Environmental News

A curated set of environmental news stories brought to you by the Gottlieb Native Garden team.

New Studies Show Metropolitan’s Grass Removal Incentives Are Driving Transformation of Southern California’s Landscapes

More non-functional lawns removed through “multiplier effect”

Newsom signs nation’s most sweeping law to phase out single-use plastics and packaging waste

Striking a blow against a pernicious form of pollution, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Thursday the nation’s most far-reaching restrictions on single-use plastics and packaging.

EPA Urged to Reject Carbon Capture Projects in Central California

The proposed projects would resurrect or prolong the life of polluting industrial facilities in predominantly low-income neighborhoods of color that already experience some of the worst air quality in the country.

Deal pulls California plastic trash measure from ballot

A bill negotiated by environmentalists, the plastics industry and lawmakers is keeping a California recycling measure off the ballot. The bill sailed through the Assembly on Wednesday night and the state Senate on Thursday morning, and the proponents withdrew the initiative just before the deadline.

From Sewage to Your Cup. Can Recycling Water Save Southern California?

To state the obvious: California has a water problem. But experts say conservation alone can’t solve our water woes. Should recycled sewage water become a preferred alternative?

Climate-friendly cement? California takes on a high-carbon industry

An outsized source of greenhouse gases, California cement companies are trying creative climate solutions to meet mandates. But they are seeking state help.

The California native plants with the best chance of surviving drought

As the state and local municipalities start cracking down on excessive water use, residents may see the consequences of California’s drought in real-time in their gardens.

Roundtable: Water restrictions begin as California drought worsens

A discussion on environmental news this week, including the rollout of new water-use restrictions and new developments in the cross-border sewage contamination issue forcing the closure of beaches in Imperial Beach and Coronado.

Compromise on plastics ban comes under fire in California Legislature. Ballot fight likely

Led by state Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), lawmakers submitted a bill Thursday they hoped would preempt the initiative and head off a costly initiative battle and possibly years of litigation. 

California High-Speed Rail Releases Final Environmental Studies to Finalize Project Alignment into San Francisco

If approved by the Authority’s Board of Directors in August, this project section and its environmental document will complete full environmental clearance for high-speed rail in Northern California.