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The document analyzes the U.S. transportation sector's contribution to global warming, noting it is the second-largest source of emissions, primarily driven by light-duty vehicles. It proposes a three-pronged approach: improving vehicle and air conditioning efficiency, transitioning to low-carbon fuels (such as cellulosic biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen), and reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) through smart growth and transit expansion. The report details specific fuel economy targets for 2020 and 2030 and advocates for performance-based emission standards over traditional fuel economy standards to better account for non-CO2 emissions and alternative fuels.

The Union of Concerned Scientists evaluated Chevron on 30 metrics, finding the company's performance ranged from 'fair' to 'egregious'. While Chevron provides detailed analysis of regulatory risks and maintains transparent political spending policies, it is criticized for its affiliations with trade associations that spread climate disinformation, its opposition to climate-related shareholder resolutions, and a lack of specific company-wide targets for emissions reductions aligned with the Paris Agreement.

The Union of Concerned Scientists evaluated Royal Dutch Shell across four metrics: renouncing disinformation, planning for a carbon-free world, supporting climate policies, and disclosing climate risks. While Shell was praised for acknowledging climate science and leaving the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), it was criticized for maintaining ties to trade associations like the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) that spread disinformation. The report also notes that Shell lacks a company-wide emissions reduction plan aligned with specific temperature goals and provides poor disclosure of physical climate risks.

The document examines how climate change, specifically increasing temperatures, creates a 'climate penalty' that elevates ground-level ozone levels despite efforts to reduce precursor emissions. Using the BenMAP model, it estimates the health incidences and economic costs associated with ozone increases of 1 ppb, 2 ppb, and 7 ppb for the years 2020 and 2050 across various U.S. states.

The document details the relationship between rising global temperatures and the formation of ground-level ozone, which is created when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react with heat and sunlight. It highlights that without strong climate policies, respiratory issues such as asthma attacks could increase by 11.8 million annual incidences by 2050. The text emphasizes the disproportionate impact on children, the elderly, and Latino populations in the U.S., noting that nearly half of the U.S. population lives in areas with unhealthy ozone levels.

The document argues that the costs of failing to reduce carbon emissions in the United States are prohibitive, citing projected damages to coastal infrastructure, public health, water resources, agriculture, transportation, and energy systems. It highlights that under high-emissions scenarios, the annual economic impact could reach 1.9 percent of GDP by 2100. Specific regional risks include severe sea-level rise in Florida and the Northeast, extreme heat waves in Midwestern cities, water scarcity in the Southwest, and increased wildfire frequency in the West Coast and Rocky Mountain regions. The document advocates for a reduction of carbon emissions by at least 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050 to avoid the worst consequences.

The document describes a modeled U.S. cap-and-trade program starting in 2011, aiming to reduce emissions to 3,145 MMTCO2eq by 2030. It outlines the coverage of six major greenhouse gases across multiple sectors, the use of domestic and international offsets, and the mechanisms for banking and withdrawing allowances. The report also discusses the macroeconomic assumptions of the UCS-NEMS model, including revenue recycling and the impact on GDP, and provides a detailed methodology for calculating REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) supply curves for international offsets.

The document outlines a supplemental analysis by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) to quantify the impact of nine energy efficiency policies across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. By 2030, these policies are projected to achieve cumulative end-use energy savings of 12.1 quadrillion BTUs, representing a 29 percent reduction in projected energy consumption compared to a reference case. The analysis estimates that annual policy costs will rise from $7.5 billion in 2020 to $13.4 billion in 2030, stimulating private investment of $113.6 billion by 2030. Key policies include federal appliance standards, an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) for electricity and natural gas, updated building codes, and expanded R&D. The modeling utilizes the Energy Information Administration's NEMS model to determine effects on electricity generation, carbon dioxide emissions, and energy prices.

The document outlines modifications to the EIA's AEO 2008 NEMS model to better reflect actual construction costs, updated tax credits, and state renewable electricity standards. It provides detailed capital cost and performance assumptions for various energy technologies, including wind, solar, geothermal, coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. The authors argue that EIA costs often underestimate actual project expenses, particularly for nuclear and coal plants. The text also defines a 'Blueprint Case' featuring a national renewable electricity standard ramping up to 40% by 2030 and a federal demonstration program for coal with carbon capture and storage. Finally, it assesses the technical potential of various renewable resources across the U.S.

The report outlines the assumptions used to model transportation emissions reductions by 2030, including fuel economy targets, the adoption of plug-in hybrids, and the deployment of cellulosic ethanol. It describes adjustments made to the AEO 2008 model to reflect more aggressive efficiency standards and the impacts of smart growth policies.

The document outlines conservative estimates for biomass energy supply in the US, focusing on energy crops, agricultural residues, forestry residues, and urban/mill residues. It details the use of the POLYSYS model to assess land-use changes, specifically for switchgrass, and provides the methodology for calculating land-use impacts for other renewable energy technologies and avoided coal mining.

The document advocates for immediate action to combat climate change using existing technologies. It identifies fossil fuel combustion and deforestation as the primary drivers of CO2 increase and proposes five 'common sense' solutions: increasing vehicle fuel efficiency, modernizing the electricity system with renewables, improving energy efficiency in buildings, protecting forests, and increasing federal R&D for clean energy. It emphasizes that these steps would reduce emissions while saving consumers money and enhancing energy security.

The Union of Concerned Scientists outlines ten primary ways to lower personal carbon emissions and financial costs, ranging from improving vehicle fuel economy and home energy efficiency to dietary changes and reduced consumption. A final recommendation emphasizes the collective impact of these actions, stating that a 20 percent emission reduction by all Americans could lead to the closure of 200 of the 600 coal plants in the United States.

The Cooler Smarter Trivia Night Kit is a guide designed to help individuals host educational trivia events to encourage a 20% reduction in personal carbon footprints. It includes a sample agenda, planning tips, and five rounds of trivia questions covering energy efficiency, transportation, diet, and climate policy. The kit emphasizes science-based advice to help participants navigate conflicting messages about emissions and identifies specific high-impact changes, such as improving home insulation and reducing meat consumption.

The document details the climate-related activities of various corporations, including utilities, oil and gas producers, and manufacturers. It tracks their public statements, lobbying spending, and affiliations with trade organizations and think tanks, highlighting discrepancies between public sustainability claims and political actions.

The document lists key climate-related votes in the U.S. Congress between 2003 and 2011 used to determine if legislators support or reject climate science. In the House, votes on the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, and various amendments regarding EPA authority and intelligence estimates were used. In the Senate, criteria included votes on the Climate Security Act, the Climate Stewardship Act, and resolutions concerning the EPA's Endangerment Finding and global warming pollution limits.

The document contains interview transcripts with executives from Denbury Resources, Exxon Mobil, NRG Energy, TECO Energy, and Waste Management (ConocoPhillips participated but declined to be quoted). The interviews explore corporate stances on climate science, the physical risks of climate change to business operations, mitigation efforts, and the funding of political or policy-oriented organizations. Findings reveal a spectrum of responses: some companies acknowledge the risks and invest in clean energy or efficiency, while others avoid taking official positions on climate science or deny that physical climate impacts currently affect their operations.

The document outlines the environmental and economic benefits of cover crops, such as reducing nitrate leaching by 40 to 70 percent and increasing soil fertility. It identifies significant barriers to adoption, including direct costs (ranging from $62 to $107 per acre for certain varieties in Kansas) and risks related to crop insurance and land tenure. The Union of Concerned Scientists recommends expanding USDA cost-share incentives through the CSP and EQIP programs, reforming crop insurance, and increasing technical assistance and research.

The document details the technical approach for estimating the economic and environmental impacts of fuel efficiency standards. It specifies the use of updated census data, regional energy projections, and specific emissions derivation methods for cities and states.

The report examines the potential for reducing global warming emissions and fuel consumption in California's heavy-duty truck fleet through the adoption of commercially available aerodynamic and tire technologies. It finds that retrofitting and purchasing efficient trucks can lead to significant diesel savings and CO2eq reductions, with some long-range trucks potentially saving over $30,000 over their lifetime. The document identifies market barriers—such as split ownership and a lack of standardized fuel-economy testing—and recommends that California establish in-use and new-truck global warming pollution standards to accelerate adoption.