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The document reports that the annual frequency of high tide flooding in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2000 and is projected to more than triple again by 2050. This trend is driven by global sea level rise caused by ocean warming and melting ice, with U.S. coasts expected to see as much rise in the next 30 years (10-12 inches) as they did in the last 100 years. High tide flooding, which occurs when water levels exceed 1-2 feet above the daily average high tide, disrupts infrastructure, ecosystems, and supply chains, particularly affecting the Northeast, Southeast, and Gulf Coasts.

The Great Lakes region is well-positioned for the EV transition due to its automotive history and R&D capacity, but faces competition from the 'Battery Belt' in the Deep South. While the region has significant midstream and downstream capacity, it lacks comprehensive state-level industrial strategies, particularly regarding battery end-of-life mandates and recycling incentives. The document argues that states must coordinate on strategic roadmaps, workforce retraining, and clean energy infrastructure to avoid economic disruption in 'powertrain communities' specialized in internal combustion engine (ICE) components.

The Vogtle 3 and 4 projects in Georgia demonstrate the risks of the current nuclear industry model, characterized by massive cost overruns and delays. To meet 2050 net-zero targets, the author argues the industry must move toward standardized, commoditized designs and an overhauled regulatory ecosystem to reduce costs and delivery times.

The report details how private equity firms utilize institutional capital to invest in companies providing healthcare, labor, food, electronic monitoring, telecommunications, and construction services for the U.S. detention and surveillance industry. It argues that these investments often lead to substandard care, exploitative wages, and inflated costs for captive audiences, disproportionately affecting working-class, Black, indigenous, and immigrant communities.

The document defines 'high-hanging fruit' as decarbonisation measures that are inaccessible to host governments due to extraordinary costs or insurmountable barriers. It argues that these projects are essential for enhancing overall climate ambition and proposes a shift in how voluntary climate finance and carbon crediting mechanisms identify and fund them. The author suggests redefining 'additionality' to include project inaccessibility, introducing specific labels for such projects, establishing dedicated funds for climate contributions, and calling for leadership from corporations and intermediaries to develop a project pipeline.

A Climate Central analysis of 239 contiguous U.S. locations from 1979 to 2022 shows that 201 locations experienced an increase in annual days with a heat index of 90°F or higher, averaging 10 additional days. The most significant increases occurred in the South, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest, with McAllen, Texas, seeing the highest increase of 32 more days. The report emphasizes that high humidity multiplies heat risks by limiting the body's ability to cool through sweating, leading to preventable but serious illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations including children, seniors, and low-income communities.

Finland's integration into NATO and its role as the host of the rescEU CBRN strategic reserve are presented as critical enhancements to European security. The paper highlights Finland's 'comprehensive security approach' and its long-standing leadership in biosecurity, chemical weapons non-proliferation, and nuclear safety as assets that bolster the alliance's deterrence capabilities, particularly given Finland's 1,340 km border with Russia.

The author contends that Ukraine's recovery should not be a return to pre-war status but a comprehensive green transformation. This includes decentralizing the energy grid through wind and solar power to mitigate the impact of Russian attacks, modernizing agriculture to protect fertile chernozem soils, and aligning with the European Green Deal to accelerate EU membership. The text highlights the severe environmental damage caused by the invasion, including the Kakhovka Dam collapse and forest destruction, as urgent drivers for a sustainable reconstruction strategy.

A survey of 2,000 registered voters across four US states reveals high concern over food prices and strong support for agricultural policies that promote climate resilience, support small-scale farmers, and prioritize nutrition over commodity crop subsidies.

The proposal seeks USD 2,726,404 over 36 months to overcome five primary barriers to climate change adaptation (CCA) in Georgia: limited national and regional coordination, insufficient mainstreaming of CCA in policies, low awareness among decision-makers, limited funding, and the lack of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system. The project, implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA), will establish thematic working groups, conduct climate risk assessments in four representative regions, develop six sectoral adaptation plans, and create a private sector engagement strategy. A central goal is the formulation and submission of a costed National Adaptation Plan to the UNFCCC, supported by a new M&E framework and a targeted adaptation finance action plan.

The policy brief advocates for linking the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs with clean transportation corridors for heavy-duty trucking and marine shipping. It argues that while hubs provide localized production, corridors act as 'spokes' that expand the market beyond industrial off-takers and improve the economic viability of zero-carbon fuels. The author suggests that coordinating these programs will create a synergistic ecosystem, reduce conventional air pollutants in environmental justice communities, and position the U.S. as an exporter of low-emissions ammonia.

The report examines how 'heirs' property'—land passed down without clear legal titles—contributes to the systemic loss of Black-owned farmland in the US. It highlights that Black farmers lost nearly 90% of their land during the 20th century, with heirs' property acting as a primary driver of involuntary land loss through forced partition sales and limited access to federal funding. The document argues that the USDA and Congress must provide direct grants, streamline farm number establishment, and fund community-based legal services to resolve clouded titles and support BIPOC farmers.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) published this guide to help the public influence the EPA's proposed rule on ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from commercial sterilizers. The guide argues that while the proposal is a positive step—potentially reducing emissions by 80%—it contains significant gaps regarding cumulative health risks, fenceline monitoring, and the regulation of off-site warehouses. It urges commenters to support the use of the 2016 IRIS risk assessment, demand continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS), and call for a faster compliance timeline than the proposed 18 months. The document also highlights environmental justice concerns, noting that people of color and low-income communities are disproportionately located near these facilities.

RMI organized Solarize cohorts in 2021 and 2022 involving 27 U.S. cities to make rooftop solar more accessible to low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. By combining bulk purchasing discounts with grants and community partnerships, the program helped nearly 1,200 households install over 10 MW of residential solar, with 40% of participants from LMI or BIPOC communities. These installations are projected to save households over $8 million and avoid 106,000 tons of CO2 emissions over 25 years.

The assessment finds that data transparency in Asia is generally insufficient, with 24 out of 39 economies scoring poorly. While high-income nations and a few lower-middle income economies like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka show better transparency, the region overall struggles with publishing lags, geographical granularity, and time granularity. Only seven economies provide hourly data, and 75% of economies fail to make data available in a timely manner, hindering the analysis required for a renewable energy transition.

The report identifies New Zealand, Australia, and India as leaders in power data transparency, evaluating them across six criteria: time granularity, publishing lag, geographical granularity, fuel breakdown, ease of access, and additional data. It specifically examines the partnership between India's NITI Aayog and the Vasudha Foundation to create a centralized, open-access data platform for the country's energy transition. The document concludes with recommendations for improving data transparency across Asia, emphasizing machine-readable formats, unique identifiers, and the removal of access restrictions.

The document asserts that nuclear energy is essential for a decarbonized global energy system to provide 'clean firm' power, reducing reliance on over-built variable renewables and expensive long-duration storage. It identifies a 'profoundly dysfunctional' current delivery model characterized by high costs and delays, exemplified by the Vogtle 3 and 4 projects in Georgia. To achieve a target build rate of hundreds of Gigawatts per year, the author proposes transitioning from bespoke construction projects to standardized, commoditized 'products' with capital costs below $4,000/kw and delivery times of 3-5 years. Key recommendations for U.S. policy include reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to adopt performance-based licensing, establishing a 'sandbox' for testing new designs, creating an International Bank for Nuclear Infrastructure, and ensuring the domestic availability of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU).

The report details how Blackstone, the largest landlord in the U.S., has aggressively expanded its housing portfolio by adding over 200,000 units in two years. It highlights a shift from a voluntary eviction moratorium to a wave of eviction filings in late 2022, often for minimal rent arrears. The document argues that Blackstone leverages legal loopholes in California to charge new tenants significantly higher rents than previous residents and has spent millions of dollars to defeat rent control measures. It also notes that a majority of Blackstone's properties are located in neighborhoods with high populations of people of color.

The letter details systemic labor abuses at Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. (PSSI), including the illegal employment of over 100 children in hazardous roles and a high rate of severe workplace injuries. It argues that Blackstone's financial management—extracting $430 million in dividends while increasing PSSI's debt by $530 million—contributes to these risks. The signatories demand a meeting to discuss risk management and the implementation of ten specific worker protections, including living wages and safe working conditions.

An analysis of 215 U.S. locations reveals that 84% have experienced a long-term decrease in winter chill since 1980. This trend threatens the $27 billion U.S. non-citrus fruit and nut industry, as many temperate trees require sustained cold temperatures to ensure proper flowering, pollination, and fruit yield. The study highlights significant chill decreases in key producing regions, particularly in California, Washington, and the Southeast, affecting high-value crops such as grapes, almonds, and strawberries.