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The report identifies six audience segments in the US—the Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive—and tracks their evolution from 2008 to 2012. It finds that 70% of the public (Alarmed, Concerned, and Cautious) believe global warming is a real threat. While there is broad support for increasing renewable energy and eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, perceptions of political influence are skewed, with most segments believing campaign contributors and fossil fuel companies have the most power over elected officials.

A survey of Maryland residents in 2013 found that air pollution is viewed as the top personal health risk and that a majority of residents believe climate change is already harming people in the United States. The study highlights a strong public preference for renewable energy sources over fossil fuels and nuclear power due to health concerns. It also reveals that residents with multiple pre-existing medical conditions are more likely to perceive themselves as vulnerable to climate-related health impacts. Additionally, the report notes high public support for government prioritisation of protecting public water supplies and human health from environmental threats.

The document argues that the global energy system is driven by neoliberalism and extractivism, benefiting a small elite while causing climate devastation and energy poverty. It critiques both fossil fuels and certain 'clean' alternatives—such as mega-dams and industrial biofuels—as destructive. The authors advocate for a decentralized, democratically controlled energy system that prioritizes human rights and ecological limits over corporate profit.

The document argues that the global energy system is unsustainable and unjust, driven by neoliberalism and extractivism. It details the environmental and social harms of fossil fuels, nuclear power, and certain 'clean' alternatives, while warning against 'techno-fixes' and corporate-led transitions. It advocates for a decentralized, democratically controlled system that prioritizes basic human rights to energy and a just transition for workers.

China has become a global leader in renewable energy investment and wind capacity, though it remains heavily dependent on coal for electricity and heat. While the 12th Five Year Plan sets targets for increasing non-fossil fuel use and reducing carbon emissions intensity, the country faces challenges such as grid connectivity for wind power and water shortages in arid provinces due to coal base construction. The government is also piloting emissions trading schemes in several cities and provinces as a precursor to a national system by 2015.

The document examines China's energy landscape as of 2012, highlighting its position as a global leader in renewable energy investment and wind capacity despite a heavy reliance on coal for electricity. It details the growth of the solar and wind sectors, the environmental and water-related costs of coal combustion, and the climate goals established under the 12th Five Year Plan, including targets for non-fossil fuel use and the implementation of carbon pricing mechanisms.

The report identifies a shift in public opinion between 2010 and 2012, with the 'Alarmed' segment growing from 10 percent to 16 percent and the 'Dismissive' segment shrinking from 16 percent to 8 percent. Across most segments, improved public health, reduced foreign oil dependence, and green job creation are viewed as top benefits of reducing fossil fuel use, while increased government regulation and higher energy prices are seen as the primary drawbacks. While majorities across all six groups support increasing renewable energy use, support for a carbon tax varies based on the proposal's specific benefits. Additionally, most segments believe that campaign contributors and the fossil fuel industry exert more influence over elected officials than citizens with shared views.

The document examines Africa's role in the 'global nuclear renaissance,' noting that the continent holds 18% of world uranium resources. It details the production activities of Namibia, Niger, Malawi, and South Africa, while identifying emerging exploration in countries like the Central African Republic and Tanzania. The author argues that while uranium mining provides significant GDP contributions and employment, it is plagued by governance challenges, including a lack of institutional capacity to monitor environmental and health impacts. The paper compares African practices with those in Canada and Australia and suggests that strengthening government capacity and adopting international best practices, such as those from the IAEA and EITI, are essential for sustainable development.

The report argues that investments in clean energy and environmental protection generally create more jobs than the fossil-fuel industries they replace. Through a survey of 36 studies and original analysis using IMPLAN 2009 data, the authors find that non-fossil-fuel sectors have significantly higher job-to-spending ratios. A case study on eliminating coal and nuclear power by 2050 suggests a potential net gain of over 21 million full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, although it notes that workers in fossil-fuel sectors would face real layoffs and require retraining.

The report examines the US-South Africa Strategic Dialogue, highlighting strong trade ties through AGOA and cooperation in defense and non-proliferation. It notes tensions regarding Iranian oil imports and South Africa's role in BRICS, while emphasizing continued partnership in health and nuclear energy.

The document describes the 'energy-water collision,' a phenomenon where power plants—particularly conventional fossil-fuel and nuclear facilities—struggle to secure sufficient or cool enough water for cooling processes during heat waves and droughts. It identifies three primary types of collisions: insufficient water levels, incoming water that is too warm to cool plants, and outgoing water that exceeds temperature limits for environmental safety. The text highlights a surge in these incidents during the summer of 2012, noting that even plants on large bodies of water, such as the Millstone nuclear plant on Long Island Sound, are now susceptible to temperature-related shutdowns.

An open letter from Scientists for Global Responsibility to the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change arguing that the Draft Energy Bill and current energy policies are unambitious and biased toward the nuclear industry at the expense of renewables and energy efficiency.

The document examines the conflict between Vattenfall and Germany arising from the 13th Amendment to the Atomic Energy Act, which mandated the closure of nuclear plants by 2022. It explores how the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) allows foreign investors to bypass domestic courts and seek compensation through the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The report compares the investor-friendly standards of international arbitration—such as 'fair and equitable treatment' and 'indirect expropriation'—with the more public-interest-oriented protections of the German Basic Law. It concludes that the current investor-state dispute settlement system lacks transparency and predictability, potentially creating a 'chilling effect' on environmental policy-making.

The author contends that overcoming the crisis requires surpassing national sovereignty in favor of a federal European Union to regulate financial markets and climate change. The text proposes a green economy based on massive innovation in green technologies and building insulation to create non-delocalisable jobs and reduce climate imbalance. Finally, it argues for a departure from traditional political strategies based on GDP growth and consumption, citing the reality of a world with limited resources.

The author analyzes the collapse of the liberal-productivist model, which combined neoliberal deregulation with a drive for continuous material growth. This model failed due to a convergence of financial debt crises and ecological constraints, specifically the 'energy-climate crisis' and food price volatility. The author proposes a 'Green Deal' characterized by a shift toward labor-intensive green investments, a reduction in working hours, and a global cooperative framework for greenhouse gas (GHG) quotas. To fund this transition, the document suggests the 'monetization of debts'—canceling or rescheduling old debts while directing new credit toward green conversion. The text warns that without a democratic, cooperative transition, the world risks repeating the 1930s' slide into fascism or totalitarianism.

The author characterizes the current global crisis as the collapse of a 'liberal-productivist' model, which combined neoliberal deregulation with a productivist drive that ignored ecological limits. This model failed due to a combination of financial instability (a 'debt economy'), extreme revenue inequality, and a 'climate-energy crisis' where the demand for staple commodities like food and energy crowded out durable goods. The author argues that traditional Keynesian solutions are insufficient because they would accelerate climate change, while 'green-washing' ignores the social inequalities at the root of the crisis. A proposed 'Green Deal' would involve a global redistribution of productivity—prioritizing the reduction of labor time over material consumption—and a shift toward a labor-intensive technological paradigm focused on public transportation and care services. Financing this transition would require the 'monetization of debts' and the creation of new credit strictly oriented toward green investments. The author warns that without a coordinated, democratic transition, the world risks a repeat of the 1930s, where economic desperation led to the rise of fascism and Stalinism.

The report evaluates advanced nuclear reactor designs to provide affordable, low-carbon energy. It focuses on small modular light water reactors (smLWRs) for their deployment flexibility and safety; high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) for their high thermal efficiency and process heat applications; and fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors (FHRs) for their potential for breakthrough economics due to compact size and high power density.

The document identifies that federal energy-related spending in 2010 ranged from $290 billion to $610 billion, with the vast majority supporting petroleum-based transportation and energy security rather than emissions reduction. Only $38 billion was spent on climate mitigation, a small fraction of the total budget, and much of this was temporary stimulus funding from the Recovery Act. The analysis highlights a reliance on tax expenditures for clean energy, which are described as less transparent than direct spending but more politically sustainable.

The report analyzes 15 significant safety-related 'near-misses' at U.S. nuclear plants in 2011, arguing that many resulted from owners tolerating known safety problems. While it highlights successful NRC interventions at the Fort Calhoun, Hatch, and LaSalle plants, it criticizes the agency for allowing 47 reactors to operate in violation of fire-protection regulations and 27 reactors to operate with deficient seismic protection. The author contends that the NRC often focuses on fixing individual equipment failures rather than addressing the systemic weaknesses in owners' testing and inspection regimes.

The Obama administration's FY 2013 budget proposal emphasizes an "all of the above" energy strategy, prioritizing renewable energy, energy efficiency, and infrastructure. Key funding increases are directed toward the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, building technology research, and high-speed rail. The proposal also calls for the elimination of $4 billion in fossil fuel subsidies and a significant investment in surface transportation, funded by savings from reduced overseas military operations.