Climate 411

States in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative take an important step forward — and there’s room to go further

By Peter Della-Rocca and Pam Kiely / Published: July 16, 2025

On July 1, the ten states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) concluded their Third Program Review and announced updates that strengthen the regional cap on climate pollution, beginning in 2027. These changes also introduce new measures to protect energy affordability and reaffirm the program’s commitment to cutting pollution, promoting clean energy and supporting local communities.

As Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) analysis shows, the case for program improvements is well supported — delivering clean electricity and critical climate and health benefits while ensuring consumer affordability. And there’s still room to do even more.

Posted in Carbon Markets, Cities and states, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, News / Authors: pdellarocca, pkiely / Leave a comment

The Science Is Clear on the Dangers of Planet-Heating Pollution

By Lisa Dilling / Published: July 11, 2025

This post was co-authored by EDF Climate Scientist Fiona Lo

The Trump EPA is now reconsidering, and reportedly intends to reverse, the Endangerment Finding – the science-based determination that climate pollution harms public health and welfare. That’s in spite of mountains of scientific evidence confirming that climate pollution is driving extreme weather events and putting people at risk.

The scientific evidence was clear that climate pollution endangers public health and welfare when EPA issued the Endangerment Finding in 2009 – but it is even clearer now:

Posted in Basic Science of Global Warming, Clean Air Act, Extreme Weather, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, News, Policy, Science, Setting the Facts Straight / Authors: ldilling / Leave a comment

President Trump’s new tax law undermines clean energy when the U.S. needs it most

By EDF Blogs / Published: July 4, 2025

(This post was written by EDF Vice President for Political and Government Affairs Joanna Slaney)

President Trump just signed a deeply unpopular law passed by congressional Republicans — one that could thwart unprecedented American progress on clean energy and transportation.

New polling shows that 67% of voters oppose the bill when they learn what’s in it. But the law puts the U.S. on a more expensive, more dangerous, and more harmful path, threatening $980 billion in gross domestic product and taking away 900,000 good-paying jobs in energy and manufacturing alone. Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions, said, “This stands to be the biggest job-killing bill in the history of this country.” Read More »

Posted in Cars and Pollution, Energy, News / Authors: admin / Comments are closed

From Bonn to London, Indigenous voices raise expectations for COP30 Belém

By Bärbel Henneberger / Published: July 3, 2025

Sonia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, speaking at EDF Side Event at SB62. Photo by Patricia Zuppi

The 62nd session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) concluded in Bonn, Germany last week. SB62 is the last intersessional meeting before the highly anticipated COP30 climate talks in Belém, Brazil in November, where a major focus will be on the participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLC). So, what were some highlights?

During SB62, the Brazilian government made a landmark move by bringing together ministries, civil society, and UN representatives to advance the effective participation of IPLCs at climate negotiations. The goal is to present a document with recommendations to the COP30 Presidency, which has put forth the idea of “global mutirão” or collective action, on how to build a common agenda for IPLC climate policies and integrate traditional knowledge with nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

Brazil has made significant efforts to elevate IPLC voices on the global stage ahead of COP30, and this was evident at SB62 where IPLC priorities, including on the just energy transition, climate adaptation, and gender equality, received attention.

Posted in Forest protection, Global Engagement, Indigenous People, Just Transition, Paris Agreement, United Nations / Authors: bhenneberger / Comments are closed

As New York continues to await cap-and-invest program, studies show just how impactful these programs can be

By Caroline Jones and Alex DeGolia / Published: July 1, 2025

New York just experienced a brutal heatwave, with several cities experiencing the hottest days ever recorded, underscoring the urgent need to address the climate crisis.

As temperatures heat up, so do energy prices as New Yorkers continue to struggle with higher cost of living and economic uncertainty. To make matters worse, across the country polluters and their political allies are working to stall progress and roll back the clock on climate action. In the face of those attacks, states must be the firewall.

New York has the chance to lead by example — tackling climate change while reducing costs for many New Yorkers and spurring economic growth — through the adoption of a bold, economy-wide cap-and-invest program.

Posted in News / Authors: cajones, adegolia / Comments are closed

At the Financing for Development Conference, an opportunity to make climate and development finance go further

By Christopher Dekki and Zach Cohen / Published: June 27, 2025

The Fourth International Financing for Development Conference (FfD4) in Seville will convene critical discussions about how to reshape the global financial architecture in an era of converging crises. As we grapple with persistent development challenges and the escalating impacts of climate change, this conference presents a vital moment to re-evaluate how climate and development finance intersect. Read More »

Posted in Climate Finance, Economics, Paris Agreement / Authors: christopherdekki, zacohen / Comments are closed

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