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The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) submitted comments to the U.S. House of Representatives advocating for the maintenance of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as written. EESI argues that the RFS is critical for reducing petroleum dependence, improving urban air quality by reducing aromatic air toxics, and fostering rural economic development. The document contends that factors other than the RFS—such as extreme weather, global meat demand, and commodity speculation—are the primary drivers of corn and soybean price volatility.

This research paper analyzes the FUND model of climate economics, finding that its low Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) estimate of $6 is largely driven by an overestimation of agricultural benefits from CO2 fertilization and temperature increases. The authors identify several technical flaws, including a potential division-by-zero error in the optimum temperature equation and the use of implausible temperature ranges in Monte Carlo simulations. They argue that FUND relies on outdated research from the 1990s and suggest that updating the model with recent empirical data on crop yields and CO2 fertilization would significantly increase the SCC estimate.

This research paper evaluates the Ecological Footprint of various diets and food production methods, specifically comparing average UK consumption with nutritionally recommended diets. Using the REAP software tool and input-output analysis, the study finds that shifting toward healthy, plant-based, local, and organic diets can significantly reduce environmental pressure while improving public health outcomes.