Complete list of press releases

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act are already creating jobs, reviving American manufacturing and giving millions of Americans access to affordable clean energy. To continue this momentum, we need to ensure an efficient supply chain that supports US industry and workers.

“These historic clean energy investments have only just begun to boost the US solar panel industry and create more robust domestic capacity. During this transition, we must guarantee a sufficient and reliable supply of panels for builders, homeowners and businesses. Raising taxes in the form of a tariff will increase prices for consumers, halt projects and undermine energy reliability by hobbling the buildout of utility-scale solar-and-storage.

“Ensuring fair trade, and supporting unionized solar panel manufacturers, is a critically important goal. But congressional action to disrupt the supply chain with high tariffs when US manufacturers are not yet in position to meet more than a fraction of the demand is unwise. The tax credits and investments in the infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act already provide unprecedented support to grow the US solar panel industry. We’re now seeing this growth across the country.

“The President’s pause on tariffs against certain imported solar panels is reasonable, necessary and time-limited. Congress should not hold up thousands of projects around the country, take jobs from American workers and raise prices for homeowners and small businesses by trying to nullify the President’s actions. That would be a self-inflicted injury to the American economy and a setback for achieving the nation’s climate and clean air goals.”

(NEW YORK, NY — March 6, 2023) A new study by climate scientists sheds light on the significant role food systems will play in future global warming and what can be done about it. The research, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, finds that food production, distribution and consumption could still add around 1°C to planetary warming by 2100 — and, in turn, risk exceeding the internationally agreed-upon temperature targets for a climate-secure future.

Notably, the paper suggests solutions. The study, which is based on extensive global datasets, models and data from more than a hundred studies, shows that more than half of this warming (55%) could be avoided by changes in agricultural production practices, decarbonization of the energy used to produce food, health-driven shifts in consumer food choices and reductions of food waste.

"This research highlights the urgent need for action to reduce emissions from food systems," said lead author Catherine Ivanovich, Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University. "By understanding which food items and greenhouse gases contribute most to future warming, we can address these emissions with targeted strategies which both reduce future climate change and promote food security.”

The authors used a novel analytical approach to better understand how food production, consumption and waste will drive climate change, illuminate the relative impact of different foods and greenhouse gases, and guide efforts to reduce the climate impact of global food systems.

Of the warming expected by the end of the century from business-as-usual food systems, methane emissions, mostly from livestock burps and manure, rice paddies and decomposing food waste, account for nearly 60%. Carbon dioxide, such as that generated from fuel used for farm equipment and food transportation, and nitrous oxide, from excess synthetic fertilizer and ruminant manure on rangelands, are each responsible for about 20%.

The study quantified the mitigation potential of four solutions. In the push to cut expected food system-related warming by more than half this century:

• Improving agricultural production provides 25% of the mitigation potential: Improvements to production practices and adoption of technologies that decrease enteric and manure methane emissions and nitrous oxide emissions would provide 25% of the reductions possible by the end of the century. These changes could come from scaling innovative solutions to reduce enteric methane emissions and the widespread use of manure management best practices. The result could be decreasing emissions from ruminant meat, dairy and non-ruminant meat by 35%, 30% and 10%, respectively, by 2100.
• Decarbonizing the energy sector provides 17% of the mitigation potential because of the energy used to produce, process and transport food: Decarbonizing the energy sector by 2050, in line with international net zero goals, would decrease expected warming from global food systems 17% by 2100.
• Shifting diets based on health recommendations provides 21% of the mitigation potential: If health-focused recommendations were adopted globally, the world could avoid 21% of predicted food system-driven warming. However, the researchers note that because dietary choices are extremely complex, often determined by cultural traditions and food access, it is difficult to assess how much of this mitigation potential is realistic or ethical to achieve.
• Reducing consumer food waste provides 5% of the mitigation potential: Cutting consumer-level food waste in half by 2100 would provide approximately 5% additional reduction in anticipated warming. However, due to data limitations, the study could not assess food waste incurred during production and transportation, which could be another significant opportunity for mitigation.

“The findings of our study offer a set of solutions to policymakers, industry and the public,” said Ilissa Ocko, co-author and Senior Climate Scientist at EDF. “We can provide food for a growing population, support the farmers, pastoralists and rural communities around the world and still make critical advances toward a more sustainable, equitable food system. It is time to recognize the sustainability gains that have long been underway and pivot toward empowering greater adoption of these practices. Solutions will look different around the world, but we should work together with the shared goal of stabilizing the climate and ensuring people and nature thrive on a changing planet."

Current food system emissions trends raise concerns about our ability to sustain a growing population and pursue a secure climate future. Fortunately, compelling mitigation options are available. The authors hope their findings will inform policy and business decisions that support efforts to lower food system emissions and build resilience to the climate risks that can’t be avoided.

(Houston, TX) With hydrogen rising fast on the global energy stage, concern over the impact of hydrogen emissions on the climate means new, more effective technology is needed to measure leaks and other releases with much greater sensitivity than currently possible. Now, Aerodyne Research, Inc. in collaboration with Environmental Defense Fund is unveiling a new instrument that far exceeds the capability of existing tools, opening new horizons for operators to track and reduce the amount of hydrogen escaping from their facilities.

The two teamed up to demonstrate the efficacy of a hydrogen analyzer developed by Aerodyne with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to quantify hydrogen emissions at a facility scale for the first time. They are presenting results of a new field trial to leaders of the global energy industry gathered for CERAWeek, where surging worldwide investment in hydrogen as a climate-friendly energy alternative is a central topic.

“Hydrogen causes powerful warming effects in the atmosphere and leaks easily, but existing tools can’t tell us how much is emitted or from where,” said EDF Chief Scientist Steven Hamburg. “With hundreds of hydrogen energy projects suddenly being developed around the world, we need an effective way to track and prevent these potent emissions. Results like we’re seeing from this new instrument are a game-changer.”

The Aerodyne analyzer uses laser spectroscopy to detect and quantify hydrogen concentrations as small as 10 parts per billion — at least a hundred-fold improvement over today’s monitors which are built to see the very high concentrations that pose immediate safety risk.

In January, researchers from EDF and Cornell University tested the Aerodyne instrument using controlled-release experiments at Colorado State University’s advanced METEC engineering facility. The new instrument delivered high precision measurements every second with 98% accuracy.

“The breakthrough is combining high speed with high sensitivity, where previous tools gave you one or the other,” said Aerodyne Vice President Scott Herndon. “That makes it possible to track hydrogen emissions at levels that matter to the climate using a piece of mobile equipment that can be driven in a vehicle or flown in small aircraft.”

In addition to funding hydrogen sensor development, DOE is letting developers participating in its $8 billion Hydrogen Hub program know that leak monitoring may be required once sensors become commercially available. The California Public Utility Commission is requiring the Angeles Link project to conduct assessments of the risks and mitigations for hydrogen leakage which will necessitate the use of such monitoring technology in the state. The European Union has also solicited better measurement tools. 

“Now that we know it works, we can take this instrument to real world facilities to measure how much hydrogen is escaping day to day,” says EDF scientist Tianyi Sun. “Right now, we know very, very little about how much hydrogen leaks. That data is critically important for the understanding the climate impacts of switching to hydrogen.”

(Washington, D.C. – March 3, 2023) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today unanimously rejected a challenge to the most recent update of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which protects millions of Americans from dangerous air pollution that blows across state lines from upwind coal-fired power plants. Today’s decision means those protections will remain in place, and it clears the way for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to update and strengthen safeguards to meet the imperative to restore healthy air for millions of people.

“The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule protects millions of Americans from the smokestack pollution that blows downwind, crosses state lines, and puts their health at risk,” said Vickie Patton, General Counsel for Environmental Defense Fund, which is a party to the case. “Today’s court decision means the successful and vitally important protections of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule will stay in effect. Now our nation needs to work together to address the extensive smokestack pollution that continues to harm public health, including power plants that continue to operate today without basic modern pollution controls. With additional protective action by EPA under the Good Neighbor program, our nation can help restore cleaner, healthier air for all people afflicted by smog.”

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule was created under the "Good Neighbor" protections of the Clean Air Act. It reduces ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog, that is emitted from coal-fired power plants. That smog drifts across state borders and contributes to dangerous, sometimes lethal, levels of pollution in downwind states. Smog is a caustic pollutant that aggravates asthma, is linked to a wide array of heart and lung diseases and can cause premature deaths. It is especially harmful for children, seniors, people with asthma and other lung problems, and outdoor workers. Pollution from upwind states contributes heavily to downwind states’ inability to meet an EPA health-based smog standard set in 2008.

EPA issued the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule in 2011 and has updated it several times since to help restore clean, healthy air for millions of people. The agency’s most recent update, in March of 2021, required coal plants in 12 states – Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia – to use the modern, effective pollution controls that they have already installed, as well as update their pollution controls. Coal-fired power plants that have pollution controls sometimes don’t operate them, or don’t use them to full capacity.

A group of coal-based power companies and others sued to roll back the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. EDF intervened to protect these clean air measures, in partnership with the Sierra Club, Earthjustice and the Clean Air Task Force. The states of New York, Delaware, Massachusetts and New Jersey also filed an amicus brief in support of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. 

Today the D.C. Circuit rejected the challenge by the coal-based power companies and others, saying:

“In this appeal, [petitioners contend] that the Revised Rule is arbitrary and capricious, and that EPA failed to conduct a legally and technically appropriate assessment as required by the Good Neighbor Provision of the Clean Air Act. We disagree. Instead, we hold that the Revised Rule is an appropriate exercise of EPA’s statutory authority under the ‘Good Neighbor Provision, and deny the petition on the merits.”

The updated Cross-State Air Pollution Rule that was upheld today is expected to reduce smog-forming pollution from the coal-fired power plants under its jurisdiction by 19 percent over 2019 levels, provide an estimated $2.8 billion in health and environmental benefits, and help states reach our 2008 health-based smog standard. However, our national health-based smog standard was updated and made more protective in 2015 in light of extensive peer-reviewed public health science. In March of 2022, as required by the Clean Air Act and a court deadline, EPA proposed another update to the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, with stronger protections that will guard the health of more people in downwind states. It will also help our national air quality meet the vital 2015 health standard for smog. EDF filed comments strongly supporting the update, also submitted joint comments with 16 other health, environmental and community groups in support of EPA’s good neighbor proposal.

EDF lauds yesterday’s announcement that California’s State Water Resources Control Board appointed Jay Ziegler as the new Delta Watermaster. Previously, Ziegler was the external affairs and policy director for the California Office of The Nature Conservancy and now succeeds Michael George, who held the Watermaster position for two four-year terms.

“We are pleased with the selection of Jay Ziegler as the Delta Watermaster. His political acumen and long history of advocacy for environmental needs in balance with other users will serve him and the state of California well in this new role. We look forward to working with Jay to change the trajectory to balance our water needs, reduce conflict, and improve ecosystem conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta. We also admire and appreciate the great work of Michael George over the last several years and wish him the best in the next phase of his adventures.”

• Ann Hayden, Associate Vice President, Climate Resilient Water Systems, Environmental Defense Fund

For more information on this announcement, see the State Water Board’s press release.

March 2, 2023 – New research published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters examines the effectiveness of Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS). Authored by researchers from Environmental Defense Fund and the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Davis, the study examines how the program has effectively reduced flood damages, where the program could be improved upon, and what lessons it holds for similar programs. 

CRS is part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and is designed to reduce flood losses by providing financial incentives for local climate adaptation. In exchange for community engagement in a range of risk communication and risk reduction activities, CRS provides discounts on NFIP premiums ranging from 5% to 45%. 

Using national-scale NFIP claims, policies, and CRS data between 1998 and 2020, the researchers found that among CRS activities, those related to “flood damage reduction” are most effective in reducing flood losses and are associated with a 20-30% decrease in NFIP claims. These activities include buyouts and relocation of floodplain buildings and protection of buildings by floodproofing, elevation, or other structural projects. Communities implementing these two activities reported 20-30% less damage claims than communities without such activities. 

"FEMA’s Community Rating System serves as an effective model for other federal market-based programs seeking to incentivize community-level investment in climate resilience,” said Dr. Jesse Gourevitch, a postdoctoral fellow at Environmental Defense Fund and lead author of the study. "As climate change increases the frequency and severity of major flood events, we expect that the benefits of FEMA’s Community Rating System will only continue to grow." 

However, researchers found issues regarding programmatic equity and efficiency. The program pays the costs of CRS in terms of premium discounts, but receives benefits twice: once by covering premium discounts through a cross-subsidy surcharge on all policyholders, and again from reductions in claims paid out of NFIP. 

 “This research confirms that FEMA’s Community Rating System is an effective tool for reducing flood risk nationwide. However, it also highlights FEMA’s troubling practice of “cross subsidizing” CRS, effectively double-billing for the program through a “tax” on policyholders in communities that do not participate in CRS,” said Nicholas Pinter, professor and associate director of the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences. 

Learn more about CRS and the researchers’ five recommendations for its improvement here.

(SAN FRANCISCO) New research from Environmental Defense Fund finds that part of California’s forest carbon crediting program has overestimated the amount of carbon storage attributable to the program in one ecologically diverse region. The research, published February in Ecological Applications, offers new insights and opportunities for strengthening the integrity of temperate forest carbon credits by accounting for differences in forests' geography and tree species composition.  It builds on previous work that raised concerns about the risk of over-crediting in the first generation of forest carbon projects under the California program.  

"Using this research, we can continue to refine methodology to ensure that forest carbon credits truly represent carbon storage that goes beyond business-as-usual forest management,” says Nina Randazzo, an EDF postdoctoral fellow and the study’s lead author.

Establishing a baseline

In the California cap-and-trade carbon market, improved forest management (IFM) projects generate carbon credits if their carbon stocks are greater than a baseline, encouraging management that allows for greater carbon storage. This baseline is informed by an average of the carbon density of privately-owned forests in the same region and general forest type.

However, these general forest types include a wide variety of environments and ecosystems with significantly different carbon densities. In these cases, forest carbon projects may be compared to forests that are less carbon dense for reasons other than superior management in the project area, providing credit for business-as-usual practices.

EDF scientists used the same forest survey dataset as in the current method devised by the IFM methodology but developed a new approach that more precisely integrates tree species composition, particularly differences in tree species composition that correspond with differences in geography and environmental conditions. They then applied these methods to an ecologically diverse region of California and discovered that in many cases, the credits for additional carbon storage the earlier method had awarded were not warranted.  

EDF’s methodology refines previous work regarding this type of over-crediting by characterizing even more environmental variability across this diverse region to inform more accurate baselines.

Reducing the risk of over-crediting

California’s program issued credits mostly to landowners with more carbon-dense forest types than other forests within the region and general forest type, even with business-as-usual management. In this case, the baseline calculation methods used by the California carbon market used methods that over-generalized baseline carbon storage, allowing for a bias in the forests that generate carbon credits.

The team looked specifically at the state’s Mixed Conifer Assessment area in the Southern Cascades, which stretches from near the coast of northern California and southern Oregon to more inland areas just to the north of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. This assessment area includes diverse forest types associated with a variety of climate conditions, all of which affect carbon storage and carbon storage potential.

Forests along the coast, for example, are much moister and include trees that can establish a high density of carbon. In other parts of the assessment area, however, more arid forests cannot build up as much biomass. Yet, these diverse areas are averaged together to create a baseline. As a result, landowners along the coastal regions are receiving credits for greater carbon density, when they may not have made any adjustments to their management practices at all.

“Recent research, including our study, can be used to update estimates of baseline carbon storage in a way that better accounts for relevant factors that affect carbon storage, and these updated baselines in turn can inform more accurate estimates of additionality in the market,” Randazzo said.

“By using new, independent methods, we confirmed and built on earlier research that had called into question the integrity of these credits. By refining the methodology to account for greater diversity within regions, we feel we’ve provided the state with a roadmap so it can develop credits with even greater integrity,” Randazzo added.

Improving integrity, increasing confidence in the market

“The ability of carbon markets to move the needle on climate change depends on the integrity and quality of the credits themselves,” says Eric Holst, Associate Vice President, Natural Climate Solutions at EDF. “This research presents an opportunity to improve on the existing system as we look toward the next generation of forest carbon credits. We look forward to working with the state of California to improve upon the existing system, making these credits even more impactful.”

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 1, 2023) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $250 million in grants for states, local governments, Tribes and territories to develop plans to cut climate and local air pollution. This first batch of funding is part of the $5 billion Carbon Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program, created under the historic Inflation Reduction Act. These grants will cover a range of climate planning functions such as staffing, contracting, assessing state needs, and engaging with stakeholders, while the second round of grants will support local leaders in carrying out their plans to secure reductions in greenhouse gas pollution. 

“The Biden-Harris administration is swiftly delivering resources Congress provided for states, cities and tribal communities to elevate their fight against climate change,” said Pam Kiely, Associate Vice President for U.S. Climate at EDF. 

“States and communities on the frontlines of intensifying storms, droughts, wildfires and heat waves understand these impacts threaten our health and security — and they have a leading role to play in building a safer and stronger future for our country.  

“As state and local leaders leverage these new planning grants, they should prioritize developing action plans that include enforceable regulations and policies that will deliver swift, deep and concrete reductions in climate pollution. Progress at the state and local level will be critical to closing the gap to our national emissions goal in 2030. Alongside cuts in climate pollution, leaders should pursue strategies to improve air quality for low-income communities and communities of color that have borne and continue to bear a disproportionate share of harmful pollution. 

“With a wave of new climate investments flowing in from Congress, state and local leaders have a golden opportunity to supercharge progress on unleashing clean energy jobs, building healthier communities and driving down pollution to safer levels. Now is precisely the moment to turn pledges into policies that deliver.” 

Read more about EDF’s recommendations for the Carbon Pollution Reduction Grant program here. 

(WASHINGTON – March 1, 2023) Environmental Defense Fund today announced the hiring of Juan Pablo Hoffmaister as Associate Vice President for Global Climate Cooperation. Hoffmaister is an expert on multilateral climate engagement and climate adaptation finance, and a former negotiator for developing countries for the Paris Agreement.

“Climate change requires a global solution, and cooperation on climate policy at the highest levels,” said Mandy Rambharos, EDF’s Vice President for Global Climate Cooperation. “Juan Pablo will help ensure that climate diplomacy leads to effective, inclusive policies that solve for more than one challenge at once. His strategic thinking and expertise in the multilateral process make him uniquely positioned to lead EDF’s efforts to shift global climate policy from negotiation to implementation, and to hold countries and companies accountable to their climate commitments.”

Prior to joining EDF, Hoffmaister was the Multilateral Governance Manager at the Green Climate Fund (GCF), where he led the engagement between the GCF and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and other strategic relationships. Hoffmaister also established the framework of response of the GCF to mandates from the Conference of Parties (COP) following the adoption of the Paris Agreement, including the launch of the program to support nationally determined contributions and National Adaptation Plans, engaging global partners to promote climate action addressing adaptation and climate finance issues. He’s also a former lead negotiator for the coalition of developing countries - Group of 77 and China (G-77 + China) - for adaptation and loss and damage, Articles 7 and 8 of the Paris Agreement. He’s a former co-chair of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee.

Hoffmaister will support EDF’s global vision, strategy and leadership, focusing on strengthening the organization’s presence and advocacy at multilateral climate forums, including the UN climate negotiations. He’ll also advance EDF’s work on climate adaptation finance issues.

“I’m thrilled to join Environmental Defense Fund, and eager to get to work on game-changing solutions that put people at the center,” said Hoffmaister. “EDF’s unique blend of expertise in science, economics, partnerships and advocacy will be crucial to advance work on transformational planning and policymaking in the race to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals.”  
 

(WASHINGTON – March 1, 2023) The following statement was issued by Eric Schwaab, Senior Vice President of People and Nature at Environmental Defense Fund, in response to the recent decision by the 5^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to strike down the regulation governing the electronic monitoring program used by for-hire fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico:

“Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is disappointed in the recent decision by the 5^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the rule governing the electronic reporting and monitoring program for Gulf of Mexico charter fishermen. Over the last six years, charter business owners worked alongside NOAA Fisheries to develop and advance this innovative program to improve the sustainability of the resource and enhance access to fishing opportunities for the millions of anglers they take fishing every year. Support for the program was so widespread that in June 2022, Charter Fisherman’s Association (the largest charter organization in the Gulf of Mexico), along with Destin Charter Boat Association, Galveston Professional Boatman’s Association, Alabama Charter Fishing Association, Florida Guides Association, Ocean Conservancy, and EDF filed an amicus curiae brief in the 5th Circuit to uphold the innovative electronic reporting and monitoring program in the Gulf of Mexico.

The inability to adequately monitor fishing activity increases management uncertainty and adds economic instability to the fishery. For the sake of charter businesses across the Gulf, the families and customers they serve, and the next generation of anglers, EDF encourages NOAA Fisheries to work with the charter for-hire industry to seek collaborative solutions that maintain the necessary level of accountability and economic stability that the program was designed to achieve.”

(WASHINGTON, DC — February 22, 2023) The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance today released policy recommendations for the 2023 farm bill. The farm bill is essential legislation that impacts every family in America and has enormous potential to help the food, agriculture and forestry sectors achieve their climate mitigation potential while preserving and creating new economic opportunities.

Further reducing emissions throughout agricultural and forestry supply chains will require a comprehensive effort involving financial and technical assistance, research investments, proactive response to innovation, public-private partnerships and a commitment to equitable opportunities for all producers.

FACA’s recommendations, developed by the 23-member Steering Committee, are divided into six categories:

• Conservation, risk management and credit.
• Energy.
• Food waste.
• Forestry.
• Livestock and dairy.
• Research, extension and innovation.

FACA’s past recommendations have provided guidance to Members of Congress and Administration officials and have been credited with shaping federal laws and programs. We now urge both chambers of Congress and the President to act this year to pass a farm bill that advances voluntary bipartisan climate solutions.

FACA’s founding organizations and co-chairs celebrated the policy recommendations and the impact they will have:

Rob Larew, President of National Farmers Union said: “Climate change continues to be a serious threat to farmers, ranchers and their communities. Farmers are already implementing practices to address the climate crisis and make their farms more resilient. The farm bill presents an opportunity to build upon the programs that support these voluntary, incentive-based practices. FACA’s farm bill recommendations will establish a strong foundation to support farmers and ranchers in sequestering carbon, building soil health and reducing emissions for years to come.”

Chuck Connor, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives said: “Throughout our work, FACA has been driven by the recognition that the farm bill is also a food bill, having importance beyond agriculture and impacting every family in America. Consumers are increasingly interested in both where their food comes from and the climate impact of what they eat. By helping America’s farmers, ranchers, and growers continue adoption of more climate-friendly farming practices, the recommendations will help producers meet growing consumer preferences. Also, by building on and strengthening efforts to combat food waste in the 2018 farm bill, the recommendations would ensure that the resources put towards growing and producing food are used as efficiently as possible.”

Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President for Political Affairs at Environmental Defense Fund said: “The farm bill is one of the biggest opportunities to advance conservation and climate solutions in the U.S. FACA’s recommendations will make it easier for farmers, ranchers and foresters to help stabilize the climate, while building resilience to climate impacts that are already affecting crops and livestock. In doing so, they can continue to produce food for a growing population and support vibrant agricultural and rural economies.”

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said: “Despite a pandemic, severe weather, volatile markets and rising costs, farmers continue to meet the growing needs of America’s families, and the farm bill helps make that possible. We look forward to working with Congress to strengthen Title One programs, improve risk management tools, and utilize these FACA recommendations to advance our sustainability mission in a manner that respects farmers and ranchers as partners.”

(Washington, D.C. – February 17, 2023) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued its final “appropriate and necessary” finding, under our nation’s clean air laws, to limit mercury and other toxic air pollution from coal and oil-fired power plants. The move solidifies the legal foundation for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. EDF is also calling on EPA to strengthen and modernize those standards to protect our children and communities from toxic pollution.

“The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards are enormously successful at protecting millions of people from some of the most dangerous smokestack pollution in our air, and at a fraction of the expected cost,” said EDF Lead Counsel Michael Panfil. “It should be a relief to all Americans that EPA has now reaffirmed the underlying legal basis for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards to ensure those vital protections remain intact. Now we urge EPA to take the next step forward and strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which would remove even more deadly pollution from our air and would better protect public health.”

The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards limit some of the most dangerous types of air pollution – including mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel, and hydrochloric acid gas – that are emitted by coal and oil-fired power plants. These pollutants are hazardous to human health even in small doses. For instance, mercury causes brain damage in babies and is associated with heart disease, metal toxics like chromium and nickel cause cancer, and acid gases cause serious lung diseases.

Since 2012, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards have helped slash toxic pollution. However, the previous administration tried to undermine the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards by attacking their legal underpinning – EPA’s “appropriate and necessary” finding. The Biden EPA proposed restoring the “appropriate and necessary” finding for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards last year and held a public comment period and hearings on the proposal. EDF partnered with broad coalitions of community, public health, civil rights, environmental justice, environmental, faith and professional groups to submit technical comments and a letter of strong support for reaffirming the “appropriate and necessary” finding. Today EPA finalized its proposal, officially reinstating the robust legal basis for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.

February 16, 2023 – A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change examines the potential cost of unrealized flood risk in the American real estate market, finding that flood zone property prices are overvalued by  US$121–US$237 billion. Authored by researchers from Environmental Defense Fund, First Street Foundation, Resources for the Future, the Federal Reserve, and several academic institutions, the study also examined how unpriced flood risk throughout the country could impact communities and local governments, finding low-income households particularly vulnerable to home value deflation.  

“Increasing flood risk under climate change is creating a bubble that threatens the stability of the US housing market. As we’ve seen in California in the last few weeks, these aren’t hypotheticals and the risk is more extensive than expected—and that risk carries an enormous cost,” said Dr. Jesse Gourevitch, a postdoctoral fellow at Environmental Defense Fund and lead author of the study. “These risks are largely unaccounted for in property transactions, encouraging development in flood-prone areas. Accurately pricing the costs of flooding in home values can support adaptation to flood risk, but may leave many worse off.” 

Currently, more than 14.6 million properties in the United States face at least a 1% annual probability of flooding, with expected annual damages to residential properties exceeding US$32 billion. Increasing frequency and severity of flooding under climate change is predicted to increase the number of properties exposed to flooding by 11% and average annual losses by at least 26% by 2050. The increasing cost of flooding under climate change has led to growing concerns that housing markets are mispricing these risks, thus causing a real estate bubble to develop. 

“There is a significant amount of ‘unknown’ flood risk across the country based solely on the differences in the publicly available Federal flood maps and the reality of actual flood risk. As that unknown risk is realized, there are significant implications for both individual property values and the health of the larger housing market,” said Dr. Jeremy Porter, a Senior Research Fellow for First Street Foundation and one of the co-authors of the study. 

Low-income households are at greater risk of losing home equity from price deflation due to factoring in anticipated flood risk. The study found that low-income households stand to lose as much as 10% of their market value. 

“The risk of overvaluation is higher in lower-income communities. For many people, their most valuable asset is their home. We need policy approaches that improve the transparency of climate risk in markets while also providing increased support and protection for frontline communities,” said Dr. Carolyn Kousky, Associate Vice President at the Environmental Defense Fund and co-author of the study. 

In general, the study found that highly overvalued properties are concentrated in counties along the coast with no flood risk disclosure laws and where there is less concern about climate change. In particular, properties in Florida are overvalued by more than US$50 billion.  

Aside from the impacts to homeowners, municipalities that are heavily reliant on property taxes for revenue are also highly vulnerable to budgetary shortfalls. These municipalities are concentrated in coastal counties, as well as inland areas in northern New England, eastern Tennessee, central Texas, Wisconsin, Idaho and Montana. In these areas, local governments may need to adapt their fiscal structure in order to continue to provide essential public goods and services.

“This isn’t just a problem for anyone who experiences a flood. This is a problem for cities and towns who could struggle financially if property values—and therefore property taxes—take a dive,” said Penny Liao, a fellow at Resources for the Future and co-author of the study . “We need to think about flood risk not as a homeowner’s problem, but as a problem for our entire community, city and housing market.” 

A large portion of overvaluation is driven by properties located outside of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), identified by the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency as having 1-percent chance of being flooded per year. Properties located outside the SFHA comprised 83% of all properties at risk of flooding and contribute 69% of total overvaluation in dollar terms. 

The timing, speed, and extent of devaluation depends on institutional, policy, and regulatory adaptation responses to increasing flood hazards – all of which will impact who bears the financial brunt of climate-related disasters: individual homeowners, taxpayers, or mortgage lenders. 

“Most of the overvaluation is coming from homes that aren’t currently being told that they have significant risk of flooding. This should be a red flag that local, state and federal governments need to better manage and communicate flood risk,” said Dr. Gourevitch. “There is a clear need to improve flood risk communication via updated flood maps, broaden flood risk disclosure laws at the state and federal level and increase investment in flood risk reduction. And as we decide how to adapt to these risks, decision-makers will have to grapple with the moral question about who bears the cost.” 

The study is the first-ever assessment of climate risk to property values, using the property-specific, climate-adjusted First Street Foundation flood model. To generate these estimates, the authors evaluated the extent to which property values already account for the costs of flooding. They then compared those price discounts with property prices that fully capture expected damages from flooding over the next 30 years.   

“The First Street Foundation flood model is the first property level, climate adjusted, risk model that is publicly available for anyone to help close the known information gap regarding flood risk. The precision of that information allows for the uncovering of many new insights, including the contribution of climate-related flood risk to the overvaluation of individual properties and local housing markets,” said Dr. Porter.

A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change examines the potential cost of unrealized flood risk in the American real estate market, finding that flood zone property prices are overvalued by  US$121–US$237 billion. Authored by researchers from Environmental Defense Fund, First Street Foundation, Resources for the Future, the Federal Reserve, and several academic institutions, the study also examined how unpriced flood risk throughout the country could impact communities and local governments, finding low-income households particularly vulnerable to home value deflation.  

“Increasing flood risk under climate change is creating a bubble that threatens the stability of the US housing market. As we’ve seen in California in the last few weeks, these aren’t hypotheticals and the risk is more extensive than expected—and that risk carries an enormous cost,” said Dr. Jesse Gourevitch, a postdoctoral fellow at Environmental Defense Fund and lead author of the study. “These risks are largely unaccounted for in property transactions, encouraging development in flood-prone areas. Accurately pricing the costs of flooding in home values can support adaptation to flood risk, but may leave many worse off.” 

Currently, more than 14.6 million properties in the United States face at least a 1% annual probability of flooding, with expected annual damages to residential properties exceeding US$32 billion. Increasing frequency and severity of flooding under climate change is predicted to increase the number of properties exposed to flooding by 11% and average annual losses by at least 26% by 2050. The increasing cost of flooding under climate change has led to growing concerns that housing markets are mispricing these risks, thus causing a real estate bubble to develop. 

“There is a significant amount of ‘unknown’ flood risk across the country based solely on the differences in the publicly available Federal flood maps and the reality of actual flood risk. As that unknown risk is realized, there are significant implications for both individual property values and the health of the larger housing market,” said Dr. Jeremy Porter, a Senior Research Fellow for First Street Foundation and one of the co-authors of the study. 

Low-income households are at greater risk of losing home equity from price deflation due to factoring in anticipated flood risk. The study found that low-income households stand to lose as much as 10% of their market value. 

“The risk of overvaluation is higher in lower-income communities. For many people, their most valuable asset is their home. We need policy approaches that improve the transparency of climate risk in markets while also providing increased support and protection for frontline communities,” said Dr. Carolyn Kousky, Associate Vice President at the Environmental Defense Fund and co-author of the study. 

In general, the study found that highly overvalued properties are concentrated in counties along the coast with no flood risk disclosure laws and where there is less concern about climate change. In particular, properties in Florida are overvalued by more than US$50 billion.  

Aside from the impacts to homeowners, municipalities that are heavily reliant on property taxes for revenue are also highly vulnerable to budgetary shortfalls. These municipalities are concentrated in coastal counties, as well as inland areas in northern New England, eastern Tennessee, central Texas, Wisconsin, Idaho and Montana. In these areas, local governments may need to adapt their fiscal structure in order to continue to provide essential public goods and services.

“This isn’t just a problem for anyone who experiences a flood. This is a problem for cities and towns who could struggle financially if property values—and therefore property taxes—take a dive,” said Penny Liao, a fellow at Resources for the Future and co-author of the study . “We need to think about flood risk not as a homeowner’s problem, but as a problem for our entire community, city and housing market.” 

A large portion of overvaluation is driven by properties located outside of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), identified by the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency as having 1-percent chance of being flooded per year. Properties located outside the SFHA comprised 83% of all properties at risk of flooding and contribute 69% of total overvaluation in dollar terms. 

The timing, speed, and extent of devaluation depends on institutional, policy, and regulatory adaptation responses to increasing flood hazards – all of which will impact who bears the financial brunt of climate-related disasters: individual homeowners, taxpayers, or mortgage lenders. 

“Most of the overvaluation is coming from homes that aren’t currently being told that they have significant risk of flooding. This should be a red flag that local, state and federal governments need to better manage and communicate flood risk,” said Dr. Gourevitch. “There is a clear need to improve flood risk communication via updated flood maps, broaden flood risk disclosure laws at the state and federal level and increase investment in flood risk reduction. And as we decide how to adapt to these risks, decision-makers will have to grapple with the moral question about who bears the cost.” 

The study is the first-ever assessment of climate risk to property values, using the property-specific, climate-adjusted First Street Foundation flood model. To generate these estimates, the authors evaluated the extent to which property values already account for the costs of flooding. They then compared those price discounts with property prices that fully capture expected damages from flooding over the next 30 years.   

“The First Street Foundation flood model is the first property level, climate adjusted, risk model that is publicly available for anyone to help close the known information gap regarding flood risk. The precision of that information allows for the uncovering of many new insights, including the contribution of climate-related flood risk to the overvaluation of individual properties and local housing markets,” said Dr. Porter.

(TRENTON, NJ) New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy today announced sweeping electrification initiatives, including $70m in additional Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) funding for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Murphy also issued executive orders for New Jersey to draw 100% of power from emissions-free sources by 2035, a 2030 target to expand building electrification and for the state Board of Public Utilities to plan for the future of natural gas and ensure that gas utilities and investments align with state climate goals.

“With today’s actions, Gov. Murphy is solidifying New Jersey’s position as a national leader in the clean energy economy as he boosts our renewables and building electrification targets and ensures that the energy of the future is cutting harmful air pollution and slashing consumer energy costs for New Jerseyans right now," said Mary Barber, Director, State Affairs at Environmental Defense Fund. "Cars and trucks will be cleaner and more affordable, and many of the measures announced today will be supercharged by the Biden administration’s landmark clean energy plan. Gov. Murphy sees the road ahead and is entrusting Garden State residents to make climate-friendly choices and put pedal to the metal in the 21st century economy.”