Environmental Defense Fund

Unlike the zombies in horror movies, you can’t see this threat coming. There are more than 3.5 million abandoned oil and gas wells across the country, over a million of which are orphaned with no viable owner. And many of them are leaking. And the environmental impacts of these so-called “zombie wells” are truly horrifying. Abandoned wells can emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas that supercharges warming. Some also leak cancer-causing chemicals and other contaminants that pollute the environment and harm peoples’ health. They’ve even caused home explosions! But many people living near these wells don’t know the dangers. Our Adam Peltz explained to ABC News that “These wells are a threat to people and livelihoods, and especially kids and older people and people with health problems”. This special takes you into the lives of some of those people. And it will make you understand why Adam is so passionate about making sure these wells get plugged: https://lnkd.in/euD4--aM

I love how Detroit is approaching this innovative new solar energy project.   Communities that are a part of Detroit’s Solar Neighborhood Initiative have been co-designing solar projects in their neighborhoods – deciding how they want to include features like urban gardens and wildflower meadows in and around the solar arrays. The project aims to repurpose vacant lots into solar farms that will offset the power for 127 city buildings. What’s key about the City’s approach so far is how they’ve been engaging with communities to understand their needs from the beginning and worked with local nonprofits and environmental groups to support that outreach.    As one resident shared, “I felt like my input was valuable. I am proud to know that when the solar fields are complete, I can say that I had a part in creating it."  https://lnkd.in/ey44fxMk

Private investment in agriculture isn’t just needed—it’s a strategic business opportunity. Our report spotlights relatively overlooked sustainability actions for food companies, such as: ✅ Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer. ✅ Transitioning to renewables in manufacturing & farming. ✅ Scaling precision agriculture tools to farmers. 📖 Learn more: https://www.edf.org/Z6aC

Have you met our Climate Corps fellow who drove sustainability forward at Chubb? Follow our fellow’s green jobs journey and hear how they helped Chubb develop their just-launched Agriculture Resource Hub. With a portfolio encompassing 90+ million acres of farmland, the new Hub is set to encourage food and agriculture companies to engage further on climate risk. Read on and learn more about opportunities to host your own Climate Corps fellow here: https://www.edf.org/Z6aH

Every parent with toddlers should read this. A young couple moved into the neighborhood they’d dreamt of raising their family in. But they soon found out their daughter had elevated levels of lead in her blood. And it took nearly 3 years to find out why. The pipes that delivered the Tuzzolo family’s tap water were made of lead. There are about 9 million lead service lines still in use across the country. And it’s up to local water utilities to replace them. But some fixes are actually making the problem worse. Some utilities are replacing publicly owned lead pipes and making homeowners foot the bill to replace their side of the line. And if the price tag is out of reach, only part of the line gets replaced. That’s what happened at the Tuzzolo home. A partial replacement disturbs the lead and can cause a spike in lead levels in the water. It can be more dangerous than not replacing the pipe at all. Local water utilities should keep this in mind as they work to meet the 2037 deadline to replace nearly all lead pipes. Because the communities they serve will be watching. https://bit.ly/4iHML3x

Your support powers our ability to deliver game-changing climate solutions that benefit people and the planet. This year’s impact report says it all: We’re stronger together, so let's keep the momentum going into 2025 and beyond. More on what we accomplished together: https://lnkd.in/e4rp85dS

A (work)force for good! Securing a sustainable planet will be our lifetime’s greatest achievement – but to get there, we’ll need a skilled green workforce. With so many climate solutions available and strong growth in climate jobs found by LinkedIn, we’re SO close to making a BIG impact. EDF’s answer to this talent gap? Our Climate Corps fellowship. 🌱🎓 Our fellows cut through the sustainability noise to find strategic solutions and globally, fellows have worked with 40% of Fortune 100 companies — from Amazon to Walmart. Join them and host your own Climate Corps fellow today! Applications close December 19, 2024 for organizations interested in hosting. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gDusyUg9

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking an important step toward better protecting the food we eat. The new Human Foods Program is set to assess the safety of chemicals in food using the latest science. Evaluating the safety of chemicals one at a time doesn’t reflect ‘real-world’ health risks and often underestimates the true risks we face. That’s why FDA must address the cumulative impacts in a transparent, independent and inclusive process – with multiple opportunities for public input. Help us encourage FDA to establish this critical update to how chemicals in our food are deemed safe: https://lnkd.in/gvViPPm4

There’s power in numbers. That’s why businesses join trade associations. Individually, they only have so much sway. But, as a member of a trade association that lobbies for their interests, a business’s influence grows exponentially. A growing number of businesses want to use that influence to advocate for good climate policy. But sometimes trade associations hold positions that conflict with a company’s climate ambitions. And a company could be accused of greenwashing if they’re a member of a trade association that advocates against climate policy. Businesses shouldn’t have to choose between pursuing their sustainability goals and having their interests represented in Washington. That’s why I’m sharing this guide from EDF’s Net Zero Action Accelerator team. It’s a great resource to share with your networks too. https://lnkd.in/e5FuEniJ

If you’re thinking of New Year’s resolutions, I’ve got one for you to consider: Be more like Rosa. Rosa Inguanzo is a community activist who teaches her neighbors about California’s water system and how to advocate for their family and community. Rosa lives in a small California farming town. And like lots of people who live in agricultural areas, her family’s water is so polluted they can’t even bathe in it, let alone drink it. Rosa’s concern led her to learn the ins and outs of how California manages and distributes water. And she discovered a flaw in the system. Communities like hers are often left out of the decision-making process. But Rosa was determined to change that. Rosa started bringing together community members, doctors, scientists and other experts. She started chipping away at the wall that kept her community from having a say when important decisions are made. Now Rosa’s neighbors are more involved. And some even have seats on the water board. The wall is becoming a bridge. Rosa’s story isn’t just about water, it’s about the future. We have to create the future we want for ourselves, our children, our community. And sometimes it starts with talking to a neighbor or going to a water board meeting. So, no matter what kind of bridges you want to build in this world, I encourage you to make 2025 the year you start. https://bit.ly/3Dixlm0