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A 2013 survey of Maryland residents reveals high levels of concern about climate change, with 86% believing it is happening and a majority supporting state-level sustainability policies. While residents prefer renewable energy sources like solar and wind, there is significant uncertainty regarding the state's actual energy mix. The report also highlights a gap between public support for climate action and individual behaviors, noting that home energy conservation is more common than transportation-related reductions.

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 provides a multi-dimensional analysis of COVID-19 in Ethiopia, covering the health system's response, macroeconomic shocks, social vulnerabilities, and the intersection of the pandemic with political instability. It details government measures such as the state of emergency, financial support for banks, and public health campaigns, while highlighting critical gaps in digital governance and the risk of increased poverty.

The document assesses the potential for human development in the Western Cape through 2040 using the Human Development Index (HDI). The 'Base Case' forecast predicts significant improvements in life expectancy, income, and education, potentially reaching levels comparable to the UK and Austria by 2040. The brief explores three alternative policy-driven scenarios: an 'Education Push' to accelerate schooling attainment, a 'Broadband Initiative' to boost GDP through ICT infrastructure, and 'The End of AIDS' to reduce HIV prevalence and mortality. It concludes that a combined 'Accelerated Development' approach would yield the highest HDI gains through synergistic effects between health, education, and economic growth.

The document identifies a significant gap between climate research and practical application in Asia, noting that while national-level knowledge exists in some countries, sub-national and local levels suffer from severe data and capacity deficits. It highlights systemic barriers such as language, technical framing of research, and the underrepresentation of local traditional knowledge. The brief argues for a collaborative approach that integrates capacity-building with research, utilizes scenario-based analysis to manage uncertainty, and prioritizes the translation of technical data into local languages and simplified formats to support practitioners and policy-makers.

The document examines why the clean cooking market in India has failed to expand despite the widespread use of inefficient biomass-burning 'chulha' stoves by approximately 160 million households. It highlights that biomass burning contributes roughly half of the black carbon in the atmospheric brown cloud over South Asia, impacting health and climate. Key barriers identified include a lack of legitimacy for improved stoves, failure to design products based on user preferences, and poor access to finance and distribution for small-scale producers. The brief recommends shifting focus from consumer price subsidies toward supply-side support, improving user-centered design, and making clean cooking a cross-government priority.

The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that cities in the US Midwest have experienced an increase in heat waves and dangerously hot, humid days over the last six decades. Analysis of ten cities, including St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, and the Twin Cities, shows a rise in the frequency of heat waves and a corresponding loss of cool, comfortable summer days. These trends increase the risk of hyperthermia and dehydration, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing medical conditions. The document advocates for city-level preparedness and the reduction of fossil fuel emissions to mitigate these health risks.

The document argues that eradicating malaria in Africa by 2025 would prevent 12 million deaths and increase the continent's economic output by nearly US$ 430 billion by 2050. Using the International Futures (IFs) tool, the authors compare a 'Base Case' of continued current efforts against a 'Malaria Eradication' scenario. They find that while eradication would lead to a slight population increase, this would be tempered by declining fertility rates resulting from lower infant mortality. The brief highlights that the economic gains, driven by increased productivity and reduced disability, would far outweigh the high costs of eradication campaigns and vaccine development.

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 document introduces a thematic brief based on the IPCC's SREX report, which provides a scientific assessment of climate extremes and disasters. It aims to provide public health policy-makers and planners with guidance on why extreme events are critical public health issues, how they affect public health, and what actions can be taken to manage these risks to build a more resilient future.

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.

A survey of 1,127 U.S. residents found that a public health frame is the most effective at eliciting emotional reactions that support climate change mitigation and adaptation across various audience segments. Conversely, a national security frame may cause a 'boomerang' effect, triggering anger among those already doubtful or dismissive of climate change.

A coalition of environmental groups criticizes the Coal Ash Recycling and Oversight Act of 2012, claiming it lacks enforceable deadlines for closing coal ash dumps and prohibits the EPA from setting federal safeguards, thereby leaving communities near contaminated sites at risk.

The report finds that dangerously hot summer days and heat waves have become more common in the US Midwest since the 1940s and 1950s. It highlights that nighttime temperatures have risen, reducing the cooling relief necessary to prevent heat-related illness. The analysis, covering 10 cities, indicates that these trends are not solely due to urban heat island effects, as smaller cities showed similar increases. Future projections suggest a significant increase in days over 90°F and 100°F by the end of the century if high carbon emissions continue.

The report finds that the US Midwest has experienced a significant increase in dangerously hot and humid summer days since the 1940s and 1950s. This trend increases the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and urban residents. The analysis, covering 10 cities across eight states, indicates that rising nighttime temperatures and more frequent heat waves exacerbate health risks. Projections suggest that without significant carbon emission reductions, the region will face a substantial increase in days exceeding 90°F and 100°F by the end of the century.

The report finds that the U.S. Midwest has experienced a significant increase in dangerously hot, humid, and dry summer days, as well as more frequent heat waves, over the last 60 years. Analysis of ten cities indicates that nighttime temperatures and humidity are rising, reducing the relief typically found overnight. These trends are linked to higher risks of hyperthermia and dehydration, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and low-income urban residents. The document argues for a combination of local adaptation strategies, such as heat-response plans and cooling centers, and aggressive global action to reduce fossil fuel emissions to mitigate future extreme heat events.

The document examines 60 years of summer weather data in the US Midwest, finding that hot and humid air masses are becoming more frequent while cooler air masses are declining. Analysis of both large cities and smaller rural counterparts suggests these trends are driven by broader climate change rather than solely by urban heat island effects, with nighttime temperatures warming faster than daytime temperatures.

A study of U.S. residents found that a public health frame is the most effective at eliciting emotional reactions that support climate change mitigation and adaptation, while a national security frame may cause anger among skeptical audiences.

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.