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RMI analysis indicates that Illinois households could save over $2,800 annually by implementing a combination of vehicle electrification standards, climate-driven agency planning, and renewed transit investments. These strategies could reduce pollution by up to 305 million metric tons between 2024 and 2050 and prevent thousands of deaths annually through reduced crash fatalities, improved air quality, and increased physical activity. While Illinois has received federal funding via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, the report notes the state has yet to adopt clean vehicle standards or integrate climate metrics into infrastructure project scoring.

The report evaluates the expansion of Parques del Río Norte in Medellín, Colombia, finding that the project generates a return of USD 1.67 for every dollar invested over 30 years. These benefits stem from reduced flood risk, improved air quality, and economic gains in property values and retail revenue. The document recommends investing in nature-based infrastructure (NBI) and ensuring continuous maintenance to combat urban heat islands, water pollution, and river erosion.

The document examines the barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption for low-income consumers, specifically highlighting that while subsidies like the Inflation Reduction Act address upfront costs, high repair and maintenance costs remain a significant risk. It notes that for low-income households, the loss of a vehicle due to repair costs can lead to job loss and reduced access to healthcare. To mitigate these risks, the author suggests strategic investments in EV government fleets and public transportation, such as the EPA's Clean School Bus Rebates, which provide immediate air quality benefits to environmental justice communities without placing financial risk on vulnerable individuals.

The São Paulo Complete Streets Network, a partnership between WRI and the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety, supported Brazilian cities in redesigning infrastructure to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users. Between 2020 and 2023, ten cities in São Paulo implemented measures such as expanded sidewalks, cycle lanes, and reduced speed limits. These efforts contributed to a shift where the crash mortality rate in these cities fell below the state average of São Paulo in 2022, compared to 2021 when it was higher.

The briefing note calls for further reform of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) following Bill S-5, highlighting the need for enforceable national air quality standards, the removal of barriers to citizen lawsuits against polluters, improved labelling of hazardous substances in consumer products, and enhanced environmental protections on First Nations reserve lands to address systemic inequities and health risks.

The Air Aware campaign, led by Youth@SAIIA as part of the global Breathe Cities initiative, focuses on empowering youth aged 13–25 in South Africa to advocate for clean air. The program utilizes a structured journey including 'Train-the-Trainers' workshops, the appointment of Youth Air Champions (YACs) who implement community-specific campaigns, and engagement with policy frameworks like the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 2004. Key activities included mapping air pollution hotspots in Soweto, linking air quality to biodiversity in the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, and digital campaigns connecting plastic waste to air pollution. The initiative aims to culminate in a Youth-Led Conference on Air Pollution Policy and Implementation to integrate youth lived experiences into the City of Johannesburg's air quality governance.

The report analyzes the impact of amine-based carbon capture retrofits at two petroleum refineries and two cement plants in California and Texas. It finds that because carbon capture systems require the removal of pollutants like sulfur dioxide and particulate matter from flue gas to operate effectively, their installation leads to significant reductions in criteria air pollutants and associated public health improvements. While the systems cause a small increase in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the combined climate and health benefits are estimated to be 1.5 to 4 times greater than the costs of the technology.

The document combines findings from community surveys in New Jersey, Louisiana, and the Navajo Nation with stakeholder interviews to evaluate the Community Benefits Plan (CBP) required for most U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding. While the CBP is seen as a tool to improve worker and community outcomes, survey data reveals deep skepticism due to unfulfilled past promises and a preference for environmental quality improvements over clean energy expansion. Implementation challenges include limited DOE capacity, stakeholder fatigue, and a need for greater accountability and resources for under-resourced community groups.

The report details survey results from the Ironbound Community (New Jersey), Navajo Nation Chapters (New Mexico, Arizona, Utah), and St. James and St. John the Baptist Parishes (Louisiana). It finds widespread skepticism toward developers due to unfulfilled past promises and low initial awareness of CBPs. While support for CBPs increased after residents were informed of potential benefits, priorities varied: environmental quality (water and air) and affordable housing were highly valued, while specific clean energy funding like EV charging stations ranked lower. Residents strongly emphasized the need for transparent, accessible engagement and the inclusion of small business owners and environmental groups in negotiations.

Black carbon (BC), or soot, is a potent short-lived climate pollutant resulting from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. The report identifies the residential and transportation sectors as the primary sources, with China and India as the largest emitters. It highlights a 'triple win' of reducing BC: slowing global warming (particularly in the Arctic and Himalayas), preventing millions of premature deaths, and avoiding trillions in economic losses. Key recommendations include scaling clean cooking in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, retrofitting diesel engines with particulate filters, regulating shipping fuels, and incorporating BC into national climate plans (NDCs).

The EPA's proposed 2023 tailpipe emission rules for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles aim to reduce greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants starting with model year 2027. While not banning internal combustion engines, the rules set average emission limits for manufacturers, which is expected to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption. By 2032, the EPA projects EVs could reach 67% of new light-duty vehicle sales. Projected long-term benefits through 2055 include avoiding nearly 10 billion tons of CO2 emissions, reducing oil imports by 20 billion barrels, and providing $12,000 in lifetime savings per light-duty vehicle for consumers.

The Clean Air Task Force analysis suggests that an EU import standard for oil and gas could reduce over 30% of global methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, which is 20 times more effective than regulating domestic EU production alone. The briefing proposes a methane intensity threshold of 1.7 kilotonnes of methane emitted per million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE) to ensure a fair playing field for both oil and gas producers. Implementing this standard could save 90 billion cubic meters of gas, equivalent to nearly Germany's annual consumption, and generate €55 billion in total savings for exporting and EU-based producing countries.

The document reports that the average person in the U.S. breathed more harmful wildfire smoke in 2023 than in any year since 2006, driven largely by record-shattering wildfires in Canada. It details how fine particle pollution (PM2.5) from these fires travels thousands of miles, affecting every county in the contiguous U.S. and stalling air quality improvements in 30 states. The text links these trends to a warming climate and increasing 'fire weather,' noting that human-caused climate change accounts for at least two-thirds of the rapid increase in fire weather in the western U.S.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) reported total assets of $533,266,191 as of September 30, 2023, an increase from $384,549,025 in 2022. The organization's operating revenues for the 2023 fiscal year totaled $250,310,049, with $235,185,176 in operating expenses. An independent audit by Grant Thornton LLP issued an unmodified opinion on the financial statements and compliance for major federal programs, although a significant deficiency was identified regarding the preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). WRI's programmatic work is organized across seven critical issues, including climate, energy, and forests, with a global presence including subsidiaries and offices in India, Europe, Colombia, Kenya, China, and Ethiopia.

Indonesian and international CSOs are calling on global fashion brands to phase out both fossil fuels and biomass energy, arguing that biomass is a 'false solution' that drives deforestation and violates human rights. The letter highlights that brands like H&M, Puma, Adidas, and Inditex are promoting biomass in Southeast Asia despite its high emissions and negative impacts on biodiversity and local communities. The authors argue that woody biomass can generate more CO2 per kilowatt hour than coal and risk the loss of over 2 million hectares of natural forest in Indonesia.

A letter from community gardeners urging the Governor of New York to sign a bill that would provide legal protections for community gardens by designating them as Critical Environmental Areas (CEAs). The authors argue that these gardens are essential for food security, climate resilience against extreme heat and flooding, and air quality improvement, particularly in marginalized communities.

A coalition of organizations urges Governor Kathy Hochul to sign S.629-A/A.4139-A to protect New York community gardens. The bill would enable the New York State Community Gardens Task Force to designate eligible gardens as Critical Environmental Areas (CEAs), providing legal protections and ensuring community input during development projects. The authors argue that these gardens are essential for food security, mitigating extreme heat and flooding, and improving air quality, particularly in marginalized communities.

As of June 2023, there are 5,982 committed electric school buses across 914 U.S. school districts or private fleet operators. Adoption is heavily driven by the EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program, which funded 39% of all committed buses. While California leads in total numbers, adoption is becoming more geographically distributed, with 49 states now having commitments. The report finds that adoption is occurring equitably, with a majority of buses located in low-income districts and areas with high air pollution. Type C buses are the most common, making up 62.5% of commitments.

Earthjustice highlights a report identifying six New York cities as 'Asthma Capitals' and advocates for the 'Green Transit, Green Jobs' bill. This legislation would mandate that all state transit authorities purchase only zero-emission buses starting in 2029 and provide workforce protections for existing employees during the transition.

The report analyzes two policy scenarios for Pennsylvania's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet: the adoption of California's Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule and a more aggressive '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. Both scenarios project significant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter (PM) emissions, leading to substantial public health benefits and net societal gains. While initial costs for fleets are higher, the report finds that ZEVs will reach lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles as purchase prices fall and fuel/maintenance savings accumulate. The transition is projected to generate positive macroeconomic effects, including net national job gains and increased GDP by 2035, and could potentially lower electricity rates for residential and commercial customers due to increased utility net revenue from EV charging.