People Places Planet

Forever chemicals are everywhere — in your carpet, your cookware, your cosmetics, and increasingly, your drinking water. PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — have been building up in our environment, our water, and our bodies for decades. And while federal regulatory momentum on forever chemicals is stalling, states are moving in the opposite direction. In this episode of People Places Planet, we sit down with Secretary Jim Kenney, General Counsel Zachary Ogaz, and Assistant General Counsel Greg Smithkier from the New Mexico Environment Department to break down what PFAS are, why they're so difficult to eliminate, and what state-level action actually looks like in practice.They walk us through New Mexico's multi-pronged PFAS strategy: listing aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) as a hazardous waste, phasing out PFAS-containing consumer products, and implementing the country's first-ever consumer product labeling icon for intentionally added PFAS. They also discuss the state's ongoing litigation against the Department of Defense over PFAS contamination at Cannon Air Force Base.New Mexico has emerged as a national leader on PFAS action, and this conversation reveals exactly how — and why it matters for every state. With EPA rolling back MCLs and retreating from class-based regulation, the episode raises a broader question: can a patchwork of state policies produce national standards? And, at what cost to states already stretched thin on resources and scientific capacity?Also, be sure to check out ELI's recent report Current Trends in Toxics Litigation for more information on PFAS litigation trends.What are PFAS, what risks do they pose, and where can they be found? (01:38)PFAS regulation at the State and Federal level (10:13)New Mexico's PFAS playbook: hazardous waste listing, phase-outs, and labeling (14:42)Litigation and the Cannon Air Force Base case (26:46)New Mexico's PFAS conversation in DC (35:11)What's next: federal science, state capacity, and closing thoughts (40:06) ★ Support this podcast ★

This is a special edition episode in Spanish with our Colombian partner on ELI's Environmental Defenders Database project. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our Vibrant Environment blog for an English summary of the episode, or listen to our last episode in February on this topic, "Environmental Defenders: On the Front Lines of Conservation". Los defensores ambientales desempeñan un papel fundamental en la protección de los ecosistemas del mundo, pero cada año cientos de defensores son amenazados, detenidos, y asesinados. Esta realidad destaca la necesidad urgente de contar con mayores garantías, datos confiables y respuestas institucionales coordinadas. En este episodio, el anfitrión de People, Places, Planet, Sebastian Duque Ríos conversa con Kristine Perry (Environmental Law Institute) y Luis Felipe Guzmán Jiménez (Universidad Externado de Colombia), quienes comparten su conocimiento sobre los riesgos que enfrentan los defensores ambientales en Colombia y las iniciativas que buscan fortalecer su protección. Juntos analizan quiénes son los defensores ambientales en el contexto colombiano y las rutas que el país podría seguir para garantizar justicia a las víctimas de estos ataques. También abordan el potencial de acuerdos regionales como el Acuerdo de Escazú para avanzar en su protección. Finalmente, el episodio destaca el trabajo continuo de ELI para desarrollar una base de datos que registre investigaciones y procesos judiciales relacionados con ataques letales contra defensores ambientales. Para más información, consulte la Plataforma para Proteger a los Defensores Ambientales de ELI. ★ Support this podcast ★

At a time when species across the country face mounting pressures, the Endangered Species Act remains one of the most powerful—and contested—tools we have to protect them. In this installment of our Explained series, host Sebastian Duque Rios is joined by three experts whose careers span law, policy, and conservation science: Patrick Parenteau (Vermont Law & Graduate School), Jake Li (Defenders of Wildlife), and David Wilcove (Princeton University).Together, they break down how the ESA works, why it was created, and the real-world threats species face today. The conversation explores key provisions of the Act—from listing decisions and critical habitat designations to Section 7 consultations, recovery planning, and the role of private landowners. The guests also discuss how funding shortfalls, political pressures, and recent proposals could reshape endangered species protection in the years ahead.Whether you’re new to the ESA or looking for a richer understanding of its legal, scientific, and practical dimensions, this episode offers a clear and candid look at the challenges and opportunities facing one of the nation’s cornerstone conservation laws. ★ Support this podcast ★

As the first U.S city to implement a congestion pricing program, New York City has begun charging vehicles entering high-traffic areas of Manhattan a toll. With this initiative, NYC is testing what could be a consequential urban policy for transportation and climate at the municipal level. Ten months into the program, what have we learned? In this episode of People Places Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios speaks about congestion pricing with Robert Puentes, Vice President and Director of Brookings Metro; Rachel Weinberger, Vice President for Research Strategy and the Peter W. Herman Chair for Transportation at the Regional Plan Association; and Christine Billy, Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law at NYU and Executive Director of the Guarini Center. Together, they unpack NYC's congestion pricing program: why it was pursued, how it works, what early data suggests about its impacts, and the waves of legal challenges that the program has faced. In discussing how this innovative policy aims to rethink urban mobility, the conversation delves into how congestion pricing connects to broader environmental and public health goals, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and how it can present a model for other cities looking to fund and improve public transit. ★ Support this podcast ★

What is the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and how has it shaped the way America manages its forests? In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios talks with forest law experts Susan Jane Brown, attorney with Silvix Resources and adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark Law School, and Martin Nie, Director of the Bolle Center for People and Forests at the University of Montana. Together, they unpack NFMA’s history, purpose, and lasting impact. From the clear-cutting controversies that spurred its creation to its unique role in regulating the federal government, NFMA has reshaped forest management through long-term planning, public participation, and enforceable standards—and it continues to guide how the Forest Service balances conservation, timber production, and recreation across millions of acres. Whether you’re new to environmental law or curious about how federal forests are governed, this episode offers a clear, engaging look at one of the cornerstone statutes of U.S. forest policy. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this special episode of People Places Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios speaks with Ben Grumbles, president of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), and state environmental leaders James Kenney (New Mexico Environment Department), Chris Wells (Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality), and Leah Feldon (Oregon Department of Environmental Quality). The conversation marks the recognition of ECOS and Ben as the recipients of the Environmental Law Institute’s 2025 Environmental Achievement Award, honoring their commitment to bipartisan collaboration and science-based environmental governance.Together, they explore how states are leading the way on today’s most pressing challenges—from ensuring safe drinking water and cleaning up Superfund sites to advancing policy on PFAS and wildfire impacts. The discussion examines what's at stake when federal funding for state environmental programs falls short, why strong federal-state partnerships are essential for local economies, the risks of underfunding science at EPA, and how states are working to balance efficiency with integrity when it comes to permitting. The episode celebrates ECOS' leadership in strengthening cooperative federalism, fostering innovative solutions, and providing stability across administrations, while also offering insights into the future of environmental protection nationwide. ★ Support this podcast ★

Environmental law is complex, technical, and often inaccessible to the very people it’s meant to protect. In this special episode of People, Places, Planet, host Dara Albrecht sits down with members of the ELI podcast team—Associate Vice President of Communications Nick Collins, Communications Associate Maya Sokoloff, and Research Associate and incoming host Sebastian Duque—for a candid conversation about the challenges and opportunities of making complex legal and scientific information accessible in a noisy, fast-paced digital world.Together, they unpack why communicating environmental law and policy is so difficult and why getting it right matters more than ever. From navigating jargon and political polarization to telling stories that resonate with everyday experiences, the team reflects on the tools, trade-offs, and real-world examples that shape their approach. ★ Support this podcast ★