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The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis indicates that a national 25 percent by 2025 renewable electricity standard would create 297,000 jobs, generate $263.4 billion in new capital investment, and lower consumer energy bills by $64.3 billion by 2025. The policy would diversify the U.S. energy mix by increasing renewable capacity from 28,000 MW in 2007 to 248,000 MW by 2025, primarily through wind, solar, bioenergy, and geothermal sources. Environmentally, the standard would reduce power plant CO2 emissions by 277 million metric tons annually by 2025, equivalent to removing 45.3 million cars from the road.

The report argues that RGGI's design, which caps emissions only for power plants within participating states, creates a price advantage for imported electricity from coal-heavy states like West Virginia and Pennsylvania. This 'leakage' is exacerbated by excess capacity in existing coal plants and planned transmission upgrades that facilitate power flow from west to east. The authors suggest that RGGI states should implement retail-level carbon caps, prohibit contracts with high-emission plants, and prioritize transmission projects aligned with climate goals to prevent the expansion of coal-based power.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) warns that using food crops like corn and soybeans for biofuels increases food prices, degrades ecosystems, and can raise global warming pollution through land conversion. The UCS advocates for a shift toward 'better' biofuels derived from waste or non-food biomass, supported by a low-carbon fuel standard and performance-based public funding. While the 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) provides a foundation by requiring pollution reductions from new facilities, the UCS argues for broader sustainability criteria to prevent deforestation and protect biodiversity.

The document requests that the International Joint Commission (IJC) evaluate the continued applicability of its 1988 recommendations against the proposed Lodgepole coal mine in the Flathead River Basin. The signatories argue that the new proposal by Cline Mining Corporation poses similar or greater risks to transboundary water quality and fish populations—specifically bull trout—than the Sage Creek mine analyzed in 1988, while noting a persistent lack of baseline environmental data.

The report argues that CAFOs are propped up by taxpayer subsidies and the externalization of costs related to pollution and public health. It highlights that these operations, while producing over 50% of U.S. food animals, create massive manure management problems and antibiotic resistance. The author suggests that medium-sized and pasture-based operations are cost-competitive alternatives that would be more viable if subsidies were redirected and antitrust laws were enforced.

The document details a formal complaint against the IFC regarding its financing of Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited, S.A. (NSEL). Complainants allege that NSEL's operations have caused a Chronic Renal Insufficiency (CRI) epidemic among workers, contaminated water supplies, and violated indigenous Sutiaba land rights. The complaint asserts that the IFC failed in its due diligence, miscategorized the project as Category B instead of Category A, and ignored NSEL's history of environmental and labor violations.

The report 'Losing Ground' documents the systemic human rights violations associated with the expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia. It details how the conversion of customary lands into industrial monocultures leads to land dispossession, violent conflict, and the erosion of indigenous cultures. The authors highlight the economic failure of many smallholder schemes, which often result in debt bondage rather than prosperity, and describe severe environmental degradation, including water pollution and the loss of biodiversity. The document calls for the adoption of the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and urges European governments to abandon biofuel targets that drive this unsustainable expansion.

The report argues that GM crops, particularly herbicide-tolerant (HT) and Bt varieties, have failed to deliver promised benefits in yield and poverty reduction. It documents a significant increase in pesticide use and the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds in the US, Argentina, and Brazil. The document further highlights the monopolization of the seed market by a few firms, specifically Monsanto, and the resulting economic pressure and legal harassment of farmers. Case studies in India, China, and South Africa suggest that yield increases are often due to weather or irrigation rather than GM technology, while small farmers face increased debt and vulnerability.

Thailand's rapid growth in the electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sector has led to significant environmental degradation, including soil and water contamination and a 12% annual increase in e-waste. The report argues that while trade liberalization poses environmental risks, adopting sustainable production and recycling methods can enhance Thailand's global competitiveness. Key recommendations include enacting the draft Thai WEEE Act, utilizing Board of Investment (BOI) incentives for de-manufacturing, and improving waste management through training and certification.

The Clean Air Task Force warns that the climate benefits of replacing fossil fuels with biofuels are often negated by indirect effects, specifically the release of carbon dioxide when forests and wetlands are cleared to meet increased agricultural demand. The report highlights how the EU's 2003 Biofuel Directive inadvertently drove the destruction of Indonesian peatlands for palm oil, releasing approximately two billion metric tons of CO2 annually. It notes that direct benefits are further undermined by the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers in crops like rapeseed. The author recommends slowing the rush toward production mandates, developing analytic tools over the next 2-3 years to quantify market-driven impacts, and focusing on niche policies for waste feedstocks, algae, and biomass from marginal lands.

The report examines the intersection of foreign investment and environmental sustainability in Lao PDR, focusing on the hydropower, mining, and construction sectors. It highlights a gap between the government's formal environmental policies and actual implementation, noting that large-scale projects often bypass rigorous environmental impact assessments (EIAs). The document specifically discusses the Nam Theun 2 dam as a case study of social and environmental displacement, and it analyzes the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and international standards in mitigating industrial damage.

The 2003 EU Biofuels Directive, intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support rural economies, has instead driven tropical deforestation, increased global CO2 emissions through peatland destruction, and exacerbated food insecurity. The report argues that current life-cycle analyses are inadequate for predicting these indirect market and land-use effects.

The report documents a pattern of environmental destruction, human rights abuses, and community resistance associated with Barrick Gold's operations across several continents. It highlights specific cases of water depletion, toxic pollution, and violent police repression of protesters, while critiquing the lack of binding legal frameworks in Canada to hold its mining corporations accountable abroad.

The report assesses the first decade of GM crop commercialization, focusing on soy, maize, cotton, and rapeseed. It argues that the promised benefits—such as increased yields and reduced pesticide use—are largely myths. In the US, it notes that GM crops have not increased potential yields and have actually increased overall agrochemical use. In South America, specifically Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, the expansion of GM soy is linked to deforestation and increased pesticide use, with GM varieties showing higher susceptibility to drought than conventional ones. In Asia and Africa, the report highlights the failure of Bt cotton in China, India, and Indonesia, citing the emergence of secondary pests and increased farmer indebtedness. It concludes that the primary beneficiary of this technology is Monsanto, which has consolidated control over the global seed market, while small farmers face increased dependency and economic risk.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed the potential effects of Washington's Initiative 937 (I-937), which would require large electric utilities to source 15 percent of electricity from eligible renewable resources by 2020 and pursue cost-effective energy conservation. Under an expected case scenario, the report projects that by 2025, I-937 would result in $1.13 billion in cumulative savings on consumer electricity bills, the creation of 2,000 new jobs, and a reduction of 4.6 million metric tons of annual CO2 emissions. The analysis indicates that renewable energy and efficiency investments would be cost-competitive with conventional fossil fuel resources, providing long-term price stability and economic development, including $2.9 billion in new capital investment. Sensitivity analyses suggest that even under pessimistic conditions—such as higher wind costs or the expiration of federal tax credits—the initiative would generally still yield long-term savings and environmental benefits.

The document describes hydropower as a low-cost energy source providing 20 percent of global electricity and 7-9 percent of US electricity. It details three primary technologies—impoundment, diversion, and pumped storage—and notes that nearly 80 percent of US renewable energy comes from hydropower. While it offers pollution prevention and domestic energy security, the sector faces challenges including federal relicensing barriers, drought-related capacity reductions, and negative impacts on aquatic habitats and land use.

The document describes photovoltaic (PV) systems as semiconductor-based technology that converts sunlight into electricity. It highlights that PV is viable across most of the United States, with the potential for a 90-mile square station to meet the country's peak demand. Key benefits include the prevention of greenhouse gas emissions, the creation of high-technology jobs, and increased domestic energy security. While utility-scale costs range from $0.20 to $0.30 per kWh, the document notes that high upfront capital costs and intermittent power remain primary issues, though these can be mitigated by battery storage and utility-scale experimentation projects.

The report assesses the environmental prerequisites for attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), focusing on water for food, sustainable sanitation, and energy access. It argues that achieving MDG 1 (eradicating hunger) requires a 50% increase in freshwater use by 2015, which could lead to severe ecosystem trade-offs unless 'crop per drop' productivity improvements are implemented. In sanitation, the report advocates for ecological sanitation (ecosan) as a cost-effective alternative to conventional sewage systems, particularly for the growing urban target population. Regarding energy, it proposes an 'MDG Energy Vision' to provide basic clean cooking fuels and electricity to the poor, noting that the primary energy requirements for these goals are negligible compared to global consumption but essential for poverty reduction. The report estimates a total annual investment of USD 107 billion from 2005 to 2015 across these three sectors to meet MDG targets sustainably.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed two proposals to increase the Texas Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The more aggressive 20 percent by 2020 proposal would result in 17,820 MW of renewable capacity by 2025, creating 38,290 new jobs and saving consumers $5.6 billion in energy bills. The more modest 10,000 MW by 2025 proposal would yield approximately 8 percent renewable energy by 2025, creating 19,950 new jobs and $5.5 billion in consumer savings. Both proposals would diversify the electricity mix by displacing natural gas and coal, reducing CO2 emissions and providing significant capital investment and tax revenues to rural Texas communities.

The report contends that genetically engineered (GM) crops, specifically Chardon LL, pose significant risks to human health, animal welfare, and the environment. It highlights the toxicity of the associated herbicide 'Liberty', criticizes the design of farm-scale trials and safety testing, and alleges systemic fraud and regulatory laxity in the UK and US. The authors argue that GM crops threaten biodiversity and soil carbon sequestration while primarily benefiting seed and chemical corporations.