Blog Posts
- Can I be HFC-free? A Quest for Climate-friendly Cooling
Can I be HFC-free? A Quest for Climate-friendly Cooling
Supermarkets in particular have enormous refrigeration systems that extend past the display cases to back room chillers, refrigerated trucks, cold warehouses and so on. With such large systems, supermarkets are among the largest corporate offenders of HFC use, with thousands of tons of these chemicals throughout their cold chain. Yet out of nearly 40,000 supermarkets in the U.S., barely 1% are known to have transitioned to HFC-free systems; our Supermarket Scorecard shows that action and change throughout the industry is needed. These large companies have a greater climate footprint than you or me, and thus a greater responsibility to transition to climate-friendly alternatives.
- Finding the Promise in Compromise: EIA Proposal to Jumpstart California HFC Reclaim
Finding the Promise in Compromise: EIA Proposal to Jumpstart California HFC Reclaim
Last week EIA participated in California’s Air Resources Board (ARB) 6th workshop on proposed regulations to reduce emissions of super pollutant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used in cooling. The state’s rigorous process for proposing new regulations on HFC refrigerants has been ongoing for several years now and is in the final stretch. Opportunities for stakeholder engagement have been abundant and ARB has invited input from industry along the way. They even aligned with an industry proposed 2023 deadline for transitioning new air conditioning equipment to refrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) less than 750.
- Seizing the Moment: How Ghana Can End the Destruction of the Illegal Rosewood Trade Now
Seizing the Moment: How Ghana Can End the Destruction of the Illegal Rosewood Trade Now
As exports and imports worldwide are estimated to be at their lowest levels in four years due to the impact of COVID-19, Ghana, a key epicenter of the rosewood trade in West Africa, is no exception to this trend.
- Unchartered Territory: Funding Climate Action During a Pandemic
Unchartered Territory: Funding Climate Action During a Pandemic
This week, Parties to the Montreal Protocol, renowned as the world’s most successful environmental treaty came together remotely for their annual intersessional meeting, known as the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG). The Montreal Protocol has a vital role to play in addressing climate change, as it becomes increasingly clear that we are currently not on the pathway to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5 °C.
- New UN report on illegal wildlife trade is welcome but some findings could mislead
New UN report on illegal wildlife trade is welcome but some findings could mislead
The key conclusions on ivory and rhino trade in a major new UN report on the international wildlife trade are “premature and misleading”
- China's New Approach in Updated Forest Law Could Support Pandemic-Fighting Needs
China's New Approach in Updated Forest Law Could Support Pandemic-Fighting Needs
The world is now focused on fighting a common enemy: COVID-19. For most of us, this is an unprecedented moment of global struggle. The first hit nation, China, has seemingly emerged from the most difficult stage and is forging ahead with some measures to address drivers of pandemic risks.
- World Refrigeration Day 2020
World Refrigeration Day 2020
June 26th marks World Refrigeration Day, a global day recognizing the refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump sector.
- EIA Statement of Support
EIA Statement of Support
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) stands in solidarity with the Black community and the Black Lives Matter movement. The recent unjust killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery are just a few examples of the racialized violence committed against Black people in the United States.
- Join Us in Thanking HFC-free Supermarkets and Calling for Climate Action
Join Us in Thanking HFC-free Supermarkets and Calling for Climate Action
We’re teaming up with our friends at Green America to thank the supermarkets that are acting on the climate crisis, at a time when supermarkets have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 health crisis and their brave workers are providing critical services.
- China Olympics Sets New Record for Climate-friendly Cooling
China Olympics Sets New Record for Climate-friendly Cooling
New world records will surely be set when Beijing hosts the next Winter Olympics in 2022, but these games are already making history for a different reason. It will be the first time that carbon dioxide (CO2) is used as a climate-friendly refrigerant to create the cooling in several ice rink venues for the Olympic Games.
- Find a Climate-Friendly Supermarket Near You: A Global Tool
Find a Climate-Friendly Supermarket Near You: A Global Tool
This Earth Day, EIA is launching the expansion of the climate friendly supermarket map
- Critical Updates Made to Romania's Forest Inspector System
Critical Updates Made to Romania's Forest Inspector System
These Revisions mark an important step forward for a world-leading system that involves all its citizens in combating illegal logging and managing its forests
- Update on North American Safety Standards for Climate-Friendly Refrigerants
Update on North American Safety Standards for Climate-Friendly Refrigerants
This month a new standards proposal under ASHRAE-15, represents some progress for uptake of climate-friendly hydrocarbon refrigerants to replace super pollutant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The proposal allows hydrocarbons to be used in corridors and lobbies of commercial buildings like hotels. It allows up to 114 grams of propane where previously none was allowed at all. This will enable vending machines and most other light commercial refrigeration equipment like small one door beverage coolers containing hydrocarbons to be used in these spaces.
- EIA during Covid-19
EIA during Covid-19
In light of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, EIA’s Washington D.C. office is currently closed and all staff are working from home. But our advocacy and investigative efforts continue in full force.
- Civil Society Statement on the Weakening of Institutions and Governance in the Forest Sector
Civil Society Statement on the Weakening of Institutions and Governance in the Forest Sector
Civil Society Statement on the Weakening of Institutions and Governance in the Forest Sector
- California’s New Plan to Reduce HFCs in Supermarkets
California’s New Plan to Reduce HFCs in Supermarkets
Part one in a series on policy trends on eliminating HFCs, emerging from California.
- Bipartisan Bill Aims to Phase Down HFCs in the United States
Bipartisan Bill Aims to Phase Down HFCs in the United States
On January 7, 2020 H.R. 5544 – American Innovation and Manufacturing Leadership Act (AIM Act) was introduced to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce by four representatives – two Republicans and two Democrats – receiving bipartisan support in congress.
- Thirty Years Since the International Ivory Ban, Say Goodbye to Ivory Hanko
Thirty Years Since the International Ivory Ban, Say Goodbye to Ivory Hanko
Around 20,000 elephants have been killed every year in Africa, for the past decade at least, to supply the global trade in ivory. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) decided to end international ivory trade in 1989. This year marks thirty years since the ban entered into effect, on January 18, 1990. Still, why does the poaching continue?
- New global protection measures for threatened rosewood trees start this week
New global protection measures for threatened rosewood trees start this week
A number of threatened tree species have been given a new lease on life. At its 18th Conference of the Parties (CoP18) in August 2019, CITES granted protection to several species – adding them to Appendix II of the binding global wildlife treaty. Ninety days after the decisions were taken in Geneva, the listings for mukula and mulanje cedar are now coming into effect.
- Montreal Protocol Countries Make Key Decisions in Rome
Montreal Protocol Countries Make Key Decisions in Rome
At MOP 31, 171 nations grappled with improving enforcement, monitoring banned gases, financing the MLF, ensuring a sustainable cold chain, and more.
- End of an Era: Yahoo! Japan Ceases Ivory Sales
End of an Era: Yahoo! Japan Ceases Ivory Sales
End of an Era: Yahoo! Japan Ceases Ivory Sales
- Japan’s Ivory Trade Faces Intensifying Opposition at Home and Abroad
Japan’s Ivory Trade Faces Intensifying Opposition at Home and Abroad
Japan’s Ivory Trade Faces Intensifying Opposition at Home and Abroad
- Raw Intelligence: GOCA
Raw Intelligence: GOCA
Mr. Lu is the Secretary of the Association of Overseas Chinese in Gabon and a leading figure in the Forest Union of the Asian Industry in Gabon (UFIAG). He doesn’t miss an opportunity to publicly defend Chinese logging companies in Gabon, and to assert that these entrepreneurs operate with the best of intentions.
- Intelligence Brute: ACOG
Intelligence Brute: ACOG
M. Lu est le secrétaire de l'Association des Chinois d'outre-mer au Gabon et une des figures de proue de l'Union forestière des industries asiatiques du Gabon (UFIAG). Il ne manque pas une occasion de défendre publiquement les sociétés forestières asiatiques et d’affirmer que ces entrepreneurs agissent avec les meilleures intentions du monde.
- A ‘Cool’ Way to Take Action after the Global Climate Strike
A ‘Cool’ Way to Take Action after the Global Climate Strike
Ahead of the UN Climate Action Summit this week, millions of protestors participated in the global climate strike last Friday. The strike called on our leaders to take action on climate change as they meet in New York City. According to experts we have just 12 years to respond to climate change, to limit global temperature rise to under 2°C, and to protect life on Earth as we know it.