Blog
Friends of the Earth and allies respond to the State of the Union
While President Obama's 2015 State of the Union speech highlighted his administration's progressive initiatives, a continued focus on environmentally disastrous trade deals undermined his strong rhetoric on climate action. Read More
Massachusetts Has an Environmental Justice Problem
Massachusetts is a blue state with a reputation for green policies. But communities of color aren’t seeing the benefits. While the high-profile deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner at the hands of police have drawn national attention, there’s a more insidious threat facing communities of color across the country… Read More
Climate Hawks Aren’t Impressed With Obama’s Methane Plan
You would expect environmentalists to offer effusive praise as President Obama releases the final major component of his Climate Action Plan: a proposal toclamp down on methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. And at first glance, they did. “This announcement once again demonstrates the President’s strong commitment to tackling… Read More
Analysis: Global climate fund on GOP’s budget hit list
The yearly battle over the U.S. budget officially begins on Feb. 2, when the president plans to send his fiscal 2016 funding proposal to Congress, where it will be torn to shreds or ignored entirely. While the annual drama involves trillions of dollars, it’s usually of limited interest to far-flung… Read More
Low Oil Prices Prompt New Interest In Raising Gas Tax, Cutting Subsidies
Sensing mounting momentum on the issue, “smart growth” advocates, elected officials and others are pushing President Barack Obama to indicate his support for an increase in the federal tax on gasoline in his State of the Union speech next week. Low Oil Prices Prompt New Interest In Raising Gas… Read More
Obama’s Methane Regulation Plan Too Weak to Fix Climate Crisis, Say Green Groups
The Obama administration’s new plan to regulate methane, formally unveiled on Wednesday, does not go far enough—or take effect quickly enough—to make real progress in the effort to curb the climate crisis, say green groups. Obama’s Methane Regulation Plan Too Weak to Fix Climate Crisis, Say Green Groups -Common… Read More
Global Climate Fund on GOP’s Budget Hit List
The yearly battle over the U.S. budget officially begins on Feb. 2, when the president plans to send his fiscal 2016 funding proposal to Congress, where it will be torn to shreds or ignored entirely. While the annual drama involves trillions of dollars, it’s usually of limited interest to far-flung… Read More
Food groups ask Obama to protect honeybees from pesticides
Food groups are urging the Obama administration to protect honeybees from dangerous pesticides. In a letter to President Obama sent Tuesday, more than 100 environmentally friendly food companies, including Clif Bar, call for the Environmental Protection Agency to suspend the use of “bee-harming pesticides.” Food groups ask Obama to protect… Read More
Ted Cruz Takes Space And Marco Rubio Takes Earth: How The Senate Flip Could Undermine Science
The reversal of the U.S. Senate’s majority party is falling into place, and there is reason for concern over how new committee chairs will influence the agencies they oversee. Right now two big reasons are garnering the most attention: Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) will chair the subcommittee that oversees NASA,… Read More
Cool Interactive Tool Shows You How Taxpayer Money Could Be Spent Instead of Subsidizing Big Oil
As the new Republican-led Congress gets underway, we’re hearing a lot of rhetoric about cutting the social safety net programs that throw a lifeline to those in need and help people climb out of poverty—things like food assistance, free school lunches and Pell Grants that pay for college. And while some… Read More