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The report analyzes how varying levels of greenhouse gas emissions will lead to temperature increases in California, ranging from 3 to 10.5 °F by the end of the century. It details severe risks including a 70-90% reduction in Sierra Nevada snowpack, increased frequency of extreme heat and wildfires, and rising sea levels that threaten coastal infrastructure. The document emphasizes that while some changes are inevitable, the most severe outcomes can be avoided through aggressive emission reductions, aligned with California's executive goals to return to 1990 emission levels by 2020.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and a panel of experts conclude that current U.S. corn and soybean production, storage, and transport systems cannot prevent the contamination of the food and feed supply by pharma crops. The report advocates for a "virtually zero contamination" standard and recommends that the USDA halt outdoor production of these crops until a separate, dedicated system is established. Proposed alternatives include using non-food crops like tobacco, guayule, or jojoba, indoor cultivation, and the implementation of rigorous confinement management systems.

The report analyzes the economic trade-offs between decentralized and centralized wastewater systems, arguing that while treatment plants exhibit economies of scale, collection networks often exhibit diseconomies of scale. It highlights the financial advantages of modular, 'just-in-time' capacity expansion and the potential for water reuse and nutrient harvesting. The document also details various economic valuation methods for non-market environmental goods and the importance of professional management to ensure system reliability.

This report, produced by the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative—a partnership between UNDP, UNEP, and OSCE—analyzes the intersection of environmental degradation and human security in the South Caucasus. It identifies priority risk areas in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, focusing on how resource scarcity, industrial legacy, and urban growth can exacerbate social tensions or, conversely, serve as catalysts for regional cooperation.

The document examines the role of agricultural biotechnology in meeting future food demands in developing countries, contrasting the market-driven approach of transnational corporations (TNCs) with the needs of small-scale farmers. It argues that while GM technology can improve yields and nutritional content, its success depends on an 'enabling environment' consisting of R&D capacity, functional biosafety regulatory regimes, and clear biotechnology policies. The authors highlight significant obstacles, including the high cost of biosafety compliance, intellectual property rights (IPR) restrictions, and trade conflicts between the EU and USA. It recommends that donor agencies like Sida focus on institutional capacity building, particularly for 'GM-local crops' developed by public sector institutions to benefit the poor.

A pilot study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that traditional seeds of corn, soybeans, and canola sold to U.S. farmers are pervasively contaminated with low levels of DNA from genetically engineered varieties. The report warns that porous seed production systems could allow dangerous pharmaceutical or industrial transgenes to enter the food supply and argues that this contamination threatens organic agriculture, international trade, and the integrity of seed repositories.

The document argues that financial institutions can either sustain or mitigate conflict through their investment decisions and resource flows. It identifies tangible risks for the financial sector, including litigation, regulatory costs, and asset defaults, while highlighting 'win-win' opportunities such as 'conflict-free' investment funds and first-mover advantages in post-conflict economies. The text outlines specific levers for peacebuilding—core business, policy dialogue, and social investment—and provides a framework for action across the conflict cycle (conflict-prone, during conflict, and post-conflict).

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) submits that GM field trials should be halted based on the precautionary principle. The submission highlights risks including the potential for GM genes to reduce soil fertility, the toxicity of GM pollen to insects, and the increased use of toxic herbicides. It further criticizes the lack of independent monitoring and data transparency in trials and provides evidence from North America regarding the pervasive and 'disastrous' contamination of organic crops and seeds by GM varieties.

The report details a Harvard School of Public Health study on five power plants (Benning, Chalk Point, Dickerson, Possum Point, and Potomac River) near Washington DC. It finds that these plants are linked to over 250 annual deaths and thousands of respiratory and cardiovascular incidents. The analysis highlights that disadvantaged groups—including those with lower education, African-American children, and elderly diabetics—suffer a disproportionate share of these health impacts. The report argues that implementing readily available pollution control equipment could avoid approximately 75% of these deaths and illnesses.

The document outlines concerns that the CaMV promoter used in genetically modified organisms could lead to the creation of new infectious viruses, increase susceptibility across species including humans due to the removal of the viral coating, and cause cancer through gene overactivity. It highlights the risk of horizontal gene transfer and gene instability, concluding with the authors' recommendation that all products containing the CaMV promoter be withdrawn.

The document argues that the Sellafield nuclear facilities lack defenses against a plane crash, which could release 45-50 times the radioactivity of the Chernobyl disaster and create exclusion zones between 200 and 700 kilometres. SGR asserts that all plutonium, including reactor-grade, can be used in nuclear explosives and demands a comprehensive review of nuclear industry risks, a reappraisal of public subsidies, and that BNFL be held responsible for its estimated £34 billion decommissioning and waste disposal bill.

The document analyzes the intersection of trade law and environmental management, arguing that while trade rules are not inherently inconsistent with environmental protection, they impose significant technical and capacity burdens on governments. It highlights a high risk that older environmental measures may fail trade law challenges due to retroactive application and a lack of original trade-law consideration. The author specifically warns that NAFTA Chapter 11 investment rules pose a more severe risk because they allow private corporations to initiate arbitration and have been interpreted expansively to include 'covert or incidental interference' as expropriation, potentially creating a chilling effect on new environmental legislation.

The document details the risks of pyrethroids, a dominant class of insecticides used in homes and agriculture. It highlights their role as neurotoxins that can cause acute symptoms like tremors and long-term effects including neurodevelopmental issues in children, reduced human fertility, and potential carcinogenicity. Environmentally, pyrethroids are toxic to fish and beneficial insects like bees. The briefing notes that in Québec, these chemicals have been detected in surface and ground waters, yet they are excluded from mandatory drinking water monitoring. It advocates for non-chemical alternatives and stricter regulation.

The document details the neurotoxic effects of pyrethroids on humans and animals, their prevalence in household dust and water sources, and their potential to disrupt endocrine and reproductive systems. It highlights the increased vulnerability of children and the ecological damage to bees and aquatic life, while advocating for non-chemical alternatives and stricter regulation in Quebec and Canada.

The document outlines the risks of 'FrackLNG' in British Columbia, noting that 84% of public health studies find evidence of hazard or risk. It highlights potential health issues such as reproductive toxicity and asthma, as well as significant threats to water and air quality. The text argues that the Pacific Northwest LNG project alone could make it nearly impossible for BC to meet its 2050 climate targets, as the project's estimated 10 Mt CO2e/year emissions would consume most of the province's 13 Mt CO2e/yr target. Additionally, it notes social risks, including increased violence against Indigenous women and girls in Northeastern BC, and calls for a moratorium on fracking permits based on the Precautionary Principle.

This infographic from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network outlines the climate-related risks and opportunities across the grain value chain, from production and storage to processing and consumption. It identifies specific vulnerabilities such as crop failure and pest outbreaks, while suggesting adaptation strategies like the adoption of drought-resistant seeds and improved storage infrastructure to enhance food security.

This document is a technical section of the Hendrina Power Station Consolidated Life-ex Report, detailing specific technical recommendations, required interventions, and cost projections to extend the operational life of the power plant until 2025. It covers the maintenance and replacement of energy services, electrical plant, common plant areas, and generators.

The Hendrina Power Station Consolidated Life-ex Report provides a detailed technical assessment of the remaining operational life of various plant components across ten units, aiming for a life extension to 2025. The report identifies critical degradation in electrical motors, MV cables, and certain boiler and turbine components, while noting that civil structures are generally in good condition. It emphasizes that achieving the 2025 target requires significant targeted replacements, improved maintenance, and the construction of a new ash dam.

This document is an excerpt from the Energy Services Consolidated Life-ex Report for the Hendrina Power Station. It details the remedial programmes and investment costs required to manage the station's common plant areas—including coal handling, boiler house, turbine hall, and cooling towers—to ensure operational viability until the planned decommissioning date of 2035.

This report provides a risk and vulnerability assessment of water resources in the Limpopo Water Management Area (WMA) of South Africa. It analyzes current water resource stresses, observed and projected climate trends, and the resulting vulnerabilities to ensure sustainable water management.