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The document details the transformation of Portland's Pearl District from an industrial area into a high-density, mixed-use neighborhood. It highlights the 'Brewery Blocks' as a model for sustainable development, featuring LEED-certified buildings and a district-wide chilled water plant. The analysis emphasizes the role of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Local Improvement Districts (LIDs) in funding infrastructure and the Portland Streetcar. It also tracks demographic shifts, noting a significant increase in population and college attainment rates between 1990 and 2015, while discussing the resulting challenges of gentrification and housing affordability.

The fact sheet compares the climate strategies of eleven major asset owners, detailing their Net Zero targets, interim emissions reduction goals, and specific exclusions of fossil fuels. It highlights varying levels of Scope 3 reporting and tracks financial commitments to climate solutions, with some investors like CDPQ and NYC Funds reporting significant progress or exceeding their targets.

The SHIFT Calculator estimates induced travel—the increase in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) following road capacity expansions—using empirical elasticities. It applies a 1.0 ratio for interstate highways and 0.75 for other freeways and arterials, predicting that a 1% increase in lane mileage leads to a corresponding increase in VMT over 5 to 10 years. The tool also calculates cumulative greenhouse gas emissions through 2050 based on two scenarios: a business-as-usual case and one aligned with the US Nationally Determined Commitment (NDC), which assumes 100% electrification of new passenger vehicles by 2035.

The VPP Flipbook outlines how utilities can aggregate distributed energy resources (DERs)—such as batteries, electric vehicles, and smart thermostats—to provide grid services like capacity, energy, and resilience. It details a six-step development process and provides specific examples from utilities including PG&E, National Grid, and Green Mountain Power. The document emphasizes the importance of open-access structures, third-party partnerships, and the integration of VPPs into long-term resource planning to address load growth and decarbonization goals.

This report analyzes ten strategies to reduce energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in California, Oregon, and Washington. It concludes that implementing these measures could reduce regional emissions by 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MMTCO2e) by 2020, representing a 26% reduction compared to a base case scenario. The analysis suggests these strategies could provide a net present value (NPV) of nearly $40 billion in direct economic savings between 2005 and 2020, primarily driven by energy efficiency and light-duty vehicle standards.

The document argues that the costs of failing to reduce carbon emissions in the United States are prohibitive, citing projected damages to coastal infrastructure, public health, water resources, agriculture, transportation, and energy systems. It highlights that under high-emissions scenarios, the annual economic impact could reach 1.9 percent of GDP by 2100. Specific regional risks include severe sea-level rise in Florida and the Northeast, extreme heat waves in Midwestern cities, water scarcity in the Southwest, and increased wildfire frequency in the West Coast and Rocky Mountain regions. The document advocates for a reduction of carbon emissions by at least 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050 to avoid the worst consequences.

The Union of Concerned Scientists advocates for a 'count carbs and make carbs count' approach to transportation fuels, emphasizing the need for life cycle emissions analysis to distinguish between high-carbon fuels like liquid coal and low-carbon alternatives like cellulosic ethanol. The report highlights that while some biofuels can significantly reduce emissions, others may increase them depending on feedstock and land use. It promotes the adoption of Low Carbon Fuel Standards, citing California's model, to drive the market toward sustainable, low-carbon fuels and avoid the high emissions associated with liquid coal and tar sands.

The report provides a state-by-state breakdown of progress toward 2020 Clean Power Plan benchmarks, noting that some states have exceeded 500% of their goals while others show 0% progress. It highlights the role of energy efficiency, renewable energy standards, and regional initiatives in achieving these targets.

The Southwest is projected to warm by 4-6°F under lower-emissions and 7-10°F under higher-emissions scenarios by the end of the century. The region faces severe water scarcity, expanding deserts, and reduced runoff, particularly in the Colorado River system. Public health risks include increased heat-related deaths in Los Angeles and worsening air quality. Economic threats include reduced yields for California specialty crops, diminished ski resort profitability due to snowpack loss, and reduced aircraft freight capacity at high-altitude airports like Phoenix and Denver. Biodiversity is critically threatened, especially in the Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands, while mountain ecosystems face range reductions and reproductive failures in wildflowers due to earlier snowmelt and spring frosts.

The document defines GHG emissions registries as databases for tracking emissions from individual emitters, distinguishing them from top-down national inventories. It details the legal mandate for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop a national registry by mid-2008, funded by a December 2007 appropriations bill. The text outlines the role of registries in cap-and-trade programs—specifically for ensuring compliance and market efficiency—and describes the technical requirements for data collection, quantification, and verification to ensure consistency and transparency.

The guide details five financial tools to facilitate energy efficiency: on-bill financing, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) models, loan guarantees, and loan loss reserve funds. It highlights how public investment can reduce lender risk to mobilize private capital, providing specific examples from the United States, Canada, and China.

The briefing examines the climate policy landscapes of the U.S. and China, noting that while the U.S. lacks a national carbon price, it has significant subnational activity. China has established the world's largest emissions trading scheme (ETS) but maintains that it is not obligated to provide international climate finance as a developing nation. Both countries are advancing corporate climate disclosure rules, though they differ on the requirement for Scope 3 emissions. The paper suggests cooperation on sustainable procurement, data standards for emission accounting, and subnational carbon market exchanges.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of the climate and energy landscapes in China and the United States. For China, it highlights a 4.7% increase in CO2 emissions in 2023, the growth of non-fossil fuel power capacity to 53.9% of the total, and the implementation of the 'Carbon Peak' pilot program and the restart of the CCER market. For the United States, it notes a projected 1.9% decrease in emissions for 2023, the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and the focus on decarbonizing the power sector by 2035. The briefing also details the 'Sunnylands Statement' as a framework for bilateral cooperation on methane and energy transition, while noting tensions regarding trade policies and the potential impact of the 2024 US election.

The document argues that integrating natural infrastructure—such as forests and wetlands—with built infrastructure can reduce water treatment costs and enhance water security. It provides a framework for 'green-gray analysis' to compare these options, discusses the scientific links between forest cover and water quality, and outlines various finance mechanisms and stakeholder engagement strategies to scale these efforts across the U.S.

The document explains how wolves act as 'climate heroes' by regulating prey populations, which allows vegetation to recover and enhances carbon sequestration. Using Yellowstone National Park as a primary example, it describes how the reintroduction of wolves led to a resurgence of woody plants and beavers, improving wetland health. It also addresses the social conflicts between wolf conservation and rural communities, advocating for coexistence programs and science-based policies like the Endangered Species Act to protect these ecosystems.

The document examines various employee ownership models—Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), worker cooperatives, and Perpetual Purpose Trusts (PPTs)—evaluating their capacity to support environmental sustainability and worker equity. It argues that PPTs are particularly effective for mission-driven companies because they allow trustees to prioritize non-financial goals and protect a company's purpose in perpetuity, unlike ESOPs which are constrained by fiduciary duties to maximize financial benefits. The paper highlights the potential for PPTs to facilitate sustainable succession for aging US farmers and cites examples like Patagonia and the Organically Grown Company to illustrate the model's application.

The report outlines the essential structural elements of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, detailing how the choice of Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) systems, operational responsibilities, cost coverage, financial models, fee structures, and funding mechanisms influence environmental and economic outcomes. It emphasizes the importance of harmonization across jurisdictions and the use of eco-modulated fees to incentivize sustainable packaging design.

A WWF study of 46 US schools found that students waste an average of 39.2 pounds of food and 28.7 cartons of milk annually. This translates to an estimated $1.7 billion in national annual losses. The report highlights that milk waste is particularly high due to misconceptions about USDA reimbursement rules and the use of cartons over dispensers. It proposes that reducing waste—even by a conservative 3%—could provide significant funding for initiatives like Farm to School (F2S) and the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP), which improve student nutrition and support local economies.

The report argues that transitioning to bulk milk dispensers (BMDs) in K-12 schools can significantly reduce packaging and liquid milk waste, lower waste hauling and refrigeration costs, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. While initial startup costs and labor for cleaning reusable cups are primary hurdles, case studies indicate that these costs can be recouped through reduced waste and improved efficiency. The document highlights that BMDs can lower milk waste from roughly 32 cartons per student to 4.5 cartons per student annually, contributing to broader school sustainability goals.