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Statement from Pedro Piris-Cabezas, Senior Director, Global Transportation and Lead Senior Economist at Environmental Defense Fund

NOTE: This blog was originally published on our Deep Dives blog on April 13, 2023. It predates the recent reorganization efforts at FDA. What Happened? FDA estimates that, each year, food companies designate 82 new food chemicals as “GRAS” (Generally Recognized as Safe) for use in food. On average, FDA reviews only 64 of those …

In early December, the EDF climate-smart agriculture team will join hundreds of farmers, food and agriculture companies, university experts and other conservation organizations at the 2023 Sustainable Agriculture Summit, “Scaling Collective Impact: Collaborating to Accelerate Agricultural Sustainability.” This conference is one of the largest annual gatherings of people working to improve sustainability in U.S. agriculture,

This blog was authored by Pedro Martins Barata, AVP for Carbon Markets and Private Sector Decarbonization at the Environmental Defense Fund. Since the Glasgow COP two years ago, there have been growing expectations to transform the market-based cooperation approaches outlined in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement into practical, effective actions for reducing global emissions.

Since the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) began well over a decade ago, this group of Eastern states has successfully slashed climate pollution from power plants in half, generated substantial health benefits and raised $3 billion in proceeds that have been invested back into states. Now this program, which puts a declining cap on power …

As the United Nations climate change conference, COP28, approaches, Environmental Defense Fund's Amanda Leland lays out her three point plan for global climate action

 We only have until December 15, 2023, to show EPA we support a full and rapid ban of all uses of TCE. Take Action: Tell EPA–Ban TCE Now What Happened? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently taken a significant step in safeguarding public health by proposing new regulations under our nation’s primary chemicals …

EDF Statement from Pamela MacDougall, Director, Grid Modernization Strategy

What’s Happening? The North Carolina Departments of Health & Human Services and Agriculture & Consumer Services identified WanaBana cinnamon applesauce pouches as a source for elevated blood lead levels in multiple children. They found extraordinarily high concentrations of lead (1,900- 5,100 ppb) in the products, leading to the identification of at least 34 cases of …

Advocates say ICC Made Important Steps to Protect Customers Despite Rate Increase

What Happened? Last month, FDA’s scientists published the toxicological reference value (TRV) for exposure to cadmium in the diet. This value is the amount of a chemical—in this case cadmium—a person can consume in their daily diet that would not be expected to cause adverse health effects and can be used for food safety decision-making.

Twenty-nine public interest groups sent a letter to President Biden today expressing strong support for protective limits on particulate matter pollution in EPA’s pending standards for cars and passenger trucks.

Environmental Defense Fund today praised updated EPA regulations that will clarify how states and the federal government can work together to reduce harmful pollution under one of our nation’s key clean air laws.

NOTE: This is the fifth in a series about EPA’s regulation of new chemicals. See below under Go Deeper for links to the other blogs in the series. What Happened? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed new regulations for its safety reviews of new chemicals under our nation’s primary chemicals law, the Toxic Substances …

In a move that will protect communities across the country, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will soon finalize new rules to reduce methane and other toxic, smog-forming  pollution from the nation’s oil and gas industry. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that’s fueling much of the climate crisis due to the excessive warming it creates …

By Maria Doa, PhD, Senior Director, Chemicals Policy, and Colin Parts, Legal Fellow NOTE: This is the fourth in a series about EPA’s regulation of new chemicals. See below under Go Deeper for links to the other blogs in the series. What Happened? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed new regulations for its safety …

EDF challenges new EPA rule regarding Confidential Business Information.

EDF statement from Katie Schneer, Senior Analyst, U.S. Climate

The Biden administration today announced its modernization of key guidelines that inform how our nation responds to serious threats like health-harming environmental contaminants and climate-destabilizing pollution.

Vulnerable communities facing increased risk from flooding, hurricanes, wildfires, and other extreme weather could soon receive a big lifeline thanks to the introduction of the National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security (NCARS) Act. If passed, this bipartisan legislation would create a unified national strategy for disaster planning. This proactive approach would consolidate government …

Statement From EDF SVP for Political Affairs Elizabeth Gore

TikTok can be a great place to learn information, including climate science. Here are five creators you should be following for climate expertise.

By Maria J. Doa, PhD, Senior Director, Chemicals Policy, and Greg Schweer, Consultant NOTE: This is the third in a series about EPA’s regulation of new chemicals. See below under Go Deeper for links to other blogs in the series. What Happened? EPA recently proposed regulations to govern how it reviews companies’ pre-manufacture notifications for …

Increasingly intense and more frequent severe weather events are impacting our marshlands, wetlands, and sounds, which in turn directly - and adversely - affects our coastal communities and our hunting, fishing and outdoor recreational history and traditions. The post North Carolina’s coastal wetlands and marshlands are a critical lifeforce for hunters and anglers first appeared on Growing Returns.

Statement of EDF Senior Director Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, Jon Goldstein