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A World Resources Institute (WRI) analysis finds that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could achieve seven to 12 times more environmental benefits for the same budget by combining geographic and benefit-cost targeting for water quality improvements. Currently, only about $335 million of the $5 billion annual federal conservation budget is spent on controlling soil erosion and fertilizer runoff. The analysis shows that nitrogen pollution reductions could increase from 91 million pounds annually at $3.65 per pound to 1.1 billion pounds at $0.30 per pound through optimized targeting. However, technical gaps in identifying cost-effective acres, the voluntary nature of programs, and political resistance to shifting funds act as barriers. WRI recommends quantifying environmental benefits, incorporating benefit-cost principles into planning tools, conducting pilot projects, and revisiting state funding allocation formulas.

The report examines the vulnerability of the U.S. power sector to water constraints and climate change, comparing a 'business as usual' pathway with low-carbon alternatives. It finds that a combination of renewable energy and energy efficiency can drastically reduce water withdrawals and consumption while lowering consumer costs and mitigating climate impacts.

The paper presents a hydro-economic model linking farm-based economics with hydrologic simulation to evaluate sustainable irrigation in Spain's Middle Guadiana basin. It finds that current excessive water use threatens the European Water Framework Directive's goal of 'good ecological status' by 2015, particularly during summer low-flow periods. While the Guadiana River Basin Management Plan may improve water productivity, it may not fully ensure required environmental flows, and securing these flows would likely reduce the viability of upstream small-scale rice farms.

The project uses proxy data from lagoon sediments, stalagmites, tree-rings, and corals to analyze past hurricane activity. Key findings indicate that higher hurricane activity correlates with warmer sea surface temperatures and specific climate patterns like the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Research in Nicaragua and Belize suggests an anti-phase relationship in landfall activity between Central America and the eastern Caribbean/U.S. East coast, influenced by the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and subtropical anticyclone. Additionally, the project identifies the Low-Level Jet (IALLJ) as a critical factor for sea surface temperatures and moisture advection. Demographic data highlights that approximately 19 million people in the conterminous U.S. live in vulnerable areas less than 1 km from the coastline.

The authors used the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) system to simulate hydropower generation in the upper west slope Sierra Nevada under four temperature increase scenarios (0°C, 2°C, 4°C, and 6°C) through 2100. The model indicates that the highly productive northern Sierra Nevada would experience large reductions in hydropower generation due to decreased annual runoff, while central watersheds show a better ability to adapt to changes in runoff timing. Generation in the less productive southern watersheds also decreases.

The project examines how land use decisions, such as choosing between pastures and agricultural crops, affect water table depth (WTD) and create interdependencies among neighboring farmers in the Argentine Pampas. Initial findings indicate that pastures lead to deeper groundwater levels compared to crops like soybean, wheat, and maize, and that farmers are generally willing to coordinate actions to manage groundwater as a common good.

The SEI Science Forum 2013 Book of Abstracts presents a diverse portfolio of research focusing on the water-energy-food nexus, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable governance. Key projects include the development of integrated modeling toolkits (WEAP and LEAP), assessments of climate vulnerability in cities like Quito and Cape Town, and evaluations of international climate finance mechanisms such as the Adaptation Fund. The research spans global scopes with specific case studies in regions including Southeast Asia, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Arctic, emphasizing the bridge between scientific research and policy implementation.

The SEI Research Forum Book of Abstracts compiles 60 research summaries from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) staff. The research spans four primary themes: Managing Environmental Systems, Reducing Climate Risk, Transforming Governance, and Rethinking Development. Key areas of investigation include the 'planetary boundaries' framework, the socio-economic drivers of clean cooking and sanitation in India and Africa, the effectiveness of climate adaptation policies in the UK and Sweden, and the geopolitical dynamics of climate negotiations involving BASIC countries. The document highlights a mix of completed research, ongoing projects, and future research ideas aimed at bridging science and policy for sustainable development.

The report examines the role of hydropower in Latin America and the Caribbean's transition to low-carbon development. While the region relies heavily on hydropower—supplying 46% of its electricity—climate change poses risks through glacier retreat and precipitation variability. The authors advocate for integrated planning using the WEAP and LEAP tools to manage the water-energy nexus and navigate tradeoffs between hydropower, biofuels, and other water demands.

The authors developed a framework combining the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) system and the SALMOD population dynamics model with climate data to identify critical temperature and streamflow thresholds for spring-run Chinook salmon in California. This approach aims to evaluate management adaptations to protect salmon, which are vulnerable to rising summer river pool temperatures before autumn spawning.

This research paper argues that green water is dominant in food production and that managing local green water resources can increase agricultural resilience to climate change and population growth, potentially allowing water-short countries to produce sufficient food.

The paper argues that the variability of renewable energy can be managed through optimized geographic dispersion and the cross-firming of wind and solar resources. By analyzing data from the MRO, SPP, and ERCOT regions, the study demonstrates that expanding the geographic scope of a renewable portfolio significantly reduces system variability and the frequency of zero-power production. It also finds that combining solar and wind resources further lowers variability compared to wind-only portfolios. The authors conclude that these strategies, combined with demand response, energy storage (such as xEVs), and smart grid communications, can reduce the reliance on conventional baseload power.

The paper argues that achieving tripled fuel economy requires a systems-optimization approach rather than incremental improvements. It proposes a combination of carbon-fiber composite body-in-white structures, low-drag aerodynamics, and series hybrid-electric propulsion. Modeling suggests that such a 'leapfrog' approach can yield vehicles achieving 80-100+ mpg while maintaining family-sedan utility and safety.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides tax credits for passenger and commercial electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and domestic supply chain manufacturing to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. While these incentives support the growth of the medium- and heavy-duty EV markets and improve accessibility for low-income households, modeling by Energy Innovation Policy & Analysis LLC indicates they are insufficient to align with a 1.5 degree Celsius climate scenario. The document argues that the U.S. must implement more stringent tailpipe standards, state-level clean vehicle mandates, and grid investments to accelerate the transition.

The report examines the ecohydrological impacts of agricultural expansion in the La Plata Basin. In the Pampas, it identifies optimal groundwater depths for corn, soybean, and wheat, and suggests that replacing pastures with annual crops increases flooding risk. In the Chaco-Espinal region, agricultural conversion has led to deep groundwater recharge, salt mobilization, and the emergence of 'new rivers'. In Paraguay, deforestation of the Atlantic Forest increased river water yield from 40% to nearly 70% of rainfall inputs. The report also argues that harvesting biomass from fire-prone dry forests for bioelectricity is more carbon-efficient than soybean biodiesel, which causes significant emissions due to land-use change.

The document outlines multiple IAI-funded research projects focusing on environmental and social vulnerabilities in the Americas. Key initiatives include the study of nitrogen cycling and wastewater treatment in Latin America, the conservation of tropical dry forests, the provision of climate services for agriculture in southeastern South America, and the assessment of freshwater ecosystem risks. Other projects examine the link between land use and malaria in the Amazon, water security in arid regions, the role of phytoplankton in carbon sequestration, the impact of transcontinental highways on zoonotic disease risk in Peru, and urban hydrological vulnerability in Mexico City.

The document details the construction of the EW3 database, which integrates 2008 Energy Information Administration (EIA) data with NREL and Argonne National Laboratory water coefficients to estimate freshwater withdrawals and consumption. It describes the process of mapping cooling systems to specific generators, using Google Earth to verify cooling types, and applying the Water Supply Stress Index (WaSSI) to identify watersheds where electricity generation significantly increases water stress. The methodology also covers the projection of water use through 2036 using the Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model and the calculation of water and carbon intensities for the top 15 U.S. electricity providers.

The document introduces the India Energy Policy Simulator (India EPS) version 3.1.3, a tool developed by Energy Innovation LLC and World Resources Institute. The model allows for the quantitative assessment of climate policy packages and their effects on greenhouse gas emissions, GDP, and employment in India up to 2050. It specifically outlines the model's technical framework and its 'business-as-usual' (BAU) reference scenario to help policymakers identify cost-effective pathways to meet Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets and long-term decarbonization goals.

The document introduces an open-source method to model the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) at a 1-meter resolution using the SOLWEIG model and open-access data. This framework allows cities to assess baseline heat risks and simulate the cooling effects of interventions such as tree planting, shade structures, and cool surfaces. The method's accuracy was validated against LiDAR-supported models, showing a mean absolute error of 0.39°C.

The study calculates India's share of the global carbon budget using four allocation methods and employs four energy-economy models to map low-carbon pathways for the power, industry, and transport sectors through 2050. It finds that while the power sector's 500 GW non-fossil capacity target aligns with these budgets, the industry and transport sectors will become the largest and fastest-growing emission sources, requiring demand reduction and R&D. To support a just transition and ensure emissions reductions, the models suggest a carbon tax of INR 4,000–6,000 per tCO2e (2018 prices) by 2050 for 1.5°C scenarios, noting that India will underconsume its equity-based carbon budget share and requires international finance and technology.