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The document analyzes natural gas flaring in the Bakken formation of North Dakota, noting that in 2013, 32% of all produced gas was flared. It disputes the claim that slow federal permitting for pipelines is the primary driver of flaring, providing data that 72% of 2013 flaring occurred on private or state-owned land and 57% of statewide flaring came from wells already connected to gathering pipelines. The author argues that flaring is instead caused by insufficient infrastructure capacity, lack of front-end planning, and investment gaps, and opposes HR 4293, which would allow the Secretary of Interior to bypass the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for pipeline and compressor station permits on federal lands.

The report analyzes three scenarios for Estonia's transport sector: 'Non-intervening' (BAU), 'Low-intervention' (VS), and 'Knowledge-based' (EE). The BAU scenario predicts a nearly 60% increase in energy consumption by 2030 compared to 2012 levels. The EE scenario, which employs systemic policies including road user charges and land-use planning, aims to stop energy consumption growth, potentially achieving a 2% reduction by 2030. The analysis highlights that private and corporate spending on vehicle imports, maintenance, and fuel (approximately 1.5-1.7 billion EUR annually) far exceeds public infrastructure and passenger transport spending (approximately 400 million EUR annually). Environmentally, the EE scenario is the only one to project a decrease in CO2 equivalent emissions, forecasting a 36% reduction by 2030 compared to 2012.

Friends of the Earth South Africa and groundWork argue that the South African government is rushing to lift the fracking moratorium without transparent impact studies or meaningful public consultation. They contend that promises of job creation by corporations like Royal Dutch Shell are misleading and that fracking would exacerbate socio-economic inequalities and environmental degradation. The authors highlight the climate risk, noting that methane is a more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2, and urge the president to protect regions like the Karoo and KwaZulu-Natal by pursuing renewable energy alternatives.

The U.S. electricity sector is shifting from coal to natural gas, with natural gas projected to account for nearly two-thirds of electricity by 2050 if current trends continue. However, this transition risks generating up to three times the carbon emissions recommended by the National Research Council (NRC) to limit climate change. While natural gas provides near-term public health benefits and supports grid reliability for variable renewables, it remains a fossil fuel that emits carbon dioxide and leaks methane. To meet the NRC's carbon budget, the U.S. must increase the share of renewable energy in the power supply to 25 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050.

Earthjustice and a coalition of environmental and tribal groups are appealing a July 2013 decision by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to lease approximately 13,175 acres for coal in the Canyon Creek area. The appeal argues that the lease is unconstitutional because it grants exploration rights for an indeterminate period, violating the Alaska Constitution's requirement for 'specific periods'. Furthermore, the appellants contend that the DNR ignored the foreseeable impacts of climate change, seismic risks, and severe health hazards to workers and local communities. They also argue that the economic benefits are exaggerated and that the project would cause irreversible damage to salmon habitats and watersheds, citing similar findings from the nearby Chuitna project.

The Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill (S. 761) aims to reduce U.S. energy use and emissions through building codes, financing, and technical assistance. While it targets high-emission sectors like residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, its impact is uncertain due to the voluntary nature of key provisions. The document argues that while the bill is a positive step, more mandatory standards and the inclusion of transport and electric power sectors are needed to meet the U.S. 2020 emissions-reduction target.

The report argues that climate change shifts the probability curve of temperature and precipitation, making once-rare extreme events common. It highlights that while a 4°C rise in average temperature may seem small, it significantly increases the likelihood of deadly heat waves and catastrophic floods. The document cites specific examples from the United States, Russia, and Australia to illustrate the economic and social risks, attributing 90% of global warming to human activity and urging immediate emissions reductions and adaptation measures.

The document details the environmental footprint of geothermal power, distinguishing between hydrothermal and enhanced geothermal systems. It highlights that while closed-loop systems minimize air emissions and water contamination, open-loop systems release gases like hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. The text notes that geothermal energy has significantly lower life-cycle global warming emissions than coal or natural gas, though it can be associated with land subsidence and increased earthquake frequency.

The author proposes a two-track approach for President Obama's second term: immediate regulatory action via the EPA to reduce carbon dioxide from power plants and methane from the oil and gas industry, and a long-term strategy to revamp energy technology innovation. To achieve a target of 80 percent carbon dioxide reduction by 2050, the document suggests developing a portfolio of zero-carbon technologies, including carbon capture and storage, advanced nuclear energy, and synthetic hydrocarbon fuels, supported by more effective innovation policies and increased R&D funding.

The research introduces a modelling framework combining the NGAUGE field-scale model and a new LANDDAIRY farm-scale submodel to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Basque dairy farms. A case study of 17 farms in Bizkaia found mean total GHG emissions of 385 ± 175 t CO2-eq yr-1, with emissions per litre of energy-corrected milk ranging from 0.86 to 2.11 kg CO2-eq. The study identifies methane from enteric fermentation and emissions from purchased feed as the primary contributors to the carbon footprint, suggesting that purchased feed can serve as a proxy for estimating total farm emissions.

The document analyzes the rise of atmospheric CO2, which reached a record high of over 400 ppm in May 2013, and discusses the resulting climate impacts and the necessity of immediate mitigation to avoid dangerous warming.

The Arctic Resilience Interim Report 2013 examines the interdependence of human societies and ecosystems in the Arctic, arguing that a resilience framework is essential for managing rapid, interacting changes. It highlights that while climate change is a key driver, social, political, and economic factors also profoundly impact the region's adaptive capacity. The report warns that abrupt environmental changes risk crossing thresholds with global consequences, such as sea ice loss and permafrost thaw. It further notes that past policy decisions have often eroded traditional indigenous safeguards of resilience, necessitating flexible, participatory governance to manage future uncertainties and conflicting priorities.

The Clean Air Task Force calls on the EPA to finalize carbon dioxide performance standards for new fossil fuel power plants and to initiate regulations for existing power plants and methane emissions from oil and gas operations, noting that existing power plants account for over 40 percent of US carbon dioxide emissions.

The report examines the critical intersection of transport and environment in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), highlighting severe road safety risks, rising urban air and noise pollution, and increasing traffic congestion. It argues that current transport systems are often inequitable, neglecting vulnerable groups like pedestrians and the rural poor. The document advocates for a paradigm shift toward sustainable mobility using the 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' strategy, emphasizing the need for integrated land-use planning, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and the protection of non-motorized transport to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health.

The report analyzes the economic, environmental, and social impacts of fossil-fuel subsidies in APEC economies, estimating that consumption subsidies alone cost at least US$105 billion in 2010. It argues that such subsidies are often regressive, benefiting wealthier populations and increasing GHG emissions. The document proposes a three-phase reform framework—research, developing options, and implementation—and details case studies from Australia, Indonesia, Chile, Mexico, Thailand, China, and Russia to illustrate best practices in transparency, targeted social compensation (such as cash transfers), and gradual price deregulation.

The document outlines four types of cool roofs—naturally cool, coated, insulated, and green (vegetated)—and details their capacity to reduce building energy use, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. It highlights specific benefits such as a potential 15 percent reduction in air conditioning energy for single-story buildings and the ability of green roofs to manage storm-water runoff, illustrated by examples in Washington, D.C.

The global atmosphere is at a critical stage, with climate change identified as the most pressing issue. While successful international cooperation has phased out ozone-depleting substances and lead in petrol, progress on particulate matter and tropospheric ozone is mixed, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Despite the availability of low-carbon technologies, greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise, leaving a gap of several billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent between current pledges and the targets needed to limit global warming to 2°C. The document advocates for an integrated approach to atmospheric protection and the use of short-lived climate forcers as a complementary strategy to CO2 reduction.

The briefing explains how the CRED model differs from conventional climate-economics models, such as DICE, by integrating 'reason, empathy, and fair play'. It asserts that to maintain a high probability of keeping temperature increases below 2°C, cumulative twenty-first century CO2 emissions must be limited to 2,000 Gt. The document highlights that 'business-as-usual' emissions would reach 7,800 Gt, necessitating the elimination of 5,800 Gt. The CRED Optimal scenario achieves a successful climate outcome and reduces global inequality through rich countries investing in emission and poverty reduction in poorer nations.

The document distinguishes between dry gas (primarily methane) and wet gas (methane mixed with marketable higher hydrocarbons like ethane, propane, and butane). It identifies gaseous wastes including hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, methane, and carbon dioxide. It further details liquid wastes, specifically produced water, which can contain carcinogenic chemicals, salts, and naturally occurring radioactive elements such as radium and uranium, noting that many wastewater treatment plants lack the capacity to remove these radioactive chemicals to meet federal drinking water standards.

The document highlights the rapid loss of Arctic sea ice and the resulting pressure to exploit undiscovered oil and gas reserves, warning that such activities create a feedback loop of increased emissions and further melting. It emphasizes the risks of Greenland Ice Sheet melting and shifting global weather patterns, while calling for a 'zero emissions Arctic campaign' to enforce the safest, zero-emitting practices for drilling and shipping.