Policy Solutions: Legislative Analyses

More Legislative Analyses

NRDC's Golden State Newsletter, June 26, 2009

Bulletin

Get monthly updates on NRDC’s California advocacy work, from new campaigns to key wins to continuing challenges.

Communities Tackle Global Warming
A Guide to California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375)

Issue Paper

California's Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act, or SB 375, is the nation's first legislation to link transportation and land use planning with global warming. SB 375 is an important step toward a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous California. Locating housing closer to jobs and transportation choices and creating walkable communities can reduce commute times and cut millions of tons of global warming pollution, while improving quality of life.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES)
Legislation to build the clean energy future

Index of Fact Sheets

The American Clean Energy and Security Act, also known as the Waxman-Markey bill, has the major ingredients to generate millions of jobs, break our dependence on oil and reduce the pollution that causes global warming. Comprehensive energy and climate legislation will create the incentives necessary to build the clean energy economy and help make America a leader for the 21st century.

Making Every Drop Work
Increasing Water Efficiency in California’s Commercial, Industrial and Institutional (CII) Sector

Issue Paper

Reliable and adequate access to water is critical for businesses and their surrounding communities. Across the nation, water shortages are triggering growing concern and an acceleration of efforts to increase water use efficiency. Adopting water-efficient technologies and practices that reduce consumption holds great potential for commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) water users. In this May 2009 issue paper, NRDC recommends a number of available and cost-effective measures that can help stretch limited water supplies, save businesses money, reduce energy consumption, improve water quality, and protect local, regional, and statewide ecosystems.

How to Fight Global Warming
Take steps to reduce your energy use, improve efficiency and help end global warming

Guide

The biggest cause of global warming is the carbon dioxide released when fossil fuels are burned for energy. So when you save energy, you fight global warming and save money, too. Here are some easy steps that you can take to help make a difference.

The Time Has Come for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act

Legislative Analysis

The U.S. law to control toxic chemicals is a failure. Essentially unchanged since 1976, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) has made it almost impossible for the EPA to get information on the health or environmental risks of industrial chemicals, or to restrict the use of dangerous substances. Chemical companies are rarely required to test the toxicity of their products, are allowed to shield critical information from the public, and are able to sell even dangerous products under an “innocent until proven guilty” approach to regulation. As a result, the TSCA has been ineffective -- regardless of the administration in power. However, recent developments have created tremendous opportunity for chemical policy reform.
Get document in pdf.

America’s Underwater Parks
The Marine Life Protection Act Safeguards Our Special Undersea Places

Fact Sheet

NRDC is supporting the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) to ensure that California has a system of marine protected areas along its coast to help the rich web of ocean life thrive. Get document in pdf.

Addressing Ocean Impacts in New Climate Legislation

Legislative Analysis

Our oceans face a variety of threats, including pollution, poorly planned coastal development, habitat degradation, invasive species, and unsustainable fishing levels and practices. These stresses have resulted in depleted populations of many forms of marine life, degraded habitats, altered ecosystem structure and function, and significantly diminished ability of our coastal and ocean ecosystems and resources to recover from disturbance. We must incorporate measures for protecting our oceans from the impacts of global warming into new climate legislation. Get document in pdf.

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