Online Articles

In 2020 small aircraft using leaded fuel emitted more than 420 tons of lead in the  United States.

At Last, EPA Prepares to Regulate Lead in Aircraft Emissions

April 12, 2024 by Christopher Slama Air Chemicals Climate change Regulations

Late last year, the EPA issued a formal Endangerment Finding, the first step in almost thirty years toward reducing the largest source of lead in the atmosphere. What took so long?

Scientific Data and Computer Center (SDCC) at Brookhaven Lab

Preparing Financial Market Utilities for the Emergent Threats of Climate Change

April 9, 2024 by Andrew Lloyd Bellah Climate change Regulations

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System published new changes to Regulation HH pertaining to systemically-important Financial Market Utilities (FMUs) that clear and settle large-scale transactions between banks and other financial institutions in the United States. In this blog post, GELR Senior Editor Andrew Bellah highlights new operational risk management requirements for FMUs in Regulation HH that have become relevant due to emergent threats arising from climate change. While the amendments to Regulation HH don't explicitly mention climate change, their emphasis on the risk of severe weather and other tail-end scenarios denotes the seriousness of preparing critical financial market infrastructure for a warming world.

This chart shows the photovoltaic power potential in the Middle East, demonstrating the potential for a clean energy transition.*

The Energy Transition in the Middle East: Navigating Through Change

April 4, 2024 by Can Cao Climate change Energy International Natural Resources Oil and Gas Renewable Energy

This article explores the Middle East's shift away from oil dependence towards renewable energies, highlighting how this energy transition has resulted in regional collaboration, economic diversification, and global implications.

Bike lanes, low speed limits, sidewalks protected from drivers by parked cars and trees, and crosswalks improve safety and comfort for walking and biking in this D.C. neighborhood.

“Please Don’t Hit Me!” Making Cities Safer for Pedestrians & Bikers

March 25, 2024 by Alexis Gorfine Climate change State and Local Sustainability

The healthiest and happiest communities are walkable, bikeable, and provide equitable transportation options for all. D.C. policymakers must put cars in their place and take steps to promote pedestrian safety. By slowing down drivers, improving infrastructure to promote pedestrian awareness, and encouraging mass transit alternatives, we can make our city more friendly to both the environment and its habitants, workers, and visitors.

Smoke from Taylor Creek Fire in 2018, as seen from just outside of Grants Pass, Oregon. USFS/Darren Stebbins.

Dual Hazards of Homelessness and Climate Change

March 7, 2024 by Kayla Minton Kaufman Climate change Public Lands State and Local

Climate change and the legal punishment of homelessness together create intersecting hazards. Homelessness, therefore, is a community issue and an environmental issue.

Field of solar panels absorbing sun to generate energy.

The Villars Framework: Can International Trade Break Its Own Climate Curse?

March 1, 2024 by Kennedy Pivnick Climate change International Sustainability

Aligning trade policies with environmental objectives is imperative to efforts to address the mounting global climate crisis. The Villars Framework offers a groundbreaking approach to environmentally-conscious trade policy.

Heavy industrial pollution leaving smokestacks in blue sky.

Has Massachusetts v. EPA Hurt the Climate?

February 23, 2024 by Diego Huerta Air Climate change Fossil Fuels Regulations State and Local

Massachusetts v. EPA is seen as an unalloyed victory for the climate movement, but over 15 years after the case was handed down, legal knock-on effects from the decision have come back to bite.

Image of Baldwin Steam Locomotive 69 on the White Pass and Yukon Route; Photo Credit: Nils Öberg, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WPYR_Steam_train_at_Glacier.JPG)

Moving Beyond Zombie Engines: New Regulations Driving Cleaner Locomotion

February 23, 2024 by Paige Kendrick Air Climate change Fossil Fuels Regulations

In the hope to leave Zombie Engines in the past, the EPA recently promulgated a new final rule on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles. In this GELR blog post, Paige Kendrick analyzes the recent changes regarding federal preemption of non-new locomotives and locomotive engines as well as steps being taken by California to reduce locomotive emissions.