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The document argues that the procurement of 3,000 MW of gas power is irrational, unlawful, and environmentally harmful. It claims the process was 'tailor-made' for an existing Eskom project, lacked adequate public consultation, and ignores the availability of cheaper, cleaner renewable energy alternatives. The authors assert that gas is not a 'bridging fuel' due to high methane leakage and that such infrastructure risks becoming a stranded asset, thereby threatening South Africa's climate commitments and constitutional rights to a healthy environment.

The document outlines how U.S. local governments can leverage federal incentives, such as those in the Inflation Reduction Act, to advance community solar for low- and moderate-income (LMI) residents. It details specific actions including proactive community engagement, advocacy for state-level enabling legislation, providing direct financial subsidies, and reducing developer risks by acting as anchor subscribers or providing public land. The guide highlights various municipal examples from cities like Denver, Pueblo, and Anaheim to demonstrate how to integrate job training, bill discounts, and loan funds into solar initiatives.

A coalition of environmental and community groups argues that SSM exemptions in Clean Air Act section 111 regulations are unlawful and disproportionately harm low-income communities and communities of color. The petitioners claim these loopholes allow industrial facilities to emit pollutants far exceeding normal levels without consequence, particularly during natural disasters. They assert that the D.C. Circuit's ruling in Sierra Club v. EPA established that emissions standards must apply continuously, making the current SSM exemptions and the 'general duty' provision legally invalid. The document calls for a unified rulemaking to remove all remaining NSPS and NESHAP loopholes to ensure public health protection and environmental justice.

A coalition of NGOs argues that a leaked draft "side deal" to truncate environmental reviews for mining projects would prioritize extractive industry interests over community input and environmental protection. The authors contend that such a deal would undermine laws like NEPA and the ESA, disproportionately harm Indigenous communities, and ignore the fact that permitting delays are primarily caused by incomplete data from applicants rather than the review process itself. They advocate instead for the passage of the Environmental Justice for All and RESPECT Acts.

As of June 2022, there were 12,720 committed electric school buses across 38 US states, representing approximately 2-3% of the national fleet. California leads adoption, and while deployment is high in communities of color and areas with high PM2.5 pollution, it remains lower in the lowest-income school districts.

A coalition of environmental organizations opposes Venture Global's CP2 Express Pipeline project, arguing that the application is incomplete, fails to assess cumulative environmental impacts, and violates the public trust duties of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.

A coalition of environmental justice advocates, including Earthjustice and the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, submitted comments on the New Jersey DEP's proposed Environmental Justice (EJ) rules. The coalition argues for a narrow interpretation of the 'compelling public interest' exception, specifically opposing the use of economic benefits or job creation as justifications for permitting new polluting facilities in overburdened communities. They recommend expanding public notification radii to five kilometers, refining the definitions of 'new facility' and 'incinerator' to include technologies like pyrolysis and gasification, and adopting more sensitive air quality metrics based on WHO guidelines rather than EPA NAAQS. The document also emphasizes that race is the strongest predictor of pollution burden in New Jersey, citing historical redlining and systemic failures in DEP's permitting and enforcement processes as drivers of environmental racism.

The voluntary carbon market, valued at $2 billion in 2021, faces significant challenges regarding trust and scarcity relative to global climate needs. RMI proposes three solutions to scale high-quality credits: reducing project development time and costs through upfront capital and technology, differentiating the credit supply via ratings and quality standards, and establishing a transparent data platform to ensure integrity.

The document examines the rise of 'greenwashing' litigation related to plastics, where companies are challenged over misleading claims about recyclability, biodegradability, and corporate sustainability. It details a proliferation of class actions in the US and Canada, NGO-led challenges in the EU and US, and increasing enforcement by regulators like the FTC and CMA. The briefing also identifies an emerging 'second generation' of lawsuits brought by shareholders who allege financial losses resulting from deceptive environmental statements.

The document outlines the legal risks associated with plastic waste management, specifically focusing on incineration, recycling claims, and the illegal trade of plastic waste. It highlights how companies are increasingly exposed to litigation due to the environmental and health impacts of incineration, the perceived failure of recycling to solve the plastics crisis, and breaches of international waste shipment treaties like the Basel Convention.

The document is a supplemental petition by Earthjustice and the New York City Community Garden Coalition (NYCCGC) requesting that New York City agencies designate community gardens as Critical Environmental Areas (CEAs). It argues that these gardens provide essential services in underserved areas, including food security, flood resiliency, and mitigation of extreme heat. The petition highlights ten specific gardens as examples of these benefits and requests a city-wide assessment of all community gardens on City-owned land to ensure their legal protection against development projects.

A September 2022 report by GreenLatinos based on a Consumer Reports survey finds high interest in electric vehicles (EVs) across all US racial demographics, with communities of color showing equal or greater interest than white consumers. However, systemic barriers—including lack of home charging access for renters in multi-unit dwellings, concerns over maintenance costs among Black and Latino respondents, and a lack of firsthand experience—hinder adoption. The report recommends targeted incentives for used EVs, expanded public and workplace charging infrastructure, and culturally relevant community outreach to accelerate equitable electrification.

The 2022 Private Equity Climate Risks Scorecard evaluates eight major private equity firms, finding that most maintain significant fossil fuel holdings and lack transparency. The Carlyle Group ranked lowest (F), while TPG earned a B due to a smaller fossil fuel portfolio. The report advocates for five primary demands, including alignment with 1.5°C warming targets and full disclosure of emissions and fossil fuel exposure.

The Private Equity Climate Risks Scorecard 2022 evaluates eight major private equity firms on their fossil fuel exposure, downstream emissions, and alignment with science-based climate targets. The analysis finds that most of these firms maintain significant fossil fuel holdings and lack transparency, with The Carlyle Group ranking lowest (F) and TPG Capital ranking highest (B). The report argues that private equity firms often acquire polluting assets shed by public markets, thereby increasing climate and financial risks while operating with minimal regulatory oversight. It concludes with five primary demands for the industry, including aligning with 1.5°C warming targets and disclosing full fossil fuel exposure.

A September 2022 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists based on a Consumer Reports survey finds high interest in electric vehicles (EVs) across all racial and ethnic groups in the US, despite current adoption disparities. The report identifies that while charging logistics and cost are universal barriers, the specific nature of these concerns varies: Black and Latino respondents are more concerned with maintenance and repair costs and personal safety at charging stations, while white and Asian American respondents prioritize purchase price. The study emphasizes a strong correlation between firsthand EV experience and purchase intent, noting that systemic housing disparities (such as higher rates of renting or multi-unit dwellings among Black and Latino populations) limit access to affordable home charging. Policy recommendations include expanding used EV incentives, improving public and workplace charging infrastructure, and implementing culturally relevant community outreach.

Earthjustice and several partner organizations request that the BLM defer approval of oil and gas drilling permits in Kern County, California. They argue the BLM has violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other laws by failing to provide public comment periods on Environmental Assessments (EAs). The statement highlights severe public health risks to environmental justice communities in Kern County, including high rates of asthma and cancer, and argues that the BLM's air emissions estimates are unrealistically low and violate the Clean Air Act. It further demands a 'hard look' at water scarcity, groundwater contamination from unlined waste pits, and the climate impacts of carbon-intensive California crude. Finally, it asserts that new drilling threatens the critically imperiled Temblor legless lizard.

A student shares a five-step framework for introducing plant-based meals into school cafeterias, detailing the process of contacting nutrition services, proposing changes, marketing new items, educating peers, and planning for long-term sustainability.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is projected to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 37% to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030, significantly closing the gap toward the U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). While oil and gas leasing provisions may increase global emissions by 17 to 29 MMT CO2e, these are heavily offset by other IRA provisions. The legislation is expected to create up to 1.3 million jobs, prevent up to 4,500 premature deaths from air pollution, and increase U.S. GDP by 0.65% to 0.77% by 2030.

Earthjustice views the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as a transformative investment in clean energy but warns that it includes "poisonous handouts" to the fossil fuel industry. The organization commits to using legal action and advocacy to ensure the $60 billion allocated for frontline communities is equitably distributed, to oppose the expansion of oil and gas leasing in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, and to prevent the weakening of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Earthjustice specifically criticizes the IRA's support for carbon capture and blue hydrogen, arguing these technologies prolong fossil fuel dependency rather than promoting true solutions like electrification and renewables.

The Progressive Community Church in Gary, Indiana, has implemented a multifaceted sustainability strategy to combat high energy burdens and industrial pollution in the Emerson neighborhood. By installing a 7.6 kW solar array and energy efficiency upgrades, the church achieved net-zero electricity for eleven months of the year and assisted community members in accessing weatherization grants. Additionally, the church established the F.A.I.T.H. Farm, producing 15,000 pounds of food annually, and is developing an urban park to mitigate heat stress and improve air quality.