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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.

A survey of over 1,700 FDA and USDA employees reveals significant political and corporate interference in food safety science, with many respondents reporting the suppression of technical data and inadequate resources, particularly at the FDA. The report argues for legislative reforms to mandate recalls and increase surveillance of imported foods, which were identified as the least secure category of the food supply.

The document outlines the context for a survey conducted between December 24, 2009, and January 4, 2010, involving 1,001 American adults. It frames this study against a "perfect storm" of events in late 2009, including the "Climategate" email breach at the University of East Anglia, errors in the IPCC 4th Assessment Report, the failure of the Copenhagen treaty negotiations, and the stalling of U.S. climate legislation. The survey aims to measure changes in risk perceptions and policy preferences compared to a baseline survey of 2,164 adults from late 2008.

The report details American adults' engagement in conservation activities, such as turning off lights and recycling, and their levels of consumer and citizen activism regarding global warming. It highlights a gap between the perceived importance of these actions and actual behavior, while tracking trends in the adoption of energy-efficient lighting and intentions to increase conservation efforts over the following year.

The study finds that TV weathercasters often serve as the sole science experts in their newsrooms and are generally open to expanding this role. While most have discussed climate change, primarily in community settings, significant barriers such as lack of time and perceived scientific uncertainty persist. The findings reveal a lack of consensus among weathercasters regarding the scientific agreement on global warming, with many believing there is substantial disagreement among scientists.

The report identifies a significant discrepancy between the importance Americans place on environmentally friendly actions and their frequency of practice, while noting that barriers to these behaviors must be addressed through policy.

The report evaluates emergy—a method that values goods and services based on the total solar energy used directly and indirectly to produce them—as an alternative or supplement to economic valuation of ecosystem goods and services (EGS). Through a literature review, expert interviews, and a survey of 119 environmental professionals and students, the study finds that while emergy provides a comprehensive, eco-centric perspective on sustainability, it faces significant academic criticism regarding its methodological rigour and conceptual complexity. The report concludes that a pluralistic approach combining biophysical and economic methods is most effective for EGS valuation.

The report examines the effects of the 2009 formation of the Estonian Environmental Board on nature conservation. Survey results from 84 officials indicate a significant increase in bureaucracy and office work, with 83% reporting an increase in office workload. While the general reputation of nature conservation remained largely stable, officials expressed concerns over the lack of on-site supervision and unclear role divisions between the Environmental Board and the State Forest Management Centre (RMK). Most respondents believe their work will become more complex and important in the future, though they feel a lack of sufficient legal and societal support.

The 2010 Global Ecolabel Monitor examines the role of ecolabels and eco-certification schemes in validating green claims and guiding purchasing. While demand for eco-friendly products is increasing, the landscape remains fragmented, leading to consumer and institutional buyer confusion due to competing schemes and a lack of standardized global information.

The research identifies five key areas for ICT application in climate change: observation and monitoring, modeling and simulation, socio-economic analysis, policy analysis and planning, and capacity building. Based on a survey of 18 environmental economists from European countries, the study finds that internet-based services and statistical software are the most widely used and highly valued tools across most research areas. While scientific relevance—specifically increasing exchange in the scientific community—is ranked as the highest priority for ICT, political relevance (interfacing with policy-makers) is ranked higher than economic relevance (reducing research costs). The paper highlights significant barriers to the use of specialized tools, including high costs, data shortages, and complex coding, and calls for increased data accessibility and international collaboration to support developing countries.

The report evaluates development financing experiences to provide evidence on how climate change mitigation finance can be effectively channelled to developing countries. It finds that donor guidelines, rather than sector or country, primarily determine the nature of financial assistance and reporting. The authors argue that programme-based funding is generally preferable to project-based funding for achieving large-scale change, and suggest that a multi-donor trust fund could facilitate the necessary harmonisation of reporting and verification standards.

A 2008 survey of 2,164 American adults found that while the economy was the highest priority for 76% of respondents, a majority believe global warming is a real, human-caused threat. Over 90% of participants supported U.S. action to reduce global warming despite potential economic costs, and 67% supported unilateral action regardless of other countries' efforts. The most valued positive outcomes of action were providing a better life for future generations and protecting God's creation, while the primary concerns were increased government regulation and rising energy prices.

The report details the development of survey instruments to measure sustainable development (SD) literacy among Manitoban adults and students. Findings indicate that while general knowledge and positive attitudes toward SD are high, they do not strongly translate into sustainable behaviours. For adults, favourable attitudes and general education levels were the strongest predictors of sustainable behaviour, whereas for students, gender and attitudes were more influential. The authors conclude that current survey items lack sufficient discriminating power to serve as definitive standardized tests, but provide a baseline for future monitoring of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD).

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) evaluated 15 US federal agencies on their media communication openness, assigning separate grades for official policy and actual practice. The study found significant disparities between written rules and scientist perceptions, with the CDC receiving the highest policy grade (A) and the NSF the highest practice grade (O). The analysis highlights systemic issues such as the lack of explicit 'Right of Last Review' and 'Personal Views Exception' in many agency policies, as well as perceived interference and restrictive pre-approval requirements in practice.

The report identifies a critical leadership gap in sustainable development driven by a retiring generation of experts and the increasing complexity of global environmental challenges. It reviews various training models—including internships, scholarships, and professional placements—used by organizations like IUCN, WWF, and IISD. The findings emphasize that while technical knowledge is important, there is a significant need for 'enabling' soft skills such as communication, innovation, and multi-stakeholder management. The document advocates for the creation of a consortium to standardize skill sets, share training materials, and better track alumni to support a non-linear, mobile career path for the next generation of sustainability leaders.

The report investigates how ISO 26000 is perceived by SMEs, consultants, and National Cleaner Production Centres. It finds that while the ISO brand adds legitimacy to social responsibility, the standard's broad and generic nature makes it a poor management tool for SMEs, who often operate via informal processes and are driven by the personal values of owner-managers. The study highlights significant barriers for SMEs, including a lack of expertise, financial constraints, and low negotiating power within global value chains, which can lead to 'mock compliance'. It concludes that ISO 26000 is most relevant to a specific profile of SMEs—those that are export-oriented, networked into international supply chains, or led by sustainability-aware entrepreneurs.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) conducted a survey of 1,586 EPA scientists and interviews to document political interference. Findings reveal that 60% of respondents experienced interference, often from political appointees and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The report details the suppression of climate change and mercury pollution research, barriers to media communication, and a decline in job satisfaction and resources, concluding with recommendations for structural reforms to restore scientific integrity.

A 2007 survey of EPA scientists conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists and Iowa State University reveals widespread political interference, suppression of scientific findings, and restricted communication with the public. The findings indicate that a majority of respondents experienced political pressure, often originating from the White House Office of Management and Budget and commercial interests, leading to decreased job satisfaction and concerns over the agency's overall effectiveness in protecting human health and the environment.

The Union of Concerned Scientists investigated 15 federal agencies, finding significant inconsistency in how scientific results are communicated. While agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey and Nuclear Regulatory Commission demonstrate a culture of openness, others such as the EPA and OSHA are characterized by message control, lack of central policy, or restrictive pre-approval requirements. The report argues that federal agencies should adopt policies that protect the right of scientists to express personal views with a disclaimer and allow them to review and approve documents based on their research.

The report identifies a significant gap between the perceived importance of energy efficiency and the actual implementation of management structures in corporate real estate. While executives view sustainability as a priority, fewer than half of surveyed companies have formal energy policies or quantitative targets. The document argues that most barriers are perceived and can be overcome through integrated design, senior leadership, and the adoption of comprehensive energy management systems. It highlights that 'low-hanging fruit'—such as retro-commissioning and schedule adjustments—are often overlooked in favor of more expensive system replacements. Through case studies of companies like Adobe, Toyota, and ABN AMRO, the report demonstrates that integrated solutions and real-time data tracking can lead to substantial cost savings and carbon reductions. It concludes with action plans for corporate stakeholders and service providers, urging the adoption of the 2030 Challenge targets to achieve carbon neutrality in the building sector.