Search Climate Insights Directory

The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies seven policy tools—Renewables Portfolio Standards, public benefits funding, net metering, fair transmission/distribution rules, fair pollution rules, consumer information, and green customer demand—to transition the US to renewable energy. It argues that deregulation risks favoring fossil fuels unless these mechanisms internalize the public benefits of renewables and remove market barriers.

The document details the environmental and health impacts of Alberta's coal-fired power plants, noting that in 2014, 68% of the province's electricity was generated from coal. It highlights that these plants are significant sources of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter, mercury, and greenhouse gases, with 2011 emissions totaling 43 megatonnes of GHG. The authors propose a transition plan to reach 0% coal reliance by 2030, increasing renewable energy to 40% and reducing electricity demand through energy efficiency by 20%. The strategy discourages increased reliance on stand-alone natural gas due to production-related GHG emissions and suggests mechanisms for phase-out such as legislated closures, lifespan caps, or carbon pricing.

The document argues that superhot rock geothermal could be a gamechanger for Arizona's energy sector, providing a carbon-free, firm power source with a very small land footprint. Preliminary modeling suggests that just 1% of Arizona's superhot rock resource could provide 596 GW of energy capacity, which is 58 times the state's 2023 electricity consumption. The technology is described as more versatile than traditional geothermal because it does not require natural underground water sources. Additionally, the document notes that Arizona's existing oil and gas workforce possesses subsurface expertise that could facilitate a transition to this zero-carbon energy production.

The document details the regulatory framework of the EPA's Underground Injection Control (UIC) program, specifically Class VI wells used for carbon capture and storage (CCS). It outlines stringent requirements for site characterization, construction, monitoring, and financial responsibility to protect underground sources of drinking water. As of December 2023, 12 Class VI wells have been permitted in the U.S., with 178 additional applications submitted. The text emphasizes the need for increased funding and state primacy to alleviate permitting bottlenecks and support the rapid expansion of the CCS market driven by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Clean Air Task Force highlights six counties in the Southwest—Mesa and Weld in Colorado, Summit and Iron in Utah, Mineral in Nevada, and Maricopa in Arizona—that have implemented outstanding solar ordinances. These ordinances are noted for balancing growth with protections, streamlining permitting for federal lands, and clarifying project scale through acreage thresholds rather than production capacity.

The document provides a detailed inventory of US state-level legislative and executive actions to achieve carbon-free or renewable energy targets, alongside a timeline of voluntary net-zero and carbon reduction commitments from major utility providers.

The document provides an overview of nuclear energy as a low-carbon, high-capacity power source, detailing its current contribution to the U.S. electricity mix and the challenges facing its growth. It highlights the aging state of the U.S. nuclear fleet, the lack of a permanent radioactive waste disposal solution, and the high costs and delays associated with new construction. The brief also explores emerging technologies, such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Generation IV reactors, as potential paths to maintain nuclear power's role in a decarbonized economy.

The document details the lack of state regulation for coal ash disposal in Arizona, noting that the state does not require liners, groundwater monitoring, or dam inspections despite having 58 ponds. It identifies documented groundwater contamination at the Cholla and Coronado plants and argues that coal ash dumps disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, with 20 percent of nearby residents living below the poverty line.

The document asserts that approximately $18.74 billion has been spent on over 700 miles of border wall that is ineffective at stopping drug trafficking or irregular crossings. It highlights that 83 laws have been waived to expedite construction, leading to the destruction of tribal cultural sites and critical wildlife habitats. A 2024 study in Arizona showed an 86% reduction in wildlife crossings due to the wall, and the text notes an increase in severe injuries and deaths from falls.

The document consists of a short biography of Dr. David J. Mattson, detailing his academic background and extensive research on large carnivores, particularly grizzly bears and mountain lions. It includes a comprehensive list of his publications and research projects focused on behavioral ecology, habitat suitability, and the intersection of science and conservation policy. Additionally, the document contains three figures analyzing Yellowstone grizzly bear population data, indicating a lack of population increase and a rise in mortalities and human-wildlife conflicts following the loss of whitebark pine.

A group of over 30 law professors argues that the public trust doctrine (PTD) is an inherent attribute of state sovereignty that obligates Utah to protect the Great Salt Lake. The brief contends that Utah has violated this duty by failing to restrain upper basin water diversions, which have reduced the lake's footprint by half and threatened species extinction. The authors assert that the PTD applies not only to navigable waters but also to non-navigable tributaries and groundwater that sustain the lake, citing legal precedents from other Western states like California, Nevada, and Hawaii.

The document outlines the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency in Arizona, stating that specific policies could save the state $4.2 billion and avoid 15 million tons of CO2 by 2030.

Lithium is a critical mineral essential for electric vehicle batteries and grid storage, with demand for these applications expected to reach 97% by 2035. While deposits are globally abundant, viable extraction is concentrated in the 'lithium triangle' (Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile) and Australia. The United States relies on imports for over 50% of its consumption as of 2025, with limited domestic production and processing. Extraction and processing cause significant environmental damage, including water depletion in arid regions and toxic contamination, disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities. Recycling remains limited but could potentially reduce the need for new mines by 25% by 2050.

The document consists of a collection of 45 figures mapping the FSEIS routes for nuclear waste transport through nearly every U.S. state and the District of Columbia.

The document addresses the recent surge in U.S. electricity demand driven by data centers, manufacturing, and electric vehicles. It warns that utilities are defaulting to new gas plants, which risks creating stranded assets and conflicting with climate goals. The authors propose a portfolio of alternatives, including aggressive energy efficiency, the reuse of fossil fuel interconnection sites for renewables, demand response with large customers, and grid-enhancing technologies to improve existing transmission infrastructure.

GreenLatinos operates an Urban and Community Forestry Program focused on expanding urban tree canopy to mitigate extreme heat and developing the urban forestry workforce in marginalized neighborhoods. As one of twelve national pass-through partners selected by the USDA, GreenLatinos is responsible for disseminating $20 million from the Inflation Reduction Act USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program to disadvantaged communities.

The report argues that Apollo Global Management's private equity model—characterized by high leverage and cost-cutting—has harmed patients and workers across its 220 hospitals. It documents specific instances of service cuts, poor quality ratings, and regulatory failures, while questioning the anti-competitive nature of the Lifepoint-ScionHealth spinoff.

The report details how private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management and real estate investment trust Medical Properties Trust (MPT) extracted significant capital from Steward Health Care through sale-leaseback transactions and dividends, contributing to a $9 billion liability and eventual Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It highlights a pattern of asset stripping, including the sale of hospital real estate to fund investor payouts, which left hospitals with unsustainable lease obligations. This financial distress manifested in severe patient care crises, including equipment repossessions, staffing shortages, and the closure of six hospitals, resulting in at least 2,650 layoffs. The document concludes with policy recommendations to increase financial transparency, limit debt-funded dividends, and regulate hospital change-of-ownership transactions.

The paper examines the historical relationship between human settlements and their environments, contrasting traditional sustainable systems with modern industrial disengagement. It proposes a new regionalism in architecture that uses climatic data to inform design and advocates for 'ecological utilities'—buildings designed primarily to repair and rebuild the environment by providing ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water remediation, and soil regeneration.

The text examines the crisis of freshwater depletion and proposes 'natural capitalism' through water efficiency. It details technological and behavioral shifts in agriculture (drip irrigation), landscaping (xeriscaping), and building systems (waterless toilets, graywater recovery), while advocating for decentralized biological wastewater treatment like 'Living Machines'.