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Analysis of cooling degree days (CDD) shows that 97% of 241 major U.S. cities experienced increased cooling demand since 1970, with an average increase of 37%. This trend, combined with a 31% rise in residential electricity prices between 2020 and 2025, increases the financial burden on households, particularly low-income families. In 2020, the ten states with the highest cooling costs saw average household expenditures between $378 in Hawaii and $712 in Arizona. Future projections suggest U.S. household cooling demand will rise 43% by 2050. The report also highlights systemic risks, including electricity grid strain, increased carbon emissions from fossil-fuel-reliant cooling, and the urban heat island effect caused by waste heat from air conditioners.

The guide outlines ten ways US cities can advance electric mobility through permitting reform, building codes, targeted public charging, and shared e-mobility services to ensure an equitable transition.

The report argues that expanding I-270 will not solve long-term congestion due to induced demand and will further burden marginalized communities. It proposes a shift toward a 'Garden City' model featuring green buffers, freight-prioritized corridors with smart technology, expanded transit, and robust anti-displacement strategies. The authors criticize CDOT's current public engagement as insufficient and recommend a more deliberative, data-driven approach to rebuild community trust.

The report details how climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather in Oregon, leading to significant economic losses and infrastructure needs. Key risks include intense heatwaves, devastating wildfires, disrupted water supplies for agriculture, and coastal flooding. The document provides specific cost estimates for adaptations, such as school air conditioning and coastal protection, while outlining the broader systemic risks to public health, fisheries, and the state's $5.7 billion agricultural industry.

The document argues that Oregon should adopt consumption-based emission targets to account for its full carbon footprint and avoid displacing emissions to other regions. It contrasts sector-based emissions (territorial) with consumption-based emissions (life cycle of goods and services) and notes that while Oregon's sector emissions have decreased, consumption emissions continue to rise. The paper provides case studies from cities like San Francisco, London, and Paris, and countries like Sweden, to illustrate different target-setting approaches. It proposes four specific frameworks for Oregon: aligning with existing sector goals, targeting minimum well-being standards, using global carbon budget scenario analysis, or applying a 'fair share' equity-based approach.

Climate Central analyzed the urban heat island (UHI) index across 65 major U.S. cities, finding that 68% of the 50 million residents in these cities live in areas where the built environment increases temperatures by 8°F or more. The study identifies albedo, green space, and population density as the primary drivers of this effect. It also highlights a link between historical redlining and current heat disparities, noting that in 84% of 179 analyzed cities, historically redlined areas experience hotter summers than non-redlined areas.

The document argues that current EV charging infrastructure is concentrated in high-income areas, creating a barrier to adoption for lower-income multifamily housing residents. Based on engagement in Portland, Atlanta, and Phoenix, it recommends that stakeholders prioritize community engagement, affordability, multimodal solutions, and inclusive local partnerships to ensure an equitable transition to transportation electrification.

Analysis by Climate Central indicates that carbon pollution significantly increased the likelihood of abnormally warm winter days across the U.S. from December 2023 to February 2024. Approximately 85% of the U.S. population experienced at least one day where warm temperatures were at least twice as likely due to climate change. The Midwest experienced particularly strong climate fingerprints, with Minneapolis showing the largest warm departure from normal temperatures among 487 global cities with populations over 1 million. San Juan, Puerto Rico, recorded the highest number of days influenced by climate change at Climate Shift Index level 2 or higher.

The document analyzes adaptation planning across 136 large coastal cities, finding that over 50% lack formal plans and most existing policies fail to align with actual climate risks. It introduces the ARPA and APC frameworks to measure policy alignment and credibility, noting a significant gap between planning and implementation. Furthermore, it highlights a critical lack of outcome-based monitoring and evaluation, with 95% of indicators focusing on outputs. The brief argues for the integration of 'subaltern' knowledge to improve the social legitimacy and effectiveness of urban adaptation.

The document argues that while current building codes focus on operational emissions and 'Buy Clean' policies target material production, there is a gap in mitigating end-of-life climate impacts. It proposes five policy interventions for municipalities: planning permit incentives for adaptive reuse, design standards for future adaptability in new construction, improved C&D waste management ordinances, deconstruction ordinances for historic buildings, and the implementation of material passports for public buildings.

The document examines the dual role of U.S. ports as both victims of climate change (facing sea level rise and extreme storms) and contributors to it through significant greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. It details mitigation strategies such as electrification of machinery, shore powering for berthed ships, and the adoption of renewable energy. It also discusses adaptation measures, contrasting 'gray infrastructure' like seawalls with nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration and living shorelines. The brief highlights specific initiatives at ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Savannah, Miami, and others, while noting the role of EPA programs and international certifications in driving sustainability.

The document examines the dual role of U.S. ports as both significant emitters of greenhouse gases and vulnerable infrastructure facing climate threats like sea level rise. It details mitigation strategies, including electrification of machinery and shore powering for ships, and adaptation methods, such as nature-based shoreline protection and improved stormwater management. The brief highlights specific initiatives at ports in California, Georgia, and Florida, while noting the importance of federal resources like the EPA Ports Initiative in supporting these transitions.

A rapid analysis of the June 2021 Pacific Northwest heatwave concludes that the event was virtually impossible without human-caused climate change. The study estimates the event as a 1-in-1000-year occurrence in the current climate, noting it was approximately 2°C hotter than it would have been before the industrial revolution. Projections indicate that with 2°C of global warming, such events could occur every 5 to 10 years.

The document outlines the environmental and economic benefits of bicycle infrastructure, noting that federal investment rose from $22.9 million in 1992 to over $970 million in 2017. It describes various infrastructure types, such as protected lanes and bike-sharing systems, and highlights a significant increase in cycling and e-bike sales during the Covid-19 pandemic. Data indicates that bicycle commute shares rose in many major U.S. cities between 1990 and 2015, and research suggests that replacing car lanes with bike lanes often has positive effects on local retail and food service businesses.

The briefing outlines six funding models—sales taxes, retail taxes, fossil fuel production taxes, electricity consumption taxes, climate bonds, and resilience bonds—that US cities have implemented to fund climate action. It highlights specific examples from cities like Denver, Portland, and Miami, emphasizing that integrating equity into the design of these funding streams is essential for success, particularly for Black, Indigenous, Latino, and low-income communities who are disproportionately affected by pollution and climate change.

RMI analysis indicates that Colorado's plan to add nearly 200 new highway lane-miles by 2030 could induce 1 to 1.5 billion additional annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT), equivalent to adding 70,000 more vehicles to the roads each year. The report argues that road expansion fails to provide long-term congestion relief because travel demand increases proportionally to new capacity, a phenomenon known as induced travel. These expansions are estimated to increase cumulative direct and upstream greenhouse gas emissions by 8 to 15 million tons of CO2-equivalent through 2050, costing over $3 billion in direct project costs. RMI advocates for shifting investment toward public transit, micro-mobility, and compact, mixed-use community development to achieve a 10 percent reduction in VMT by 2030.

The report concludes that the June 2021 Pacific Northwest heatwave was virtually impossible without human-caused climate change, estimating it as a 1-in-1000 year event in the current climate. The analysis indicates the event was approximately 2°C hotter than it would have been in a pre-industrial climate and would have been at least 150 times rarer without anthropogenic warming. Future projections suggest that in a world with 2°C of global warming, such an event would occur every 5 to 10 years and be another degree hotter. Meteorological drivers included an 'omega-block' high-pressure system and dry antecedent soil conditions, while natural variability modes like ENSO and PDO played little to no role.

The report analyzes EV infrastructure readiness around 60 US cities, finding that while some cities like San Jose exhibit high regional preparedness, significant gaps in DC fast-charger coverage persist across several states, contributing to consumer range anxiety. It emphasizes that regional collaboration between cities, utilities, and state agencies is essential for scaling infrastructure beyond urban centers to support intercity travel.

Climate Central's analysis of 242 U.S. cities shows that 96% have experienced an increase in cooling degree days since the 1970s, with the most significant rises in the South and Southwest. This trend is driving a projected 59% increase in residential air conditioning consumption by 2050, which contributes to carbon emissions, the urban heat island effect, and the release of heat-trapping gases from improper disposal.

The Food Waste Warriors project analyzed plate waste in 46 US schools, finding that students waste an average of 39.2 pounds of food and 28.7 cartons of milk per year. The study highlights the significant environmental and financial costs of this waste, estimating a national impact of 530,000 tons of food waste and 45 million gallons of milk waste annually. Results indicate that simple interventions and awareness can reduce waste, with elementary schools seeing a 14.5% reduction. The report recommends policy reforms to National School Lunch Program (NSLP) portion sizes and the adoption of bulk milk dispensers to mitigate these losses.