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The report finds that ride-hailing typically increases climate pollution and urban congestion because it displaces lower-carbon travel modes and adds 'deadheading' miles. It argues that the industry must rapidly electrify its fleet and increase ride-pooling to mitigate these effects, while governments should prioritize multimodal transportation and mass transit over car-centric models.

The report analyzes the climate impact of transportation network companies (TNCs) in seven major U.S. cities. It finds that non-pooled ride-hailing trips emit 47% more than private vehicle trips of the same length, largely due to 'deadheading' (driving without passengers). When accounting for the modes of transport that ride-hailing displaces—including mass transit, walking, and biking—typical ride-hailing trips are approximately 69% more polluting than the trips they replace. The analysis suggests that a transition to electric vehicles and an increase in pooling rates to 50% could reduce these emissions by 52% relative to displaced trips.

Minnesota's electric cooperatives, serving 30% of the state's customers, remain tied to coal-fired power plants in North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming through Generation & Transmission (G&T) co-ops. While investor-owned utilities in Minnesota are phasing out coal, these co-ops face 'all-requirements' contracts and long-term fuel agreements that restrict their ability to adopt renewables. Many of these out-of-state plants operate uneconomically, costing customers over $93 million between 2015 and 2017.

The document outlines a framework for scientists to engage with communities disproportionately affected by pollution, emphasizing listening, accessibility, and the navigation of power dynamics to ensure productive advocacy.

The document outlines a series of recommendations for the next U.S. president to reverse the effects of the Trump administration's 'unprecedented attacks on science'. It proposes concrete actions across six key areas: promoting science-based decision-making, strengthening scientific integrity, enforcing transparency, addressing conflicts of interest, safeguarding government scientists, and fostering public participation. Additionally, it suggests protecting democratic processes through campaign finance and voting rights reforms to reduce 'moneyed influence' in government. The author argues that failing to restore independent science risks increased pollution, poor emergency response, and threats to public health and safety.

The document consists of three open letters from members of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The 2025 statement warns that the US scientific enterprise is being 'decimated' by the Trump administration through funding cuts, censorship, and the removal of public access to data. It highlights a 'climate of fear' where researchers remove terms like 'climate change' from papers to avoid funding risks. The 2018 and 2016 letters specifically address the dangers of human-caused climate change and criticize the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, asserting that climate change is a 'physical reality' and that the US risks losing its global leadership and economic edge by ignoring scientific evidence.

A December 2019 poll of 1,000 Toyota owners indicates that the company's decision to join a lawsuit against vehicle emissions standards significantly damaged its brand favorability and customer loyalty. While initial favorability was high, 81% of owners believe Toyota should support stronger pollution standards. After learning about the lawsuit and the fact that Toyota's fleet emissions worsened from 2012 to 2017, favorability dropped from 98% to 66%, and the percentage of owners who would definitely purchase another Toyota fell from 78% to 47%.

The document examines the potential of 'flexible demand'—shifting the timing of electricity use—to support a clean energy transition. It contrasts this with traditional demand response, highlighting how advanced metering and smart technology can align consumption with renewable energy production, reduce the need for natural gas 'ramp' plants, and avoid costly infrastructure upgrades. The author identifies key flexible end uses, such as electric vehicle charging and space heating, and proposes three mobilization models: behavioral, price-exposed, and subscription-enrolled. It concludes with recommendations for regulators to align utility incentives and ensure equitable program design.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that the Trump administration engaged in unprecedented attacks on science, including censorship and the sidelining of experts. The report proposes a blueprint for the next administration based on three principles: independent science, transparent decisionmaking, and scientific free speech. Key recommendations include codifying scientific integrity policies, reforming the federal advisory committee system, curbing conflicts of interest for political appointees, and expanding whistleblower protections. It also addresses broader democratic threats, such as 'dark money' in politics and voting rights restrictions, as interconnected issues affecting public health and safety.

The Union of Concerned Scientists projects that without reductions in carbon emissions, US military installations will face a significant increase in days with a heat index above 100°F by midcentury, potentially increasing the rate of heat-related illnesses (HRIs). The report highlights that basic training recruits are particularly vulnerable and that installations in Florida are projected to be among the most affected. To address these risks, the memo recommends increased funding for HRI research, the establishment of an expert working group, improved training on acclimatization, and a transition toward renewable energy to limit future warming.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and 660 residents oppose Eversource's plan to install a high-voltage substation in East Boston. They cite the site's proximity to an 8 million-gallon jet fuel tank and a playground, as well as the risk of chronic inundation by 2100 due to sea level rise. The UCS contends that Eversource has not provided transparent data or a cost-benefit analysis of cleaner, more resilient alternatives, and requests that the Energy Facilities Siting Board withhold approval until these requirements are met.

A coalition of scientists and health experts is calling on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to implement a more stringent Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule. The authors argue that heavy-duty vehicles are disproportionately polluting, contributing significantly to global warming and public health crises, particularly in communities of color. They specifically criticize CARB's current proposal, which would result in zero-emissions vehicles making up only 4 percent of trucks on California roads by 2030, and advocate for higher sales standards to accelerate the transition from diesel to zero-emissions technologies.

The document advocates for a transition to cleaner transportation fuels in the US Midwest, highlighting the region's leadership in biofuels and wind energy. It proposes clean fuels standards as a mechanism to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation, promote higher ethanol blends, and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

The report examines the technical and economic feasibility of electrifying heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) in the US, highlighting their potential to significantly reduce NOx, PM2.5, and greenhouse gas emissions. It argues that current battery technology is sufficient for the majority of HDV operating ranges and that total cost of ownership is becoming competitive with diesel. The document recommends a combination of financial incentives, infrastructure investment, and regulatory standards to drive the transition.

The document outlines the methodology and data used to analyze pesticide application rates and heat index exposure for farmworkers in the US. It details the use of USGS and NASS data to identify high-risk pesticides and calculate heat index days, providing specific state-level and county-level data for California, Florida, and Washington.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) reports that 88 major carbon producers contributed more than half of the increase in ocean acidification and about half of the global temperature rise from 1880 to 2015. The document highlights that these companies, including investor-owned firms like ExxonMobil and Chevron, were aware of the climate risks of their products as early as 1965 but engaged in campaigns to sow doubt. It argues that these entities should be held financially responsible for climate-related damages, such as the $2 billion in additional costs attributed to sea level rise during Hurricane Sandy in New York City.

A survey of registered voters across five U.S. states reveals significant concern over extreme weather, trade wars, and water pollution as threats to agriculture. There is broad support for government programs that help farmers build "living soil" and protect soil health, with a majority of respondents indicating they would be more likely to support a political candidate proposing such measures.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that energy storage can provide direct public health, economic, and resilience benefits to underserved communities if policymakers intentionally design targets, incentives, and utility planning processes to prioritize equity. The brief highlights the potential for storage to replace polluting 'peaker' plants, reduce demand charges for low-income residents, and maintain critical services during disasters, while warning that these outcomes require explicit policy mandates and stakeholder engagement.

The report examines the vulnerability of approximately 2.4 million US farmworkers to the combined risks of pesticide exposure and extreme heat. It argues that climate change increases these risks by expanding pest ranges and increasing the frequency of dangerous heat days. Focusing on California, Florida, and Washington, the report highlights a lack of federal heat standards and inconsistent pesticide safety enforcement. It recommends federal OSHA heat standards, the extension of labor protections like minimum wage and overtime to farmworkers, and a transition toward agroecological farming systems to reduce pesticide dependence.

The report argues that a negative feedback loop exists in the United States where restrictive voting laws and partisan gerrymandering insulate legislators from accountability, leading to the adoption of policies that exacerbate public health disparities. Using data from America's Health Rankings and the Cost of Voting Index, the author finds that states with greater partisan bias and higher barriers to voting are associated with lower life expectancy and more severe health declines between 2010 and 2017. Specifically, the report links extreme gerrymandering to higher increases in opioid deaths among African Americans in high-poverty states and higher infant mortality for non-Hispanic black communities. To break this cycle, the document recommends reforms to reduce the costs of eligibility (such as automatic voter registration), reduce the costs of casting a vote (such as early in-person voting), and protect the equal value of votes through independent redistricting commissions and public campaign financing.