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This transcript of a virtual briefing hosted by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) in April 2020 examines the threats to coastal resilience in Alaska. Panelists discuss the compounding effects of permafrost thaw, sea ice loss, and extreme precipitation on infrastructure and food security, while highlighting the critical need to integrate indigenous knowledge with western science and overcome systemic barriers to funding and coordination.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics summarizes the IPCC's Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, detailing the accelerating degradation of polar regions, oceans, and mountain ecosystems. It highlights the irreversible nature of some changes, the risks to global sea levels and water security, and the resulting threats to biodiversity and human livelihoods.

This issue brief examines how climate change impacts United States national security, detailing the Department of Defense's (DOD) conceptualization of climate change as a 'threat multiplier' and the resulting operational, infrastructural, and geopolitical challenges. It outlines the adaptation and mitigation strategies adopted by the DOD and other security agencies, while analyzing the role of Congressional legislation and funding in shaping these efforts.

This fact sheet describes the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (S.517, H.R. 1311), a legislative proposal to amend the Clean Air Act to allow the year-round sale of E15 fuel. It explains how current Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standards inadvertently block E15 sales during summer months, the environmental and economic impacts of these restrictions, and the potential for higher ethanol blends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs.

This fact sheet examines the environmental, health, and economic implications of the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (S.517, H.R. 1311), which proposes amending the Clean Air Act to allow the year-round sale of E15 fuel. It details how current Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standards inadvertently restrict E15 sales during summer months, the resulting costs to retailers and consumers, and the potential for higher ethanol blends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants.

This RMI briefing discusses the significant electricity demand generated by the legal marijuana industry in the United States and proposes strategies for utilities and regulators to manage this load. It suggests that energy efficiency investments, on-site renewables, and time-varying rates to shift consumption to periods of low net load can help integrate renewable energy and reduce operating costs for growers.

A statement from Friends of the Earth regarding the appointment of Rex Tillerson, CEO of ExxonMobil, as U.S. Secretary of State, outlining potential conflicts of interest and risks to climate and environmental policy.

This fact sheet provides a comprehensive overview of the global offshore wind energy sector as of early 2016, contrasting the established European market with the emerging industry in the United States. It details the technical advantages of offshore wind over onshore wind, current installation capacities, key market players, and the economic and environmental impacts of the transition.

As of 2016, Europe dominated the global offshore wind market, with the UK, Germany, and Denmark leading in installed capacity. The United States, while possessing vast potential (over 4,000 GW), was in the early stages of deployment with its first commercial project at Block Island. The document highlights the technical advantages of offshore wind—such as stronger winds and proximity to coastal population centers—and notes the significant job creation potential in the EU sector.

A statement by Friends of the Earth urging President Obama to implement a moratorium on all new offshore oil and gas leasing and drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf to prevent climate disruption and protect marine wildlife.

A statement from the president of Friends of the Earth U.S. advocating for a 'Robin Hood Tax' to fund the global response to the climate crisis, arguing that current funding mechanisms are insufficient and often repurpose existing development aid.

This issue brief from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the role of energy storage technologies in mitigating electricity industry challenges, integrating renewable energy, and improving grid reliability. It details various storage technologies—ranging from pumped hydro and compressed air to advanced batteries and flywheels—and analyzes the impact of U.S. federal policies, specifically FERC orders and Department of Energy (DOE) initiatives, in overcoming implementation barriers.

This policy brief from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the role of energy storage technologies in mitigating electricity industry challenges, integrating renewable energy, and improving grid reliability. It provides a technical overview of various storage methods, analyzes the impact of U.S. federal policies and legislation, and highlights specific large-scale implementation projects across the United States.

A letter from multiple organizations to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry requesting the suspension of the Keystone XL review process due to alleged conflicts of interest and misrepresentations by Environmental Resource Management (ERM), the firm hired to prepare the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).

Oral comments delivered by Baskut Tuncak of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) on May 29, 2013, regarding the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The statement warns against "enhanced regulatory cooperation" on chemicals that might undermine the European Union's more stringent hazard-based regulatory approach in favor of the United States' risk-based approach.

This resource book, published by the Government of Nepal's Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology in November 2012, serves as a guide for climate change negotiators. It details the institutional and procedural framework of the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, analyzes the specific climate vulnerabilities of Nepal—particularly in its mountain regions—and outlines national policy responses, including the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) and REDD+ initiatives. The document emphasizes the need for increased international climate finance, technology transfer, and gender-sensitive policies to support Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

This chapter from the GEO-5 report argues that the Earth System's complexity and non-linear interactions, combined with human pressures, limit predictability and threaten life-support functions. It asserts that traditional top-down problem-solving is inadequate and calls for an integrated Earth Systems approach based on basic research, long-term monitoring, and regular evaluation to address the drivers of environmental pressure.

The Stockholm Environment Institute critiques the EPA's cost-benefit analysis for cooling water intake regulations, arguing that monetized benefits are severely underestimated due to the exclusion of non-use values and errors in baseline mortality data. The authors suggest that when benefits are properly calculated and costs are reassessed, the regulations yield positive net benefits with minimal impact on electricity rates and a positive effect on employment and GDP. They strongly advise against site-specific calculations, recommending instead a national standard with a higher threshold for compliance.

This report analyzes the greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant emissions of 15 alternative fates for woody biomass residues in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, comparing them to common practices of on-site combustion and decomposition. Using a "post-harvest to grave" life cycle approach, the study evaluates carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The findings indicate that displacing fossil fuels with biomass residues generally reduces net GHG emissions, while industrial facilities with emission controls significantly reduce CO and PM2.5 compared to uncontrolled on-site burning.

This research paper analyzes the drivers of per capita carbon dioxide emissions across U.S. states, identifying specific socioeconomic and climatic factors that contribute to higher emissions levels.