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Maria Doa, Ph.D., Senior Director, Chemicals Policy EPA has made the important and long-awaited decision to propose banning nearly all remaining uses of chrysotile asbestos in the United States. EDF submitted comments supporting this proposed ban (with some caveats) because of the high risk of cancer and fatal respiratory diseases for individuals who import, process,

By Christopher Free and Willow Battista Earlier this spring, 1.5 million livestock died in the Horn of Africa. The immediate culprit was a severe, prolonged drought spurred by the growing effects of climate change. It’s a sign of weakening food systems in a warming world. But while land-based food systems are carbon-intensive and increasingly unstable,

Dr. Beia Spiller is a Fellow and Transportation Program Director at Resources for the Future. She had previously served as a Lead Senior Economist at EDF. This post is the final in a series dedicated to the future of the electricity sector and new scholarship supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Each post is …

Scientists agree that agricultural soils can be part of the climate solution, but their estimates about how much soils could slow warming vary widely. The post Scientists agree: Soil health matters but climate mitigation potential still uncertain first appeared on Growing Returns.

With so much still to do to slow warming and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, it’s important to fortify ourselves by celebrating wins along the way.

To better understand areas of scientific agreement and disagreement about the climate mitigation potential of cropland soil carbon, EDF asked American University to survey 31 soil carbon scientists working in academia, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. These are the results.

EDF’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Cumulative Risk Assessment (CRA) Framework illustrates how EPA can conceptualize and apply comprehensive cumulative risk evaluations in a way that is pragmatic and protective of public health, especially for those at greatest risk.

EDF statement from Natalie Snider

Chris Kuzdas, co-lead of the Water for Arizona coalition and Senior Manager, Climate Resilient Water Systems at Environmental Defense Fund, issued the following statement about the critical need to pass the Inflation Reduction Act.

By Larissa Koehler and Alice Henderson This week, the Environmental Protection Agency is hearing from scientists, mothers, healthcare professionals, public health and environmental advocates – including EDF – and many others who submitted comments in support of California clean truck standards. As EPA works toward finalizing federal heavy-duty emission standards proposed earlier this year, the …

Last week, Senator Joe Manchin and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced their agreement to an investment package including $369 billion in climate and energy programs over the next ten years (see summary). This is a remarkable turnaround after negotiations on these provisions seemed to stall earlier this month. Senate Democrats continued efforts to get them …

In a new video released in partnership with Gates Ventures and Open Educational Resources Project (OER), Dr. Margot Brown, vice president of Justice and Equity at Environmental Defense Fund, explains the impacts of climate change on people’s health and the health inequities it exacerbates.

Environmental Advocates Ask to Intervene in Legal Challenge to Fuel Economy Standards

A study from EDF and Kaiser Permanente scientists, published in the journal Atmospheric Environment, finds that long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution is associated with higher health care costs for older adults.

This calculator from EDF converts abstract greenhouse gas emissions numbers into equivalent activities from our daily lives to make the data more meaningful.

With so much still to do to slow warming and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, it’s important to fortify ourselves by celebrating wins along the way.

The new $369 billion agreement represents the largest piece of climate legislation in U.S. history.

U.S. Representative A. Donald McEachin (VA) today introduced the “Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act” to strengthen hyperlocal air quality insights and improve understanding of the health impacts of air pollution.

Agreement Presents Opportunity for Historic Climate Action in Senate

Many U.S. transit agencies, from New York to Los Angeles to Houston, are working to convert their bus fleets from diesel to electric. The number of electric transit buses currently on order or operating in the U.S. grew 112% from 2018 to 2021, according to CALSTART. Electric buses are cleaner, quieter and increasingly more cost-effective …

Schumer, Manchin Announce Deal That Could Bring Climate, Clean Energy Action in the Senate

Today a coalition of 17 states, the District of Columbia and Quebec signed off on an action plan that will provide state leaders a roadmap to achieve 30% zero-emission truck sales by 2030 and 100% sales no later than 2050, while directly tackling deadly climate and air pollution from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

There is no single fix to the climate, air quality, political and economic challenges facing California, but the state’s early action to electrify its fleet of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles is one example of smart policy that can move us in a positive direction. As California’s legislative session concludes in August, lawmakers and the California …

EDF is proud to support this powerful community of over one million moms and dads united against air pollution – including the urgent crisis of our changing climate – to protect our children's health.

The Iowa Watershed Approach offers a strategy for reducing flood risk and improving water quality in the state of Iowa. The post Iowa’s Watershed Approach provides a model for tackling big challenges on the Mississippi River. first appeared on Growing Returns.