The Chronicle of Philanthropy interviews Family Fund Director Lee Wasserman on why so few foundations work to advance climate solutions, even among those who recognize it is a growing crisis, and the need for greater funder participation if we are to solve this immense threat. 

Please find the full article here.

PBS’ FRONTLINE recently released a three-part documentary series investigating the decades-long failure to confront the threat of climate change and the role of the fossil fuel industry. The series explores the industry’s efforts to sow seeds of doubt about climate change, stall climate policy, and delay the transition to renewable energy sources, all while knowing about the effects their work would have on climate change. You can watch all three parts, which include a number of RFF colleagues, here.

In March, President Biden announced that the U.S. would send more gas to Europe so that it could stop relying on Russia. This announcement signaled that the Biden administration would be pushing for more liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from the U.S. In a recent op-ed that was published a newspaper in Pennsylvania’s state capital, RFF Associate Director Larry Shaprio wrote, “a long-term strategy of shifting Europe from an addiction to Russian gas to an addiction to U.S. gas would be folly. Even though natural gas consists largely of methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide, several Pennsylvania candidates for governor are now floating their own misguided ideas about ramping up gas production in the Commonwealth. This isn’t just bad for the planet, it’s also nonsensical. No Pennsylvania governor has the authority to lift restrictions on interstate gas pipelines, and the governors of New York and New Jersey have already thwarted the construction of proposed pipelines.”

Read the full op-ed here

The Democracy & Power Innovation Fund, a key program of RFF, has launched a new research website! The password-protected website contains research reports, webinar recordings, and presentations from the DPI Fund community. To access the research and resources, please create an account.

Within a week of one another, Maryland and Delaware passed paid family and medical leave (PFML) laws, setting up systems to provide this important program to families, workers and businesses. These wins are a clear signal of the continued momentum and constituent demand for these policies. There are now eleven states plus the District of Columbia that have passed PFML laws. Congratulations to the advocates who led these fights, including the Maryland Time to Care coalition and the Delaware Cares coalition.

Richard Wiles, president of RFF grantee Center for Climate Integrity, recently penned an op-ed in The Hill on the reckoning Big Oil is facing as new investigations, lawsuits and increased public exposure are seen throughout the U.S. The full op-ed, which shares case updates and polling, can be found here.

On November 30, 2021, the Arlington, Texas city council voted 5-4 to approve a permit to frack behind a preschool reversing the previous council’s decision to deny the same permit in 2020 on health and racial justice grounds.

Liveable Arlington decided to file a lawsuit with Wanda Vincent, the director of the preschool, arguing that the November 30th vote violated the city’s gas well ordinance. Additionally, Liveable Arlington mobilized residents to pressure their council members to think about the impact of their vote on the children of Arlington, Texas. On January 4, 2022, the city council voted 5-4 against the drilling permit due to a change of heart from one council member who cited the concerns she heard from her constituents leading to the most recent vote.

The prolonged coronavirus pandemic continues to provide an opportunity to highlight the disproportionate impacts, economic and otherwise, that a lack of caregiving infrastructure has on women. On May 17, the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis held a hearing to focus specifically on women in low-paid jobs and how the pandemic economy, devoid of supports like paid leave, childcare, and paid sick days, is causing continued harm. RFF grantee Vicki Shabo, senior fellow at New America, testified during the hearing and focused specifically on the need for care policies in order to help women fully recover from the pandemic.