News & Commentary

Equitable Rate Reform Is Required to Meet Our Climate Goals

January 18, 2024 Expert BlogCaliforniaMerrian Borgeson

California is facing an electric rate crisis. A more progressive rate structure will help fairly pay for system costs while also enabling electrification.

The Legal Battle to Preserve the Advanced Clean Fleets Rule

January 18, 2024 Expert BlogCaliforniaGuillermo A. Ortiz, David Pettit

California's Advanced Clean Fleets Rule faces legal opposition, threatening billions in health and economic benefits.

Overcoming Decarbonization Barriers in Los Angeles’s Affordable Housing

January 11, 2024 Expert BlogUnited States, Los AngelesMichele Knab Hasson, Olivia Walker, Dr. Veena Singla

Affordable housing is among the most vulnerable and underfunded of building sectors but thoughtful design and flexible financing could help provide cleaner, healthier buildings for all.

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.

CA Building Decarbonization: Progress Report & 2024 Priorities

December 20, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaMerrian Borgeson

California’s actions in 2023 can guide other jurisdictions looking to transition to healthy, clean, and efficient buildings. And what's next for 2024!

What’s on Caltrans’s $16B Holiday SHOPP-ing List

December 20, 2023 Expert BlogCalifornia, Los AngelesCarter Rubin

The $15.7 billion State Highway Operations and Protection Program is one of the state’s biggest infrastructure packages. But what’s really in the 599 projects?

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.

We Need Healthy Farm Ecosystems – Not Harmful Pesticides

December 14, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, Washington, D.C., Florida, CaliforniaAllison Johnson

EPA should do more to protect pollinators – and we need to ramp up resources to help farmers build healthy ecosystems themselves.

CA Transit Transformers Tapped for Taskforce

December 12, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaCarter Rubin

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.

PG&E’s Billing Software Delays Could Cost Californians Over $1 Billion

December 7, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaMohit Chhabra

The CPUC must take decisive action to ensure fixes are made in a timely manner.

The Cool Way to Heat: CA Is Poised to Encourage “Smart” AC Units

December 4, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaMerrian Borgeson

Proposed regs encourage new AC installs to be heat pumps, enabling customers to access heating and cooling in one clean appliance.

California Misses Opportunity to Protect Kids from Lead in Water

November 28, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaAngela Guyadeen, Corinne Bell

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent veto of AB 249 means the state will not take action to protect kids from lead in their drinking water while attending school. Timing of veto is troubling given alarming data that one in four…

Groundbreaking California Law Will Create Innovative Pathways for Social Housing

November 16, 2023 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaEsther Portillo

The visionary social housing study bill that identifies pathways to 1.4 million stable, affordable homes for California’s most vulnerable residents just became law.

Farm-to-Glass Supports Organic Farming

November 16, 2023 Expert BlogWashington, D.C., Ohio, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Michigan, Maine, CaliforniaAllison Johnson

Cheers! NRDC and our partners toasted a good cause on Capitol Hill: growing organic!

Social Housing: Los Angeles’s Chance to Fight the Housing Crisis

November 13, 2023 Expert BlogLos AngelesSarah Elkotbeid

The climate crisis exacerbates an already worsening housing crunch.

California Leads on Transportation Policy, Lags on Implementation

November 8, 2023 Expert BlogCalifornia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, San DiegoZak Accuardi

California’s has led in aligning transportation policy with climate goals but key implementation gaps remain.

CA’s Transformative Food & Farm Campaign Will Continue in 2024

November 7, 2023 Expert BlogCaliforniaArohi Sharma, Lena Brook

The California Legislature adjourned in September, officially turning the Food & Farm Resilience Coalition's climate bond campaign into a two-year effort. The bill proposes $3.65 billion for infrastructure that would reduce agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions while bringing healthier food options…

Climate Risks are Financial Risks: Helping Big Banks Prepare

October 27, 2023 Expert BlogSanta Monica, New York CityAlfonso Pating, Elizabeth Derbes

Banking Supervisors are Recognizing the Impact Climate has on the Financial System