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The document reports that winter is the fastest warming season for most of the U.S., leading to a general decrease in fall and spring snowfall between 1970 and 2019. It details regional impacts, such as a 15-30% reduction in snow-derived freshwater in the Western U.S. since 1955, a shift toward rain over snow in the Northeast, and a shortened lake effect snow season in the Great Lakes region. These changes threaten water security for agriculture and municipalities, increase wildfire and drought risks, and negatively impact the winter recreation industry.

The 2022 update of this public opinion study reveals that while Americans are increasingly concerned about plastic pollution and supportive of producer responsibility, they express significant skepticism regarding the efficacy of recycling. A majority of respondents believe businesses are most responsible for reducing plastic waste and show strong support for positive-incentive regulations, such as beverage container refund programs, over taxes or fees. The report also highlights disparities in recycling access and behavior based on geography, housing tenure, and income.

Analysis of 246 U.S. locations from 1970 to 2021 shows that 98% experienced an increase in average winter temperatures, with the Great Lakes and Northeast regions seeing the most significant warming. Winter is the fastest-warming season for 38 out of 49 states. While extreme cold events still occur, warming winters threaten regional economies through reduced snowpacks in the West, lower fruit yields, and the migration of disease-carrying pests.

The study investigates deeper decarbonization in the Northeastern U.S., finding that Rhode Island could potentially reduce emissions by 80% by 2030 using existing technologies. While significant reductions of 70% to 80% are possible by 2030, 2040, or 2050, complete decarbonization is hindered by methane leakage from landfills and natural gas transmission, industrial emissions, and air travel.

The report finds that while Americans are concerned about the impact of plastics on marine life and water quality, they often feel unable to avoid plastic packaging or believe their individual actions are insignificant. There is strong public support for producer responsibility, with businesses ranked as the most responsible party for reducing plastic waste and the entity that should pay for recycling infrastructure. While there is broad support for positive regulations like credits and refund programs, Americans are more divided on taxes and fees.

The document is a transcript of a briefing on coastal resilience in the Northeast US. It details the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, the Waterfront Alliance's efforts to build consensus in the New York City metro area, and the Island Institute's work with rural coastal and island communities in Maine. The discussion emphasizes the role of nature-based solutions, the challenges of funding and capacity in rural areas, and the need for equitable, risk-informed governance to address sea level rise and coastal flooding.

The policy brief contends that new natural gas capacity is a primary driver of increased grid emissions in the US and that avoiding 90% of proposed gas plants could save electricity customers over $29 billion. It advocates for a transition to 'clean energy portfolios'—combinations of wind, solar, batteries, demand flexibility, and energy efficiency—to support economy-wide decarbonization and meet international climate targets.

The document details the costs and benefits of transitioning to clean transportation in Connecticut. By 2050, a total investment of $51.5 billion in electrification, fuel efficiency, and low-carbon fuels is projected to generate $72.5 billion in returns, resulting in a net benefit of over $21 billion. These investments would lead to 149.9 million metric tons of avoided CO2 and a reduction of 15.5 billion gallons of fossil-based liquid fuels.

The document details the costs and benefits of transitioning to clean transportation in the District of Columbia. It estimates that a total investment of $5.6 billion by 2050 will generate a cumulative net benefit of more than $2.5 billion, primarily driven by fuel savings. The transition is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 17 million metric tons and save almost 1.8 billion gallons of fossil-based liquid fuels by 2050.

The document details the costs and benefits of transitioning Delaware to clean transportation technologies, including vehicle electrification, fuel efficiency, and low-carbon fuels. It projects that a total investment of $18 billion by 2050 will generate a cumulative net benefit of $6.6 billion, primarily driven by fuel savings and avoided environmental costs, while significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

The analysis evaluates three technology pathways—fuel efficiency, vehicle electrification, and low-carbon fuels—to reduce transportation emissions. For Massachusetts, a total investment of approximately $94 billion through 2050 is projected to generate a cumulative net benefit of nearly $40 billion, driven primarily by fuel savings and avoided environmental costs. By 2050, these measures would avoid 276.8 million metric tons of CO2 and reduce fossil-based liquid fuel use by nearly 29 billion gallons.

The document details the costs and benefits of transitioning to clean transportation in Maryland, projecting a cumulative net benefit of nearly $40 billion by 2050 through fuel efficiency, electrification, and low-carbon fuels.

The document details the financial and environmental impacts of transitioning to clean transportation in Maine. It estimates that a total investment of nearly $27 billion by 2050 would yield nearly $37 billion in returns, resulting in a net benefit of over $9 billion. Key benefits include significant fuel savings, reduced carbon dioxide emissions, and improved local air quality.

The document details the costs and benefits of transitioning New Hampshire's transportation sector to clean technologies by 2050. It projects a cumulative net benefit of approximately $8.6 billion, driven primarily by fuel savings, while estimating a total investment of nearly $22 billion, with electricity generation and storage being the largest cost. Environmentally, the transition is expected to avoid over 63 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and reduce fossil fuel use by more than 6.5 billion gallons by 2050.

The document details the costs and benefits of three technology pathways—fuel efficiency, electrification, and low-carbon fuels—for New Jersey. It projects that by 2050, a total investment of nearly $122 billion will generate over $171 billion in returns, resulting in a cumulative net benefit of almost $50 billion. These transitions are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 353.6 million metric tons and save nearly 37 billion gallons of fossil-based liquid fuels by 2050.

The document details the financial and environmental impacts of transitioning to clean transportation in New York. It estimates that by 2050, cumulative investments of nearly $218 billion in electrification, efficiency, and low-carbon fuels will yield a net benefit of $80.5 billion, primarily driven by fuel savings and avoided environmental costs.

The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that investing in fuel efficiency, vehicle electrification, and low-carbon fuels in Pennsylvania would result in a cumulative net benefit of over $60 billion by 2050. The analysis indicates that while electricity generation and storage represent the largest investment cost, these are offset by significant fuel savings and avoided environmental and health costs. By 2050, these measures would avoid 515.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and reduce fossil-based liquid fuel use by 52.5 billion gallons.

The document details the economic and environmental impact of transitioning to clean transportation in Rhode Island. It estimates that a total investment of nearly $14 billion by 2050 will yield nearly $19 billion in returns, resulting in a cumulative net benefit of over $5 billion. Key drivers of this transition include vehicle electrification, improved fuel efficiency, and low-carbon fuels, which together are projected to avoid 38.7 million metric tons of CO2 and reduce fossil-based liquid fuel use by 4 billion gallons by 2050.

The document details the costs and benefits of transitioning to clean transportation in Virginia by 2050. It estimates that a total investment of $142.5 billion in electrification, fuel efficiency, and low-carbon fuels will generate a cumulative net benefit of nearly $57 billion, primarily driven by fuel savings and avoided environmental costs, while reducing CO2 emissions by 412.1 million metric tons.

The document details the economic and environmental impact of transitioning to clean transportation in Vermont. It estimates that a total investment of $13.4 billion by 2050 will result in a cumulative net benefit of $4.5 billion, driven primarily by fuel savings and avoided environmental costs, while significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions.