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In the face of mounting evidence about the dangers posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), one thing is clear: EPA needs to take urgent action to turn off the tap of these “forever chemicals” that have long-term consequences for our health and the environment. As we discussed in a previous blog, it is imperative …

This piece is now available on Mongabay. During New York Climate Week, climate leaders will gather together to make essential decisions to mitigate the effects of climate change. It is critical that our oceans are a priority. The ocean is profoundly underfunded, and yet it is absolutely vital to billions of lives around the world …

To limit the worst impacts of climate change, businesses must act now to bridge the gap between ambition and action.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today unveiled the Net Zero Action Accelerator (NZAA), a new climate action hub to help businesses fast track and scale climate progress, reach their sustainability goals and galvanize net zero leadership across supply chains.  

Environmental Defense Fund and a group of 13 health, environmental, and community groups are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to protect people from dangerous pollution from fossil fuel-based hydrogen production facilities.

The voluntary carbon market has been in a flurry in the past year to define integrity and quality for carbon credits. Between the recently released Core Carbon Principles from the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market, to the Claims Code of Practice from the Voluntary Carbon Market Initiative, we now have more guidance and …

Last legislative session, Oregon’s lawmakers had the opportunity to update Oregon’s statutory climate targets. This would have been the first time that Oregon updated its outdated climate targets in 15 years and would have brought Oregon’s climate goals in line with the level of ambition of President Biden’s national climate targets and from other climate …

EDF Statement from Katelyn Roedner Sutter, California State Director

What’s New? Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) embarked on a critical Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) supplemental risk evaluation of 1,4-dioxane [PDF, 8.7MB]– a highly carcinogenic chemical that contaminates drinking water supplies across the country and is present in products, such as cleaning supplies and personal care products. This draft supplemental risk evaluation represents …

From puffin population pops to Climate Week NYC, here are the wins to help fortify you in the climate fight. These are this week's good climate news stories.

Environmental Defense Fund thanks leaders, as well as businesses, conservation groups and community members, for working to build a more flood-resilient North Carolina. Let’s look at how far we’ve come in the last five years.   The post Five years after Hurricane Florence, EDF looks back at efforts to build resilience in North Carolina first appeared on Growing Returns.

A scientific exploration that circumnavigated Cuba found hope in coral reefs, but cautious about what the future holds.

September has arrived, and New York City has again become the epicenter of pivotal climate discussions. Climate Week in New York City — happening alongside the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit, and the Climate Ambition Summit — provides vital opportunities to bolster cooperation, ambition, and implementation ahead of COP28.   …

What’s New? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released and solicited public comments on its draft Cumulative Risk Assessment (CRA) Guidelines for Planning and Problem Formulation. The purpose of a CRA is to determine the combined health and/or environmental risks from multiple stressors and chemicals that can cause the same harms. These guidelines, intended to …

Marine protected areas (MPA) are a conservation tool that sets aside part of the ocean to protect it for long-term conservation, similar to the way a state or national park functions on land. These MPAs are an effective way to preserve biodiversity by protecting ecosystems. But how are they utilized by people, and do they …

New Mexico is falling far short of its climate goals and will achieve less than one-third of the 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 committed to by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham via a 2019 executive order, according to a new analysis from the Environmental Defense Fund.

New Mexico communities know the stakes for climate change are high — hotter and drier conditions threaten public health, livelihoods, and cultural and recreational resources, as they lead to increased drought, extended and more extreme wildfire seasons, and extreme heat. Those impacts are projected to get much worse in the coming decades, without serious and …

Statement from Mary Barber, State Director, New York and New Jersey, Environmental Defense Fund

Reducing methane pollution is the fastest way to slow global warming. But to cut methane, we need to find it and measure it. Satellites, jet planes, drones and other technology are helping locate and measure methane pollution around the world. 

As electric vehicles get cheaper and car-makers introduce more options, EVs are gaining traction with more types of people, from delivery drivers to mechanics. 

Ian, then Nicole, now Idalia - it’s time to ask ourselves if Florida will be ready when another big storm hits. Here at EDF, the Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds team is focused on building resilience in Florida and ensuring communities are prepared for the increasingly frequent and severe weather events that are predicted. In recent months, there's been a lot of progress – but there’s still a long way to go. Let’s look at how far we’ve come, and ways leaders can further prioritize a more resilient future.   The post It’s nearly one year since Hurricane Ian. Will Florida be ready when another storm hits? first appeared on Growing Returns.

Huge ships that carry everything from steel to sneakers across the oceans run on the world’s dirtiest fuel. That’s starting to change — but the climate clock is ticking. 

The Degrees podcast is an action hub for Gen Z and Millennials to find career guidance and connect to a community of mentors. Green jobs are among the fastest growing jobs globally, surging over 237% in the past five years. Young professionals are increasingly concerned about climate change; about one in six Millennials and Gen Z individuals surveyed have already changed jobs or industries due to climate concerns, with another quarter planning to do so in the future.

Today during a special session, Virginia lawmakers voted to finalize amendments to the state’s upcoming fiscal year budget and have made resilience-building programs a greater priority. Once signed by Governor Youngkin, this budget allocates $100 million to the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund and will allow local governments to help property owners finance flood resilience projects and programs across the state.

By Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals, Klara Matouskova, PhD, Consultant, and Maricel Maffini, PhD, Consultant What Happened? In our new study, we evaluated Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) notices—a total of 403 between 2015-2020—that food manufacturers voluntarily submitted to FDA for review. Our goal was to determine whether industry was adhering to FDA’s Guidance on Best Practices for …