Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a prominent non-governmental organization dedicated to environmental protection and public health. Founded by a group of lawyers from Yale and Harvard, along with experienced attorneys from New York, NRDC has evolved to include a diverse staff of lawyers, scientists, planners, and public health specialists. The council’s mission encompasses advocating for the sustainable use of natural resources and raising public awareness about environmental issues. NRDC actively monitors federal resource agencies and engages in legal efforts to safeguard the environment.
As of 2010, the organization boasted over 1.3 million members and received financial support from more than one hundred foundations, with an annual budget of approximately $85 million. The council prioritizes addressing global warming, enforcing environmental laws to eliminate toxic substances, protecting wildlife, and facilitating a transition to a more sustainable energy economy in the U.S. Through these initiatives, NRDC aims to foster a healthier planet for current and future generations.
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Subject Terms
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
- DATE: Established 1970
The nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council seeks wise management of natural resources through education, research, and governmental policies. Its concerns include land use, air and water pollution, and wildlife protection.
Background
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a nongovernment organization started by two groups of lawyers: recent graduates of Yale and Harvard Universities and well-established lawyers from New York. They sought to protect the environment and public health. The staff grew to include not only lawyers but also scientists, planners, and public health specialists.
Impact on Resource Use
The council works to increase public education for the protection of natural resources, monitors federal resource agencies, and seeks protection in the courts to preserve natural resources. As of 2024, the council had more than 3 million members, employed more than 700 hundred lawyers, policy analysts, and scientists, and had an annual budget of about $244 million. The threat of global warming—along with environmental law designed to remove toxic chemicals, save wildlife, and move the US energy economy off oil—is one of the organization’s priorities.
Bibliography
Kim, Minho. "Electricity from Coal Is Pricey. Should Consumers Have to Pay?" The New York Times, 31 May 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/05/31/climate/electricity-from-coal-is-pricey-should-consumers-have-to-pay.html. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
"NRDC Works to Safeguard the Earth—Its People, Its Plants and Animals, and the Natural Systems on Which All Life Depends." Natural Resources Defense Council, www.nrdc.org/about?gad‗source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAst67BhCEARIsAKKdWOk0JOHC1XQLjcOYW0zyLus-sZWasKAhlz2oDFxpAgnj‗ht‗84lUkkEaAkn7EALw‗wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.