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Credit-rating methodologies must stop treating poverty as a self-fulfilling proxy for default risk.

California paraquat spill underscores urgent need for nationwide ban JR Culpepper March 18, 2026 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Working Group today renewed its call for a total ban on paraquat following a dangerous spill of the herbicide in Siskiyou County, Calif. The incident triggered shelter-in-place orders and exposed hundreds of residents to one of the most toxic crop chemicals still used in the U.S.According to news reports, a large container of paraquat fell from a truck in the northern California town Dorris, spilling roughly 60 gallons of the chemical onto a major roadway and into the surrounding community. Citing the risk of exposure to airborne paraquat releases, officials ordered a lockdown affecting about 600 residents, including those at a local elementary school. “This incident is a stark reminder that paraquat is simply too dangerous to be used anywhere near where people live, work or go to school,” said Geoff Horsfield, legislative director at EWG. “When a single spill can shut down a town, close highways and put hundreds of people at risk, it’s clear this chemical has no place in U.S. agriculture,” he added.The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a review of paraquat after a study submitted by the primary manufacturer found the chemical can drift in the air nearly 3 miles, significantly farther than previously thought. Underscoring the severity of the threat, local officials warned residents to stay indoors, shut off ventilation systems and avoid contact with the chemical. Highway closures and a multi-agency emergency response further illustrated how hazardous paraquat releases can quickly escalate into a full-blown community crisis.Serious health consequencesParaquat is a highly toxic weedkiller that can be fatal if ingested. Even small amounts can cause severe organ damage.Mounting scientific evidence also links chronic, low-dose exposure to serious health risks, including Parkinson’s disease. Farmers and farmworkers who apply paraquat face especially high risks, with studies showing they are twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease as those who do not use the chemical. Paraquat has also been associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, childhood leukemia and other illnesses.Paraquat is primarily used to clear fields before farmers plant corn, soybeans, cotton, almonds, peanuts, wine grapes and other crops. While much of the applied paraquat lingers in the soil for years, it can also drift through the air or settle in dust. A growing movement to ban paraquatAt least 70 countries, including China and the European Union, have banned paraquat because of its known health risks. In the U.S., momentum is building for similar action, with 13 states – including Iowa, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia – currently considering legislation to ban the chemical.In California, EWG and other public interest organizations have repeatedly called on state officials to ban it. A 2024 investigation by EWG found that more than 5 million pounds of paraquat were applied to California farm fields between 2017 and 2021. “Communities should not have to worry about a deadly pesticide spilling into their neighborhoods. The only real solution is to ban paraquat for once and for all,” said Horsfield.###The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.  As more than a dozen states weigh action, EWG says the dangerous herbicide has no place in U.S. communities Press Contact Alex Formuzis alex@ewg.org (202) 667-6982 March 18, 2026

States, not the FDA, are now the front lines of food safety Iris Myers March 18, 2026 Evidence keeps mounting about the health risks of common food chemicals. At the same time, Americans are waking up to the fact that the federal government not only doesn’t vet the chemicals used in our food, but they are also often the last to act when evidence of harm arises.  In the face of federal inaction, states are stepping in to fill the void. Across the country, lawmakers are moving to regulate harmful food chemicals that have been linked to endocrine disruption, behavioral difficulties and inattentiveness in sensitive children, and even cancer. A wave of state action Dozens of bills in more than 15 states are moving through statehouses, targeting additives known to harm human health, including food dyes, potassium bromate and titanium dioxide.  State-level pressure is proving to be an effective catalyst for federal movement. For example, in 2023, the California Food Safety Act banned four harmful additives from food: potassium bromate, propyl paraben, brominated vegetable oil and Red Dye No. 3.  Just one month later, the Food and Drug Administration proposed revoking the authorization of brominated vegetable oil for use in food. In January the following year, the agency then announced a ban on Red 3 in food. New gold standards These aren't isolated efforts. They show a rapid shift in how food safety is regulated in the U.S. Other important milestones: 2023. The Golden State set the initial gold standard with the landmark California Food Safety Act. 2025. West Virginia passed the most comprehensive food chemical law yet, which banned Red 3, Red 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow 6, Blue Dye No. 1, Blue 2 and Green Dye No. 3, as well as propylparaben and BHA from all foods sold and produced in the state. 2026. Bills that seek to remove harmful food chemicals in schools are moving through the state legislatures in Vermont and Indiana. Iowa, New Jersey, New York and many others are following suit with similar bans on toxic additives in schools and statewide. For a complete view of state food chemical bills, check out EWG’s interactive tracking map. What can you do right now? While states take action to protect us, you can lower your intake of harmful food ingredients.  Consult EWG’s Food Scores database to find products that aren’t made with toxic chemicals. Food Scores also flags unhealthy ultra-processed foods and can help you identify less-processed alternatives.  On the go, you can use our Healthy Living app to find products. When possible, you can also choose foods that are certified organic. These products must meet strong standards that protect consumers from exposure to potentially harmful artificial additives. Areas of Focus Food Toxic Chemicals Food Chemicals California Authors Iris Myers March 19, 2026

The inaugural Perspectives Dialogue Series event brought together prominent thinkers with diverse perspectives on capitalism and the role it could play in solving climate change.

California balcony solar bill sails through key Senate committee JR Culpepper March 17, 2026 SACRAMENTO – The Environmental Working Group today praised the California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee for advancing Senate Bill 868 by a unanimous 12‑0 vote. The bill would allow Californians to install small, portable “balcony solar” systems in apartments, condos, and single-family homes.Known as the Plug and Play Solar Act, SB 868 is authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by EWG and The Abundance Network.“Imagine plugging an appliance into a standard wall outlet and instantly lowering your electricity bill,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, EWG senior vice president for California. “That’s exactly what balcony solar offers. You place a solar panel on a sunny balcony or patio, connect it to an inverter, plug it in, and start saving. No construction. No complicated installation. And if you move, you can take it with you,” she said.A single 400-watt balcony solar system can cover roughly 14% of the average apartment’s electricity usage, saving around $250 per year. While the cost of balcony solar starts around $500 today, with broader adoption enabled by SB 868, EWG expects costs to fall further, making solar even more accessible to renters and low-income households.California electricity rates have nearly doubled over the past decade, leaving the state with the nation’s second-highest energy prices. SB 868 provides consumers with a straightforward way to take control of their energy bills.The bill ensures that these plug-and-play systems meet strict safety standards. All systems must be certified by UL, or Underwriters Laboratories, the global independent safety science company, or an equivalent national testing lab and automatically shut off within seconds if the grid goes down, protecting utility workers and preventing electrical hazards. System size is capped at 1,200 watts, enough to power everyday appliances like fridges, lights, Wi-Fi routers, or a window AC unit.Balcony solar is already thriving in Europe, with over 4 million systems installed in Germany alone. But in California, regulatory barriers have kept this technology out of reach for many. SB 868 removes those barriers while establishing statewide safety standards that do not currently exist.“This committee will consider many measures to make energy more affordable this year,” Del Chiaro said. “But none are as simple, tangible and consumer friendly as letting Californians literally plug into the sun. SB 868 is a commonsense, safety-conscious step forward that puts clean energy directly into people’s hands, so they spend less of their hard-earned money on electricity,” she added.Lawmakers in more than half the country are exploring similar initiatives. In Virginia, the legislature approved a balcony solar bill earlier this month, and Gov. Abigail Spanberger has committed to signing it into law.###The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action. Areas of Focus Energy Renewable Energy Regional Issues California EWG applauds step toward affordable, safe and simple solar for renters and apartment dwellers Press Contact Alex Formuzis alex@ewg.org (202) 667-6982 March 17, 2026