Search Climate Insights Directory
72 results
Does climate change increase risk of conflict?
The research paper examines the relationship between climate change and global instability, asserting that while climate change may not cause conflict in isolation, it intensifies problems like food and water insecurity, economic loss, and ethnic tensions. It highlights that the risk of conflict is heavily dependent on regional sociopolitical contexts, such as government corruption and historical grievances. The document also notes a correlation in the U.S. between residents of disaster-prone areas and higher levels of concern regarding climate change, suggesting that these insights should inform government policies on mitigation and conflict prevention.
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Document type: Research paper
Climate Justice Reporting Guide
The guide argues that comprehensive climate reporting must link the crisis to systemic inequities, as people of color, indigenous people, and the poor typically bear the brunt of climate disasters and pollution. It highlights climate change as a "threat multiplier" that exacerbates poverty, health, and housing inequities, noting that climate-related displacement affected some 30 million people in 2019 and could reach 1 billion by 2050. The document encourages reporters to investigate the distribution of green investments, the disparity in government aid following extreme weather, and the role of marginalized community leaders in climate innovation.
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Document type: Guide
Media’s COVID-19 Coverage Proves It Could Also Spotlight Climate Crisis
The author contends that the media's ability to define reality is evident in its exhaustive coverage of COVID-19, contrasting this with the historically lower priority given to the climate crisis. The text argues that the perceived immediacy of the pandemic versus the perceived abstraction of climate change is a faulty distinction, as climate-related disasters are already impacting millions. It suggests that newsrooms should apply the same 'all-hands-on-deck' approach to climate reporting, focusing on 'flattening the curve' of greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the document highlights how overlapping crises—such as floods in the American Midwest occurring alongside the pandemic—and the shared origins of climate and COVID-19 misinformation further underscore the need for urgent, high-profile climate journalism.
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Document type: Statement
Extreme Heat: When Outdoor Sports Become Risky
A Climate Central analysis of 239 U.S. cities reveals that 83% have seen an increase in annual average days with a heat index of 90°F or higher since 1979. The report highlights the danger of exertional heat illness (EHI), noting that heat-related illnesses are a leading cause of death or disability among high school athletes. It details regional trends, such as substantial increases in the Pacific Northwest and extended heat seasons in the South, while noting that climate change is intensifying these trends. The document provides safety recommendations for coaches and athletes, including the use of wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) monitoring and gradual heat acclimatization.
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Document type: Report
What if reporters covered the climate crisis like Edward R. Murrow covered the start of World War II?
In remarks delivered at the Covering Climate Now conference, Bill Moyers critiques the failure of major US news networks to adequately cover global warming and calls for a new era of courageous, connected reporting. He highlights a historical missed opportunity in 1965 when the US government first officially recognized the threat of CO2, and urges current journalists to act as a moral authority to shift public opinion and drive the 'acceptance of responsibility' needed to implement available climate solutions.
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Document type: Statement
Strengthening Financial Resilience to Climate Change
The document analyzes how climate change increases the frequency and intensity of 'billion-dollar' disasters, straining national budgets and widening the 'protection gap'—the difference between total economic losses and insured losses. It details the transition from traditional actuarial science to forward-looking 'cat models' and geospatial modeling to price risk. To address 'tail risks' and the lack of insurability in vulnerable regions, the text highlights alternative mechanisms: catastrophe bonds for capital market risk transfer, microinsurance (parametric insurance) for low-income populations, and sovereign risk pools for multi-country coverage. It also notes the codification of insurance in international frameworks like the Paris Agreement's 'Loss and Damage' pillar and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Strengthening Financial Resilience to Climate Change: The Role of Insurance
The document analyzes the role of insurance in mitigating the fiscal shocks of climate change, highlighting the growing 'protection gap' where economic losses far exceed insured amounts. It details the shift from historical actuarial data to forward-looking 'catastrophe models' and explores innovative tools such as catastrophe bonds, microinsurance, and sovereign risk pools. The text also discusses the integration of insurance into international climate governance frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
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Document type: Fact sheet
FACT SHEET A Plan Is Needed to Reduce Emissions, Boost Revenue, and Ensure Reliable Transit
The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a transportation-based cap-and-invest program for New York State, citing the success of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in the power sector. The document highlights that transportation is the largest source of emissions in New York and a major cause of health issues in New York City. It suggests that such a program could raise over $1.2 billion annually to fund electric vehicle infrastructure, public transit, and climate resilience.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Underwater
The report warns that sea level rise puts hundreds of thousands of US coastal properties at risk of chronic inundation, potentially leading to a collapse in real estate values and a significant erosion of local tax bases. Using a high sea level rise scenario, the analysis projects that by 2100, nearly 2.5 million properties valued at $1.07 trillion today will be at risk. The authors argue that current financial markets and government policies mask these risks, creating a 'narrowing window of opportunity' for communities to adapt. The report highlights particular vulnerabilities for low-income populations, the elderly, and specific states like Florida and New Jersey, while advocating for updated flood maps, transparent risk disclosure, and a shift away from subsidized insurance and disaster aid that encourages rebuilding in high-risk areas.
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Document type: Report
How does our state benefit from federal fuel economy and global warming emissions standards?
The document argues that federal light-duty vehicle standards set by the EPA and NHTSA provide significant financial and environmental benefits to Florida, including billions in savings and job creation, while reducing global warming emissions.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Investing in Preparedness to Manage the Impacts of Rising Seas
Miami-Dade County faces significant risks from sea level rise, including a projected increase in tidal flooding from six events per year currently to over 380 by 2045. The document highlights threats to real estate, drinking water via the Biscayne Aquifer, electricity infrastructure, and the Everglades ecosystem. It emphasizes that pre-disaster investments are fiscally responsible, potentially saving four dollars for every dollar spent on mitigation, and calls for federal support to protect disadvantaged communities and reduce global emissions.
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Document type: Fact sheet
ENERGY SAVINGS FROM WINDOW SHADES
The report evaluates the energy impact of Hunter Douglas insulating honeycomb shades using whole-building simulations in nine U.S. cities. It finds that these shades can significantly reduce heating and cooling energy consumption, particularly in existing homes, while improving operative temperatures and reducing peak electrical demand. The study emphasizes that savings are highly dependent on the operation schedule and window orientation, with west-facing windows being critical for peak demand reduction in summer.
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Document type: Report
Storm Surge and Blackouts in Southeastern Florida, and How Clean Energy Can Help
The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that significant portions of the U.S. East and Gulf Coast electricity grids are exposed to storm surge, a risk that will increase as sea levels rise. In southeastern Florida, the number of major substations at risk from a Category 3 storm is projected to triple by 2070. The report advocates for a shift from centralized grids to decentralized, resilient power systems—such as microgrids and renewable energy with storage—to protect critical facilities and reduce carbon emissions.
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Document type: Report
Lights Out? Storm Surge, Blackouts, and How Clean Energy Can Help
The document describes the methodology for assessing the exposure of power plants and substations to flooding under a Category 3 hurricane scenario across five U.S. coastal regions. It utilizes the National Climate Assessment's Intermediate-High sea level rise scenario and the SLOSH model for storm surge, projecting risks through 2070. The analysis identifies a growing number of 'exposed' facilities, particularly in the Central Gulf Coast and Southeastern Florida, while noting limitations such as the exclusion of small distribution-level substations and the potential for local flood protection measures to mitigate risk.
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Document type: Report
DEEP ENERGY RETROFITS USING ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS: SUCCESS STORIES
The report analyzes eight case studies—seven federal and one municipal—that utilized Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) to achieve deep energy retrofits. These projects cumulatively exceeded 600 billion BTUs in energy savings with an average energy use reduction of 58%. The document identifies six overarching best practices: setting aggressive long-term goals, engaging diverse stakeholders, establishing strong support systems, adopting a 'clean sheet' design mindset, using iterative and holistic design processes, and incorporating ongoing feedback and occupant involvement.
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Document type: Report
High Octane Fuels: Challenges and Opportunities
The document examines the potential for mid-level ethanol blends (E25 to E40) to improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. transportation sector. It highlights that a significant portion of the existing vehicle fleet and fuel infrastructure can accommodate these blends with moderate costs. Research indicates that increasing ethanol content can enhance engine performance and that a nationwide E25 blend could reduce transportation GHG intensity by 5 to 9 percent.
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Document type: Fact sheet
High Octane Fuels: Challenges & Opportunities
The document examines the potential for mid-level ethanol blends (E25-E40) to serve as high-octane fuels, reducing GHG emissions and increasing efficiency for both existing and future internal combustion engines. It highlights that while infrastructure and 'blend wall' challenges exist, a significant portion of the current U.S. fleet—including 17.4 million FlexFuel Vehicles and 80% of cars newer than 2001 (for E15)—can accommodate higher blends. The text details the role of ethanol in preventing engine knock, the lifecycle GHG benefits of corn and cellulosic ethanol, and the DOE's Optima Initiative aiming to reduce petroleum consumption by 30% by 2030.
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Document type: Fact sheet
How Sea Level Rise and Tidal Flooding Threaten U.S. East and Gulf Coast Communities over the Next 30 Years
The analysis warns that sea level rise will cause tidal flooding to become chronic and widespread across the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts by 2045. Many communities will see a tripling or more of annual flood events, with some locations facing over 180 floods per year. The report emphasizes the need for urgent local and national adaptation strategies, including infrastructure upgrades and emissions reductions, to manage the inevitable disruptions to daily life and infrastructure.
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Document type: Executive summary
Encroaching Tides
The report analyzes 52 tide gauges from Maine to Texas, projecting that by 2045, many U.S. East and Gulf Coast communities will face a ten-fold increase in tidal flooding. It argues that such flooding will disrupt daily life, damage infrastructure, and necessitate a coordinated national response combining local adaptation—such as elevating roads and restoring wetlands—with global carbon emission reductions.
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Document type: Report
Encroaching Tides
The report analyzes 59 tide gauges along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts to project the impact of sea level rise on tidal flooding. Using an Intermediate-High scenario from the National Climate Assessment, the analysis finds that at least 40 locations will see a doubling of coastal flooding events by 2030, with the majority experiencing a 10-fold increase by 2045. Additionally, nearly half of the evaluated locations are projected to experience moderate coastal floods by 2045 from tides that currently only cause minor flooding.
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Document type: Report