Environmental Policy Analyst

Orlyola Tantchou

Orlyola Tantchou is an Environmental Policy Analyst and 2025 Spring Fellow for YIP, from El Paso, Texas. She is a passionate advocate for climate education and environmental justice, with a strong commitment to connecting climate awareness to healthcare equity and environmental racism. As the author of The Wildlife Warriors: Saving Their Habitats and co-founder of the nonprofit No Limit International, she leads youth-focused climate literacy initiatives that empower elementary students to protect their planet. She's excited to contribute to YIP and learn more about global environmental issues in different sectors!

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Climate Health Literacy: Building a Resilient and Informed Healthcare System in the Face of Climate Change

Capstone Project

This policy brief evaluates the urgent need to integrate climate health literacy into medical and public health education.

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All articles by the author

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Policy Briefs by the author

Drinking Water Access in Tribal Communities

Environmental Policy

February 15, 2026

This brief outlines the historical and political landscape surrounding drinking water access in tribal communities. This brief explores topics such as the development of drinking water on reservations, the economic, health, and social impacts of lack of safe drinking water, past policies issued by the EPA, and proposed policy options advocating for safe drinking water in tribal communities. By examining the past and current policies addressing drinkable water access, this policy brief breaks down the logistics and effectiveness to provide implementable policy recommendations, directing navigation towards a more inclusive and sustainable framework for water governance.

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COP30

Environmental Policy

February 2, 2026

This policy brief argues that COP30 exposed a critical accountability gap in global climate governance: while ambitious adaptation and mitigation goals were reaffirmed, the absence of binding enforcement mechanisms which were exacerbated by U.S. federal withdrawal undermines implementation, particularly for vulnerable and youth populations. To address this gap, the brief evaluates three policy mechanisms: a standardized global climate reporting system, mandatory climate education, and legally binding climate finance commitments tied to GDP. It outlines COP30’s main goals, such as strengthening adaptation finance and accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The brief also examines the attendance of world leaders, highlighting the notable absence of the U.S. government. Despite this absence, the brief analyzes how U.S. influence persisted through former U.S. negotiators and philanthropic leaders, state and local governments, and the country’s economic and market power. COP30 demonstrates the need for stronger alignment between global policies and underscores the urgent needs of the youth and vulnerable communities. This paradox reveals a structural weakness in global climate governance: major emitters can shape outcomes without being bound by collective commitments.

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Major EPA Changes Under the Trump Administration

Environmental Policy

December 20, 2025

This brief will cover major changes to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Trump administration, including regulatory rollbacks associated with the “Big Beautiful Bill.” These policies notably prioritize increased fossil fuel production, deregulation, and reduced support for renewable energy. These changes are crucial to understanding environmental quality, public health, and the economy.

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History of Toxic Waste

Environmental Policy

October 30, 2025

This brief outlines the history and policy landscape of toxic waste disposal in the United States. Starting with identifying the historical context of hazardous waste disposal over the last decade, following with an analysis of their effects on BIPOC communities through different socioeconomic lenses. The brief also examines past and current policies addressing toxic waste disposal, breaking down logistics and their effectiveness and closes with recommended policy options that strengthen accountability while creating a more sustainable future.

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