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The report identifies seven key vulnerabilities—health disparities, poverty, low educational attainment, poor infrastructure, housing insecurity, environmental harm, and lack of political voice—that characterize disenfranchised U.S. communities. It highlights how these factors compound, particularly for 'doubly vulnerable' populations, and argues that historical exploitation has created a legacy of mistrust that can hinder clean energy projects. The document also critiques current environmental justice screening tools for failing to account for cumulative risks and warns that energy transitions can inadvertently create new underserved communities if not managed equitably.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project argues that The Carlyle Group lacks transparency in its climate reporting by excluding its majority-owned subsidiary, NGP Energy Capital, from its ESG and net zero goals. The document notes that Carlyle has lagged behind peers in renewable energy fundraising and invested $16 in fossil fuels for every $1 invested in renewables between 2011 and 2021. It specifically highlights NGP's impact in New Mexico, where its portfolio company Tap Rock Resources has a history of emitting pollutants, and notes that Carlyle received $145 million in carried interest from NGP over the past year.

The policy brief highlights a systemic gap between self-reported methane emissions in the US oil and gas sector and actual emissions measured via remote sensing. It argues that current EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) guidelines rely on simplistic assumptions that miss 'super-emitting' events, leading to underestimations of emissions by factors of two to four. This data gap threatens the efficacy of the Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) Waste Emissions Charge, potentially resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in lost fees. The author calls for the integration of empirical data and updated reporting categories to improve transparency, incentivize mitigation, and ensure accurate pricing of methane emissions.

Climate Central analyzed precipitation data from 1969-70 to 2022-23 for the contiguous U.S., finding that while some regions have balanced seasonal rainfall, others rely heavily on a single season. Specifically, the West and Northwest are dominated by winter precipitation, while the Plains and Upper Midwest rely on summer rainfall. Climate change is altering these patterns, with a general increase in precipitation east of the Rockies and a decrease to the west. Warmer temperatures are increasing atmospheric moisture—approximately 10% more since 1970—which enhances extremes such as heavy downpours and intensifying droughts.

The document reports that the average person in the U.S. breathed more harmful wildfire smoke in 2023 than in any year since 2006, driven largely by record-shattering wildfires in Canada. It details how fine particle pollution (PM2.5) from these fires travels thousands of miles, affecting every county in the contiguous U.S. and stalling air quality improvements in 30 states. The text links these trends to a warming climate and increasing 'fire weather,' noting that human-caused climate change accounts for at least two-thirds of the rapid increase in fire weather in the western U.S.

The Environmental Commenters (EDF, CATF, NRDC, Sierra Club, and Earthworks) argue that current source-level reporting systematically underreports methane emissions. They recommend integrating top-down empirical data (satellite, aerial, and tower measurements) to validate bottom-up inventories. Key technical recommendations include establishing a 100 kg/hr threshold for 'large release events,' requiring continuous metering for a sample of pneumatic controllers to prevent data manipulation, and updating gathering pipeline emission factors using recent aerial studies rather than outdated distribution pipeline data. The group also emphasizes the need for rigorous reporting during ownership transfers to prevent 'transferred emissions' from escaping oversight and calls for extended reporting requirements for offshore facilities and plugged wells.

The report examines the climate and health impacts of routine gas flaring in 20 countries that export oil and gas to the European Union. It finds that nearly 10 million people live within 5km of active flares in these nations, with Iraq and Nigeria being the most affected. The authors argue that the EU can use its buying power to catalyze flaring reductions by adopting a methane import standard, which would align with the EU's Global Health Strategy and the Global Methane Pledge.

The report details the corporate restructuring of Corizon Health into two entities, YesCare and Corizon (later Tehum Care Services), in May 2022. This 'Texas two-step' maneuver allocated the majority of legal liabilities and service provider contracts to the original Corizon entity while transferring cash, employees, and active client contracts to YesCare. In February 2023, Corizon filed for bankruptcy, pausing numerous lawsuits alleging medical malpractice and wrongful death. The report argues that this process allows the private equity-owned company to evade up to $50 million in liabilities and avoid reputational damage while continuing operations under the YesCare brand.

Analysis of 241 U.S. locations from 1970 to 2022 shows that fall temperatures have increased by an average of 2.4°F in 232 cities, with the most intense warming occurring in the Southwest. This trend is characterized by an increase in above-normal fall days, which prolongs risks related to heat-related illness, wildfires, and allergies, while increasing energy demand for cooling.

Private equity investments in nearly 2,700 oil and gas wells on federal and tribal lands in the western United States could leave taxpayers with cleanup costs up to $384 million. The report identifies 19 private equity firms, including Blackstone and Carlyle Group, that invested in 35 companies permitted to drill on federal lands since 2017. Current regulations only require companies to set aside approximately $5.7 million for cleanup, representing 1.5% of the estimated total cost. Colorado and New Mexico face the highest potential liabilities, with estimated cleanup bills of $161 million and $108 million, respectively.

Analysis of July 2023, likely Earth's record hottest month, shows that human-caused climate change significantly increased the likelihood of extreme heat globally. Using the Climate Shift Index (CSI), the report finds that 6.5 billion people experienced at least one day where heat was at least three times more likely due to climate change. Particularly strong influences were noted in the Caribbean, Mexico, the southern U.S., and parts of Africa and Asia. In the U.S., 73% of the population experienced at least one day at CSI level 3 or higher, with several cities in Florida, New Mexico, and Arizona showing the strongest climate fingerprints.

The report identifies 19 private equity firms investing in 35 oil and gas companies that have received federal drilling permits since 2017. It estimates that U.S. taxpayers could face up to $384 million in cleanup costs for nearly 2,700 wells operated by these private-equity-backed companies across eight states, with Colorado and New Mexico facing the highest liabilities. The authors argue that the private equity business model—characterized by high leverage and quick exits—combined with outdated federal bonding requirements (averaging only $2,122 per well) and bankruptcy laws, allows firms to externalize environmental costs. The document also highlights 'greenwashing' strategies, such as the promotion of 'certified gas,' used to maintain investor support despite ongoing fossil fuel expansion.

The document argues that British Columbia's proposed methane regulations lag behind international best practices, particularly regarding timelines for existing facilities and the lack of a policy for compressor engine exhaust. The coalition recommends accelerating the target for near-zero methane emissions to 2030, implementing stricter standards for pneumatic devices, tanks, and compressor seals by 2025, and adopting a monthly instrument-based leak detection and repair (LDAR) regime.

A coalition of experts and organizations calls on the U.S. Congress to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) before its June 2024 expiration. The letter argues that RECA must be strengthened to include comprehensive health care benefits and expand eligibility to previously excluded groups, including those affected by the Trinity site test, residents of Guam, and uranium workers employed after 1971.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) supports the BLM's proposed Conservation and Landscape Health rule, arguing that conservation leases are a valid tool for implementing the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) mandates. CATF recommends that the rule be structured to avoid hindering the buildout of electric transmission and renewable energy, specifically suggesting a two-mile buffer around energy corridors where leases are restricted to permittees. The document also advocates for integrating carbon sequestration and climate resilience into the 'fundamentals of land health' and strongly advises against allowing conservation leases to generate marketable carbon offset credits due to a lack of permanence in the proposed 10-year lease terms.

Reclaim Finance analyzes the Ceres document "Key Elements for a Net Zero Transition at Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Companies," concluding that it favors "business as usual" for the fossil fuel industry. The analysis identifies seven key weaknesses, including the failure to require Scope 3 targets, the reliance on intensity-based rather than absolute emission targets, and a lack of restrictions on carbon offsets. Reclaim Finance asserts that the Ceres framework is influenced by industry players like ConocoPhillips and fails to meet the standards set by GFANZ, the IPCC, and the IEA, which necessitate absolute production cuts to maintain a 1.5°C pathway.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds that emissions from the 88 largest fossil fuel companies and cement manufacturers are responsible for 48 percent of the rise in fire-danger conditions in western North America since 1901 and 37 percent of the cumulative burned forest area since 1986. In New Mexico, over 4,000 wildfires burned more than 800,000 acres between 2017 and 2021, with the 2022 Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak Fire becoming the state's largest on record. The document argues that these companies should be held accountable for the costs of climate change and recommends that state governments implement policies to reduce human-ignited fires, increase forest health resources, protect community health, and prioritize equitable investments for low-income communities.

The report finds that if all 177 States adopting California's standards implement the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule, U.S. emissions could be reduced by 1,310 million metric tons of CO2e by 2050. This adoption would lead to three-quarters of U.S. cars being electric vehicles (EVs) by 2050, creating nearly 300,000 jobs and saving households an average of $238 annually. The analysis emphasizes that while the IRA provides near-term incentives, the ACC II mandate is necessary for long-term electrification goals. Case studies for Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York highlight significant state-level benefits, including substantial reductions in asthma attacks and premature deaths, particularly in communities of color.

The report finds that The Carlyle Group invested in 91 energy companies owning 972 assets between 2011 and 2021, with 90% of these being fossil fuel investments. These assets emitted an estimated 277 million metric tons of CO2e, with emissions growing at an average annual rate of 95%. The analysis highlights a significant disparity between Carlyle's fossil fuel investments ($22.4 billion) and its renewable energy commitments ($1.4 billion). Furthermore, the report documents that 84% of Carlyle's downstream US assets are located in areas with higher concentrations of low-income residents or people of color than state averages, and 47% of these plants have a record of environmental violations.

The report finds that The Carlyle Group invested in 91 energy companies owning 972 assets from 2011 to 2021, with 90 percent of both companies and assets being fossil fuel investments. These investments emitted an estimated 277 million metric tons of CO2e, with a compound annual growth rate of 95 percent. The analysis highlights a significant disparity between Carlyle's fossil fuel capacity (peaking at nearly 10,000 MW in 2021) and its renewable capacity (just over 1,300 MW). Furthermore, the report documents that 84 percent of Carlyle's current US downstream fossil fuel assets are located in areas with higher percentages of low-income residents and/or residents of color than state averages, and 47 percent of these plants have a record of environmental violations.