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In Q2 2026, private equity firms acquired over 70 US companies with at least 500 employees, primarily in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services and Manufacturing sectors. The report details specific instances of plant closures, layoffs, and labor disputes following these acquisitions, such as the closure of an MW Components plant in Houston one week after its purchase by Rosebank Industries. It also highlights systemic issues including OSHA violations at SunOpta and child labor scandals at Charlesbank Capital Partners' portfolio company, Hearthside Food Solutions. Additionally, the report notes environmental and regulatory concerns, including wastewater pollutant violations by Inframark in Texas and community resistance to GI Partners' data center projects in California due to power and emission concerns.

The report proposes a Gas System Analysis (GSA) framework to counter rising consumer costs and risks associated with massive gas infrastructure investments. It outlines a three-part process: depicting current system characteristics, defining future scenarios (including business-as-usual and alternative pathways), and forecasting impacts on costs, emissions, and public health. The framework aims to prevent stranded assets and support the transition to clean heat through electrification and non-pipeline alternatives.

The document outlines the RISE model, where tax-exempt organizations act as solar owners to install systems for LMI households at low or no upfront cost, utilizing the IRS 'direct pay' mechanism to claim the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit (ITC). It details an eight-step implementation process: determining project type and team, identifying ownership structures (such as green banks or CDFIs), planning capital stacks, selecting installers, conducting community engagement, constructing projects, claiming tax credits, and managing ongoing operations. The guide emphasizes the importance of trusted community messengers and provides strategies for adapting to potential policy changes regarding federal incentives.

The document outlines the risks climate change poses to global agriculture, such as a projected 22% decrease in yields for maize, rice, soy, and wheat. It suggests reporting on 'climate-smart agriculture'—including indigenous rain-fed farming, sustainable crops like cherimoya in the US, and the use of natural pollinators for cocoa—while advising journalists to visit farms in person, include the perspectives of vulnerable farmworkers, and distinguish between small-scale farming experiences and the interests of large agribusiness.

Maryland is experiencing accelerating climate risks, including rising sea levels, more frequent extreme precipitation, intensified droughts, and increasing temperature extremes. These changes are causing significant land loss, infrastructure damage, and public health crises, necessitating costly adaptation measures such as seawalls, flood-proofing, and cooling systems.

The document argues that tax-exempt entities—such as CDFIs, green banks, and cooperatives—can overcome financial barriers to low-income solar adoption by becoming third-party owners. This model utilizes the IRA's 'direct pay' mechanism, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) capital, and bonus tax credits to reduce costs for LMI households, who often lack the tax liability to benefit from traditional residential credits.

The report details the systemic impacts of plastic pollution on municipal infrastructure, public health, and ecosystems, asserting that a small number of petrochemical and FMCG companies knowingly exacerbated the crisis by promoting inadequate recycling solutions. It provides a guide for government attorneys to use nuisance, products liability, and consumer protection laws to hold these polluters accountable, drawing parallels to successful litigation against the tobacco and PCB industries.

WWF's 2024 review highlights efforts to combat climate change and biodiversity loss through targeted programs. Key achievements include expanding the Food Waste Warriors program to 15 new cities, enrolling 1 million acres in the Ranch Systems and Viability Planning network, and contributing to a global tiger population increase to 5,574. The report also details human-wildlife conflict mitigation in the KAZA region, elephant tracking in India, and the establishment of the Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration in North America.

The document describes resilience hubs as community-serving facilities designed to provide essential resources and reliable power during extreme weather events. It outlines a framework for implementation, emphasizing the importance of community buy-in, strategic siting in trusted locations, and the integration of energy efficiency, solar power, and battery storage to ensure 'hours of safety' for vulnerable residents. The guide also highlights available federal funding sources, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, to support these initiatives.

The document examines the dual role of U.S. ports as both victims of climate change (facing sea level rise and extreme storms) and contributors to it through significant greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. It details mitigation strategies such as electrification of machinery, shore powering for berthed ships, and the adoption of renewable energy. It also discusses adaptation measures, contrasting 'gray infrastructure' like seawalls with nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration and living shorelines. The brief highlights specific initiatives at ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Savannah, Miami, and others, while noting the role of EPA programs and international certifications in driving sustainability.

The document examines the dual role of U.S. ports as both significant emitters of greenhouse gases and vulnerable infrastructure facing climate threats like sea level rise. It details mitigation strategies, including electrification of machinery and shore powering for ships, and adaptation methods, such as nature-based shoreline protection and improved stormwater management. The brief highlights specific initiatives at ports in California, Georgia, and Florida, while noting the importance of federal resources like the EPA Ports Initiative in supporting these transitions.

The Union of Concerned Scientists and partner organizations provide a guide for science advocates to combat voter suppression and disinformation during the 2022 US elections. The document outlines three primary actions: 'tripling the vote' through peer reminders, running voter registration and vote plan drives using tools like TurboVote and BallotReady.org, and volunteering as poll watchers or workers through the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights. It emphasizes that protecting democracy is essential for achieving science-based solutions to environmental and public health challenges.

The brief contends that fossil fuel companies have engaged in a long-term strategy of deception, shifting from explicit denial to framing climate change as a manageable 'risk' and shifting responsibility to individual consumers. It provides evidence that companies like BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell promote themselves as clean energy leaders while maintaining massive investments in fossil fuels and funding third-party organizations to undermine climate science.

Attorneys General from Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia have urged US Attorney General Merrick Garland to withdraw or reverse Department of Justice (DOJ) amicus briefs filed during the previous administration. These briefs supported fossil fuel defendants in climate litigation, arguing that state-law claims were preempted by federal law or should be removed to federal court. The signers argue these positions undermine efforts to hold companies accountable for a "decades-long deception campaign" regarding climate dangers and contradict President Biden's pledge to support plaintiff-driven climate litigation.

The report analyzes EV infrastructure readiness around 60 US cities, finding that while some cities like San Jose exhibit high regional preparedness, significant gaps in DC fast-charger coverage persist across several states, contributing to consumer range anxiety. It emphasizes that regional collaboration between cities, utilities, and state agencies is essential for scaling infrastructure beyond urban centers to support intercity travel.

The document describes how the 'urban heat island' effect causes cities to be hotter than rural areas, noting that this heat is disproportionately felt in formerly 'redlined' neighborhoods. It highlights the role of tree canopies and green spaces in mitigating heat and suggests resources and methods for journalists to report on urban heat inequality.

The report argues that Cerberus Capital Management has destabilized Albertsons-Safeway through highly leveraged acquisitions and asset stripping, while extracting significant fees and dividends for itself. It highlights a specific conflict where the company is refusing to honor pension commitments for employees in the Washington, DC and Baltimore areas, framing this as part of a broader pattern of private equity firms prioritizing investor profits over worker security.

A survey of 5,131 U.S. adults found that a majority of Americans believe fossil fuel companies are responsible for global warming damages and should bear the costs of these damages rather than taxpayers. Specifically, 57% of respondents attribute a moderate to great deal of responsibility to these companies, and 50% support local officials filing liability lawsuits against them. The data indicates widespread distrust of fossil fuel companies, with 66% of participants expressing distrust.

The analysis finds that Latino, Asian American, and African American residents in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are exposed to significantly higher levels of vehicle-related PM2.5 pollution than white residents. The report highlights that white residents comprise 85% of those in the lowest pollution areas, while people of color are overrepresented in the most polluted census tracts, often located near major highways in urban centers. The document argues for targeted investments in clean transportation, such as electric vehicles and buses, to reduce these environmental inequities.

The report finds that the incremental cost of building ZER homes is modest, averaging 1.8%, while ZE homes average a 7.3% premium. These costs often fall below consumer willingness-to-pay and mortgage-savings thresholds. The analysis identifies heat pumps, LED lighting, and ENERGY STAR appliances as cost-optimal measures and projects that ZE incremental costs will drop to 3.1%–5.5% by 2030 due to declining solar PV costs and efficiency gains. It emphasizes the need for skilled labor training and supportive policy frameworks to accelerate adoption across various US climate zones.