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Brazil significantly reduced Amazon deforestation from an average of 19,508 km² per year (1996–2005) to 6,451 km² in 2009–2010, a 67 percent drop. This achievement, supported by Norway's financial contributions under the REDD+ framework, resulted in an estimated reduction of nearly 1 billion tons of global warming pollution. Brazil achieved these results through expanded protected areas, reinforced indigenous land rights, and stricter enforcement of logging laws, all while increasing agricultural production of beef and soy and reducing poverty through social programs like Fome Zero and Bolsa Familia.

The report finds that beef production accounts for approximately 2.2% of total U.S. global warming emissions. While improving forage quality could reduce methane emissions from pasture beef by 15% to 30%, the overall impact on U.S. emissions would be less than 0.5%. However, well-managed pastures offer significant carbon sequestration potential, potentially offsetting 0.1% to 2% of annual U.S. heat-trapping emissions. The document compares pasture-finishing systems with confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), noting that while CAFOs often have higher feed efficiency, pastures generally sequester more carbon. The author recommends that the USDA expand research into nutritious pasture crops and provide incentive payments for best management practices.

The report analyzes the climate impact of U.S. beef production, noting that beef cattle and stored manure account for 18 percent of U.S. methane emissions. It argues that while improving forage quality and pasture management can reduce methane emissions by 15 to 30 percent, the overall impact on total U.S. global warming emissions would be less than 0.5 percent. The document compares pasture-raised systems with confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), highlighting that while CAFOs offer faster weight gain and higher feed efficiency, well-managed pastures sequester more carbon. It recommends that the USDA expand research into nutritious pasture crops and provide incentive payments for practices that curb emissions and boost carbon sequestration.

The report argues that the nuclear power industry has relied on extensive taxpayer and ratepayer subsidies for over 50 years, which mask the true costs of production and shift significant financial, safety, and environmental risks to the public. It finds that legacy subsidies for the first generation of reactors often exceeded the value of the power produced, and that new reactors are poised to repeat this pattern with projected subsidies ranging from 70% to 200% of their power value. The author recommends reducing nuclear subsidies, implementing technology-neutral competitive bidding for low-carbon energy, and modernizing liability and waste management systems to internalize costs.

The report argues that the U.S. nuclear power industry has relied on extensive taxpayer and ratepayer subsidies for over 50 years, which often exceed the value of the energy produced. It details how these subsidies shift construction, operating, and long-term risks—such as waste management and accident liability—from private investors to the public. The document concludes that continuing this pattern with new reactors would be an expensive 'leap of faith' that could divert resources from more cost-effective climate change mitigation options.

The executive summary outlines the role of tropical forests in global warming, contributing approximately 15 percent of annual emissions. It advocates for the REDD+ framework to incentivize the conservation and restoration of forests in developing nations. The text highlights specific strategies for carbon sequestration, such as simulating natural regeneration in secondary forests, reduced-impact logging, and community forestry. It recommends national-level accounting baselines and international financial incentives to ensure that emissions reductions are additional and that local communities and biodiversity are protected.

A statement from 2,505 scientists supporting the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act to protect public health and address climate change.

The document presents data on the freshwater requirements of U.S. power plants, highlighting that coal and nuclear power are the primary consumers of freshwater for cooling. It details the distribution of cooling systems across the U.S. and identifies specific watersheds where power plant water use significantly impacts the Water Stress Index (WaSSI).

The report concludes that AB 32 will have a minimal economic impact on the City of Chula Vista and similar California municipalities. Direct energy cost increases are projected to be small, with the 'Conservative case' estimating that the budget could be restored by collecting just $1.97 more per resident annually by 2020. Indirect macroeconomic effects, including changes in employment and output, are estimated to be less than 1%. The authors argue that these impacts are negligible compared to the budget shocks caused by the 2007 economic downturn and the potential long-term costs of climate change inaction.

The study finds that AB 32 is expected to have a minimal economic impact on Chula Vista and similar California cities because energy expenditures constitute a small portion of local budgets. While clean energy policies may slightly increase energy prices, the direct and indirect costs are projected to be very low; for Chula Vista, the budget gap by 2020 could be covered by collecting $1.97 more per resident annually. The analysis notes that these findings are conservative, as they do not account for potential job creation from clean energy or the high costs of climate change adaptation if emissions are not reduced.

The document asserts that tropical deforestation is now "enterprise-driven," fueled by the expansion of cattle ranching, soybean production, and oil palm plantations to serve urban and export markets. It highlights that this process is responsible for approximately 15 percent of global warming pollution. The author argues that because deforestation is driven by business interests and distant consumer demand, it can be mitigated through political pressure on industries and financial mechanisms like REDD+, without harming poor farmers.

The report identifies growing risks to the space environment, including space debris and the development of anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities, which threaten critical civil, commercial, and military infrastructure. It argues that unilateral 'space dominance' is unrealistic and counterproductive, advocating instead for international cooperation, transparency, and a shift toward 'smart planning' to ensure mission assurance. The authors propose ten steps for the Obama administration, including pledging not to be the first to station weapons in space, modifying restrictive export controls, and establishing a high-level expert panel to improve space situational awareness.

The report outlines how tropical forests can be transitioned from net carbon emitters to net sinks through the REDD+ framework. It details specific reforestation, restoration, and sustainable production forestry techniques, while emphasizing the necessity of 'additional' carbon benefits beyond business-as-usual baselines. The authors argue that achieving zero net emissions by 2030 requires a combination of reducing deforestation and scaling up sequestration activities, supported by international financial incentives and national policies that protect biodiversity and the rights of indigenous and local communities.

The document details three primary cooling methods for thermoelectric power plants in the US: once-through, wet-recirculating, and dry-cooling. It highlights that while once-through systems have high water withdrawals and wet-recirculating systems have higher consumption, dry-cooling can reduce water consumption by over 90% despite higher costs and lower efficiencies. As of 2008, recirculating systems were the most common in terms of both generator count (56%) and electricity generation (45%).

The Union of Concerned Scientists' 2010 rankings identify Honda as the greenest automaker for model year 2008, followed closely by Toyota and Hyundai. The report highlights a significant performance gap between these leaders and the 'Detroit Three' (Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler), who consistently rank at the bottom due to lower fuel economy and higher emissions. While government standards have improved smog-forming emissions across the industry, global warming emissions remain a key differentiator. The analysis also examines the impact of hybrid and flexible-fuel vehicles, noting that while Toyota's Prius significantly improves its overall score, flexible-fuel vehicles often serve as a loophole for automakers to meet fuel economy requirements without providing real-world environmental benefits.

The Union of Concerned Scientists' 2010 Automaker Rankings evaluate eight major car companies using government data from model year 2008. Honda is ranked as the greenest automaker, while Chrysler is identified as the most polluting for the fourth time in ten years. The assessment emphasizes that overall environmental performance depends on cleaning up entire fleets, including high-volume sellers, rather than relying on a few niche green models.

The document outlines the critical role of water in electricity generation, fuel extraction, refining, transportation, and emissions control. It distinguishes between water withdrawal and consumption, noting that electric power generation accounts for nearly 40 percent of US freshwater withdrawals. The text also highlights environmental risks, including thermal pollution, acid rock drainage, and toxic contamination from coal, while noting that wind and solar power have minimal water impacts.

This report lists specific instances of radioactively contaminated water leaks, spills, and overflows at numerous US nuclear facilities. The events range from small spills of a few gallons to large-scale leaks of hundreds of thousands of gallons, often involving tritium. Common causes include equipment failure, operator error, and pipe degradation, with contamination affecting soil, storm drains, and nearby water bodies such as the Mississippi River, Lake Michigan, and the Connecticut River.

The document catalogs numerous instances of radioactive water leaks and spills at US nuclear power plants, detailing events such as tank overflows, pipe ruptures, and the detection of tritium in groundwater. It lists specific units, dates, and the nature of the contamination, including the volume of water released and the remediation steps taken, such as soil excavation.

The Union of Concerned Scientists conducted a survey of 1,710 FDA and USDA employees to investigate scientific integrity in the U.S. food safety system. The findings reveal significant levels of political and corporate interference, with 34% of respondents reporting at least one incident of political interference in the past year. Nearly half of respondents reported that public health was harmed by businesses withholding safety information. While employees generally expressed job satisfaction and believed agencies were moving in the right direction, they highlighted a critical lack of resources at the FDA and a fragmented regulatory structure. The report argues for executive branch reforms to protect scientists and legislative updates to grant agencies more authority, such as mandated recalls and enhanced import surveillance.