Lawsuits have always been a useful strategy for the environmental movement. But historically, environmental nonprofits like Earthjustice usually brought those lawsuits against the government. They often hinged on government’s failure to enforce its own laws or negligence in protecting citizens. Now cash-strapped governments dealing with unprecedented natural disaster recovery costs are suing corporations for damages, opening another front in the […]
The European Union recently passed the Deforestation Regulation, a groundbreaking law that requires companies to prove their products are not linked to deforestation in order to import them into the EU. What products are covered? And can the regulations help you choose products that don’t harm forests too, even if you live outside of Europe? Deforestation is a major environmental […]
Anyone who lives near a body of water is probably familiar with toxic algal blooms. As the climate and bodies of water warm, they are becoming more common and more severe. And with impacts that range from foul odors to sea mammal die-off, it’s worth learning how to stop contributing to toxic algal blooms, even if you live far from […]
Even if you’re not much of a gardener, you are probably aware of the harm that invasive plant species can cause. But plants are not the only species that can wreak havoc in the landscape. The pests that prey on non-native plants can be even more devastating when they escape the garden and find defenseless native plants to feed on. […]
Each year, humans use more natural resources and pour more CO2 into the atmosphere. Today, humans used up the planet’s capacity to support life for the year. After falling earlier every year, including on July 29 during 2021, in 2023 humans managed consume and pollute a bit more slowly. Earth Overshoot Day marks the day when “humanity’s demand for ecological […]
Did you know that almost all of the world’s plants need to be pollinated? Birds, beetles, bees, butterflies, wasps, moths, and bats all perform this essential function and play a crucial role in the reproduction of three-quarters of all crop species. But many pollinators are in rapid decline. More than a decade ago, beekeepers in the United States and abroad […]
Stopping climate change is the top environmental priority, but it’s too late to focus exclusively on prevention. From heat waves to hurricanes, communities are already experiencing the extreme weather impacts of our changing climate. Around the world, civic leaders are working to make their communities more resilient in the face of climate change and increasingly common environmental disasters. Resilience planning […]
Nationwide, communities are coming together to demand constitutional recognition of their rights to a clean, safe, and healthy environment, including a stable climate, in the form of state Green Amendments. Green Amendments include explicit protection for environmental rights, including the rights to pure water, clean air, a safe climate, and healthy environments. They empower environmental justice protections through constitutional mandates […]
A new global plastics treaty due to take effect in 2025, will reset the world’s strategy for reducing and reversing the environmental and health impacts of plastic. Take a look at the politics and issues that will define the agreement with Dimitris Faloutsos, head of Transboundary Waters at the United Nations’ Global Water Partnership (GWP). The GWP and London-based policy […]
Few experiences in life are as carefree as a day at the beach. But carefreeness can cross the line into carelessness. And careless beachgoers can really hurt the seaside they enjoy so much. Taking care of the beach where you play doesn’t have to be a buzzkill. With a little bit of planning and basic respect, you can pull an […]