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1,285 documents from Union of Concerned Scientists added on 23 October 2026
Safeguarding Soil
The document highlights the critical role of soil health in the US food system and the negative impacts of decades of short-sighted farm policies. It details the economic and environmental costs of soil erosion and degradation, including water pollution and increased vulnerability to extreme weather. The brief proposes a transition to practices such as cover cropping and no-till farming to sequester carbon and improve resilience, while recommending specific policy shifts in financial incentives, research funding, and technical assistance.
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Document type: Policy brief
Scientists letter to EPA
The document is a formal letter from a multidisciplinary group of experts urging the EPA to maintain strong fuel efficiency and emissions standards rather than adopting the proposed SAFE Vehicles Rule, which they argue would harm the climate, public health, and the economy.
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Document type: Statement
Rescinding the Executive Order on Evaluating and Improving the Utility of Federal Advisory Committees
The document argues that the Executive Order on Evaluating and Improving the Utility of Federal Advisory Committees arbitrarily reduces essential expert advice and public transparency without providing a sufficient rationale or evidence of cost savings.
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Document type: Statement
Abandoned Science, Broken Promises
The report argues that the Trump administration has systematically undermined science-based decision-making, which exacerbates existing environmental and health inequities for marginalized communities. It documents rollbacks in air and water pollution enforcement, the suppression of scientific data, and the dismantling of social safety nets and community participation programs. The document provides specific examples of these failures, such as the refusal to ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos and the suppression of PFAS contamination data, while highlighting state and local victories where communities have successfully pushed back against these trends.
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Document type: Report
EPA stops collecting data on pollutants released by farms
The EPA, under administrator Andrew Wheeler, stopped collecting data on ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions from large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in June 2019. This policy, which faced opposition from 99 percent of 87,473 public comments, removes a reporting requirement for farms emitting 100 pounds or more of these pollutants daily. The document asserts that this lack of data hinders the ability of emergency responders and communities—particularly low-income communities and communities of color—to protect themselves from health risks associated with CAFOs, such as respiratory issues and elevated blood pressure.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Climate Impacts in Early Primary States
The document details regional climate threats in four early primary states, emphasizing that rapid federal action to reduce emissions can significantly mitigate extreme heat, flooding, and economic loss. It highlights specific vulnerabilities such as agricultural productivity in Iowa, tidal flooding in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and water scarcity in Nevada, while advocating for national policies including carbon pricing and clean energy standards.
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Document type: Fact sheet
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Reauthorization
The document is a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs advocating for a robust reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The authors argue that reforms must be based on the latest science and lessons from catastrophic flooding to ensure the program's long-term viability. They highlight critical gaps in the House bill H.R. 3167, including the need for better management of repetitive loss properties, risk-based rate phasing, and affordability protections for low-income households. Additionally, the letter calls for the resolution of FEMA's $20.5 billion debt to the US Treasury and the implementation of a private insurance fee to support flood risk management functions.
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Document type: Statement
climate-risk-disclosure-sign-on-2019-c59b69ae4a8bf399.pdf
Thirty-three organizations support the Climate Risk Disclosure Act of 2019, arguing that standardized climate risk reporting by the Securities and Exchange Commission is essential for investor protection, financial stability, and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
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Document type: Statement
Champions of Breakfast
The report examines the environmental impact of US grain production, specifically for breakfast cereals, and proposes that the four companies controlling 86% of the $8.5 billion US market can catalyze a shift toward regenerative agriculture. Through three scenarios based on Iowa State University research, the authors demonstrate that sourcing grains from sustainable rotations (including oats and cover crops) can significantly reduce soil erosion, nitrogen runoff, and nitrous oxide emissions. The document recommends a combination of corporate sourcing commitments and state/federal policy support to help farmers overcome the up-front costs of transitioning to these practices.
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Document type: Report
Killer Heat in the United States
The report analyzes future extreme heat in the US, finding that a 'no action' emissions scenario would lead to a staggering increase in dangerously hot days, particularly in the Sunbelt and Midwest, while rapid action could significantly limit these risks.
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Document type: Report
White House suppressed science congressional testimony
White House officials prevented Rod Schoonover, a senior analyst at the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, from submitting written testimony to the House Intelligence Committee because it contained scientific information on climate change. Despite the hearing's focus on the national security implications of climate change, officials from the Office of Legislative Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, and the National Security Council removed sections titled "Scientific Baseline" and "Stresses to Human and Societal Systems." The document asserts that this suppression was driven by a desire to align testimony with the Trump administration's positions and was supported by climate science deniers like William Happer. The suppression included the removal of data from the IPCC, NASA, and NOAA, with White House officials characterizing scientific consensus as "climate-alarm propaganda."
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Document type: Fact sheet
Who Bears the Burden?
The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis reveals that Asian American, African American, and Latino residents in Massachusetts face significantly higher exposure to PM2.5 from cars, trucks, and buses than white residents. This disparity is attributed to historical decisions regarding transportation, housing, and land use. The document advocates for prioritizing clean transportation technologies—such as electric vehicles and buses—and infrastructure improvements in the most burdened communities to reduce health inequities.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Who Bears the Burden?
The analysis finds that Latino, Asian American, and African American residents in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are exposed to significantly higher levels of vehicle-related PM2.5 pollution than white residents. The report highlights that white residents comprise 85% of those in the lowest pollution areas, while people of color are overrepresented in the most polluted census tracts, often located near major highways in urban centers. The document argues for targeted investments in clean transportation, such as electric vehicles and buses, to reduce these environmental inequities.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Who Bears the Burden?
The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that Asian American, Latino, and African American residents in New York State are exposed to significantly higher levels of vehicle-derived PM2.5 pollution than white residents. The highest concentrations are found in New York City, particularly in the West Bronx, where pollution is linked to severe health risks including cardiovascular disease and asthma. The document argues that these inequities result from historical land-use and transportation decisions and recommends prioritizing electric vehicle infrastructure, cleaner fuels, and expanded public transit in the most burdened communities.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Principles of Equitable Policy Design for Energy Storage
The Union of Concerned Scientists and a coalition of stakeholders established six policy principles for energy storage to ensure the transition to clean energy benefits disadvantaged and frontline communities. These principles focus on reducing emissions, improving disaster resilience, promoting local economic development through job training, accelerating renewable energy deployment, protecting consumers from high costs, and ensuring transparent community participation in project planning.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Electric Utility Investment in Truck and Bus Charging
The document argues that electric utilities are critical partners in the transition to electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. It recommends three primary investment models—make-ready, end-to-end ownership, and rebate incentives—and suggests restructuring commercial rates to eliminate or reduce demand charges. The guide emphasizes prioritizing disadvantaged communities burdened by air pollution and implementing 'managed charging' to optimize grid stability and integrate renewable energy.
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Document type: Guide
FACT SHEET
The Union of Concerned Scientists asserts that the United States has the lowest electoral integrity among advanced industrial democracies, which undermines the ability to create science-based policies. The report links voter suppression and gerrymandering to poor public health and environmental outcomes, citing examples in Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Texas. It advocates for reforms such as automatic voter registration, nonpartisan redistricting, and public campaign financing to reduce the influence of 'dark money' and corporate interests on government decision-making.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Four Facts You Need to Know Electric Vehicle Benefits for Colorado
The document highlights that EVs in Colorado produce significantly lower emissions than gasoline cars, with an average of 2.71 metric tons of CO2e per year compared to 4.9 metric tons. It notes substantial fuel savings for drivers, particularly in rural areas where savings can reach $602, and cites a 71 percent increase in Colorado EV sales between 2017 and 2018. The text advocates for the extension of federal tax credits and the expansion of Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) programs to lower upfront costs and increase vehicle variety.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Four Facts You Need to Know Electric Vehicle Benefits for Minnesota
The document highlights that EVs in Minnesota produce significantly lower global warming emissions than gasoline cars, with an average of 2.5 metric tons of CO2e per year compared to 4.9 metric tons. It notes that rural Minnesota drivers can save an average of $750 on fuel, while home charging in Minneapolis is equivalent to paying $0.67 per gallon of gasoline. EV sales in the state grew by 103 percent between 2017 and 2018. The report advocates for extending federal tax credits, implementing purchase incentives, and expanding the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program to further support the market.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Building Equitable, Clean, and Climate-Safe Infrastructure
The policy memo outlines a framework for federal infrastructure investments in the United States, emphasizing the need to modernize the electric grid, accelerate offshore wind and battery storage, and implement 'climate-ready' design standards. It advocates for targeting investments toward underserved communities and displaced fossil fuel workers to ensure an equitable transition to a low-carbon economy.
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Document type: Policy brief