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Australian fires and climate change
The document details the extreme scale of the Australian fire season, noting that over 15 million acres burned. It attributes the increase in dangerous long-term conditions for bushfires to climate change, which has led to an earlier start of the fire season and record-breaking heat and dryness in 2019.
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Document type: Fact sheet
G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding OECD Member Country Evidence
Japan is ranked second among G20 OECD member countries for its low level of support for fossil fuel use, yet it remains the second-highest supplier of public finance for fossil fuel projects. While overall support dropped by 48%, Japan increased public finance for coal production by 944% relative to the 2014–2016 average. The document highlights significant transparency gaps and the continued funding of coal and LNG projects in countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
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Document type: Fact sheet
G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding
The United Kingdom ranks last among G20 OECD member countries in the G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding, with an overall score of 48/100. While overall support decreased by 21% compared to 20142016, the U.K. saw a 96% increase in public finance for fossil fuels and an 86% increase in support for coal production. The U.K. provides USD 9.2 billion annually in support for fossil fuel consumers through foregone tax revenue and has faced criticism for a lack of transparency regarding its export credit agency, UKEF, and its denial of providing fossil fuel subsidies under its own definitions.
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Document type: Fact sheet
The Need for an Adequate Commence Construction Window for 45Q Federal Tax Credits for Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage
The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) asserts that the January 1, 2024, deadline to commence construction for 45Q tax credits is inadequate due to the long lead times and high upfront costs associated with CCUS projects. While smaller industrial projects using enhanced oil recovery (EOR) may meet the deadline, large-scale projects in power generation, steel, and cement—especially those using saline storage—face significant engineering and permitting hurdles that could prevent them from being pursued without a deadline extension.
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Document type: Fact sheet
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
PRIVATE EQUITY-OWNED FIRMS DOMINATE PRISON AND DETENTION SERVICES
The fact sheet highlights the dominance of private equity-owned firms in providing essential services—such as telecommunications, healthcare, and commissary—to the U.S. carceral system. It specifically notes that the scaling up of immigration detention has increased business for these firms, listing several private equity owners and the specific facilities they serve, including ICE processing centers.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Surveying the US Department of Agriculture
A 2018 survey of USDA scientists conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists and Iowa State University reveals significant concerns regarding the politicization of science. Key findings include widespread reports of workforce reductions, restrictions on communicating scientific findings to the media, and the diversion of resources away from research deemed politically contentious.
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Document type: Fact sheet
High Speed Rail Development Worldwide
The document examines the global landscape of high-speed rail (HSR), highlighting the extensive networks in China, Japan, and Europe compared to the limited development in the United States. It defines HSR as new lines exceeding 250 km/h (160 mph) and existing lines exceeding 200 km/h (120 mph). The text details China's rapid expansion, which is expected to reach 38,000 km by 2025, and Japan's long-standing safety record with the Shinkansen. In the U.S., only California is currently building a full HSR system, with the first phase expected by 2029. The report argues that HSR is more energy-efficient than cars and planes, offering a path to lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced oil demand.
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Document type: Fact sheet
DOI restricts scientists attending scientific conferences
The Department of the Interior (DOI) and its agencies, specifically the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), have restricted federal scientists from attending scientific conferences. In May 2018, the BLM prevented at least 14 archaeologists from attending the Society for American Archaeology conference, causing the cancellation of a symposium. In December 2017, the DOI capped USGS attendance at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting to 199 scientists, resulting in a 60% decrease in attendance compared to 2016 and the withdrawal of 30 presentation abstracts. The USGS has also implemented a review process for presentation titles to ensure projects align with political priorities. The document notes similar restrictive patterns at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
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Document type: Fact sheet
Connecting Extreme Weather to Climate Change
The document outlines the development of 'climate attribution' science, which allows researchers to quantify the role of human-caused climate change in extreme weather. It identifies that evidence is strongest for heat waves, coastal flooding, and extreme precipitation, while remaining less conclusive for tornadoes and thunderstorms. The text provides specific examples of US events, such as Hurricane Harvey and the February 2017 heat wave, where climate change significantly increased likelihood or intensity.
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Document type: Fact sheet
2018 Federal Scientists Survey FAQ
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), in partnership with Iowa State University's Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology, conducted a 2018 survey of federal scientists to evaluate the state of scientific integrity and the work environment in science-based government agencies. The survey targeted 16 specific agencies, including the EPA, NOAA, and the Department of Energy, using a methodology designed to ensure participant anonymity through randomized access codes and the redaction of identifying information. The results, intended for public release in summer 2018, aim to inform policy improvements and ensure independent science informs government decision-making.
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Document type: Fact sheet
The U.S. Climate Alliance and Related Actions
The United States Climate Alliance, formed on June 1, 2017, is a bipartisan group of 13 states and one territory committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 26-28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025. This effort is part of a broader movement including the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, the "We Are Still In" coalition, and the Under2 MOU, all aimed at filling the policy void created by the Trump Administration's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. These subnational actors seek to maintain targets such as keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius and achieving 100 percent renewable power in some cities, though they face challenges regarding funding and the lack of a federal mandate.
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Document type: Fact sheet
The U.S. Climate Alliance and Related Actions
The U.S. Climate Alliance, formed in June 2017, consists of 13 states and one territory committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 26-28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025. This bipartisan effort is complemented by city-led initiatives like the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda and the 'We Are Still In' coalition, which includes businesses and universities. These subnational actors aim to maintain U.S. alignment with the Paris Agreement's goal of keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, despite the lack of federal mandate or funding.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Les pesticides et la santé humaine
The document synthesizes findings from systematic reviews to argue that pesticide exposure is linked to various cancers, reproductive issues, neurological disorders, and respiratory problems, particularly in vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women. It advocates for the reduction of pesticide use and the banning of cosmetic pesticides in Canada.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Zebra Mussels in Manitoba: Here are the facts
The document describes zebra mussels as filter-feeding molluscs from Eastern Europe that attach to hard surfaces in high densities. It details their spread from the Great Lakes into Manitoba, likely via the Red River or overland transport, and identifies their presence in the Red River and Lake Winnipeg. Ecological risks include the depletion of algae affecting fish and insect populations, as well as the potential for shoreline algal blooms. The author advises the public to clean equipment moved from Lake Winnipeg to other water bodies and warns of physical injury from sharp shells.
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Document type: Fact sheet
china-africa-factsheet-0bdf8478d994f3e2.pdf
The document outlines the evolution of China-Africa relations from early diplomatic ties to a complex modern partnership. It highlights the role of FOCAC as a primary vehicle for cooperation, the shift toward a 'New Normal' characterized by slowing economic growth and commodity price drops, and China's increasing involvement in African peace and security, marking a departure from its traditional 'non-interference' policy.
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Document type: Fact sheet
What's Driving Deforestation
Tropical deforestation, driven primarily by beef, soybeans, palm oil, and wood products, accounts for 10 percent of global warming emissions and results in the loss of critical habitats for endangered species. In major producing countries, these four commodities cause deforestation at a rate of approximately 15,000 square miles per year, though the document notes they can be produced without forest destruction.
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Document type: Fact sheet
STAND IN SOLIDARITY
A delegation of four Indigenous Lenca activists from Honduras visited Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, and Spain between April 19 and May 5, 2016. The mission sought to highlight the repression of environmental defenders in Honduras, specifically regarding the Agua Zarca hydropower project on the Gualcarque River. The activists called for the withdrawal of funding from the Dutch development bank FMO, the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation (Finnfund), and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), as well as the cessation of turbine sales by Siemens and Voith. The document highlights the 2016 assassination of Lenca leader Berta Cáceres and the broader pattern of violence against environmental activists in Honduras, which it describes as the most dangerous country in the world for such defenders between 2002 and 2014.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Smart-Sourced Fuel Products
The brochure describes 'Smart-Sourced Fuel Products' as eco-friendly biomass blends created from agricultural residues, wetland plants, grassland plants, and forestry residues. These materials can be processed into pellets, briquettes, cubes, biochar, biogas, and fuel logs for residential, industrial, and commercial heating. The document highlights environmental benefits, such as the capture of phosphorus and nitrogen from cattails to protect Lake Winnipeg, and economic advantages for landowners and municipalities. It notes that Manitoba has an estimated 3 to 5 million tonnes of available biomass annually, plus 3 million tonnes of cattail. Replacing all coal use in Manitoba with biomass is estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 200,000 tonnes.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Combustibles ingénieux
The document describes 'smart-sourced fuels' as ecological heating products made from local agricultural residues, wetland plants, and forestry waste. It highlights the environmental and economic benefits of these fuels in Manitoba, specifically noting the potential of cattails (quenouilles) as a sustainable biomass source. The text provides data on biomass availability around Winnipeg and Brandon and argues that replacing coal with biomass could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the province.
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Document type: Fact sheet