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2021 saw major momentum for U.S. climate innovation: the research, development and scaling up of new solutions needed to tackle climate pollution, create jobs across the U.S. and reduce energy costs.

To restore American leadership and meet the scale of the climate crisis, the Biden administration must put forward a bold new commitment to the Paris Agreement – a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – that is both ambitious and credible.

At a COP26 event on November 5, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm announced a new, visionary effort to scale up solutions that can draw down and store carbon pollution from the atmosphere: The Carbon Negative Shot. 

EDF working paper explores policy tools that federal policymakers could use to quickly and responsibly begin deployment of Direct Air Capture facilities, one of several possible carbon removal approaches.

EDF fact sheet on Carbon dioxide removal (CDR), which refers to a class of natural and technological strategies designed to remove carbon pollution directly from the atmosphere.

Achieving net-zero GHG emissions by mid-century requires a shift to low-carbon technologies throughout our energy system, many of which are not yet at significant commercial scale.

Climate innovation is the creation of new or enhanced climate solutions through technology, public policy and investment models.

EDF Statement from Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President, Political Affairs

This was was co-authored with Caroline Jones, Analyst for U.S. Climate. The results of the Western Climate Initiative’s February auction were released today, and all current vintage allowances sold at a record-high price – raising over $970 million for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. These results arrive alongside major opportunities for California to bolster its …

Mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants is extremely dangerous — it causes brain damage in babies and is associated with heart disease and many other serious health issues. Fortunately, mercury pollution has fallen significantly since EPA finalized the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in 2012. However, despite the success of the standards in reducing pollution …

A new study developed by Roush Industries for EDF shows rapidly declining costs for zero-emission freight trucks and buses, underscoring the feasibility of rapidly deploying these vehicles that will help us save money, have healthier air, and address the climate crisis. The study, Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electrification Cost Evaluation, analyzes the cost of electrifying vehicles …

New IPCC Report Shows the Need to Transition to a Clean Energy Global Economy

By Jon Goldstein and Grace Weatherall Reducing the amount of methane emitted from oil and gas infrastructure is among the cheapest and simplest solutions we have to reduce global warming quickly while protecting public health. The Environmental Protection Agency is in the midst of developing rules to curb these emissions from oil and gas producers …

Leading Environmental Groups Respond to Attacks Against Clean Air Act Heard Before Supreme Court

The public comment period for the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed oil and gas methane rules generated more than 400,000 individual submissions, including many from energy and financial companies that support Biden administration efforts to reduce emissions of this powerful greenhouse gas. However, our analysis of comments from energy and investment companies shows a troubling divide …

The Global Stocktake’s assessment of collective progress to support enhanced national climate commitments are key for the Paris Agreement’s ambition cycle.

Joint Inputs from Environmental Defense Fund, Conservation International, and The Nature Conservancy on the framework for non-market approaches under Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement.

The sea is rising faster than ever. How can we prepare?

President Biden Nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Be Our Next Supreme Court Justice

Three lessons from Rabobank’s review of agricultural GHG emissions it finances. The post How banks can move toward net zero agriculture portfolios first appeared on Growing Returns.

Following last week's sustainability conference, Andrew Howell considers the developments and trends of both CSR and ESG across sectors.

Three lessons from Rabobank’s review of agricultural GHG emissions it finances

Lower-cost air quality sensors can be a game changer for cities looking to understand and improve air quality at the neighborhood level. However, issues with accuracy have been a key barrier to their adoption. Our new paper shows how users can make the most of their data by evaluating sensor performance on a continuous basis.

Here are five recommendations for how government leaders can increase the resilience of coastal communities before the worst effects of sea level rise take hold. The post The sea is rising faster than ever. How can we prepare? first appeared on Growing Returns.

Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals. The U.S. Senate today voted to return Robert Califf to the role of FDA Commissioner, bringing needed leadership to an agency that plays a vital role in protecting public health.  While Dr. Califf faces historic challenges in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic, he also …