{"query_echo":{"q":"","filters":{"geography":["US Midwest"]},"warnings":[{"code":"facet_value_not_in_vocabulary","message":"Value 'US Midwest' for facet 'geography' is not in the controlled vocabulary."}]},"total":{"value":3,"relation":"eq"},"page":1,"page_size":20,"self":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?geography=US+Midwest","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":"rmi-000239","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/rmi-000239","title":"Clean Energy 101: Ammonia’s Role in the Energy Transition","publisher":{"name":"RMI","organization":"rmi"},"document_type":"guide","language":"en","date_published":"2024-07-29","source_url":"https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-101-ammonias-role-in-the-energy-transition/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Ammonia is essential for global food security via fertilizers and is emerging as a critical low-carbon energy carrier and maritime fuel. While current production relies on fossil fuels—contributing over 1% of global GHG emissions—the transition to 'green ammonia' via electrolysis and renewable energy offers a path to carbon neutrality. RMI forecasts a 113% increase in US ammonia production by 2030, driven by hydrogen exports to the EU and the adoption of ammonia-powered shipping, provided that technical challenges and NOx/N2O emissions are managed.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000239#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Current global ammonia production is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with the Haber-Bosch process utilizing hydrogen derived from natural gas and coal, resulting in an emissions profile that exceeds 1% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000239#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The carbon intensity of ammonia varies by feedstock: natural gas production generates 2.3 tons of CO2 per ton of NH3, while coal-based production can reach 3.9 tons of CO2 per ton of NH3.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000239#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Green ammonia, produced using renewable electricity and electrolyzers to create hydrogen, can reduce production emissions to nearly zero and is cost-competitive in regions with high wind and solar resources, such as Northern Brazil, Western Australia, and the US Midwest.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000239#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"RMI projects that US ammonia production will grow by 113% by 2030, with significant demand expected from the EU (10 million tons per annum) for hydrogen exports and from the US shipping sector (3 million tons per annum).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000239#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Ammonia is a preferred energy carrier over liquid hydrogen because its volumetric energy density is 1.5 times higher and it is more cost-effective to liquefy and transport via existing tanker infrastructure.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000239#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"While ammonia is a scalable low-carbon maritime fuel, its combustion can produce NOx and N2O; however, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) can mitigate NOx by over 95%, and combustion tuning can reduce N2O emissions to practically zero.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000239#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["Green ammonia","hydrogen","green hydrogen","carbon capture and storage","water transport","renewable electricity","greenhouse gas emissions","nitrous oxide"],"geography_discussed":["European Union","People's Republic of China","Russia","Western Australia","Northern Brazil","US Midwest","North Dakota","US Gulf"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["market forecast","technical assessment"]},{"id":"ucs-000758","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ucs-000758","title":"El cambio climático Y su salud","publisher":{"name":"Union of Concerned Scientists","organization":"union-of-concerned-scientists"},"document_type":"executive summary","language":"es","date_published":"2012-07","source_url":"https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/02/heat-in-the-heartland-executive-summary_SPANISH.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report finds that the US Midwest has experienced a significant increase in dangerously hot and humid summer days since the 1940s and 1950s. This trend increases the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and urban residents. The analysis, covering 10 cities across eight states, indicates that rising nighttime temperatures and more frequent heat waves exacerbate health risks. Projections suggest that without significant carbon emission reductions, the region will face a substantial increase in days exceeding 90°F and 100°F by the end of the century.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000758#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, causing more annual fatalities than floods, lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined. Between 1999 and 2003, excessive heat exposure resulted in approximately 3,442 deaths of US residents.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000758#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Over the last 60 years, the US Midwest has seen an increase in the frequency of dangerously hot and humid summer days, as well as hotter dry days. Conversely, there has been a decrease in cool, dry days that typically provide relief from summer heat.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000758#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"High temperatures and humidity increase the risk of hyperthermia and dehydration, and can worsen existing medical conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, respiratory illnesses, and diabetes. Vulnerable groups include children, the elderly, urban residents, agricultural workers, and those with limited mobility or health issues.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000758#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The lack of nighttime cooling is a significant health risk, as higher nighttime temperatures and humidity prevent the body from recovering from daytime heat, increasing the likelihood of heat-related complications.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000758#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Future projections indicate that if current carbon emission trends continue, the US Midwest will likely experience a sharp increase in days over 90°F and 100°F by the end of the century. For example, in St. Louis, days over 100°F are projected to rise from fewer than 3 per year (1961–1990) to 43 per year (2070–2099) under a high-emissions scenario.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ucs-000758#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["climate change","extreme heat","heat wave","public health","carbon dioxide emissions","greenhouse gas emissions","climate change adaptation","climate change mitigation"],"geography_discussed":["United States","Chicago","Peoria","Cincinnati","Toledo","Detroit","Lexington","Minneapolis","Rochester","St. Louis","Columbia"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["historical trend analysis","health impact assessment","climate projection"]},{"id":"wri-000176","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wri-000176","title":"Rethinking Biofuels in the US Midwest","publisher":{"name":"World Resources Institute","organization":"world-resources-institute"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":null,"source_url":"https://www.wri.org/research/rethinking-biofuels-us-midwest","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The research finds that first-generation biofuels in the US Midwest result in a disproportionate use of land and resources, with 30–40% of U.S. corn producing only 6% of national transportation energy. The document argues that these fuels drive land use change, increase global greenhouse gas emissions, and cause water degradation, while economic benefits remain concentrated among a small group of stakeholders. It warns that expanding these fuels for aviation could intensify these burdens and undermine long-term climate resilience and equity in Midwestern agriculture.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000176#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"First-generation biofuels in the US Midwest exhibit a significant imbalance between resource input and energy output, with 30–40% of U.S. corn used for biofuels that provide only 6% of national transportation energy.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000176#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The expansion of corn- and soy-based biofuels increases global greenhouse gas emissions by raising the demand for agricultural inputs and displacing food crops.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000176#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Biofuel production creates unequal economic outcomes where benefits are concentrated among a small group of stakeholders, while costs are borne by taxpayers, consumers, and other industries, with small-scale and marginalized farmers benefiting the least.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000176#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The production of first-generation biofuels negatively impacts food security by increasing food prices and exacerbating price volatility.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000176#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"First-generation biofuels reduce the climate resilience of Midwestern communities by amplifying public health challenges and environmental issues, specifically water quality degradation and water stress.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-000176#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["land-use change","greenhouse gas emissions","food security","climate resilience"],"geography_discussed":["United States"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["impact assessment","policy analysis"]}]}