Search Climate Insights Directory

The report identifies approximately 900 private equity-owned healthcare locations in the Greater Philadelphia area, with significant concentrations in physical therapy, behavioral health, dental care, and home health services. It argues that private equity's 'roll-up' strategies and debt-funded dividend extractions increase the risk of bankruptcy, reduce quality of care, and drive up costs for patients. The document details specific local examples, such as the closure of Hahnemann University Hospital and the financial decline of Crozer Health, while calling for increased federal and state regulatory oversight of healthcare acquisitions.

The document outlines a four-step process for utility climate risk planning: identification, quantitative assessment, mitigation, and risk distribution. It emphasizes the need for utilities to move beyond siloed resilience plans by incorporating both physical risks (e.g., extreme weather) and transition risks (e.g., carbon taxes, policy changes) into core planning documents like Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs). The authors advocate for the use of high-resolution, long-term climate datasets (30+ years) to accurately model extreme events and argue that clean energy portfolios reduce financial volatility for residential customers compared to fossil-heavy portfolios. Finally, it provides actionable recommendations for regulators to mandate risk assessments, create financial incentives for transitioning away from fossil assets, and explore self-insurance funds to protect low- and middle-income customers from catastrophic costs.

The document outlines the prevalence of climate anxiety, distinguishing it from clinical pathology and highlighting its link to pro-environmental behavior. It provides guidance for journalists on nuanced reporting and lists specific resources for both reporters and the public to manage climate-related distress.

The document outlines the prevalence of climate anxiety, particularly among youth and vulnerable populations, and advises journalists to treat these feelings as reasonable responses to environmental threats rather than pathologies. It emphasizes the link between climate distress and pro-environmental action and provides a directory of resources for both reporters and the public.

The document contends that the U.S. power grid is already transitioning away from coal toward renewables, storage, and flexible natural gas due to market forces, and that the EPA's Rule aligns with these trends. It argues that modern resources like battery storage and flexible gas plants provide better operational reliability than aging coal plants. The brief asserts that the Rule provides sufficient time for resource procurement and includes flexibility mechanisms to protect the grid during periods of stress.

As of June 2024, the U.S. has 12,174 committed electric school buses, representing a 19-fold increase since June 2019. While these vehicles currently make up only about 3% of the national fleet, over 234,000 students now ride them, with the highest adoption rates in the West and South regions. The transition is largely driven by the EPA's Clean School Bus Program, which provides $5 billion from 2022 to 2026 to reduce the 8.4 million metric tons of carbon pollution emitted annually by school bus fleets and mitigate health risks associated with diesel exhaust.

The document examines the intersection of the climate crisis and the US insurance system, focusing on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. It highlights a disconnect where insurers seek significant rate hikes—up to 99% in some coastal areas—despite historical profitability, while many homeowners remain uninsured for flood damage. The authors argue that the insurance industry exacerbates the climate crisis by investing over $500 billion in fossil fuel-related assets and underwriting fossil fuel projects, thereby profiting from the drivers of the extreme weather that leads to higher insurance claims.

Clean energy investment in the U.S. more than tripled between 2018 and 2023, reaching nearly $248 billion annually. Investment is concentrated in the South and West, with zero-emission vehicles, solar power, and wind power serving as the primary drivers of growth across different regions and states.

The report argues that hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs) are best suited for long-haul heavy-duty trucking due to superior payload capacity, range, and refueling speeds compared to battery electric trucks (BETs). However, adoption is currently stymied by a 'chicken-and-egg' infrastructure problem and high fuel costs, with public hydrogen in California costing approximately $25/kg compared to a diesel-competitive price of roughly $6.50/kg. While California is the primary driver of adoption due to regulations like the Advanced Clean Fleet and Advanced Clean Trucks rules, projections from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) suggest slow penetration unless significant interventions occur. The report recommends prioritizing the reduction of pump prices—even if it requires accepting higher carbon intensity in the short term—and streamlining infrastructure permitting to enable a transition away from diesel by 2030.

The document analyzes how 'plastic recycling claims'—including circular loop symbols and statements like '100% recyclable'—misrepresent the limited efficacy of plastic recycling. It highlights that 91% of global plastic waste was not recycled in 2019 and that soft plastics are particularly difficult to recycle, often ending up as fuel or incinerated. The briefing concludes that such claims deceive the 'average consumer' and undermine the waste hierarchy, urging regulators like the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to require evidence based on 'real world conditions' to substantiate these claims.

In October 2024, 185 of 191 analyzed U.S. cities were warmer than normal, with 19 cities recording their hottest October on record. The Southwest experienced particularly high anomalies, and cities in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida saw the highest frequency of days where temperatures were made at least three times more likely due to climate change.

The report identifies a significant 'charging access gap' for U.S. residents in multifamily housing (MFH), who often lack on-site charging and must rely on public infrastructure. Analyzing 69 cities, the study found that no city achieved a 'best in class' ranking, with many cities—particularly in the Upper Midwest and Texas—showing high ratios of MFH units per public charger. The authors argue that this lack of reliable charging is a critical barrier to equitable EV adoption, especially for lower-income and non-white drivers. To address this, the report recommends a combination of EV-ready building codes, right-to-charge laws, curbside charging expansions, and streamlined utility interconnection rules.

The research paper identifies six recurring themes in due diligence regulations: risk management, transparency, traceability, legality, accountability, and stakeholder engagement. It highlights the challenges faced by Global South actors and SMEs in complying with these often unilaterally developed laws. The author suggests a 'smart-mix' approach, where voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and digital tools (such as satellite imagery and traceability platforms) complement public policies to reduce the compliance burden.

The fact sheet compares the climate policies of several major pension funds and endowments, detailing their net zero targets (ranging from 2040 to 2050), interim emissions reduction goals, and specific exclusions of fossil fuels in both public and private markets.

The report finds that the majority of Lloyd's managing agents lack formal policies to stop underwriting new fossil fuel projects, contradicting the market's net-zero goals. While some have restricted coal, very few have restricted oil and gas, and none have restricted LNG export terminals. The analysis identifies specific deals where Lloyd's syndicates provided coverage for major US coal mines, Arctic oil and gas assets, and US LNG terminals.

The document explains the science of cumulative impacts, contrasting traditional single-chemical risk assessments with a holistic approach that considers multiple pollution pathways, pollutant accumulation, and non-chemical stressors. It advocates for the precautionary principle and the regulation of chemicals as classes to better protect overburdened communities, while emphasizing that lived experience and qualitative data are essential scientific components for effective policy.

The Community Guide to Cumulative Impacts explains how to identify and quantify the combined effects of multiple pollutants and social stressors on public health. It details existing state and city laws in the US that allow regulators to deny permits based on cumulative impacts and provides a framework for community organizing, including drafting model legislation and using environmental justice mapping tools.

California's transportation sector is transitioning toward renewable electricity, with gasoline demand peaking and zero-emissions vehicle market share exceeding 20 percent in 2023. However, the state faces significant risks due to its 'fuel island' status, lack of pipeline connections to other regions, and a highly concentrated market where five companies control 98 percent of gasoline production capacity. The document emphasizes the need for a managed phase-out to prevent oil companies from evading cleanup responsibilities or exploiting reduced competition to cause price spikes. It advocates for the use of the California Energy Commission's new oversight authorities to ensure an equitable transition that prioritizes public health and community revitalization over industry profits.

The document outlines how the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) program, part of the US Department of Energy's Title XVII authority, provides low-cost, long-tenor debt financing to help oil and gas companies repurpose ceased operations or reduce emissions from active infrastructure. It details specific transition opportunities across the upstream, midstream, and downstream value chains, such as lithium extraction from brine, enhanced geothermal systems, and the conversion of refineries to sustainable aviation fuel production. The brief emphasizes that the current high-interest rate environment makes this government financing particularly attractive, though the opportunity is time-constrained as loan authority currently expires in September 2026.

The EU is experiencing a surge in solar and wind power, which frequently exceeds demand during peak hours, leading to price volatility and negative electricity prices. While renewables are growing, the lack of system flexibility—such as battery storage and interconnectors—forces a continued reliance on fossil fuels during evenings and early mornings. The report highlights that by 2030, excess wind and solar power could reach 183 TWh across the EU, potentially saving €9 billion in annual gas costs if shifted effectively. It specifically notes Germany's role as a leader in battery capacity and suggests that further additions could significantly displace hard coal and gas. The document recommends removing regulatory barriers to co-location, implementing national flexibility strategies in National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), and establishing a comprehensive EU strategy for clean flexibility.