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The statement 'Beyond March 4' calls upon the scientific community to take an active role in influencing public policy to mitigate the existential risks posed by the technological revolution. It argues that the complexity of modern technology and government secrecy have eroded democratic oversight, concentrating power in the military and administration. The authors assert that scientists have a unique responsibility to educate the public and evaluate the long-term social and global consequences of technology to ensure human survival.

The document analyzes the decline of coal-fired power in the US, noting that over 20% of the 2016 capacity is uneconomic compared to natural gas. It projects further retirements through 2030 and discusses the economic and environmental implications for local communities.

The document asserts that the Trump administration has systematically undermined scientific integrity and rolled back environmental and public health protections, exacerbating existing inequities for marginalized communities. It highlights a decrease in EPA criminal enforcement, the suppression of health data, and the erosion of social safety nets as key drivers of increased risk for low-income and minority populations.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzes a proposal to increase Illinois's RPS to 35% by 2030 and its EEPS to a 20% reduction in electricity demand by 2025. Using the DOE's ReEDS model, the report finds that these strengthened standards would drive $23 billion in clean energy investment, save consumers $12.1 billion in electricity expenditures through 2030, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 9.3% compared to a scenario with no policies.

The document describes how solar energy can be integrated into farming through solar lighting, heating, photovoltaic (PV) electricity, crop drying, and solar greenhouses. It highlights that solar energy is a practical alternative to fossil fuels and grid electricity, particularly for remote operations, and provides specific examples of cost savings and reliability improvements in livestock and crop production.

The document compiles qualitative feedback from scientists at various U.S. federal agencies and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) on the state of climate research integrity. The responses highlight systemic concerns regarding political interference, funding cuts, and restrictions on public communication, while some scientists express dissenting views on the extent of these issues or the validity of certain climate models.

The document details two environmental justice studies. The first analyzed PM2.5 emissions from natural gas and coal-fired power plants in the Northeast US between 2011 and 2015. The second used GIS buffer analysis to determine if low-income households and people of color live closer to PFAS-contaminated facilities than white or higher-income households in the US and Michigan. Findings for PFAS contamination show that in Michigan, 48.72% of households within five miles of a contaminated site are low-income, compared to 14.51% statewide. Nationally, people of color represent 34.59% of the population within three miles of PFAS sites, compared to 27.03% of the general US population.

The document provides the technical and financial basis for LCOE ranges for electricity generation technologies. It specifies that all technologies are assumed to be online in 2015, with costs expressed in real 2010 dollars over a 20-year recovery period. The analysis incorporates overnight capital costs, fixed charge rates, O&M costs, and fuel price assumptions, while accounting for federal tax credits, loan guarantees for nuclear power, and future carbon prices.

The document details the environmental and economic damages in California resulting from climate change, focusing on sea level rise, drought, public health risks, wildfires, and ecosystem decline.

The document details how fossil fuel companies, including Exxon and Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute (API) knew about the risks of global warming as early as the late 1970s but chose to implement campaigns of disinformation. It highlights internal documents and public contradictions, such as the API's 1998 'Global Climate Science Communications Plan' and public denials by Exxon CEO Lee Raymond, to argue for corporate accountability for climate-related harms.

The document evaluates the EIPC's Carbon Reduction Scenario, which aims to reduce carbon emissions in the Eastern Interconnection by 42% below 2005 levels by 2030. Analysis by Synapse Energy Economics indicates that this scenario achieves these reductions with cumulative ratepayer costs through 2040 nearly identical to a 'Business-as-Usual' approach. The scenario relies on a combination of wind energy, energy efficiency, and expanded interregional transmission, specifically projecting 103 GW of new wind in MISO states to support the broader region. The report argues that regional cooperation and updated, lower costs for wind and solar make these targets highly achievable and potentially 30% cheaper than business-as-usual when carbon costs are valued uniformly.

The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that SUVs and light trucks in the United States have lower fuel economy and higher fatality rates than cars, contributing to higher consumer costs and increased global warming emissions. To address this, the organization designed the 'UCS Guardian' and 'UCS Guardian XSE' prototypes, which utilize existing technologies—such as unibody frames, improved aerodynamics, and electronic stability control—to increase fuel economy and safety. The report suggests that implementing these technologies across the light truck fleet could significantly reduce U.S. oil consumption and save thousands of lives annually.

The document is a social media toolkit designed to help advocates communicate the risks associated with the "Big Ugly Bill." It provides platform-specific posting tips and detailed talking points regarding the repeal of electric vehicle tax credits, cuts to clean energy and nutrition programs, increased spending on a proposed anti-missile system, and attacks on scientific integrity.

This report outlines a national strategy for the United States to transition to a clean energy economy to mitigate global warming. It proposes a combination of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and a cap-and-trade program to achieve significant emissions reductions. The analysis emphasizes the necessity of meeting specific targets by 2020 and 2030 to avoid the most severe climate impacts, while highlighting the potential for these transitions to spur economic growth and job creation.

The Union of Concerned Scientists developed the Climate 2030 Blueprint using a modified version of the National Energy Modeling System (UCS-NEMS) to evaluate a 'Blueprint case' against a 'Reference case'. The Blueprint case centers on a cap-and-trade program starting in 2011, designed to reduce U.S. emissions to 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 56 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. This cap is supported by complementary policies in energy efficiency, electricity generation, and transportation to lower the overall cost of compliance. The analysis incorporates supplemental data on building and industrial efficiency from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and biomass supply curves from the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The report proposes a U.S. cap-and-trade system to limit global warming emissions, citing the success of the 1990 Acid Rain Program. It outlines design criteria including a stringent declining cap, full auctioning of allowances, and the inclusion of all major heat-trapping gases. The author emphasizes that while cap-and-trade is a lynchpin, it must be paired with parallel sector-based policies to be effective.

The report identifies energy efficiency as the most cost-effective strategy for cutting U.S. carbon emissions, focusing on the industrial and building sectors which together account for two-thirds of U.S. carbon emissions. It details technical opportunities such as combined-heat-and-power (CHP) systems, building envelope improvements, and high-efficiency appliances. The document proposes a 'Blueprint' of policies—including efficiency standards, resource standards (EERS), and updated building codes—that could reduce total U.S. energy consumption by 29 percent by 2030. It highlights that while technical potential is high, barriers such as 'split incentives' and high up-front costs persist, requiring coordinated federal and state intervention.

The report argues that the United States can significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by deploying a diverse mix of renewable energy sources, which have the technical potential to meet current electricity needs many times over. It highlights wind, solar, geothermal, bioenergy, and hydropower as key resources, noting that wind and geothermal are already competitive with new coal and natural gas plants in some cases. The document identifies critical barriers to this transition, including the need for a modernized transmission grid, streamlined siting processes, and sustainable biomass harvesting. It proposes a policy package featuring a national renewable electricity standard (RES) ramping up to 40% by 2030, extended tax credits, and increased R&D funding. While discussing carbon capture and storage (CCS) and advanced nuclear power as potential low-carbon supplements, the report notes significant cost uncertainties, infrastructure requirements, and safety risks associated with these technologies.

The Climate 2030 Blueprint proposes a combination of a cap-and-trade program and sector-specific complementary policies to reduce U.S. heat-trapping emissions. The analysis indicates that by 2030, the Blueprint could achieve a 56 percent drop in emissions from 2005 levels while generating net annual savings of $464 billion for consumers and businesses. The electricity sector is identified as the primary driver of these reductions, with significant contributions from energy efficiency and renewable energy. The report also highlights improvements in energy security through reduced oil imports and the potential for carbon sequestration in U.S. forests and farmlands.

The report argues that the United States can technologically and economically achieve deep emission cuts through a multi-pronged strategy. Central to this is a cap-and-trade system with auctioned allowances, which would fund clean energy investments and international forest preservation. The strategy includes implementing energy efficiency resource standards, a national renewable electricity standard of 25% by 2025, and tougher vehicle emission caps. Internationally, it emphasizes the cost-effectiveness of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) in tropical nations. The author asserts that the nation can reduce emissions by at least 35% below 2005 levels by 2020 through domestic action and international funding.