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This research paper proposes that India can develop a cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry using power-and-biomass-to-liquids (PBtL) technology, leveraging low-cost green hydrogen and agricultural residue to reduce crude oil imports and aviation emissions.

India is uniquely positioned to produce cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using a power-and-biomass-to-liquids (PBtL) pathway. By combining low-cost green hydrogen—enabled by plummeting solar and battery costs—with abundant agricultural residue, India can produce SAF that is more cost-effective and has lower carbon intensity than competing technologies like HEFA, ATJ, BtL, and PtL. Analysis indicates that a 2030 PBtL project could produce SAF at costs 40% lower than recent fossil jet fuel prices, with parity potentially reached in the 2030s. Beyond decarbonization, this approach reduces dependence on crude oil imports (currently 90% of supply) and mitigates severe air pollution caused by open-field residue burning, which is linked to 44,000 to 98,000 premature deaths annually. The brief recommends government support through first-of-a-kind demonstration projects near Delhi, Pune, and Mumbai airports, the use of trade policies to access EU and UK markets, and the implementation of incentives based on the social cost of carbon and avoided health costs from air pollution.

The report argues that India is uniquely positioned to lead in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production via the power-and-biomass-to-liquids (PBtL) pathway. By combining world-leading low-cost green hydrogen (driven by cheap solar power) with an abundance of surplus agricultural residue, India can produce SAF at costs significantly lower than global benchmarks. The analysis shows that PBtL is more resource-efficient and has a lower carbon intensity than other pathways like HEFA, ATJ, and BtL. The report projects that PBtL SAF could reach price parity with fossil aviation turbine fuel (ATF) in the 2030s, providing a hedge against crude oil price volatility and reducing air pollution from crop residue burning. It identifies regions around Delhi, Pune, and Mumbai airports as ideal for first-of-a-kind demonstration projects.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) developed a spatial analysis using dasymetric mapping and source-specific buffers to quantify population exposure to freight pollution in the contiguous US. The research found that over 66 million people live near freight facilities and corridors, with higher concentrations of facilities strongly correlating with increased cancer risk, diesel particulate matter, and social inequities. To address this, the document reviews indirect source rules (ISRs), which require facilities to mitigate the pollution attracted by their operations through options such as zero-emission vehicle deployment, charging infrastructure, and on-site renewable energy.

The report identifies that over 66 million people in the U.S. live near freight facilities and corridors, with those near clusters of 11 or more facilities facing a 32% higher cancer risk from air toxics than the national average. It advocates for Indirect Source Rules (ISRs), which require facilities to mitigate the pollution attracted by their operations, as a tool to address these disparities. The author details best practices for ISR design and proposes various compliance options, including the deployment of zero-emission vehicles, charging infrastructure, and innovative solutions like using wastewater treatment plant methane for port power.

The assessment evaluates the viability of nature-based solutions (NbS) in Johannesburg's Jukskei River catchment, including riparian restoration and urban tree planting. Using the SAVi methodology, the report finds that these interventions are economically viable, with a discounted benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) of 3.06 and cumulative net benefits of ZAR 152 million from 2025 to 2050. The most significant benefits are avoided health costs from water pollution and avoided infrastructure damage from flooding.

The document examines urban heat islands (UHI) in Pärnu, Estonia, highlighting how urban density and coastal dynamics intensify heat. It argues that heat risk is an interaction between physical hazards and social vulnerability, particularly for children and the elderly, and advocates for targeted planning based on spatial mapping of these factors.

The assessment finds that nature-based solutions (NbS) in Kigali—including afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry, and urban tree planting—are economically viable, with a discounted benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) of 2.09 and cumulative net benefits of RWF 17,039 million from 2025 to 2050. The primary economic driver is the avoidance of flood damage to infrastructure, valued at RWF 17,311 million, alongside significant intangible benefits from reduced water pollution and carbon sequestration. Sensitivity analyses indicate that higher valuations for carbon and water pollution further increase the project's economic viability, with BCRs reaching up to 2.94.

The report identifies 5,500 hazardous facilities along US coastlines at risk of 100-year coastal flooding by 2100 under a high-emissions scenario (RCP 8.5). It highlights that marginalized populations—including renters, non-voters, and those in poverty—are 15-41% more likely to live within 1 kilometer of these sites. The risk is heavily concentrated, with nearly 80% of at-risk facilities located in seven states, and specific infrastructure like fossil fuel ports and terminals are particularly vulnerable, with over 40% expected to be at risk.

The report evaluates the impact of SUNCASA-implemented nature-based solutions (NbS) in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, focusing on the Dechatu River Catchment. Using the SAVi methodology, it projects that interventions including afforestation, agroforestry, and urban tree planting will generate a discounted net benefit of ETB 101.6 million from 2025 to 2050, with a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.36. The primary economic driver is the avoidance of flood-related infrastructure damage, valued at ETB 188.1 million. The assessment also highlights significant intangible benefits, such as avoided health costs from water pollution (ETB 65.8 million) and carbon sequestration (ETB 54.2 million). Sensitivity analyses indicate the project remains viable even with a 94% tree survival rate or under higher carbon pricing scenarios.

The report highlights that natural regeneration in the Brazilian Amazon could capture up to 26 GtCO2, presenting a significant economic opportunity. It proposes the Reversing Deforestation Mechanism (RDM), a jurisdictional results-based payment system that could mobilize up to US$ 784 billion over 30 years at a carbon price of US$ 50 per ton. The RDM is designed to complement other financial tools: JREDD+ for reducing deforestation and the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) for maintaining standing forests. The analysis emphasizes that states like Pará and Mato Grosso have the highest restoration potential due to cumulative deforestation, while Amazonas is the primary beneficiary of standing forest payments.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed the intersection of the housing crisis and extreme heat, finding that residents of affordable housing—particularly people of color, older adults, and people with disabilities—face significant risks. Analysis of 2024 heat alerts shows that the highest shares of exposed affordable housing are in the Northeast and Southeast, while Texas, California, and New York have the highest total number of exposed homes. The report advocates for increased investment in climate-resilient affordable housing and the expansion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to improve cooling and building efficiency.

The report identifies 'electoral cumulative inequalities' where precincts with majority populations of color consistently exhibit lower voter turnout and higher ballot rejection rates compared to majority-White precincts. Analyzing data from battleground counties in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, the authors argue that these disparities are systemic and not solely explained by state-level factors. The study highlights that communities with the lowest turnout also face the highest rates of ballot rejections, further diminishing their political representation. The authors advocate for more equitable ballot design and increased election data transparency to mitigate these inequities.

The report details the methodological framework for identifying 'attacks on science' (AOS), defined as actions by elected officials or political appointees that result in the censoring, manipulation, or misinforming of scientific data. It describes the use of human coding for news articles, analysis of federal funding data from USASpending.gov, and tracking of federal advisory committee terminations. The methodology specifically addresses the tracking of federal workforce cuts, the impact of Clean Air Act exemptions on overburdened communities using spatial buffers, and the monitoring of federal environmental webpages via the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI).

Climate Central's analysis of 65 major U.S. cities reveals that approximately 76% of the 6.2 million K-12 public school students in these areas attend school in 'extreme urban heat zones,' where the built environment adds at least 8°F of additional heat. The average student in these cities attends school in a neighborhood that is 8.3°F hotter due to the built environment, with the highest average additional heat found in New York City (9.6°F). The report highlights that children are particularly vulnerable to heat-related health risks, which can impair academic achievement and development, while noting that 41% of public school districts need to update or replace HVAC systems in at least half of their schools.

The document identifies priority areas for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the Philippines to protect infrastructure and populations from climate impacts, noting that a small percentage of land area can provide resilience for millions of people and a significant portion of the road network. It emphasizes that many of these priority areas lie outside existing protected networks, requiring new regulatory approaches, while also highlighting 'win-win' opportunities within protected areas. The report advocates for integrating NbS data into national planning frameworks like the Infrastructure Flagship Program and the Philippine Development Plan, supported by capacity building and centralized data platforms.

The report examines how a 21.8% rate hike for State Farm homeowners insurance in California, approved in March 2025 following devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, disproportionately affects policyholders in high-risk areas. It projects that the average State Farm policyholder in California will pay $841 more in 2025 than in 2023, with some communities seeing premiums more than double. The analysis highlights that 280,000 policyholders across 122 communities will face annual premium increases of $1,000 or more. The document argues that these escalating costs are a direct result of climate change and suggests that the financial burden should shift from policyholders to the oil and gas companies responsible for fossil fuel pollution.

The report argues that the revision of the South Papua Provincial Spatial Plan (RTRWP) is being rushed and lacks transparency, primarily to facilitate National Strategic Projects (PSN) in food and bioenergy. This process involves the release and functional downgrading of over 700,000 hectares of forest, threatening 644,994 hectares of natural forest and 49 indigenous territories. The document highlights that bioenergy projects—including bioethanol, biofuel, and biomass—often prioritize exports over local needs and risk repeating past human rights violations. Furthermore, the plan overlaps with existing industrial forestry concessions (PBPH), suggesting a potential handover of land to corporations, and threatens High Conservation Value Areas (HCVA) essential for biodiversity and indigenous livelihoods.

The Canadian Climate Institute warns that current land-use policies could lead to over 540,000 new homes being built in flood-risk zones and 220,000 in high-wildfire-risk areas by 2030. This trajectory could increase annual flood damages by up to $2 billion and wildfire damages by $1.1 billion. The report identifies critical gaps in provincial regulations, a lack of up-to-date risk mapping, and 'moral hazard' created by disaster assistance programs that encourage risky construction. It recommends strengthening land-use regulations, integrating risk data into housing and infrastructure funding, and mandating risk disclosure during real estate transactions.

The study analyzed macrobenthic communities in five Uruguayan coastal lagoons across three spatial scales and four months in 2005. It found that community structure is primarily driven by spatial variation rather than short-term temporal changes, with the most significant differences occurring between the closed, eutrophic Diario lagoon and those intermittently connected to the ocean. Key environmental drivers include total suspended solids, conductivity, sediment organic matter, phytobenthic chlorophyll a, and macrophyte total biomass.