Partnership & Grantee Highlights
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Pollinator Initiative seeks to protect bees throughout the country
Photo Credit: Jim Hudgins/USFWS
NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. In 20243, One Hive supported NRDC’s Pollinator Initiative. Below is a list of NRDC’s ongoing national projects.
Nationwide – In May 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an unprecedented finding that use of EPA-approved neonic pesticide products likely jeopardizes the continued existence of 200+ threatened and endangered species—or ~11% of the entire endangered species list. The finding comes as a result of years of successful litigation by NRDNRDC will be extensively commenting on EPA’s registration review proposals and evaluating opportunities for further litigation.
Photo Credit: Tony Ernst via Flickr, CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0
Photo Credit: Tony Ernst via Flickr, CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0
Nationwide – In May 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an unprecedented finding that use of EPA-approved neonic pesticide products likely jeopardizes the continued existence of 200+ threatened and endangered species—or ~11% of the entire endangered species list. The finding comes as a result of years of successful litigation by NRDNRDC will be extensively commenting on EPA’s registration review proposals and evaluating opportunities for further litigation.
Photo Credit: Jill Utrup/USFWS
New York – In June December 2023, after years of advocacy from an NRDC-led coalition (now of more than 37,280 local groups, businesses, and municipalities), the New York State Legislature Governor Kathy Hochul passed signed the Birds and Bees Protection Act. The bill law makes New York the first state in the nation to restrict prohibit neonic treatments on corn, and soybean, and wheat seeds—the largest and most widespread use of neonics across the country—and will eliminate 80-90% of the neonics entering New York’s environment every yearly when fully implemented. The new law also has the potential to affect markets for neonic use nationwide, and has already sparked similar interest in other states. With continued industry pressure, and a realistic risk of veto, we will be assembling a large coalition effort to secure the Governor’s signature on this nationally-important bill by year’s end. Learn more about the bill in this interview with NRDC and Inside The Hive.
Nevada – On May 30, 2023, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo signed AB 162 into law, a prohibition on outdoor, non-agricultural neonic uses that passed the state legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support. NRDC advised the coalition and author Assemblymember Gorelow on the content and initial draft of the bill, provided fact sheets and other supporting content from our New Jersey work, and submitted detailed written testimony in support of the bill in both houses.
Nevada – On May 30, 2023, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo signed AB 162 into law, a prohibition on outdoor, non-agricultural neonic uses that passed the state legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support. NRDC advised the coalition and author Assemblymember Gorelow on the content and initial draft of the bill, provided fact sheets and other supporting content from our New Jersey work, and submitted detailed written testimony in support of the bill in both houses.
Minnesota – In 2023, NRDC expanded legislative advocacy work to Minnesota, where—working closely with a coalition of state partners—they helped secure significant wins for pollinator protection , including a complete neonic ban on state lands. They continue to educate legislators and build a diverse coalition to rein in additional unnecessary pesticide uses in the state.
California – In late May, two NRDC-supported bills passed the state Assembly to advance to the Senate. In September 2023, Governor Newsom signed AB 363 into law, making California the 10th state to prohibit “over the counter” neonic products, limiting their use to certified applicators. grew out of Governor Newsom’s veto of a NRDC-sponsored non-agricultural neonic ban the year before. NRDC was one of two official cosponsors of the bill new law, which also ensures that requires the state Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to conduct a review of, and provide mitigation for, all non-agricultural neonic uses—promised by the Governor in his veto message—is completed in a thorough and timely fashion. NRDC is also a cosponsor of AB 1042. The bill would require more accurate labeling of seeds treated with neonics and other pesticides—one of the largest uses of neonics in the state— grows out of NRDC’s long standing work to ensure the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (which currently is not regulated by DPR) to close due to large federal and a state regulatory loopholes that currently allow neonic-treated seeds to escape all pesticide regulation. NRDC has worked to close these loopholes for years, Due to [asuing DPR on the issue active NRDC litigation in 2023 on the issue](https://www.nrdc.org/bio/lucas-rhoads/nrdc-sues-close-huge-california-pesticide-loophole#:~:text=NRDC has sued the California,%2C other wildlife%2C and people.). That case is currently in settlement negotiations.UVM*
California – In late May, two NRDC-supported bills passed the state Assembly to advance to the Senate. In September 2023, Governor Newsom signed AB 363 into law, making California the 10th state to prohibit “over the counter” neonic products, limiting their use to certified applicators. grew out of Governor Newsom’s veto of a NRDC-sponsored non-agricultural neonic ban the year before. NRDC was one of two official cosponsors of the bill new law, which also ensures that requires the state Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to conduct a review of, and provide mitigation for, all non-agricultural neonic uses—promised by the Governor in his veto message—is completed in a thorough and timely fashion. NRDC is also a cosponsor of AB 1042. The bill would require more accurate labeling of seeds treated with neonics and other pesticides—one of the largest uses of neonics in the state— grows out of NRDC’s long standing work to ensure the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (which currently is not regulated by DPR) to close due to large federal and a state regulatory loopholes that currently allow neonic-treated seeds to escape all pesticide regulation. NRDC has worked to close these loopholes for years, Due to [asuing DPR on the issue active NRDC litigation in 2023 on the issue](https://www.nrdc.org/bio/lucas-rhoads/nrdc-sues-close-huge-california-pesticide-loophole#:~:text=NRDC has sued the California,%2C other wildlife%2C and people.). That case is currently in settlement negotiations.UVM*
Vermont – In June 2024, the Vermont legislature overrode Gov. Phil Scott’s veto to enact H.706 into law, becoming the second state in the nation to rein in the use of neonicotinoid coated seeds The new Vermont law adopts New York’s verification of need model for reducing neonic use on seeds, also implementing a host of other neonic restrictions modeled on other jurisdictions. NRDC aided the state-led coalition responsible for this victory with technical, organizing, and media support.
Photo by Danile Norris on Unsplash
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