Search Climate Insights Directory

The document estimates that providing comprehensive supports—including wage replacement, education, and relocation allowances—for dislocated coal workers in the U.S. would cost between $33 billion over 25 years and $83 billion over 15 years. It details the methodology used to calculate the number of affected workers, utilizing 2019 data to identify 52,804 coal miners and an estimated 37,071 power plant workers. The analysis assumes a total coal phaseout between 2030 and 2040, focusing on 'dislocated' workers who will not reach retirement age by the end of the transition.

The document argues that the US shift away from coal has occurred without adequate planning, leaving workers and communities to face economic upheaval. It proposes a support package including wage replacement, educational benefits, and community infrastructure investments, estimating the cost between $33 billion and $83 billion. The brief identifies 462 'coal counties' and highlights the need for environmental remediation of mine and plant legacies to enable future economic diversification.

The Union of Concerned Scientists concludes that most non-light-water reactor (NLWR) designs do not offer sufficient improvements over light-water reactors (LWRs) to justify their increased safety and proliferation risks. The report argues that NLWRs, including sodium-cooled fast reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, and molten salt-fueled reactors, are technologically immature and unlikely to be commercialized in time to significantly impact the climate crisis. It recommends that the US Department of Energy suspend the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program until the Nuclear Regulatory Commission determines if full-scale prototype testing is required for safety validation.

The document examines the limitations of current US federal EV tax credits, which primarily benefit high-income households, and proposes reforms such as point-of-sale rebates, used-EV incentives, and income-tiered programs to accelerate adoption among low- and moderate-income communities.

The document identifies significant gaps in US EV charging infrastructure and proposes federal interventions—including research, financial incentives, and building code mandates—to support the goal of 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035, emphasizing the need to address racial and economic inequities in access.

The report argues that most non-light-water reactors (NLWRs) do not provide significant enough improvements over light-water reactors (LWRs) to justify their associated safety, security, and proliferation risks. It specifically evaluates sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), and molten salt reactors (MSRs), finding that claims regarding 'burning' nuclear waste are oversimplified and that the timelines for commercialization are often unrealistic. The author recommends that the US Department of Energy (DOE) prioritize improving existing LWR technology over pursuing immature NLWR designs.

The document details the use of the RESOLVE model and the Clean System Power Calculator to evaluate seven scenarios regarding the retirement of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. It focuses on three global warming emissions targets (46 MMT, 38 MMT, and 30 MMT) by 2030 and compares the effects of a 2025 shutdown versus a 20-year extension to 2045. The analysis specifically aims to estimate the resources needed to replace nuclear capacity without increasing emissions and to calculate the resulting differences in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions.

The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that California's current electricity sector planning is insufficient to replace the zero-emissions energy from the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, which is scheduled for retirement in 2024 and 2025. Without further action, the state faces a cumulative increase of 15.5 million metric tons of global warming emissions over the next decade, as existing natural gas plants fill the gap. The report recommends adopting a more ambitious 30 MMT emissions target by 2030 to guarantee full replacement and accelerate decarbonization.

The document examines the critical materials required for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), highlighting the risks associated with concentrated mineral reserves and the environmental and human rights impacts of mining. It argues that while BEVs significantly reduce life cycle global warming emissions compared to gasoline vehicles, scaling their production requires a transition toward a circular economy. The author emphasizes that widespread recycling could meet 30% to 40% of the US material demand for passenger BEVs by 2035. The text identifies significant barriers to this transition, including a lack of recycling infrastructure—with fewer than a dozen global facilities—and a lack of comprehensive regulatory frameworks. It recommends policy actions such as setting recycled content targets, standardizing battery labeling, and enforcing international labor and environmental standards for mining.

The Union of Concerned Scientists' toolkit outlines a framework for strengthening science advocacy by building solidarity with marginalized groups, adopting anti-racist practices, and leveraging community-led research to influence policy and combat misinformation.

The document provides the technical appendix for a study on federal investments in sustainable nutrition science. It describes the use of the NIH Federal RePORTER database to identify projects that simultaneously address food production, human nutrition, and environmental or climate impacts. The analysis identified 53 unique projects meeting these criteria, with reported funding totaling $41.1 million over the 2016–2019 period. It also catalogues federal recommendations from 2010 to 2021 urging a shift toward interdisciplinary, systems-based research to integrate sustainability into nutrition policy and food systems.

Highland Park could be 100% powered by local clean energy resources through a combination of rooftop solar (30%), distributed solar (33%), community solar (6%), and energy efficiency (25%), alongside a Community Water and Energy Resource Center. An analysis suggests that installing nearly 44 MW of solar in Highland Park would save approximately $23 million. Achieving this requires the State of Michigan to eliminate solar restrictions and improve compensation, while the City of Highland Park must enact solar ordinances and develop local energy businesses.

The report evaluates three policy scenarios for transitioning New Jersey's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). The most ambitious scenario, '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid', projects cumulative net societal benefits of over $21 billion by 2050, including 303 avoided premature deaths and 325 fewer hospital visits. While ZEVs currently have higher purchase costs, the analysis predicts lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2030. The transition is expected to generate national macroeconomic gains in GDP and higher-paying jobs in electrical manufacturing and infrastructure, although net job gains may reverse by 2045 due to reduced fuel and maintenance spending. Implementation would require significant investment in depot and public charging infrastructure, with the 100 x 40 ZEV scenario requiring an average of $73 million annually for depot charging and $46 million for public networks.

The report analyzes the transition of New York's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) under three scenarios: the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Rule, the ACT Rule plus the NOx Omnibus Rule, and a highly ambitious '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. The findings indicate that while ZEVs have higher initial purchase costs, they achieve lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2030. The most aggressive scenario is projected to generate over $36 billion in cumulative net societal benefits by 2050, including significant reductions in premature deaths and greenhouse gas emissions. The transition is expected to have positive macroeconomic effects on the U.S., including net job gains and GDP growth, while potentially lowering electricity rates for New York residents and businesses due to increased utility net revenue.

The report evaluates three policy scenarios for Oregon's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) truck fleet: the adoption of California's Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, the addition of the NOx Omnibus Rule, and a more aggressive '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. The most ambitious scenario projects cumulative net societal benefits of $35.6 billion by 2050, including 186 avoided premature deaths and $1.9 billion in annual fleet cost savings. While ZEVs currently have higher purchase costs, the analysis suggests they will reach lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2030. The transition is expected to have positive macroeconomic effects on national jobs and GDP, and could reduce residential electricity rates in Oregon by up to 3.7% by 2050 due to increased utility net revenue.

The analysis models three policy scenarios for Southern New England, ranging from the adoption of California's Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule to a more aggressive '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. The findings indicate that transitioning the M/HD fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) would yield significant net societal benefits, including reduced premature deaths, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and long-term cost savings for fleets and electricity customers. While initial purchase costs for ZEVs are higher, the report projects lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2035. Macroeconomic analysis suggests the transition would result in national net job gains and increased GDP, with new jobs in electrical component manufacturing and infrastructure construction offering higher average wages than the jobs they replace.

The authors argue that the Trump Administration exploited ambiguities in conflict-of-interest rules to sideline scientists and prioritize industry interests. To counter this, they recommend establishing statutory job qualifications for high-level positions, closing 'revolving door' loopholes, and creating firewalls between political staff and agency scientists. They also propose reforming the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to prevent the appointment of conflicted members and enhancing the transparency of the scientific peer review process. Finally, the paper calls for strengthening the independence of Inspectors General and granting the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) investigative authority to ensure effective enforcement of ethics laws.

The document is a map identifying various pollution sources in Kansas City, including Air Pollution Sources, Water Pollution Sources, Legacy Pollution Sources, and Other Pollution Sources. It specifically plots Toxics Release Inventory Sites, Superfunds, Brownfields, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System sites alongside population density and the highway system.

The report analyzes the transition of Washington's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) under three scenarios: the ACT Rule, the ACT + NOx Omnibus Rule, and a highly ambitious '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. The most aggressive scenario is projected to generate cumulative net societal benefits of over $42.8 billion by 2050, including significant reductions in premature deaths and greenhouse gas emissions. While ZEVs currently have higher purchase costs, the analysis predicts lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2030. The transition is expected to benefit electric utilities through increased revenue and potentially lower electricity rates for residential and commercial customers, while creating national job gains in electrical component manufacturing and infrastructure construction.

The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that USGS Director James Reilly edited the agency's operational manual to push climate models that ignore worst-case scenarios and limit projection timeframes. Internal reviewers and scientists claim this action violates scientific integrity policies, lacks peer review, and employs 'bad science' that could hamper the government's ability to respond to climate threats.