Environment & Energy

Our planet faces unprecedented environmental challenges, threatening ecosystems, species, coastal communities, and all too often, human life itself. Heading the list of threats is climate change, with its promise of drastic environmental, economic, and cultural upheaval. But we also face persistent problems of air and water pollution, toxic wastes, cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and other Great Waters, and protecting natural resources and wildlife.

Central to the environmental health of the nation and the planet is decreasing our dependence on energy derived from burning fossil fuels. Our continued reliance on these sources is literally endangering the planet's ability to sustain life as we know it. Yet many policymakers, with the financial and rhetorical support of energy companies bent on making a profit at the cost of the planet's health, continue to resist desperately needed reforms. Read about CPR’s work protecting the environment in reports, testimony, op-eds and more. Use the search box to narrow the list.

Webinar: Post-Midterms Analysis of the 2018 Farm Bill Conservation Title

In 2018, the U.S. House and Senate passed drastically different versions of the 2018 Farm Bill. Families across the country are anxiously watching as the conference committee tries to reconcile policy differences related to work requirements for SNAP benefits. And conservation-minded farmers are concerned because programs that help them keep their land productive and resilient are on the chopping block. On Thursday, November 15, 2018, CPR hosted a webinar featuring four national experts (Laurie Ristino, Ferd Hoefner, Caroline Kitchens, Alexandra Murdoch) sharing their analysis of what the midterm elections mean for the 2018 Farm Bill, with a focus on the conservation title.

Type: Webinars (Nov. 15, 2018)
Read Online
Author(s): Laurie Ristino
Joint Letter to Members of Congress from the Clean Budget Coalition urging passage of remaining FY19 appropriations bills without "poison pill" ideological policy riders

Joint Letter to Members of Congress from the Clean Budget Coalition urging passage of remaining FY19 appropriations bills without "poison pill" ideological policy riders, November 13, 2018.

Type: Legislative Testimony (Nov. 13, 2018)
Read PDF
Justices express skepticism over using legislative motive in preemption analysis

Writing in SCOTUSblog, Emily Hammond reviews oral arguments in Virginia Uranium Mining v Warren.

Type: Op-Eds (Nov. 6, 2018)
Read PDF
Yukon-Charley continues to commandeer gray cells

Sandra Zellmer, writing for SCOTUSblog reviews arguments in a key case over protections of national park land.

Type: Op-Eds (Nov. 6, 2018)
Read PDF
Author(s): Sandra Zellmer
State pollution-permitting must be reformed to adapt to climate change

Writing in the Bay Journal, David Flores focuses on Maryland's pollution permitting and its impact on the Chesapeake Bay

Type: Op-Eds (Nov. 1, 2018)
Read PDF
Author(s): David Flores
Can a hovercraft navigate the shoals of Yukon-Charley?

CPR's Sandi Zellmer previews a case over regulation of navigable waters and public lands.

Type: Op-Eds (Oct. 29, 2018)
Read PDF
Author(s): Sandra Zellmer
Justices may consider role of legislative motive in preemption analysis

In SCOTUSblog, Emily Hammond previews a preemption case before the Supreme Court.

Type: Op-Eds (Oct. 29, 2018)
Read PDF
Trump rolls back clean car standards as air quality worsens

Alice Kaswan, writing in The Fresno Bee, on the Trump administration's rollback of clean car standards

Type: Op-Eds (Oct. 25, 2018)
Read PDF
Author(s): Alice Kaswan
As hurricanes expose inequalities, civil courts may be 'great equalizer'

As hurricanes expose inequalities, civil courts may be ‘great equalizer,’ by Martha McCluskey and Sidney Shapiro, October 16, 2018, The Hill 

Type: Op-Eds (Oct. 16, 2018)
Read PDF
Author(s): Martha McCluskey, Sidney Shapiro
Blind focus on 'energy dominance' may cripple Endangered Species Act

Writing in The Hill, Alejandro Camacho and Melissa Kelly examine the Trump assault on the Endangered Species Act.

Type: Op-Eds (Oct. 4, 2018)
Read PDF
Author(s): Alejandro Camacho

Advanced Search Filters

Reset Filters