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A new survey of agricultural lenders in the upper Midwest reveals important insights about their perceptions and support for farmers’ conservation efforts. As the first of its kind, the survey from EDF and partners can inform agricultural lending institutions’ climate and sustainability strategy development.

This Handbook from EDF guides readers through key decisions and complex issues involved in creating effective crediting systems for natural climate solutions (NCS).

Climate change-driven events—like heat waves, droughts, floods, and fires—cause damage to communities’ and individuals’ health and safety. But these events also threaten the financial well-being of communities across the U.S. through their impact on markets and local economies. Nowhere is this more visible recently than in the property insurance market.  In this three-part series, we’ll …

Stakeholders across the climate space need urgent help to cut through the noise on natural climate solutions crediting. The NCS Crediting Handbook aims to meet this need by clearly laying out how high-quality NCS crediting can work—for credit sellers, for credit buyers, and as part of an effective and ethical global climate response.

New introductory reference book provides clear and impartial guidance on creating carbon credits for natural climate solutions

Today, Environmental Defense Fund and WSP, in partnership with Climate Power, released new analysis that found many popular and widely anticipated electric vehicles (EVs) offer Wisconsin consumers thousands of dollars in lifetime cost savings.

A high-integrity carbon market can play a significant role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. But carbon mitigation should not be the only ‘win’ that comes from the purchase of high-quality carbon credits. Benefits-sharing and social safeguards deliver the durability and longevity we need for any achieved emissions reductions.

Scaling up natural climate solutions, or NCS, could help us reach climate goals while providing social and economic co-benefits.

Environmental Defense Fund, Cornell University, and Kansas State University studied how severe weather financially impacts Kansas farms and how management choices and government programs mitigate the negative impacts. The study used a 40-year Kansas farm financial dataset and historic weather data to measure the impacts of extreme heat on gross and net farm income.

In leading climate states, you’ll find trailblazing projects that are benefiting people’s lives and cutting costly pollution right now. In Washington, young people ride the ferry across Puget sound and buses around the state for free. In California, low-income residents get money-saving home energy efficiency upgrades at no cost. And in New York, businesses and …

Billion-dollar natural disasters now happen every 3 weeks on average, vs. every 4 months in 1980s. Climate change could cost the global economy $5 trillion over a 5-year period.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently issued new guidance on eligibility for the 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit, which provides a tax subsidy of up to $100,000 per charging port installed at private fleet depots and other logistics facilities. The credit – which is available now for companies to take advantage of …

The ultimate electric car buyer’s guide: Eight essential questions (and answers) to consider when you’re thinking about a new car. 

During the summer of 2023, Kansas endured a historic heat wave with temperatures soaring above 110°F in some areas. As climate change continues to intensify, the frequency and severity of extreme heat are projected to increase. Are Kansas farmers at risk of losing money in the face of these extreme growing conditions? A new study …

The clock is ticking to halt and reverse deforestation so that we avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The good news is that companies can provide the finance needed to keep the world's forests standing by purchasing high-quality emissions reductions credits from large-scale tropical forest conservation programs, otherwise known as jurisdictional REDD+ (JREDD+). 

With instant rebates on EVs now in effect, 2024 is a great year to get an electric vehicle.

The Biden administration recently unveiled the long-awaited draft of its rules governing tens of billions of dollars’ worth of tax incentives that will greatly influence America’s nascent hydrogen economy and the extent to which the emerging industry delivers promised climate benefits. The new draft rules — prompted by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and known …

During COP28, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued proposed guidance applicable to voluntary carbon credit (VCC) derivative contracts listed on designated contract markets (DCMs). DCMs are self-regulating exchanges that operate under the oversight of the CFTC. By law, they must take measures to protect market participants from abusive practices, promote fair and equitable trading,

(This post was co-authored by EDF Climate Risk Attorney Elle Stephens) Disasters that are fueled by climate change, like fires, floods, and hurricanes, increasingly pose risks to the U.S. financial system, including the derivatives market. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulates the derivatives market and is now considering updates to its risk management …

RISDoC participants are building a more resilient future in Cuba. Check out a few of their key priorities in this blog post. The post Sharing innovative solutions to build climate resilience in Cuban coastal communities first appeared on Growing Returns.

As a major next step in achieving New York’s climate targets, Governor Hochul and state agency officials are developing rules for a cap-and-invest program. A bold and equitable program would aggressively cut climate pollution, while supporting and investing in clean and healthy communities around the state. This rulemaking could be game-changing for New York — …

A circular economy is a regenerative system in which resource input and waste, emission, and energy leakage are minimized by narrowing energy and material loops.

This blog was authored by Holly Pearen, Lead Counsel for People & Nature at the Environmental Defense Fund. Proposed Guidance from Financial Market Regulators Could Improve Integrity and Transparency in the Voluntary Carbon Market Many of the world’s largest companies have committed to net zero, and high-quality carbon credits are increasingly seen as a key tool …

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) released draft guidance for regulated exchanges that list carbon credit based derivatives. While voluntary, the guidance will clarify CFTC’s expectations regarding the quality of carbon credits eligible for delivery into futures contracts. The Commission authorized a 75-day comment period, during which EDF will work closely with partners to develop detailed comments. 

Preliminary findings report for the Sustainable First Movers Initiative Identification Tool, a system created by Environmental EDF and Lloyd’s Register (LR) Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, in collaboration with Arup, to help shipping stakeholders align investment decisions that support the maritime energy transition away from fossil fuels.