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The document examines the environmental and social challenges of transport in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the rise in urban air pollution, high road fatality rates, and increasing traffic congestion. It argues that current policies favor automobiles over vulnerable populations and recommends an 'avoid, shift, improve' strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve accessibility and safety for all citizens.

The report examines the intersection of global demographic ageing and environmental change, highlighting that by 2050, people aged 55-plus will comprise nearly a quarter of the global population. It categorizes older people as 'contributors' (through consumption patterns), 'casualties' (due to increased vulnerability to natural disasters and pollution), and 'champions' (as a reservoir of knowledge and volunteers). A web-based survey of 1,028 individuals from Australia, Canada, the UK, USA, and Sweden reveals high levels of environmental concern and a willingness to take action, though respondents often underestimate the direct impacts of climate change on their own health and security. The document argues for 'age-proofed' policies that reduce environmental footprints, protect vulnerable seniors, and mobilize their experience for disaster risk reduction.

Earthjustice praises outgoing EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson for her role in regulating mercury from power plants and cement kilns, as well as implementing regulations to curb greenhouse gases, despite opposition from industrial polluters and Congress.

The document identifies China's urbanization as a critical factor for global climate change, noting that by 2030, China will have approximately 1 billion urban residents. It argues that the current development pattern of 'single use superblocks served by auto-centric transportation' is unsustainable and leads to congestion and pollution. To counter this, the authors propose six 'ingredients for success': permeable urban form (smaller, mixed-use blocks), transit-centered transportation (prioritizing walking, biking, and Bus Rapid Transit), effective and enforced building codes, municipal finance reform to move away from land-leasing incentives, new sustainability performance metrics for mayors, and a strengthened planning process with increased technical capacity.

The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies a range of 16 to 32 coal-fired generating units in Michigan as economically uncompetitive compared to natural gas and renewable energy. The report highlights that 87 percent of the state's coal capacity exceeds its 30-year design lifetime, and many of these plants lack modern pollution controls, contributing significantly to public health issues and carbon emissions. The document advocates for retiring these plants in favor of wind, solar, and energy efficiency to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 18.7 million tons annually and stimulate the state's clean energy economy.

Earthjustice represented the Moapa Band of Paiutes in litigation against the Reid Gardner coal plant in Nevada. The plant emitted soot, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, which caused haze in Zion and the Grand Canyon national parks and posed health risks to the Moapa Paiute community. The litigation sought a 90 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions through updated technology, resulting in the plant owners choosing to shut down the facility in 2013.

The document advocates for the public release of industrial audit data in California to maximize the public health benefits of the state's cap and trade system. It argues that transparency allows advocates and community members to pressure facilities to implement energy efficiency measures, which reduce both greenhouse gases and local air pollution. The author contends that the benefits of transparency, including the replication of best practices and increased public confidence, outweigh facility managers' concerns regarding competitive disadvantages.

The report examines the application of hybrid-electric, battery-electric, fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid technologies in the US trucking sector. It highlights specific use cases, such as urban delivery, port drayage, and auxiliary power units, noting that while medium- and heavy-duty trucks make up only 4% of road vehicles, they account for approximately 20% of transportation fuel consumption. The document argues that expanding electrification is a key strategy for doubling truck fuel efficiency and halving projected US oil consumption over 20 years.

The document examines Nigeria's energy subsidy regime, focusing on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), household kerosene (hhK), and electricity. It highlights the immense fiscal burden on the government, with fuel subsidies alone estimated at over ₦2 trillion in 2011. The guide argues that these universal subsidies disproportionately benefit higher-income earners and are plagued by systemic corruption, such as inflated import claims and the diversion of kerosene to black markets. It also notes that under-pricing of energy has stifled investment in refining and power infrastructure, leading to high reliance on private generators and significant gas flaring. The document outlines the government's transition toward cost-reflective electricity tariffs via the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) and the attempted removal of gasoline subsidies through the SURE-P program, while providing international lessons on gradual price liberalization and targeted social compensation.

The document highlights that rapid industrialization and economic growth in Asia have led to higher ozone precursor emissions and concentrations. It emphasizes the need to improve understanding of ozone's impact on South Asian agriculture via experimental assessments and regional scale modelling to evaluate risks to agricultural production.

The Union of Concerned Scientists evaluated the ten largest publicly owned utilities (POUs) in California based on their 2010 compliance with the state's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS). While these utilities collectively increased their RPS-eligible investments from 4.1% of retail sales in 2003 to 18.8% in 2010, the report finds significant disparity in how this was achieved. Some utilities, such as Silicon Valley Power and Modesto Irrigation District, are categorized as "running ahead," while others, like Roseville Electric and Imperial Irrigation District, are labeled as having a "false start" due to a reliance on short-term contracts that do not promote new clean energy development. The report emphasizes that long-term contracts and ownership of facilities are essential to meet the increased 33% RPS requirement for 2020 and to reduce the state's continued heavy reliance on fossil fuels.

The report identifies systemic barriers to evidence-based decision-making regarding hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the U.S., including industry interference in academic and government research, legal loopholes in federal environmental laws, and a lack of transparency regarding chemical use. It highlights how non-disclosure agreements in legal settlements silence affected citizens and hide scientific data. The document provides a framework for communities to seek reliable information and calls for comprehensive laws requiring baseline and ongoing environmental monitoring and full chemical disclosure.

The study assesses four scenarios for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Tallinn's bus fleet by 2020, finding that while biodiesel and bioethanol offer the highest emission reductions, they are significantly more expensive per ton of CO2e reduced than other transport or energy sector measures.

The brief, filed by a coalition of physicians, scientists, and environmental advocates, contends that the natural gas industry systematically suppresses public health data through federal exemptions, state laws, and confidential legal settlements. It argues that the public interest in understanding the health risks of hydraulic fracturing—such as water contamination and air pollution—outweighs the private interests of gas companies in maintaining secrecy. The authors specifically highlight the Hallowich family's experience with deteriorating health due to nearby gas operations and urge the court to reverse a lower court's decision to seal the case records.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) evaluates the EPA's New Source Performance Standards for the oil and natural gas industry, noting that the rules will reduce VOCs by hundreds of thousands of tons and methane by 1.0 to 1.7 million tons annually. However, CATF criticizes a 2.5-year delay in requiring 'green-completion' for fracked wells and the total exclusion of the natural gas transmission and storage segment, which emits over 2 million tons of methane and 65,000 tons of VOC per year.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that the EPA's final New Source Performance Standards for the oil and gas industry must require 'green completions' to capture methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The memo asserts that methane from US oil and gas operations is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 100 years and contributes to global warming as much as 16% of all CO2 from US coal-fired power plants. CATF rejects industry claims that green completions are too costly or that flaring is a sufficient alternative, noting that such technologies are already used in states like Colorado and Wyoming.

The briefing addresses the urgency of improving air quality in China following severe pollution events in Beijing. It argues that while fuel quality standards are a necessary first step, long-term success requires avoiding car-reliant urban development. The author advocates for 'transit-oriented development' characterized by walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and high-quality public transit, specifically Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), to reduce transportation-related emissions. Additionally, the document highlights the role of energy-efficient building standards in reducing power plant pollution and the benefit of compact cities in preserving natural ecosystems.

The document examines the scale and impact of energy subsidies in Bangladesh, noting that they consume a significant portion of the national budget while primarily benefiting wealthier citizens. It analyzes subsidies for petroleum, natural gas, electricity, and coal, arguing that these measures distort the economy and discourage energy diversification. The guide suggests transitioning toward targeted social assistance, such as cash transfers, and implementing gradual, transparent price adjustments to mitigate the impact on the poor during reform.

The report examines the environmental and economic effects of hydrogen fluoride (HF) emissions from peri-urban brick kilns in Peshawar, Pakistan. It specifically assesses HF concentrations near Bull’s Trench kilns, the resulting visible injuries to fruit trees, the correlation between these injuries and foliar fluoride levels, and the level of awareness and economic impact among local farmers.

The document argues that while a sustainable global energy transformation is technologically and economically achievable, it faces significant governance challenges. It proposes a transition based on an integrated approach, high energy efficiency, and increased investment in research, development, and demonstration (RD&D).