plan to assess the risks to frontline communities from nearby releases of chemicals to the air and water. The EPA’s proposal is an improvement from the previous administration, which failed to follow the requirements of the Toxic Substances Control …

Farms across North Carolina are experiencing more variable and extreme weather associated with climate change, including hotter nights and more frequent and severe rainfall. Small farms are adapting to these changes by adopting climate-resilient practices that help buffer weather extremes and improve soil health. Measuring and communicating the financial costs and benefits of these practices …