Gas stations are America’s largest carbon spigot, a leading source of neighborhood-based pollution, and a sacred cow. Today, four emerging issues—the climate crisis, the rise of electric vehicles, the aging of underground storage tanks, and new research establishing the dangers of gas station pollution—are challenging the gas station status quo and intensifying the need for tighter governance. In this episode, Hunter Jones, Associate Editor for ELR—The Environmental Law Reporter, talks to Matthew Metz and Janelle London, co-executive directors at Coltura, about an article they wrote for the January 2021 issue of ELR. In it, they posit that state and local governments should regulate gas stations to advance their climate goals, reduce pollution, improve public health, and save taxpayers money.
Data gathering by members of the public—often called “citizen science” or “community science”—is gaining traction in the field of environmental protection. In this episode, Jay Benforado, Chief Innovation Officer at EPA’s Office of Research and Development, talks about the recent revolution of citizen science brought about by emerging technologies and what it means for environmental agencies. Joining him are Graeme Carvlin, an official at Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and Meghan Smart, an official at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Those interested in learning more should check out ELI’s recent reports on citizen science.
Earthjustice is the nation’s largest environmental nonprofit dedicated to litigation, employing more environmental litigators than any organization in the United States except for the U.S. Department of Justice. Earthjustice uses the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. In this episode, Justin Savage, a Partner at Sidley Austin LLP, speaks with Earthjustice’s Sam Sankar, the Senior Vice President for Programs, and Stacey Geis, Managing Attorney for Earthjustice’s California Regional Office, on a wide range of topics including environmental justice, the future of climate change litigation, and prioritization of environmental enforcement in the new administration.
As we approach one year of remote work here at ELI, we were curious about the working-from-home experiences of our own staff. In this episode, we talk to three members of ELI’s Research and Policy Department: Linda Breggin, a Senior Attorney; Akielly Hu, a Research Associate; and Jarryd Page, our Public Interest Law Fellow. The trio talk about their own working-at-home experiences and the challenges and unexpected opportunities of this new era of work.
The United Nations projects global meat production to double by 2050 in response to growing demand for protein. The problem? Meat production is a primary source of methane gas, a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. In light of the negative impacts arising from our heavy reliance on animal-based protein, innovators are developing a variety of more sustainable alternatives. In the latest episode of People Places Planet Podcast, ELI’s Linda Breggin talks to Nigel Barrella, a regulatory attorney and consultant for The Good Food Institute, about one such alternative that is already making a big splash in the market: plant-based proteins. To listen, visit www.eli.org/podcasts or find us on your favorite podcast app.
