Search Climate Insights Directory

The report projects that Missouri will face significantly hotter summers, increased flooding, and agricultural disruptions if heat-trapping emissions continue to rise. It highlights severe risks for St. Louis, including extreme heat waves and deteriorating air quality, and suggests a combination of state-level energy efficiency and federal climate legislation to mitigate these effects.

The report projects that Ohio will face significantly hotter summers, increased flooding, and agricultural disruptions if current emissions trends continue. It highlights severe risks to public health from heat waves and ozone pollution, and warns of crop and livestock stress. The document advocates for a transition to clean energy through stronger renewable electricity standards, updated building codes, and federal cap-and-trade legislation.

The report projects that Wisconsin will face significantly hotter summers, increased flooding, and agricultural disruptions if current emissions trends continue. Under a high-emissions scenario, Milwaukee could see more than 55 days per summer over 90°F by the end of the century. The document advocates for a transition to clean energy through renewable electricity standards, energy efficiency, and federal cap-and-trade policies to mitigate these risks.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis indicates that motor coaches and trains are generally the lowest-emission travel options, while first-class flights and large SUVs produce the highest carbon footprints. The guide emphasizes that the greenest choice depends on the number of travelers and the distance of the trip; for example, while solo travelers are encouraged to avoid cars, cars become a low-carbon option for larger groups. To further reduce emissions, the document recommends nonstop flights, fuel-efficient rental cars, and avoiding peak traffic periods.

The Clean Air Task Force argues that the EPA's proposed particulate matter (PM2.5) standards fail to provide an adequate margin of safety, potentially resulting in 10,000 more avoidable deaths per year than a more stringent 12 ug/m3 annual standard. The testimony asserts that protective standards are achievable through affordable technologies, specifically targeting sulfur dioxide (SO2) from power plants and carbon emissions from diesel fleets. It criticizes the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) for providing reductions that are "too little, too late" and for creating regulatory barriers that discourage states from pursuing additional cost-effective power plant reductions. The document advocates for a national SO2 cap of 2 million tons per year and the full funding of the Diesel Emission Reduction Act of 2005 to facilitate the retrofit of existing diesel engines.

The report outlines a comprehensive approach to revitalizing the Cuyahoga Valley by treating environmental restoration as an economic driver. It proposes specific interventions for the 5.5-mile ship channel, including the implementation of low-impact development (LID) for stormwater, the creation of aquatic habitats like pocket wetlands and green bulkheads, and the establishment of an industrial symbiosis network called 'Waste = Revenue'. The document argues that moving away from traditional 'gray' infrastructure toward 'green' solutions will improve water quality, attract investment, and create new local business opportunities in restoration services.

The document details how whole building design and climate-responsive architecture reduce energy consumption. It highlights specific features such as cool roofs, tight building shells, and Energy Star appliances, noting that energy-efficient homes can reduce heating, cooling, and hot water costs by 30 to 40 percent compared to conventional new homes. It also addresses barriers to adoption, including the high cost of retrofitting existing buildings and the lack of federal energy codes.

The document reports that engine crankcase emissions are the primary source of PM2.5 mass in conventional school bus cabins, while the tailpipe is the main source of ultrafine particles, black carbon, and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Research across four US cities indicates that while diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) reduce ultrafines and black carbon to ambient levels, they do not significantly reduce PM2.5. The installation of a closed-crankcase filtration device, specifically the Donaldson Spiracle™, was found to be critical and necessary to reduce cabin PM2.5 levels to near ambient levels across all tested bus and fuel combinations.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) advocates for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2005 (DERA), a proposed $1 billion federal grant and loan program to reduce diesel fine particle (PM2.5) emissions. CATF highlights that diesel exhaust causes 21,000 premature deaths annually and that existing engines will remain in service for decades, necessitating funding for retrofits, rebuilds, and repowerings to meet air quality standards and provide immediate climate benefits by reducing black carbon.

The study identifies two primary sources of in-cabin pollution in conventional school buses: the tailpipe and the engine crankcase. It finds that while diesel particulate filters (DPF) combined with ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) eliminate ultrafine particles, black carbon, and PAH, they do not reduce fine particulate matter (PM2.5) because that pollutant originates from the crankcase. The most effective solution for comprehensive elimination of all measured particles is the combination of a DPF, ULSD, and a Donaldson Spiracle closed-crankcase filtration device.

The report details the impact of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from coal-fired power plants in six Midwest states, highlighting that these plants account for 30 percent of total annual regional emissions. It argues that current EPA regulations, such as the summertime-only SIP call, are insufficient because they ignore wintertime pollution and exclude certain states. The document links NOx to ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which cause respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, premature deaths, and crop yield losses. Environmental impacts include acid rain, loss of species diversity, and the Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone'. The author advocates for mandatory year-round modern emission controls, such as Selective Catalytic Removal (SCR), for all 'grandfathered' plants.

The report highlights that six Midwest states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio) are home to 140 power plants that release approximately 2% of global man-made CO2 and 25% of all US power plant CO2. It predicts that without aggressive emissions reductions, the region could see temperature increases of 5-10°F in the 21st century, leading to significant risks for the Great Lakes water levels, crop yields, and human health. The document advocates for cleaning up old coal plants, transitioning to renewable energy, and increasing individual energy efficiency to mitigate these risks.

The document challenges the assumption that climate protection is a financial burden, asserting that energy-efficiency investments often yield returns exceeding 100% per year. It identifies eight categories of market failures—including capital misallocation, organizational failures, and perverse regulatory incentives—that cost the American economy approximately $300 billion annually. By shifting focus from theoretical economic models to empirical business evidence, the authors demonstrate that 'whole-system engineering' and 'barrier-busting' policies can reduce carbon emissions while increasing GDP and competitiveness. The report highlights that high energy prices are not the only driver of efficiency, citing Seattle's success in saving electricity faster than Chicago despite lower prices. It concludes that a market-transformation approach can stabilize the climate and foster economic growth globally, particularly in developing nations.

The document highlights the synergies between climate change mitigation and the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), identifying key areas for multisectoral intervention. It emphasizes that shifting to clean energy, promoting active transport, and adopting sustainable food systems can reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and NCD risk factors like air pollution and physical inactivity. The briefing advocates for policy coherence across government ministries and a whole-of-society approach to achieve these health and environmental co-benefits.

The toolkit addresses 'green gentrification,' where green infrastructure investments increase property values and spur real estate speculation, leading to the displacement of vulnerable populations. It proposes a multi-layered approach combining tenant protections, land-use regulations, funding alignment, economic opportunity enhancement, community ownership, and inclusive design to ensure that the benefits of urban greening are shared equitably without harming existing residents.

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 research paper examines how urban forests influence air quality and public health. It highlights that trees improve air quality by directly removing gaseous pollutants and particulate matter, and indirectly by reducing urban heat island effects and building energy demand. However, it notes that trees can also emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pollen, and may trap pollutants near emission sources like roadways if not designed correctly. The paper concludes that while the overall effect is positive, local forest design is critical to maximize health benefits.

The report argues that state preemption—where state law supersedes local ordinances—is frequently used to block municipal efforts to regulate corporate landlords, particularly private equity firms. It highlights that while 'home-rule' states offer more local autonomy than 'Dillon's rule' states, state governments can still override local housing policies. Using examples from California, Florida, and Illinois, the document demonstrates how preemption limits rent control, eviction protections, and inclusionary zoning, often influenced by corporate lobbying. The authors conclude that housing advocates must focus on state-level legislative changes and coalition building to abrogate these preemptions.

The report explores automated emissions reduction (AER), a software-based technology that modulates the electricity use of internet-connected devices based on real-time grid emissions data. Based on a pilot in Chicago and a stakeholder workshop, the report finds that AER can reduce pollution by 5–40% for specific loads and lower customer acquisition costs for utility demand response programs. It proposes five priority near-term initiatives: institutional and residential pilots, device certification, integration into GHG accounting protocols, and the creation of open-source infrastructure.

The text presents 'green development' as a superior paradigm for real estate, demonstrating through case studies that integrating passive design, high-efficiency technology, and human-centric planning reduces costs and increases financial returns. It highlights the economic benefits of improved labor productivity due to better indoor environments and argues that current market incentives for architects and developers are 'perverse' because they reward inefficiency. The document details specific technical innovations in lighting, insulation, and appliances, while advocating for 'New Urbanism' to reduce infrastructure costs and restore community vitality.