Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund President-elect Donald Trump was fairly clear about his indifference—and worse—toward environmental protection during his campaign. He denied climate science at every opportunity, vowed to eliminate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (though he called it by the wrong name), and, when asked who would protect the environment if not […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund A natural question in this post-election environment is what the change in Administration and Congress will mean for investments in energy efficiency. For some, the threats to the Clean Power Plan (CPP) foretell the end of the clean energy economy. There’s no doubt that we need to fight […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund Dozens of local activists, environmental justice advocates and labor union members rallied outside the office of New York City Councilmember Rafael Salamanca the other day to demand clean air and reduced truck traffic for South Bronx residents. The protesters — undeterred by cold weather or holiday distractions — […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund Climate Central This story originally appeared on Climate Central. The year 2016 will be remembered for many things. One of them will be heat. It was the hottest year on record globally. While the world is still waiting for confirmation of just how high the record was, there’s a lot […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund iStock President-elect Donald Trump has given environmentalists ample cause to worry about the country’s battle against climate change. After calling man-made climate change a Chinese hoax (it’s not), Trump has threatened to reignite the coal industry, ditch the Clean Power Plan, and slip out of the Paris climate […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund “A’o ‘Ana (The Warning)” Hula The image of a solitary polar bear stranded on a melting ice floe is the unofficial poster child of the climate movement. But the world’s climbing temperatures are threatening more than charismatic megafauna; people’s lives and cultural heritage are at risk, too. With […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund Imprint left on a window after a bird collision Chuck Schug Photography/iStock Christine Sheppard took any workaholic’s logical next step before retirement: She started a new job. Sheppard, who has a PhD in evolutionary biology and ecology, retired early from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo in New […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund This blog has been updated since its original 2011 publication. The House is poised to begin the 115th Congress with the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act—intended as a body blow to the regulatory process. The bill would require Congressional approval of any rule […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund iStock You know the scene: You’re at the office. It’s lunchtime. You enjoy the last bite of your takeout soup-and-sandwich combo and look down to find…your very own paper and plastic trash heap. That’s a messy affair in the moment, but here’s the upside: According to the U.S. […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund Your browser doesn’t support Javascript or has it disabled. onEarth works best with Javascript enabled. New rules on antibiotic use in livestock just went into effect – But a major loophole remains. The FDA has made it illegal to give medically important antibiotics to healthy animals in order […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund My parents and ancestors are from Cuba. After the country was taken over by an oppressive political regime, my parents, no longer free or safe in their own country, made the difficult decision to leave. They came to America with nothing, seeking political and religious freedom, and a […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund FDA announced with fanfare today that it has made progress on addressing the misuse of antibiotics by making changes to instructions on labels for medicine used in livestock. Unfortunately, the announcement is a false promise of dawn. FDA continues to allow the mass administration of antibiotics at low […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund The state of Illinois has taken a huge leap forward for climate and clean energy policy with the enactment of the Future Energy Jobs Bill. This is an exciting victory for Illinois, one that will benefit owners and residents of affordable housing throughout the state. Affordable housing residents, […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund Your browser doesn’t support Javascript or has it disabled. onEarth works best with Javascript enabled. It’s this simple: If senators take seriously their job of protecting the public, they must vote no on Pruitt. —Ken Kimmell, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, comments on Donald Trump’s nomination […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund There was a ray of hope earlier this month for the vaquita—the nearly-extinct small porpoise species endemic to the Northern Gulf of California—when China hosted an enforcement workshop focused on combatting the trafficking of the totoaba fish maw, which is causing the vaquita’s decline. Over 100 frontline enforcement […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund The U.S. Department of Energy has issued the first-ever energy efficiency standards for uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), the battery backup systems that automatically kick in to keep electronics running when the power goes out or falters. These new standards mean billions in savings for American consumers and businesses, while […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund Your browser doesn’t support Javascript or has it disabled. onEarth works best with Javascript enabled. China plans to ban ivory trade by the end of 2017 – The Chinese government previously committed to phasing out the domestic ivory market, but had yet to announce a timeline for doing […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund In what may be the biggest sign of hope for elephants since the current poaching crisis began, the Chinese government, today, announced a one-year timeline for its promised domestic ivory ban. According to the notice, China will begin phasing out registered legal ivory processors and traders by March […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently released a report that slates 2016 as yet another “hottest year on record”, the third in a row after 2014 and 2015. As temperatures rise year on year, extreme heat is fast becoming a serious threat, especially in developing countries where large […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund sharmzpad/Flickr Tall, lots of spots, long neck—the giraffe needs no introduction. In fact, it’s probably one of the most recognizable species on earth. This brand recognition, however, has done little to protect the animal, whose numbers have dropped from a million in the early 1900s to just around […]