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The Clean Power Plan aims for a nationwide reduction of carbon pollution to approximately 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. A proposed 'CPP national trading case' would involve 204 GW of new renewable energy capacity and $64 billion in energy-efficiency investments, generating $103 billion in public health and climate benefits. The document recommends that states adopt mass-based compliance plans, prioritize environmental justice for disadvantaged and coal-dependent communities, and implement strong clean-energy policies such as renewable electricity standards and carbon-pricing programs.

The briefing provides a historical analysis of nuclear waste siting in the United States, asserting that the Department of Energy (DOE) has consistently failed to secure long-term consent for high-level waste (HLW) and spent nuclear fuel (SNF) repositories. The author highlights a pattern of broken promises, litigation, and the failure of both the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) and the 'volunteer' process managed by the Nuclear Waste Negotiator. Key examples include the legal battles over the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and the non-consent of the Nevada state government regarding Yucca Mountain. The document concludes that the DOE's lack of reliability makes it unlikely that future consent agreements for consolidated storage or repositories will be trusted or successful.

Friends of the Earth International issued a statement on International Women's Day 2016 to protest the murder of Berta Cáceres, an indigenous Lenca leader and environmental justice activist in Honduras. The organization denounces the Honduran government for aiding transnational corporations in the appropriation of community territories and for the persecution of peaceful dissent. The statement links environmental justice to the end of violence against women and calls for an independent investigation into Cáceres' assassination, an end to impunity, and a stop to paramilitary activities in Honduras.

Friends of the Earth International (ATI) issued a statement on International Women's Day 2016 to denounce the assassination of Lenca indigenous leader Berta Cáceres in Honduras. The organization links the violence against Cáceres and other environmental defenders to a systemic intersection of patriarchy, racism, and predatory capitalism, where both women's bodies and communal territories are exploited as infinite resources for elite interests. ATI demands an independent international investigation into the murder, an end to impunity, and a cessation of paramilitary activities in Honduras supported by foreign governments.

Friends of the Earth International issues a statement on International Women's Day 2016 to protest the murder of Berta Cáceres in Honduras. The organization denounces the Honduran government for its role in facilitating the appropriation of common goods by transnational corporations and for the repression of peaceful opposition. The statement links environmental justice to the end of violence against women, arguing that both nature and women's labor are exploited within a patriarchal, capitalist, and racist system. It calls for an independent international investigation into Cáceres' death and an end to the persecution of indigenous rights defenders.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis suggests that the Clean Power Plan (CPP) can reduce nationwide power plant carbon pollution by approximately 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The proposed 'CPP National Trading Case' emphasizes a combination of wind, solar, and energy efficiency, supported by a national carbon emissions trading program. This approach is projected to generate $103 billion in public health and climate benefits through 2030 and create an average annual revenue of $17.8 billion from carbon allowance auctions between 2022 and 2030. While it may cause a modest near-term increase in household electricity bills, the analysis predicts net savings for consumers by 2030 due to lower operating costs of renewables and efficiency gains.

The document is a formal letter of opposition to S. 2446, asserting that the bill would dismantle critical public health and environmental safeguards established by the EPA's 2014 coal ash rule. The signatories argue that the legislation would eliminate requirements for cleaning up toxic releases, remove national drinking water protection standards, and delay the closure of unstable coal ash impoundments, thereby increasing risks for vulnerable communities and the environment.

The document contends that the U.S. EPA has failed to protect minority and low-income Americans from coal ash pollution, the second largest source of industrial waste in the U.S. It argues that the 2014 coal ash rule is insufficient because it places the burden of enforcement on citizens and allows the continued use of dangerous, unlined coal ash lagoons, which are predominantly located in vulnerable neighborhoods. The text calls for immediate EPA action, including drinking water testing and technical assistance for affected communities, to address these civil rights and public health disparities.

The FY 2017 budget proposal seeks to increase clean energy R&D funding to $12.8 billion by 2021, featuring a $10.25-per-barrel crude oil tax to fund sustainable transportation and significant increases for the Department of Energy's renewable energy and efficiency programs. It also includes $1.3 billion for the Global Climate Change Initiative and $291 million for Power Africa, while targeting a 83 percent reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a "Clean Path" for Virginia to comply with the Clean Power Plan by transitioning from voluntary to mandatory renewable energy and energy efficiency targets and implementing a mass-based carbon emissions-trading program. The analysis suggests this approach would reduce CO2 emissions by 77 million tons through 2030 compared to a reference case, lower typical residential electricity bills by 5% by 2030, and generate an average of $241 million in annual auction revenue for state investments. The report highlights Virginia's current underutilization of its renewable potential, noting that non-hydro renewables accounted for only 2.8% of electricity generation in 2014.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) submitted a public statement to the EPA supporting the Clean Power Plan (CPP) while advocating for a mass-based emissions trading approach for states subject to a federal implementation plan. UCS argues that a mass-based system provides greater certainty for achieving emissions budgets and better integration with future carbon markets. The document provides detailed recommendations for both rate-based and mass-based models, including the expansion of eligible zero-emission resources to include distributed generation and energy efficiency. It also proposes modifications to the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP) to broaden project eligibility timelines and ensure benefits reach low-income communities. Additionally, UCS emphasizes the need to protect voluntary renewable energy markets and suggests implementing interim compliance provisions to prevent emissions deficits.

The document outlines strategies for US states to ensure that the Clean Power Plan does not disproportionately burden low-income communities and communities of color. It emphasizes the need for 'high impact' engagement, the conduct of formal Environmental Justice (EJ) analyses, and the avoidance of carbon trading mechanisms that may allow power plants to avoid on-site pollution reductions. The guide also advocates for a 'Just Transition' that provides economic development and job training in communities heavily dependent on fossil fuels.

The report finds that residents in underserved Maryland neighborhoods perceive climate change risks similarly to the general state population but experience significantly higher rates of environmental harms, such as flooding and sewage overflows. While these communities support government action on climate and the creation of local resilience hubs, they report lower levels of social capital and resource accessibility. The study highlights a strong demand for energy bill assistance and community centers, suggesting that climate preparedness efforts should be integrated with broader community development and social resilience goals.

The document analyzes how carbon taxes or cap-and-trade programs affect U.S. households through expenditures, income, and revenue allocation. While carbon pricing can be regressive in terms of energy expenditures—disproportionately affecting low-income households and coal-dependent regions—the authors argue that the overall impact is determined by how the government uses the revenue. By targeting a small portion of revenue (approximately 10-12%) toward low-income households and coal communities, policymakers can offset burdens and ensure these vulnerable groups are not driven deeper into poverty. The brief compares various revenue uses, such as lump-sum rebates, labor tax swaps, and capital tax swaps, concluding that the policy is not inherently regressive and can be designed to be progressive.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting on behalf of several community and environmental organisations, submitted comments on 11 December 2015 regarding the updated Terms of Reference (ToR) for the implementation of the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). The CER argues that the ToR must be expanded to ensure broader government participation, mandatory attendance from industry and municipal leaders, and improved transparency and accessibility of air quality data and meeting documentation.

The report identifies 'climate equity hotspots' along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts, where projected sea level rise and tidal flooding combine with socioeconomic risks such as poverty and minority population share. It argues that federal and state agencies must prioritize these vulnerable communities in funding and infrastructure investments to ensure an equitable response to climate change. The analysis evaluated thirty-five coastal counties across nine states and provides case studies for five specific locations, including Dorchester County, MD, and Plaquemines Parish, LA, to illustrate the challenges of environmental injustice and sinking lands.

The document argues that the Arecibo Waste-to-Energy and Resource Recovery Project is unnecessary, economically unviable, and environmentally hazardous. It claims the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) fails to meet National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) standards by ignoring reasonable alternatives, underestimating public health risks—particularly lead exposure in a non-attainment area—and omitting cumulative impacts on human health and biological resources. The authors contend that the project violates the Rural Electrification Act's mandate to serve rural areas and would cause irreversible damage to the Caño Tiburones Natural Reserve.

The Union of Concerned Scientists developed a screening tool to identify coastal 'climate equity hotspots' where high climate risk overlaps with socioeconomic vulnerability. Applying this to 35 counties across the East and Gulf Coasts, the report finds that low-income and minority communities face disproportionate burdens from sea level rise and storm surges, often exacerbated by inadequate disaster recovery policies. It advocates for targeted federal funding, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and the use of actionable science to build resilience in frontline communities.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) report identifies coastal communities where socioeconomic vulnerability and climate risks overlap, creating 'climate equity hotspots.' Using a pilot study of 35 counties across nine U.S. states, the report demonstrates that African American, Latino, and Native American communities often face higher exposure to sea level rise and tidal flooding while possessing fewer resources to adapt. The authors propose a screening tool based on climate and socioeconomic indicators to guide more equitable distribution of federal and state resilience funding. The report concludes with policy recommendations to upgrade affordable housing, improve transportation for evacuations, and ensure inclusive stakeholder engagement in climate planning.

Earthjustice, representing several environmental and community groups, opposes the proposed Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal's (OBOT) plan to export coal. The letter contends that coal shipment was never part of the original environmental reviews or development agreements, poses severe health risks through coal dust emissions, and lacks sufficient regulatory protections. It argues that the City of Oakland has the legal authority to prohibit coal exports to protect public health and safety without hindering the broader economic development of the former Army Base.