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The document details the positive outcomes of institutional food procurement policies, showing that local sourcing increases regional economic output and job creation. It highlights environmental benefits, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and water use through meat reduction, and projects significant health improvements—including lower sodium intake and reduced risks of type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer—for students and adults in Los Angeles County. Additionally, it analyzes the increasing availability of antibiotic-free chicken in the US supply chain and compares the cost of procuring such meat against the high medical costs of treating antibiotic-resistant infections.

The document details a campaign by scientists and lawmakers to pressure the American Geophysical Union (AGU) to end its sponsorship relationship with ExxonMobil, which provided over $620,000 between 2001 and 2015. While AGU initially refused to cut ties in April 2016, citing an inability to unequivocally determine current misinformation, ExxonMobil was absent from the 2016 fall meeting sponsor list. The text notes that AGU continues to accept funding from other fossil fuel companies, such as Chevron.

The report evaluates the US coal fleet's economic viability against alternatives like natural gas and renewables, finding that 38% of the 2016 fleet faces an uncertain near-term future due to being either uneconomic or announced for retirement. It also estimates that emissions reductions from 2008 to 2016 provided $250 billion in public health and climate benefits. A proximity analysis indicates that while many coal plants are located in low-income and minority communities, the demographic distribution of the fleet has not changed significantly during the transition.

A survey of 176 experts reveals that while there is strong scientific support for agroecology, researchers face significant barriers, including a lack of public funding and pressure from entrenched financial interests. The report advocates for the USDA to prioritize interdisciplinary research, extend grant durations, and explicitly incorporate social justice and racial equity into its funding requests.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that New Mexico should strengthen its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 80 percent by 2040 to ensure a cost-effective transition from coal to clean energy. Modeling shows that renewables are the most economically favorable choice, offering significant capital investment, job growth, and public health benefits without substantially increasing consumer electricity costs. The report warns against utility plans to overinvest in natural gas, which could lead to stranded assets and higher climate risks.

The document outlines the technical framework for analyzing New Mexico's energy transition, comparing a 'business-as-usual' baseline against a strengthened renewable portfolio standard (RPS). It specifies the cost, performance, and retirement assumptions for various power generation technologies and the economic parameters used to estimate job creation and local revenue from wind, solar, and transmission projects.

The report finds that seven low-income and minority-majority communities in northern New Castle County, Delaware, face significantly higher cancer risks and respiratory hazards from toxic air pollution compared to the state average and a wealthy, predominantly White comparison community. These risks are compounded by the high density of hazardous chemical facilities, Superfund sites, and Brownfields in these areas, particularly in Southbridge. The authors recommend stricter chemical safety regulations, mandatory fenceline monitoring, and the prevention of siting schools near dangerous facilities to mitigate these disproportionate environmental health burdens.

The report finds that seven communities in northern New Castle County, Delaware—characterized by higher poverty and proportions of people of color—face substantially higher cancer and respiratory health risks than the affluent, predominantly White community of Greenville and the state average. These risks are driven by toxic air pollutants, specifically formaldehyde and acrolein, and proximity to high-risk chemical facilities and contaminated waste sites. The document recommends stricter chemical safety regulations, enhanced fenceline monitoring, and the implementation of comprehensive health-impact assessments to address these environmental justice disparities.

The report argues that reintegrating livestock into diversified cropping systems can improve farmer profits and reduce environmental degradation. Using economic and environmental modeling, it demonstrates that transitioning from corn-soy monocultures to perennial pastures and complex rotations can sequester soil carbon, reduce synthetic fertilizer and fuel use, and lower water footprints. However, the author notes that these systems typically produce less beef per acre, suggesting that the greatest benefits occur when improved management is paired with a reduction in overall beef consumption. The report concludes with policy recommendations for the USDA and Congress to incentivize regenerative practices through conservation programs, crop insurance reform, and increased agroecological research.

The document contends that maintaining strong fuel economy and emissions standards for passenger vehicles is essential for protecting US consumers and the broader economy from volatile oil prices. It highlights a historical period between 1982 and 2006 where a lack of updated standards led to stagnating fuel economy and increased vulnerability to price shocks, contributing to the Great Recession. The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that current standards will net the public over $400 billion by 2030 and increase GDP by $25–$30 billion, while creating 650,000 full-time jobs. Furthermore, it argues that these standards benefit automakers by providing a hedge against price fluctuations, warning that weakening them could cost the 'Detroit Three' over $1 billion if gas prices return to $4 per gallon.

The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a regional emissions limit for the Northeast US transportation sector, modeled after the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) for electricity. The document highlights that transportation is the region's largest pollution source, contributing over 40% of global warming emissions and causing significant health costs. It recommends a cap-and-invest strategy to hold oil companies accountable and fund clean mobility solutions, including electric vehicles and expanded public transit.

The document explains the requirements of California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), detailing the components of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) and the role of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). It identifies six 'undesirable results' that plans must avoid, such as land subsidence and seawater intrusion, and explains the technical tools used to manage these, including water budgets and hydrologic models. The guide emphasizes the subjective nature of 'sustainability' and provides a framework for stakeholders to engage in the planning process, set minimum thresholds, and collaborate with technical experts to ensure plans reflect community values.

The document explains the framework of California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which requires local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to achieve groundwater sustainability by 2040 (or 2042 for low-priority basins). It details the four main components of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP): basin description, sustainable goals to avoid six 'undesirable outcomes', management projects, and monitoring plans. The guide emphasizes that sustainability is a social and technical definition determined by local community values. It provides a framework for understanding water budgets and hydrological models, stressing the need for open-source software and the integration of community values into technical data. Finally, it outlines pathways for public engagement, such as joining GSA boards or advisory committees, and lists critical questions to ensure transparency and accountability in the planning process.

The document asserts that vehicle efficiency standards save money for all drivers, with the greatest impact on low- and middle-income households who spend a larger share of their income on transportation. It highlights that improvements from 1980 to 2014 saved average middle-income households up to $17,000, and forecasts that 2017–2025 standards could save the average new car buyer $6,000 over the life of a 2025 vehicle. The text warns that weakening these standards, as pursued by the Trump administration, risks the goal of doubling average fuel efficiency by 2025 and could lead to the U.S. spending nearly $2 billion daily on 'dirtier, harder-to-reach oil'.

The document details findings from a study published in Climatic Change that attributes specific percentages of global warming and sea level rise to the largest carbon producers. It highlights that the 90 largest producers contributed 57% of the atmospheric carbon dioxide rise since 1880, while 50 investor-owned companies were responsible for roughly 16% of the temperature increase and 11% of sea level rise over the same period. The text argues that these companies knew of the risks as early as 1965 but chose to misinform the public.

The document asserts that federal fuel efficiency standards save American consumers money and reduce oil use and pollution. It highlights that low- and middle-income households benefit most because they spend a larger share of their income on transportation. The text refutes claims that these standards make vehicles unaffordable, attributing rising new vehicle prices to a shift toward luxury SUVs and pickup trucks. It also notes strong public support for these standards across political lines and warns that reevaluating them risks the goal of nearly doubling average fuel efficiency by 2025.

The document advocates for the preservation of US federal fuel efficiency and emissions standards, asserting that these regulations save consumers money on gasoline and reduce pollution. It emphasizes that low- and middle-income households benefit most from these savings, as they spend a larger proportion of their income on transportation. The text challenges industry claims that efficiency standards increase vehicle costs, noting that price increases are driven by the shift toward luxury SUVs and pickups. It also highlights strong public support for these standards across political lines and warns that reversing them would increase spending on expensive, dirty petroleum products.

The document argues that federal fuel economy and emissions standards set by the EPA and NHTSA provide significant financial and environmental benefits to Alabama. It claims that by 2030, the average Alabama household will be $2,650 richer due to gas savings, and the state has already saved $600 million. Environmentally, the standards eliminate emissions equivalent to twice those required to provide electricity to Mobile. The report also links these standards to broader national gains, including an expected increase in GDP by up to $30 billion and the creation of 650,000 full-time jobs by 2030.

The document asserts that federal light-duty vehicle standards set by the EPA and NHTSA in 2012 increase fuel efficiency, reduce oil dependence, and provide financial savings to consumers. In Alaska, these standards have resulted in $90 million in savings to date, with an estimated $4,000 increase in wealth per household by 2030. Environmentally, the standards in Alaska eliminate global warming emissions equivalent to three times those produced by providing electricity to Fairbanks. Nationally, the standards are projected to increase GDP by up to $30 billion and create 650,000 full-time jobs by 2030.

The document argues that federal light-duty vehicle standards set by the EPA and NHTSA in 2012 provide significant financial and environmental advantages to Arizona. By 2030, the average Arizona household is projected to be $2,800 richer due to gas savings. To date, Arizona has saved $680 million, and the standards have eliminated global warming emissions equivalent to twice those required to provide electricity to Tucson. Nationally, these standards are projected to increase GDP by up to $30 billion and create 650,000 full-time jobs by 2030.