Search Climate Insights Directory
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EPA’s Blind Spot: Hexavalent Chromium in Coal Ash
The document highlights the risk of hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen, leaching from unlined coal ash disposal sites into groundwater. It criticizes the EPA for treating the chemical as a non-carcinogen when ingested in its coal ash rule-making and calls for the regulation of coal ash as a hazardous waste.
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Document type: Fact sheet
2021-11-17_act_comments_final-59d11bb27e5813e9.pdf
The document argues that adopting the ACT rule is essential for New York to meet its climate goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and to address severe public health disparities caused by diesel emissions. It highlights that medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) are a primary source of greenhouse gases and toxic air pollutants, particularly in communities of color. The authors assert that zero-emission MHDVs are technically viable and cost-effective, projecting that the rule would add over 228,000 zero-emission vehicles by 2050 and generate $1.9 billion in net societal benefits. The statement recommends strengthening the rule by limiting early crediting to one year and lowering the fleet reporting threshold to five vehicles to better identify pollution hot spots and address labor misclassification.
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Document type: Statement
RESPONSE OF TWENTY-FIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO THE PETITION OF INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS OF NEW YORK, INC., NEW YORK STATE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL AND NEW YORK STATE AFL-CIO FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SO-CALLED “ZERO” EMISSIONS ENERGY SYSTEMS PROGRAM UNDER THE CLEAN ENERGY STANDARD
A coalition of twenty-five environmental and justice organizations argues that the IPPNY petition would improperly subsidize fossil fuel-based technologies that are not truly zero-emissions. The commenters contend that the proposed definition of "zero emissions" contradicts the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), threatens disadvantaged communities with continued pollution, and ignores the recommendations of the Power Generation Advisory Panel. They urge the Commission to focus instead on energy storage and the phase-down of fossil fuel generation.
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Document type: Report
73_orgs_letter_-_a_just_and_ambitious_scoping_plan-a7d54e923b19855a.pdf
A coalition of 73 organizations argues that California's 2022 Draft Scoping Plan fails to accelerate climate targets or increase the pace of action beyond existing commitments. The group proposes a comprehensive set of revisions, including phasing out oil extraction by 2035 and refining by 2045, banning new gas-fired power generation immediately, and achieving a zero-carbon electric sector by 2035. They also call for a 30% reduction in vehicle miles traveled by 2035, a phase-out of new gas appliance sales by 2030, and the limitation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to only the most essential, hard-to-decarbonize sectors.
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Document type: Statement
DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COURTS
The report details a concerted effort by the Trump administration and members of Congress to restrict judicial review, expand forced arbitration, limit class action lawsuits, and increase the financial risks of public interest litigation. It argues that these measures, often supported by corporate interests, undermine the constitutional system of checks and balances and disproportionately affect marginalized communities. The document provides specific examples of pending bills and administrative directives that would shield government agencies and corporations from legal accountability, specifically citing impacts on the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and medical malpractice recovery.
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Document type: Report
ag_forestry_chapter_nys_cac_comments-82373801e75aa412.pdf
The document argues that New York's Draft Scoping Plan (DSP) relies too heavily on industry-biased accounting and voluntary measures. It recommends prioritizing forest preservation over harvesting, eliminating forest-based carbon offsets, implementing mandatory methane regulations for large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), and adopting specific statewide targets for soil health practices.
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Document type: Statement
Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States
The document argues that U.S. agriculture can achieve carbon neutrality by combining emissions reductions—particularly of nitrous oxide and methane—with increased soil carbon sequestration. It details 'carbon farming' practices such as cover cropping, agroforestry, and prescribed grazing, while critiquing the current 'farm safety net' for subsidizing carbon-intensive industrial operations. The authors propose a systemic shift toward payments for ecosystem services, reformed crop insurance, and updated federal research and extension priorities to incentivize climate-friendly agriculture.
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Document type: Report
Health Effects of Exposure to HDQ Neutral
The document details the health hazards of HDQ Neutral, a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) containing DDAC and ADBAC. Acute exposure can cause respiratory damage, skin blistering, and digestive burns, while chronic exposure is linked to asthma in humans and severe reproductive and developmental defects in animals. The report expresses concern over reports that HDQ Neutral is sprayed every 15-30 minutes at the Adelanto ICE detention facility, urging a review of the legality and safety of such practices.
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Document type: Fact sheet
QUEMETCO’S LEAD LEGACY
The report details a long history of toxic pollution and regulatory non-compliance at the Quemetco secondary lead smelter in the City of Industry, California. It documents extensive lead, arsenic, and hexavalent chromium contamination in the air, soil, and water, affecting predominantly low-income and minority communities. The author argues that Quemetco has exploited a flawed regulatory system to avoid accountability and recommends that California regulators deny its permit renewals and expansion requests, ultimately shutting down the facility in favor of cleaner energy storage alternatives like lithium-ion batteries.
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Document type: Report
FIGHTING FOR REAL JUSTICE
The report identifies five primary methods used by corporate interests and the U.S. government to restrict judicial access: the use of "no judicial review" clauses, the expansion of forced arbitration and class action bans, increasing the financial risk of litigation, limiting judicial discretion on sanctions and damages, and blocking timely case settlements.
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Document type: Report
BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE LAW PROFESSORS IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS
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.
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Document type: Legal commentary
HYBRID BUSES COSTS AND BENEFITS
The document examines the transition from diesel-powered transit buses to hybrid-electric alternatives, highlighting significant reductions in emissions and fuel consumption. It details the technical differences between series and parallel hybrid configurations and analyzes the financial barriers to adoption, noting that while hybrid buses have a higher purchase price, federal grants and lower operational costs mitigate these expenses. By 2006, over 900 hybrid buses were in service across more than 40 North American transit agencies.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Fact Sheet U.S. Climate Jobs
In 2024, the United States had more than 4,085,300 climate jobs, with clean energy job creation outpacing fossil fuel job creation. Energy efficiency was the largest sector, supporting nearly 2.4 million jobs, while renewable energy supported 596,100 jobs, dominated by solar and wind. Clean energy storage and grid modernization supported 160,300 jobs. Clean vehicle employment fell by 3% between 2023 and 2024, though renewable fuels remained steady. The adaptation and resilience industry grew by 18% to $4.8 billion in 2024, despite a lack of formal tracking by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Federal legislation including the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) significantly drove investment, although some incentives were weakened or eliminated in 2025.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Fact Sheet Critical Mineral Deep Dive: Lithium
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.
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Document type: Fact sheet
RECOVERY ACT HIGH SPEED RAIL AWARDS
The document details the distribution of Recovery Act funds for high-speed rail awards across the West, Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast regions of the United States. The West region received the highest allocation at $2,942,000,000, followed by the Midwest at $2,599,600,000, the Southeast at $1,870,000,000, and the Northeast at $485,000,000. Key projects include the California High-Speed Rail, the Tampa-Orlando Phase 1 HSR, and various track, signal, and station upgrades across multiple state corridors to increase train speeds and reliability.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Policy pathways to advance Nitrous Oxide Monitoring technology for Agriculture
The policy brief highlights the need for a new generation of technology companies to provide N2O MMRV services to address the 'super pollutant' nature of agricultural nitrous oxide. It advocates for a coordinated strategy involving federal agencies, state governments, and private partners to overcome barriers such as the lack of cost-effective sensors and data infrastructure. The brief suggests that improving N2O measurement will benefit voluntary carbon markets, corporate Scope 3 emissions management, and farm profitability by optimizing fertilizer use.
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Document type: Policy brief
nirs-maps-state_nuclear_waste_transport_route_maps-5e936ce1772e71fd.pdf
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.
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Document type: Report
BACKGROUND SUPPLEMENT TO COMMENTS SUMITTED BY HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER ON INDIAN POINT LICENSE TRANSFER APPLICATION FROM ENTERGY TO HOLTEC
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater opposes the transfer of Indian Point's nuclear licenses to Holtec International, citing the company's 'rip and ship' decommissioning model as a risk to public safety and a means to maximize private profit from ratepayer funds. The document details a pattern of bribery and fraud involving Holtec and its partner SNC-Lavalin, including a World Bank ban and criminal charges in Canada and Libya. It highlights safety failures at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, such as damaged canisters and a near-miss accident, and criticizes Holtec's proposed Consolidated Interim Storage facility in New Mexico for being located in an active oil field. The author contends that Holtec's lack of decommissioning experience and its complex LLC structure create a significant risk that taxpayers will be left with the costs of incomplete remediation.
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Document type: Statement
Making power clean every hour: 9 clean flexibility tools
The document outlines nine clean flexibility tools categorized into Store, Shift, Share, and Supply to balance power systems and reduce fossil fuel reliance. Key examples include China's 3.6 GW pumped storage station and California's 10 GW battery capacity.
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Document type: Fact sheet
What a reliable clean power system looks like
The document identifies nine clean flexibility tools categorized by their function: optimizing supply, storing energy, sharing electricity, and shifting demand. These tools include pumped hydro, batteries, long duration energy storage (LDES), green hydrogen, grids and interconnectors, peak shaving, and smart electrification. It argues that while the Azerbaijani delegation at COP29 proposed targets for storage, grid expansion, and green hydrogen, a comprehensive approach must also include demand-shifting and supply-flexibility tools to fully unlock renewable energy potential.
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Document type: Fact sheet