Search Climate Insights Directory

The Global Climate & Health Alliance (GCHA) argues that climate change is a critical threat to public health in Latin America and the Caribbean, exacerbating inequalities and violating human rights. The document details specific health impacts—including heat-related deaths, respiratory issues from wildfires and air pollution, and the spread of vector-borne diseases like dengue—while highlighting the vulnerability of indigenous peoples, children, and the elderly. It asserts that states have legal obligations under the American Convention on Human Rights and the Paris Agreement to prevent climate-related health harms. The GCHA recommends a transition away from fossil fuels, the elimination of 'sacrifice zones,' and the implementation of sustainable land management and urban design to achieve health and climate co-benefits.

The document reports that 2023 is virtually certain to be the hottest year on record, with global surface temperatures from January to November 2023 ranking highest in the 144-year record at 1.4°C above the 1881-1910 baseline. In the U.S., 25 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters occurred between January and November 2023, surpassing the previous annual record of 22 in 2020. These events caused an estimated 482 deaths and $81 billion in damages, with severe storms accounting for 76% of these disasters. The average time between such disasters in 2023 dropped to 10 days, compared to 82 days in the 1980s.

A coalition of organizations argues that the next U.S. farm bill must move beyond 'business-as-usual' to address the climate crisis, food insecurity, and systemic discrimination. The statement advocates for a comprehensive suite of bills designed to achieve net-zero agricultural emissions by 2040, expand SNAP access, protect farmworkers from heat and toxic pesticides, and curb the power of corporate agriculture.

The methodology involves isolating specific federal agency lands in the contiguous US, intersecting these areas with resource suitability data from the Princeton Net Zero America Study and the Global Heat Flow Database, and applying conservative and optimistic capacity density estimates to calculate total gigawatt (GW) hosting capacity across four scenarios.

The document reports that the annual frequency of high tide flooding in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2000 and is projected to more than triple again by 2050. This trend is driven by global sea level rise caused by ocean warming and melting ice, with U.S. coasts expected to see as much rise in the next 30 years (10-12 inches) as they did in the last 100 years. High tide flooding, which occurs when water levels exceed 1-2 feet above the daily average high tide, disrupts infrastructure, ecosystems, and supply chains, particularly affecting the Northeast, Southeast, and Gulf Coasts.

As of June 2023, there are 5,982 committed electric school buses across 914 U.S. school districts or private fleet operators. Adoption is heavily driven by the EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program, which funded 39% of all committed buses. While California leads in total numbers, adoption is becoming more geographically distributed, with 49 states now having commitments. The report finds that adoption is occurring equitably, with a majority of buses located in low-income districts and areas with high air pollution. Type C buses are the most common, making up 62.5% of commitments.

The Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub (MCHH) aims to leverage natural salt domes for large-scale, long-duration green hydrogen storage to safeguard energy security. Domestically, the hub is positioned to supply critical sectors in the Gulf Coast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, potentially serving 52% of US refining, 44% of shipping, 19% of steelmaking, and 17% of heavy-duty trucking capacity. It also seeks to bolster US fertilizer security by transporting green hydrogen feedstock via the Mississippi River to the Midwest. Internationally, the MCHH intends to establish green shipping corridors to help the EU diversify away from Russian fossil fuels and provide backup energy to climate-vulnerable nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The report argues that an initial public investment of $500 million could unlock billions in private capital by 2026, creating a national strategic hydrogen reserve and reducing industrial losses from power outages.

Analysis using the Climate Shift Index (CSI) reveals that 97% of the U.S. population experienced at least one summer day in 2023 with temperatures made at least twice as likely by climate change. The strongest impacts were concentrated in the U.S. South, Southwest, and Southeast, with San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Victoria, Texas, among the most affected cities. The period was also characterized by record-breaking heat streaks and a record number of billion-dollar weather disasters in the U.S.

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 uses the Six Americas Super Short Survey (SASSY) to categorize Facebook users in 110 countries and territories into six groups: Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive. The 'Alarmed' group is the largest in approximately 80 of the surveyed locations, with the highest percentages found in Chile (65%), Mexico (64%), Malawi (63%), Bolivia (62%), and Sri Lanka (61%). Conversely, the United States exhibits a higher proportion of 'Doubtful' and 'Dismissive' respondents (22%) compared to other major carbon emitters and is less 'Alarmed' (34%) than many of its peers. Regional analysis shows South America has the highest proportion of countries with a majority of 'Alarmed' respondents, while Southwest Asia and North Africa show higher levels of doubt or dismissal, particularly in Yemen (34%).

The report argues that private equity firms have consolidated the disaster restoration market, leading to a decline in workplace standards and community protections. It details systemic wage theft, numerous OSHA safety violations—particularly regarding asbestos—and the paradox of firms profiting from disaster cleanup while owning high-emitting fossil fuel assets. The document calls for legislative action, such as the Climate Resilience Workforce Act, and stricter labor standards for private equity owners.

This report by the Union of Concerned Scientists highlights the challenges and successes of frontline communities in the US and Puerto Rico in building climate resilience. It identifies four key themes: displacement, government negligence, funding inequities, and the effectiveness of community-driven solutions. The authors argue that while scientific solutions exist, a lack of political will and bureaucratic barriers hinder progress. The report provides specific recommendations to shift toward inclusive, community-led adaptation strategies that respect tribal sovereignty and prioritize the lived experiences of marginalized populations.

Climate Central's analysis of 242 U.S. locations from 1979 to 2022 shows that 71% of these sites experienced an increase in annual mosquito days, averaging a rise of 16 days. The Southeast and South currently have the highest number of mosquito days, while the Ohio Valley and Northeast saw the largest region-wide increases. The report links these trends to warming spring and fall temperatures and discusses the expanding risk of mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and dengue, as suitable habitats shift northward and the season length for transmission increases.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) published this guide to help the public influence the EPA's proposed rule on ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from commercial sterilizers. The guide argues that while the proposal is a positive step—potentially reducing emissions by 80%—it contains significant gaps regarding cumulative health risks, fenceline monitoring, and the regulation of off-site warehouses. It urges commenters to support the use of the 2016 IRIS risk assessment, demand continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS), and call for a faster compliance timeline than the proposed 18 months. The document also highlights environmental justice concerns, noting that people of color and low-income communities are disproportionately located near these facilities.

As of December 2022, there are 5,612 committed electric school buses in the US, a significant increase driven largely by the EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program. While California leads in total numbers, adoption has expanded to all 50 states and is increasingly concentrated in low-income and minority communities, though the report emphasizes the need for continued focus on equity and infrastructure support.

The document analyzes how warming average annual minimum temperatures in the U.S. are shifting plant hardiness zones northward, affecting the geographic range of crops, invasive species, and pests. Based on an analysis of 242 U.S. locations from 1951 to 2022, it finds that 95% of these locations experienced warming, with some cities seeing significant zone shifts. This trend may expand the range of high-value crops but also facilitates the spread of invasive species like Kudzu and the brown marmorated stink bug.

The document lists private equity firms and the specific companies they have acquired to profit from services provided to incarcerated populations, including communications, healthcare, and commissary services.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) presents a critical overview of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), asserting that the technology overpromises on emission reductions while introducing significant safety risks and high costs. The document highlights the 'energy penalty'—the extra energy required to power capture equipment—and notes that most existing projects are used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), which can increase overall emissions. It warns that a large-scale CCS buildout in the United States would require an unrealistic and dangerous expansion of pipeline infrastructure. Furthermore, the text argues that CCS is unnecessary for 'hard to abate' industrial sectors, where electrification and demand reduction are more viable, and critiques 'blue hydrogen' as a means to prolong fossil fuel dependence. The document concludes that global capture capacity is negligible compared to total emissions and that public subsidies, such as the US 45Q tax credit, inappropriately support the fossil fuel economy.

The World Resources Institute analyzes CEJST 1.0, finding that while it identifies more disadvantaged populations than the beta version, it lacks a mechanism to prioritize communities facing multiple overlapping burdens. The analysis reveals that non-white populations are disproportionately exposed to higher cumulative burdens, yet the tool treats all disadvantaged communities as equal for funding purposes. The authors recommend incorporating cumulative burden metrics, adjusting low-income eligibility for severely burdened areas, and establishing a rigorous monitoring framework for the Justice40 Initiative.

This fact sheet details the involvement of private equity firms in the incarceration industry, listing specific companies providing commissary, communications, healthcare, and construction services to millions of incarcerated people across the U.S. and internationally.