{"query_echo":{"q":"","filters":{"geography":["North Carolina"]},"warnings":[{"code":"facet_value_not_in_vocabulary","message":"Value 'North Carolina' for facet 'geography' is not in the controlled vocabulary."}]},"total":{"value":291,"relation":"eq"},"page":8,"page_size":20,"self":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?geography=North+Carolina&page=8","next":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?geography=North+Carolina&page=9","stability":"beta","ai_marking":{"digital_source_type":{"uri":"http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/digitalsourcetype/trainedAlgorithmicMedia","name":"Created using Generative AI"},"notice":"Summary and key insights are generated using artificial intelligence."},"results":[{"id":"earjust-000011","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/earjust-000011","title":"What You Need to Know About Michael Regan and the EPA","publisher":{"name":"Earthjustice","organization":"earthjustice"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2021-03-10","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/brief/2021/what-you-need-to-know-about-michael-regan-and-the-epa","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document discusses the confirmation of Michael Regan as EPA head, highlighting his experience in clean energy and environmental quality. It argues that the EPA must now focus on stricter chemical pollution standards, restoring the National Environmental Policy Act, and leading an equitable transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000011#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Michael Regan's professional background includes leadership roles at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Defense Fund, as well as service in the EPA's air quality and energy programs during the Clinton and Bush administrations.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000011#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The EPA's core functions involve enforcing national standards on pollutants, overseeing hazardous waste containment, reviewing marketplace chemicals, and utilizing the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to ensure clean air, land, and water.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000011#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Earthjustice identifies three primary imperatives for the EPA under Regan: implementing stricter chemical pollution standards, restoring the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to ensure public voice in decision-making, and pursuing an equitable transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy that prioritizes low-income communities and communities of color.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000011#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["clean energy","climate change","energy transition","environmental justice"],"geography_discussed":["North Carolina"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy briefing"]},{"id":"pari-000051","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/pari-000051","title":"Pandemic as Campaign Stage: On Trump’s Handling of Covid-19 in the United States","publisher":{"name":"Public Affairs Research Institute","organization":"public-affairs-research-institute"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2021-01-14","source_url":"https://pari.org.za/pandemic-as-campaign-stage-trumps-handling-of-covid-19-usa/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The author argues that Donald Trump pursued a 'herd immunity' approach to Covid-19 not for epidemiological reasons, but to frame public health measures as Democratic-led attacks on the working class and small business owners. By dismissing scientific expertise and associating mask-wearing with weakness, Trump leveraged the pandemic as a campaign tool to solidify support among his base, particularly the less-educated petite bourgeoisie, by presenting a choice between public health and employment.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pari-000051#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The Trump administration adopted a laissez-faire approach to pandemic preparedness by disbanding the White House pandemic response team in May 2018 and removing the CDC epidemiologist from China's disease control agency.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pari-000051#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"In 2019, the administration rejected simulation findings that indicated the US lacked sufficient personal protective equipment, ventilators, and ICU beds, and that public health infrastructure was underfunded.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pari-000051#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Trump's strategy is described as a 'herd immunity' approach, where he prioritized economic reopening over health measures, framing lockdowns as a 'cure' that was 'worse than the problem itself'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pari-000051#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Trump used the pandemic to launch a 'war against expertise', framing scientists and epidemiologists as elites protecting their own interests against the needs of ordinary people.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pari-000051#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The author suggests Trump's support remained strong because he successfully framed the pandemic as a choice between health and employment, appealing specifically to small business owners and the self-employed.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pari-000051#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Trump associated mask-wearing with a lack of masculinity and weakness, using this to mock his opponent Joe Biden and signal a different identity to his followers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pari-000051#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document notes that Trump's support actually increased in more than two-thirds of the 100 US counties that experienced the highest per capita death rates.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"pari-000051#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["public health infrastructure","climate change"],"geography_discussed":["People's Republic of China","India","Michigan","North Carolina","Virginia","United Kingdom","South Africa","Nigeria","Sweden"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["political analysis","sociological analysis"]},{"id":"climcent-000345","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/climcent-000345","title":"COMING STORMS: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE RISING THREAT TO AMERICA’S COASTAL SENIORS","publisher":{"name":"Climate Central","organization":"climate-central"},"document_type":"policy brief","language":"en","date_published":"2021","source_url":"https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/2uTSDDYYYsskJ3HTAoggSo/ea1cde8e4320b4dfe695bb43a273b080/Seniors_and_SLR_-_Full.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report examines how sea level rise and coastal flooding threaten elderly populations in the U.S., particularly those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It highlights the dangers of evacuation for frail seniors, the impact of 'sunny day' flooding on access to healthcare, and the hidden financial risks to real estate equity for retirees on fixed incomes.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000345#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Sea level rise is projected to significantly increase the number of senior care beds exposed to flooding by 2050. Florida is expected to be the most affected, with a 67% increase in beds potentially exposed, totaling over 5,900 beds across 91 facilities.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000345#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Evacuating frail nursing home residents during emergencies often leads to higher mortality rates than sheltering in place due to the stress and physical toll of the process.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000345#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Frequent 'nuisance' or 'sunny day' flooding can isolate seniors who age in place by blocking roads, which prevents them from attending medical appointments or accessing essential services.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000345#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Seniors face specific physical and cognitive hazards during climate emergencies, such as the inability to hear warning sirens, difficulty using stairs in elevated homes, and increased symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease in emergency shelters.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000345#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate change creates hidden financial risks for coastal retirees, as anticipated sea level rise depresses property values—with affected homes selling for an average of 7% less—and increases insurance and property taxes.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000345#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Many seniors are unable to accurately assess their property's flood risk because federal flood plain maps are often outdated and historical flooding records for individual properties are kept confidential.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000345#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["sea level rise","coastal flood","climate change adaptation","climate finance","real property","emergency management","public health","storm surge"],"geography_discussed":["Florida","New Jersey","Texas","North Carolina","South Carolina","Cape May","Pamlico County","Brevard County","Harris County"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["risk assessment","vulnerability analysis","financial impact analysis"]},{"id":"eesi-000117","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000117","title":"How Coal Country Can Adapt to the Energy Transition","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2020-11-10","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/issue-brief-how-coal-country-can-adapt-to-the-energy-transition","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document examines the decline of the U.S. coal industry, driven by cheaper natural gas and renewables, and the resulting workforce crisis. It argues that a successful transition requires more than just shifting to another single industry; it necessitates broad economic diversification. The brief outlines potential employment opportunities in clean energy, energy efficiency, environmental remediation (such as mine reclamation and forest restoration), broadband deployment, and entrepreneurship. It also reviews proposed federal frameworks, such as the National Economic Transition Office, and highlights regional initiatives in Appalachia and the West that support displaced workers through retraining and community-led development.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000117#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The decline of the U.S. coal industry is primarily driven by the availability of cheaper alternative energy sources and rising extraction costs, rather than environmental regulations. Natural gas has undercut coal prices since the early 2010s, and the depletion of productive reserves in Central Appalachia has increased production costs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000117#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The coal workforce has faced significant shocks, with mining employment in the U.S. dropping by 39 percent between 2009 and 2016. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this crisis, with over 6,000 coal mining jobs lost in March and April 2020 alone.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000117#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Renewable energy adoption in coal-dependent regions is hindered by limited solar and wind resources and high 'market entry' barriers caused by the entrenchment of existing coal-based generation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000117#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Environmental remediation of coal sites offers a viable employment path for displaced workers. For example, cleanup at the Colstrip power plant in Montana is estimated to create 66.4 direct jobs per year over 40 years, while Duke Energy's coal ash cleanup in North Carolina created over 3,700 jobs between 2013 and 2019.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000117#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Broadband deployment and fiber optic installation provide critical economic opportunities for rural coal communities. In Colorado, Lightworks has retrained over 80 former coal workers, and Kentucky's KentuckyWired project has seen 80 percent of construction work-hours performed by residents as of March 2019.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000117#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Proposed federal strategies for a just transition include the creation of a National Economic Transition Office, the reestablishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the creation of a Climate Resilience Service Corps (CRSC).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000117#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coal","energy transition","just transition","workforce development","economic diversity","renewable energy","solar energy","wind energy","natural gas","energy efficiency","environmental remediation","forest restoration","climate finance"],"geography_discussed":["Wyoming","West Virginia","Pennsylvania","Illinois","Kentucky","Montana","North Carolina","Colorado"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy review","socio-economic assessment"]},{"id":"earjust-000024","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/earjust-000024","title":"Count. Every. Vote.","publisher":{"name":"Earthjustice","organization":"earthjustice"},"document_type":"statement","language":"en","date_published":"2020-11-04","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/brief/2020/count-every-vote","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Earthjustice advocates for the accurate counting of all ballots in the 2020 US election, asserting that the integrity of the democratic process is essential for the organization's environmental and climate protection work. The statement attributes delays in results to high turnout, increased mail-in voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and partisan litigation over voting protocols in states such as Wisconsin and North Carolina.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000024#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Earthjustice links the protection of the environment and climate to the stability of democracy and the rule of law, stating that free and fair elections are a fundamental principle.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000024#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 2020 election experienced delays due to high turnout, with over 100 million people voting early or by mail because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and legal battles over voting protocols in states including North Carolina and Wisconsin.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-000024#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["environmental protection","climate change"],"geography_discussed":["Wisconsin","North Carolina"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["statement"]},{"id":"eesi-000509","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000509","title":"How Coal Country Can Adapt to the Energy Transition","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2020-11","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Coal-Workforce_1120.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document examines the decline of the U.S. coal industry, driven by cheaper alternative energy and rising extraction costs, and the resulting workforce crisis. It evaluates various federal legislative proposals and existing programs aimed at economic diversification, such as the RECLAIM Act and EDA grants. The brief highlights opportunities for transition in renewable energy, energy efficiency, environmental restoration, broadband deployment, and entrepreneurship, emphasizing that a 'just transition' requires a holistic, community-driven approach rather than a simple shift from one single industry to another.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000509#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The decline of the U.S. coal industry is primarily driven by the proliferation of cheaper alternative energy sources and increasing extraction costs, rather than environmental regulations. Coal production peaked in 2008 at 1,171.5 million short tons and fell to 706 million short tons in 2019.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000509#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The energy transition is geographically uneven; wind and solar deployment has been concentrated in the Midwest and Southwest, while coal-dependent regions in Appalachia and the West face higher barriers to renewable adoption due to resource availability and entrenched market entry.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000509#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Federal legislative proposals to support coal communities include the Marshall Plan for Coal Country Act, which would expand Medicare and provide free higher education to former workers, and the RECLAIM Act, which proposed disbursing $1 billion from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund for economic revitalization between 2020 and 2024.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000509#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Environmental remediation of coal sites offers significant employment potential. For example, coal ash cleanup at the Colstrip plant in Montana is estimated to create 66.4 direct jobs per year over 40 years, and Duke Energy's cleanup in North Carolina created over 3,700 jobs between 2013 and 2019.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000509#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Broadband deployment is identified as a critical economic driver for rural coal communities. Projects like KentuckyWired, a 3,350-mile fiber optic network, have utilized local labor, with 80 percent of construction work-hours performed by Kentucky residents as of March 2019.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000509#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Effective transition strategies must prioritize economic diversification over replacing one single industry with another, ensuring that workers can maintain their quality of life given the historically high wages of coal industry jobs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000509#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["decarbonization","energy transition","renewable energy","solar energy","wind energy","energy efficiency","workforce development","economic diversity","just transition","environmental remediation","climate finance"],"geography_discussed":["Appalachia","West Virginia","Wyoming","Pennsylvania","Illinois","Kentucky","Montana","North Carolina","Colorado","New Mexico"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy review","economic assessment"]},{"id":"commyale-000128","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/commyale-000128","title":"New study: Building support for electric vehicles","publisher":{"name":"Yale Program on Climate Change Communication","organization":"yale-program-on-climate-change-communication"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2020-10-20","source_url":"https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/new-study-building-support-for-electric-vehicles/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"An experiment with 912 American adults found that listening to real-world stories about EV success in Norway and Greensboro, North Carolina, significantly increased participants' perceptions of EV reliability, affordability, and practicality. These stories also led to stronger support for national charging networks, electric buses, and tax rebates, suggesting that narrative-based communication is an effective tool for accelerating the transition to electric vehicles.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000128#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Listening to audio stories about electric vehicles (EVs) significantly improved participants' beliefs that EVs are reliable, practical, affordable, and beneficial for the environment compared to a control group.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000128#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The EV stories increased public support for specific policies, including the creation of a national charging station network, the adoption of electric buses, and the provision of tax rebates for EV buyers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000128#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The experiment demonstrated that communicating real-world examples—such as high EV adoption in Norway and cost savings from electric buses in Greensboro, North Carolina—makes consumers more likely to consider purchasing an EV in the future.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000128#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["electric vehicle","transportation","climate change communication","electric vehicle charging network","carbon dioxide emissions"],"geography_discussed":["Norway","Greensboro","North Carolina"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["experiment"]},{"id":"eesi-000197","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000197","title":"A RESILIENT FUTURE FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020-10","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/files/EESI-Coastal-Resilience-Report.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report outlines 30 federal policy recommendations to improve coastal resilience in the United States, emphasizing community-led planning, nature-based solutions, and equitable financing. It argues that federal policies must shift from relying on past climate data to anticipating future conditions, particularly for infrastructure and land use. Key priorities include integrating climate justice, supporting tribal sovereignty in adaptation planning, and reforming benefit-cost analysis tools to better value social and environmental outcomes. The document also advocates for the creation of a national 'green bank' and a federal climate heritage coordination office to manage the intersection of cultural preservation and climate change.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000197#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Federal policies and infrastructure must be designed based on future climate projections rather than historical data to avoid catastrophic damage.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000197#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Current federal benefit-cost analysis (BCA) tools are flawed because they favor rapid return on investment, disadvantage nature-based solutions, and reinforce structural inequalities by favoring high-value properties over low-income communities.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000197#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is a critical need for the federal government to prioritize and fund nature-based solutions (such as wetlands, dunes, and coral reefs) as equal or preferential alternatives to traditional 'gray' infrastructure.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000197#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate adaptation planning must be community-driven, specifically empowering Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and low-income communities to lead decision-making and project implementation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000197#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Tribal and Indigenous knowledge should be co-produced with Western science in climate adaptation efforts, while respecting tribal sovereignty over their knowledge systems.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000197#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The U.S. faces significant data gaps in coastal elevation and bathymetry, particularly in Alaska, which hinders the ability to project community-level flood risks.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000197#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Cultural heritage is currently underfunded and poorly coordinated within federal agencies; the report recommends establishing a dedicated federal coordination office for climate heritage.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000197#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The federal government lacks a national framework to manage the inevitable movement of people and the relocation of communities due to coastal hazards.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000197#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"To scale up adaptation projects, the report proposes the creation of a national 'green bank' and the use of revolving loan funds to provide accessible capital to underserved communities.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000197#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Disaster recovery funding is often delayed by agency bureaucracy and outdated BCA tools; the report calls for more funding to be shifted toward pre-disaster mitigation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000197#insight-10","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coastal erosion","sea level rise","climate change adaptation","coastal management","nature-based solutions","climate justice","green infrastructure","climate finance","Green bank","affordable housing"],"geography_discussed":["World","Alaska","Hawaii","Puerto Rico","United States Virgin Islands","Louisiana","Washington","Massachusetts","Virginia","California","Maine","Florida","New York","Michigan","North Carolina","New Jersey"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy recommendations","regional assessment","expert consultation"]},{"id":"commyale-000127","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/commyale-000127","title":"Does climate change increase risk of conflict?","publisher":{"name":"Yale Program on Climate Change Communication","organization":"yale-program-on-climate-change-communication"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2020-09-02","source_url":"https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/news-events/does-climate-change-increase-risk-of-conflict/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The research paper examines the relationship between climate change and global instability, asserting that while climate change may not cause conflict in isolation, it intensifies problems like food and water insecurity, economic loss, and ethnic tensions. It highlights that the risk of conflict is heavily dependent on regional sociopolitical contexts, such as government corruption and historical grievances. The document also notes a correlation in the U.S. between residents of disaster-prone areas and higher levels of concern regarding climate change, suggesting that these insights should inform government policies on mitigation and conflict prevention.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000127#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Climate change functions as a \"threat multiplier\" that does not necessarily cause conflict on its own but increases risk by intensifying existing societal problems, such as food and water insecurity, which can lead to income loss and motivate people to riot or rebel.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000127#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The likelihood of climate-induced conflict is contingent upon regional sociopolitical and economic factors, including the presence of corrupt or weak governments, histories of past conflict, and pre-existing ethnic discrimination or colonialist histories.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000127#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate change can create a feedback loop where environmental changes make societies more vulnerable to structural violence, and that violence in turn reduces a society's capacity to cope with extreme weather and resource scarcity.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000127#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate-driven instability can spill over into other regions through the disruption of nearby economies, the inflow of arms and mercenaries, and distress migration that exacerbates resource scarcity or identity conflicts in host regions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000127#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication indicates that people living in U.S. counties more affected by natural disasters, specifically in coastal Florida (around Miami), Texas, and North Carolina, express higher levels of worry about climate change.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000127#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["climate change","food insecurity","climate migration","natural disaster","climate change mitigation"],"geography_discussed":["United States","Florida","Miami","Texas","North Carolina","sub-Saharan Africa","India","Kenya","Sudan","Somalia","Syria","Lake Chad"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["literature review","policy analysis"]},{"id":"commyale-000141","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/commyale-000141","title":"How does the American public perceive climate disasters?","publisher":{"name":"Yale Program on Climate Change Communication","organization":"yale-program-on-climate-change-communication"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2020-08-24","source_url":"https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/how-does-the-american-public-perceive-climate-disasters/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Based on 2018 and 2019 survey data, the study finds that 64% of Americans believe global warming affects U.S. weather. Risk perceptions are heavily influenced by local geography, with residents in the West fearing droughts and wildfires, those in the Midwest fearing flooding, and those in the East and Southeast fearing hurricanes. While 56% of Americans view extreme weather as a high or moderate risk to their community over the next decade, the specific concerns vary by state, often reflecting local experiences with 'Billion Dollar Disaster Events'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000141#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Approximately 64% of Americans believe that global warming is affecting weather in the United States, with 32% stating it affects it 'a lot', 25% 'some', and 7% 'a little'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000141#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Public risk perceptions of extreme weather are strongly tied to geographic region: residents in the Midwest are most concerned with flooding, those in the East and Southeast with hurricanes, and those in southern and western states with heat-related events such as wildfires, droughts, and water shortages.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000141#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Specific state-level data shows high concentrations of concern: 85% of California respondents are most worried about droughts, 76% of North Carolina respondents about hurricanes, and 96% of Floridians about hurricanes.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000141#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A majority of Americans (56%) perceive extreme weather as posing a 'High' or 'Moderate risk' to their community over the next 10 years, while 37% perceive it as a 'Low' (31%) or 'No' (7%) risk.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"commyale-000141#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["climate change","extreme weather event","drought","wildfire","flood","hurricane","water scarcity","extreme heat"],"geography_discussed":["California","Washington","Michigan","Illinois","North Carolina","Virginia","Florida","Midwestern United States","Southwest"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["public opinion survey"]},{"id":"eninnova-000146","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eninnova-000146","title":"POLICIES TO SUPPORT A COMPETITIVE WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY MARKET IN THE SOUTHEAST U.S.","publisher":{"name":"Energy Innovation","organization":"energy-innovation"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020-08","source_url":"https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Policies-To-Support-A-Competitive-Wholesale-Electricity-Market-In-The-Southeast-US.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document advocates for the transition of the Southeast U.S. electricity sector from vertically integrated monopolies to a competitive wholesale market, potentially via a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO). It highlights that such a shift could save customers 29 percent on electricity costs and reduce emissions by 37 percent below 2018 levels by 2040. The authors suggest incremental steps, such as Energy Imbalance Markets (EIM) and all-source procurement, as pathways toward full restructuring. Additionally, the report emphasizes the need for integrated distribution planning for distributed energy resources and a 'just transition' framework to support communities affected by the phase-out of coal power.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000146#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Implementing a regional transmission organization (RTO) in the Southeast U.S. could lead to a 29 percent reduction in electricity costs and a 37 percent decrease in emissions relative to 2018 levels by 2040, while adding nearly 130 GW of clean energy projects.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000146#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Incremental steps toward full market restructuring, such as Energy Imbalance Markets (EIM), can provide economic and environmental benefits; for example, the Western EIM has generated over $1 billion in gross economic benefits and avoided more than 533,000 metric tons of CO2.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000146#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Optimizing distributed energy resources (DER), specifically community-scale solar and storage below the substation, could reduce peak demand by 12 percent and account for approximately 10 percent of the RTO Scenario's cost savings by 2040.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000146#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Adopting all-source procurement—a technology-neutral resource acquisition process—can capture about three-quarters of the cost benefits and one-third of the emissions benefits associated with competition by improving single-utility planning.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000146#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"To ensure a just transition for coal-impacted communities, the report suggests investing in local clean energy resources, noting that nearly all coal-fired plants have cheaper solar or wind resources available within 35 miles.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000146#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["distributed generation","decarbonization","Coal phase-out","solar energy","wind energy","battery energy storage system"],"geography_discussed":["North Carolina","South Carolina","California","Colorado","New Mexico"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","economic modeling"]},{"id":"eninnova-000212","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eninnova-000212","title":"SUMMARY REPORT: ECONOMIC AND CLEAN ENERGY BENEFITS OF ESTABLISHING A SOUTHEAST U.S. COMPETITIVE WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY MARKET","publisher":{"name":"Energy Innovation","organization":"energy-innovation"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020-08","source_url":"https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Economic-And-Clean-Energy-Benefits-Of-Establishing-A-Southeast-U.S.-Competitive-Wholesale-Electricity-Market_FINAL.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report finds that transitioning from the current vertically-integrated monopoly structure to a competitive RTO in the Southeast would generate approximately $384 billion in cumulative savings by 2040. This shift would lower retail electricity costs by 29% and reduce carbon emissions by 37% relative to 2018 levels. The analysis highlights that competition accelerates the deployment of wind, solar, and battery storage, creating a net increase of 285,000 jobs compared to the business-as-usual scenario. The study contrasts this with the current Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) approach, which it characterizes as inefficient due to excessive reserve margins and a reliance on uneconomic coal generation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000212#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Establishing a competitive Southeastern RTO would result in cumulative economic savings of roughly $384 billion by 2040 compared to the business-as-usual (BAU) case. By 2040, retail costs would be approximately 2.5¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh) lower, representing a 29 percent reduction compared to BAU.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000212#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The RTO scenario would significantly reduce carbon emissions, falling approximately 37 percent relative to 2018 levels and 46 percent compared to the IRP Scenario by 2040. Major air pollutants such as NOX, SO2, and PM2.5 would drop to near-zero due to the phase-out of coal generation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000212#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Market competition would drive a net increase of 285,000 jobs by 2040 relative to the BAU scenario. This growth is driven by the construction of 62 GW of solar, 41 GW of onshore wind, and 46 GW of battery storage.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000212#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The current IRP-based planning is inefficient, leading to a combined planning reserve margin (PRM) of 48 percent by 2040, far exceeding the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's reference standard of 15 percent. In contrast, the RTO scenario meets a 16 percent PRM in 2040.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000212#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A sensitivity analysis shows that maintaining the existing nuclear fleet through 2040 (RTO with Nuclear Scenario) would further reduce carbon emissions to 41 percent below 2018 levels, with only a minor 0.5 percent increase in overall system costs compared to the standard RTO scenario.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000212#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A partial step toward competition, the Economic IRP Scenario, would achieve about three-quarters of the RTO's cost savings (approximately $298 billion by 2040) but would be less effective at reducing emissions, with carbon dioxide dropping only 13 percent below 2018 levels.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000212#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["solar energy","battery energy storage system","carbon dioxide emissions","coal power","nuclear power","electric power transmission","distributed generation"],"geography_discussed":["United States","Illinois","New Jersey","New York","People's Republic of China"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["economic modeling","capacity expansion planning","production-cost analysis"]},{"id":"eninnova-000252","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eninnova-000252","title":"Technical Report: Economic & Clean Energy Benefits of Establishing a Competitive Wholesale Electricity Market in the Southeast United States","publisher":{"name":"Energy Innovation","organization":"energy-innovation"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020-08","source_url":"https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/SERTO_WISdomP_VCE-EI.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report uses the WIS:dom\u001b-P optimization model to compare four capacity expansion scenarios for the Southeast US: the current SE IRP, an economic IRP without an RTO, an SE RTO, and an SE RTO that retains uneconomic nuclear plants. The findings indicate that the SE RTO scenario is the most economic, offering cumulative savings of $383.7 billion by 2040 and the highest job creation. Retaining nuclear plants further reduces emissions, saving an additional 156.76 million metric tonnes of CO2 by 2040 at a minimal additional cost. The study also highlights the role of variable renewable energy (VRE) and storage in meeting seasonal demand peaks and the importance of transmission expansion in a coordinated regional market.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Establishing a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) in the Southeast is the most cost-effective strategy, with cumulative electric sector savings of $383.7 billion by 2040 compared to the current IRP scenario.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 'SE IRP' scenario is the least economic option, resulting in the highest total resource costs and retail rates for consumers, partly due to an excessively high unforced capacity planning reserve margin (PRM) of 49%.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Implementing optimal capacity expansion without an RTO (the 'SE Economic IRP' scenario) still provides cumulative savings of $298.14 billion by 2040 compared to the SE IRP.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Retaining uneconomic nuclear generation in an RTO framework ('SE RTO with Nuclear') results in the lowest emissions across all pollutants, saving an additional 156.76 million metric tonnes of CO2 by 2040 compared to the 'SE RTO' scenario, at an additional cost of approximately $9 billion.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 'SE RTO' scenario generates the most employment, adding 407,631 jobs by 2040, driven by increased variable renewable energy (VRE) installations and transmission expansion.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Co-optimizing distribution energy resources (DER) with utility-scale generation leads to significant distribution cost savings: $38.49 billion in the 'SE RTO' scenario and $37.8 billion in the 'SE RTO with Nuclear' scenario by 2040.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 'SE RTO' scenario achieves a 46% decrease in CO2 emissions (2,320 million metric tonnes) compared to the 'SE IRP' scenario, where emissions actually increased by 16% over 2018 levels due to over-building fossil fuel generation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Wind generation paired with storage is well-positioned to meet winter peak loads in the Southeast, whereas solar is best suited for summer afternoon peaks around 2:00 PM EST.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 'SE RTO' and 'SE RTO with Nuclear' scenarios required the installation of approximately 10,000 MW of transmission capacity to ensure a reliable and low-cost energy system.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"DER generation in the 'SE RTO' scenario reduces peak load by 27,347 MW (an 11.8% reduction) and increases minimum load by 18,158 MW, effectively flattening the demand profile seen by utility-scale generation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#insight-10","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The capacity value of solar PV in the Southeast drops sharply to just above 30% by 2025 because its generation peak is not perfectly aligned with the daily load peak.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eninnova-000252#insight-11","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["nuclear power","wind power","photovoltaics","energy storage","distributed generation","electric power transmission","greenhouse gas emissions","carbon dioxide","particulates","demand-side management","demand response","energy efficiency","climate change"],"geography_discussed":["Alabama","Florida","Georgia","Mississippi","North Carolina","South Carolina","Tennessee","United States"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["economic analysis","emission analysis","capacity expansion modeling","climate impact assessment"]},{"id":"ucs-000464","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000464","title":"COVID-19 Underscores the Need for Voting Reform in North Carolina","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2020-08","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/COVID-10-Voting-Reform-NC-aug-update.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document asserts that North Carolina's voting infrastructure is inadequate for a pandemic, citing low vote-by-mail usage and a history of gerrymandering. It links poor electoral representation to systemic issues in community health and environmental justice, recommending specific upgrades to voting access and procedures for the 2020 election.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000464#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"North Carolina's voting system is characterized by low mail-in participation and poor electoral integrity, ranking 46th among states for electoral integrity. In the 2016 US presidential election, only 3.5 to 4 percent of votes were cast by mail/absentee.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000464#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["environmental justice"],"geography_discussed":["World"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","fact sheet"]},{"id":"climcent-000149","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/climcent-000149","title":"2020 Hurricane Season","publisher":{"name":"Climate Central","organization":"climate-central"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2020-06-01","source_url":"https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2020-hurricane-season","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was predicted to be more active than normal due to warmer-than-average water temperatures in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and ENSO-neutral conditions. While climate change may not increase hurricane frequency, it is linked to a 25-30% increase in Category 4 and 5 storms per degree Celsius of warming, more rapid intensification, increased rainfall, and higher storm surges driven by rising sea levels.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000149#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Forecasters from NOAA and other experts predicted a more active than normal hurricane season for 2020, driven by warmer-than-average water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, as well as predicted ENSO-neutral conditions which reduce the vertical windshear that typically disrupts hurricane formation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000149#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate change is increasing the intensity of hurricanes rather than their frequency; specifically, the proportion of Category 4 and 5 storms has risen by 25-30% for every degree Celsius of warming.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000149#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Global warming contributes to more rapid intensification of storms—defined as a wind speed increase of at least 35 mph within 24 hours—which increases damage potential because hurricane damage increases logarithmically with wind speed.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000149#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Rising global temperatures increase hurricane rainfall because warmer air holds more moisture, with a 4% increase in water capacity for every 1°F rise in temperature.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000149#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Sea level rise, which has already reached almost one foot above pre-industrial levels, exacerbates storm surges, which are responsible for 50% of all hurricane fatalities in the U.S.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000149#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["hurricane","climate change","sea level rise","storm surge"],"geography_discussed":["United States","Pacific Ocean","North Carolina"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["predictive analysis","scientific synthesis"]},{"id":"eesi-000420","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000420","title":"Federal Support and Local Action","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2020-06","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_060220.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document is a transcript of a briefing featuring experts from the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. It examines the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, as well as recent earthquakes in Puerto Rico, highlighting the vulnerability of the electric grid and coastal infrastructure. The speakers argue that while Congress has approved significant funding for recovery and resilience, bureaucratic delays in federal agencies like HUD and FEMA have stalled the disbursement of these resources. The briefing emphasizes the effectiveness of nature-based solutions, such as coral reef restoration, for wave attenuation and coastal protection, while noting that traditional cost-benefit analysis tools often favor short-term returns over long-term resilient infrastructure.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000420#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 caused catastrophic damage in the Caribbean, with Hurricane Maria alone resulting in approximately 3,000 deaths in Puerto Rico and nearly destroying the island's electric grid.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000420#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Since late 2019, the southern region of Puerto Rico has been impacted by approximately 1,000 earthquakes, including 13 exceeding magnitude five, which further destabilized the already unreliable electric grid.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000420#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Significant federal funding approved by Congress for disaster relief and grid transformation has faced severe disbursement delays due to bureaucratic processes and slow publication of notices by federal agencies, specifically HUD.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000420#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Nature-based infrastructure, specifically coral reefs, provides superior coastal protection compared to man-made structures, with some reefs attenuating up to 97 percent of wave energy during major storms.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000420#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Puerto Rico's Law 33 of 2019 establishes a policy for climate change mitigation and resilience, including a coal phase-out and a goal of 100 percent clean energy production by 2050.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000420#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Traditional cost-benefit analysis (BCA) tools used by FEMA, HUD, and the Army Corps of Engineers discourage the adoption of nature-based solutions because they prioritize rapid return on investment over long-term design life and lower maintenance costs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000420#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Sea level rise poses a critical threat to Puerto Rico's coastal infrastructure; a 10-foot increase by 2100 is presented as an extreme scenario that would severely impact international communications.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000420#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["coastal management","climate change adaptation","nature-based solutions","coral reef restoration","sea level rise","climate finance","energy transition","greenhouse gas emissions","coastal erosion","ocean acidification"],"geography_discussed":["Florida","North Carolina","Hawaii","California"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","damage assessment","infrastructure evaluation"]},{"id":"ucs-000994","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000994","title":"Reviving the Dead Zone","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020-06","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/reviving-the-dead-zone.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report analyzes the link between synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use in the Midwest and the formation of a hypoxic 'dead zone' in the Gulf of Mexico. It estimates that agricultural nitrogen losses have caused between $552 million and $2.4 billion in annual damages to Gulf fisheries and marine habitat ecosystem services since 1980. The authors argue that shifting to sustainable agricultural practices—such as cover cropping and conservation tillage—can reduce these losses, providing a significant return on investment by restoring marine productivity and improving soil resilience for farmers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Between 60 and 80 percent of the nitrogen loading that fuels the Gulf of Mexico dead zone originates from farming and livestock operations in the Midwest, with over 40 percent coming specifically from synthetic fertilizers used for crops like corn.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report estimates that agricultural nitrogen losses from the Midwest have caused annual damages to Gulf fisheries and marine habitat ecosystem services ranging from $552 million to $2.4 billion (in 2018 dollars) between 1980 and 2017.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Since 1990, corn and soybean farmers in the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River basins applied approximately 114 million tons of fertilizer nitrogen, costing $37 billion (2018 dollars), with nearly 31 million tons of that nitrogen flowing into rivers and feeding the dead zone.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Gulf fishing industry is a major economic driver, with commercial fishing generating between $17 billion and $57 billion in economic impacts and 200,000 jobs in 2016, while recreational fishing and coastal tourism added another $57 billion and nearly 500,000 jobs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Hypoxia negatively impacts marine life by reducing the abundance of bottom-dwelling species like crustaceans and mollusks, and can cause populations of Atlantic croaker to decline by up to 25 percent if not significantly reduced.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The shrimp industry is particularly vulnerable to the dead zone; in Texas, two-thirds of shrimper licenses have been repurchased by the state since the mid-1990s, and the number of boats going offshore has dropped by one-fourth since 2010.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Climate change exacerbates the problem by increasing the frequency of heavy rains and floods in the Midwest, which washes more nitrogen into the Gulf, while rising ocean temperatures further worsen pollution effects.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Adopting soil-health practices—such as cover cropping, conservation tillage, riparian buffers, and perennial plantings—could avert between $34.4 million and $990 million in annual damage costs to Gulf fisheries.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Nitrogen runoff also harms human health upstream, causing acute conditions like 'blue baby syndrome' and chronic issues such as cancer and thyroid disease through contaminated drinking water.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000994#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["sustainable agriculture","ecosystem service","climate change","nitrous oxide","water quality"],"geography_discussed":["United States","Louisiana","Texas","Iowa","Illinois","Indiana","Minnesota","Baltic Sea","North Carolina"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["economic impact assessment","policy analysis"]},{"id":"rmi-000291","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/rmi-000291","title":"Five Tips for Utility Regulators: Staying on Course through the COVID-19 Storm","publisher":{"name":"RMI","organization":"rmi"},"document_type":"guide","language":"en","date_published":"2020-05-20","source_url":"https://rmi.org/resources/five-tips-for-regulators-staying-on-course-through-the-covid-19-storm/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The guide advises utility regulators to avoid postponing key climate and energy proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic by adopting virtual engagement tools and prioritizing high-impact projects. It emphasizes that maintaining momentum on emissions reductions and utility business model reforms is critical to limiting global warming to 1.5°C and stimulating economic recovery through the clean energy sector.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000291#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Utility regulators should avoid indefinitely postponing workshops and hearings, as delays in reducing emissions and reforming business models could have lasting consequences, especially given the urgency of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000291#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The adoption of video-conferencing for regulatory events can increase accessibility and inclusivity by removing financial and logistical barriers such as travel, lodging, and meal costs that often limit participation for groups with fewer resources.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000291#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Regulators should prioritize proceedings that are essential for meeting emissions-reduction targets—specifically those involving coal-asset retirement, resource planning, and beneficial electrification—as well as projects that stimulate economic recovery in the clean energy and energy efficiency sectors.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000291#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The pandemic's impact on electricity sales may necessitate the adoption of new regulatory tools, such as revenue decoupling and performance-based regulation, to handle future disruptions and expedite cost recovery.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000291#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["utility regulation","Performance-based regulation","distributed generation","climate change mitigation","energy efficiency","decarbonization"],"geography_discussed":["Hawaii","North Carolina","Michigan"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["guide"]},{"id":"cliint-000051","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/cliint-000051","title":"NC Poll Results","publisher":{"name":"Center for Climate Integrity","organization":"center-for-climate-integrity"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2020-05","source_url":"https://climateintegrity.org/uploads/media/NC-CCI_Poll_Crosstabs_public.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The poll reveals that a majority of likely voters in North Carolina believe oil and gas companies should bear some or all of the costs for protecting communities from climate change. While 69% of respondents are worried about climate change, there is significant partisan division regarding the responsibility of the oil and gas industry and the urgency of climate action compared to the COVID-19 pandemic.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cliint-000051#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"A significant majority of North Carolina likely voters believe oil and gas companies should contribute to the costs of protecting communities from climate change, with 69% stating they should pay for \"some of the costs\" and 15% stating they should pay for \"all of the costs\".","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cliint-000051#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"After receiving more information about the issue, the proportion of respondents who believe oil and gas companies should be the most responsible for paying to upgrade North Carolina's infrastructure to withstand climate impacts rose to 44%.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cliint-000051#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is a strong consensus among polled voters that oil and gas companies are not paying their fair share of climate change costs, with 82% of all adults responding \"No, they are not currently paying their fair share\".","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cliint-000051#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Public support for suing oil and gas companies to hold them accountable for pollution and climate damages increased after respondents learned more about the issue, rising from a combined 64% support (27% strongly, 37% somewhat) to 72% support (35% strongly, 37% somewhat).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cliint-000051#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Regarding the perceived impact of climate change in North Carolina, respondents identified extreme weather events as the most affected area, with 36% reporting a \"Large effect\" and 31% reporting \"Some effect\".","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cliint-000051#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"When asked about the urgency of climate change relative to the COVID-19 pandemic, 47% of all adults believe climate change should be treated with the same urgency as the coronavirus.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cliint-000051#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A majority of respondents (69%) believe that corporations should be doing more on the issue of climate change, with 46% stating they should do \"Much more\" and 23% stating \"Somewhat more\".","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cliint-000051#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The poll indicates a high level of concern regarding the impact of climate change on future generations, with 49% of all adults stating it will harm them \"A great deal\".","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cliint-000051#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Respondents expressed a preference for federal government action on climate change, with 50% stating the federal government should be doing \"Much more\" and 23% \"Somewhat more\".","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cliint-000051#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["climate change","climate finance","extreme weather event","petroleum industry"],"geography_discussed":["United States"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["public opinion poll"]},{"id":"eesi-000415","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000415","title":"Assessing National Park Asset Flood Risk: Retreat, Adapt, Fortify?","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2020-04","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_041420.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The briefing describes a multi-year project to assess the vulnerability of National Park Service (NPS) coastal assets to hazards such as sea level rise and storm surges. The methodology separates vulnerability into 'exposure' (the likelihood of a hazard hitting an asset) and 'sensitivity' (the potential damage once the hazard occurs). By integrating this data into existing asset management databases, the project provides park managers with a science-based menu of adaptation options—such as elevating, relocating, or decommissioning structures—to optimize the allocation of limited maintenance funds based on an asset's mission priority.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000415#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"A preliminary analysis of National Park Service assets exposed to one meter of sea level rise identified high-exposure assets valued at approximately $23 billion, with the highest concentrations in the Northeast and Southeast regions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000415#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The vulnerability assessment protocol calculates vulnerability as the sum of exposure and sensitivity. Exposure is determined by mapping assets against hazards including FEMA flooding data, NOAA storm surge models, sea level rise inundation, coastal erosion buffers, and historical flooding data.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000415#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Sensitivity analysis evaluates the flood damage potential of an asset based on its physical characteristics, such as storm resistance, protective engineering, and the threshold elevation of the building relative to the local base flood elevation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000415#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The project aims to provide actionable data by embedding vulnerability scores directly into the NPS asset management database, allowing managers to identify specific adaptation actions—such as elevating, relocating, protecting, or decommissioning—to reduce either exposure or sensitivity.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000415#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"While sea level rise is a critical component of the long-term projections (extending to 2050), the majority of the current exposure score for most coastal parks is driven by immediate hazards such as hurricanes and coastal erosion.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000415#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The vulnerability scoring is based purely on physical characteristics and does not include the 'mission importance' of an asset; instead, mission priority is used by managers after the scoring to decide whether to invest in resilience or pursue decommissioning/retreat.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000415#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["sea level rise","coastal erosion","storm surge","climate change adaptation","vulnerability assessment","infrastructure resilience","Flood risk management","coastal flood"],"geography_discussed":["North Carolina","Florida","South Carolina"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["vulnerability assessment","policy briefing"]}]}