When people can voice their concerns, those in power will make better and more effective decisions. We and partners promote the right to publicly weigh in on local projects and regulations. We promote indigenous participation in the creation of international laws. And we help people seek justice in courts when they have been harmed by pollution.

Coal Declines Worldwide – Even in China

Blog Post | March 18, 2015 | Kristen McDonald
“Worldwide, for every new coal plant built, two have been shelved or cancelled since 2010…. In China, coal use declined in 2014, signaling the start of a shift towards...

Building a Cleaner China From the Grassroots Up

Blog Post | February 25, 2015 | Kristen McDonald
First published in China-US Focus In a mid-sized industrial city in China, a staff member of the environmental group Green Hope answers her cell phone. On the line is...

China’s 13th Five-Year Plan

Blog Post | November 6, 2014 | Alex Levinson and Kristen McDonald
First published in chinadialogue In the nation’s 13th Five-Year Plan, the leaders of China should, once and for all, enshrine the principle that protection of the public’s health and...

Bank of America Bankrolling Destruction of the Great Barrier Reef

Blog Post | October 29, 2014 | Domenique Zuber
UPDATE: Bank of America heard you and is showing some positive signs of movement. Stay tuned for more information on new developments. The Great Barrier Reef is a global...

Public Participation and Public Protest in China

Blog Post | July 29, 2014 | Kristen McDonald
China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection recently reported that there was a 31% rise in mass environmental protests during 2013. The statistic highlights the growth of “NIMBY” (not in my...

Grassroots Organizations Will Help China Move Away From Coal

Blog Post | July 22, 2014 | Kristen McDonald and Sun Qingwei
First Published in the Huffington Post President Obama’s new carbon rule elicited a seemingly strong reaction from China: a pledge to institute a national carbon cap by 2016. But does...