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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 report examines the role of the advertising and PR industry in supporting fossil fuel companies, arguing that these agencies facilitate greenwashing and disinformation. It highlights a growing movement of professionals rejecting such work and documents the contradiction between the sustainability pledges of major agency holding companies and their continued representation of high-polluting clients. The document provides a list of 90 agencies working for the fossil fuel industry and presents case studies of misleading campaigns in Australia, the United States, and Europe.

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 document details how authoritative climate data from the Copernicus CDS is integrated into the SAVi model for nature-based infrastructure. It provides a literature review on the impacts of precipitation, vegetation, and temperature on assets like green roofs, wetlands, and urban forests. The report demonstrates the model's application through simulations in Johannesburg, showing how temperature affects phosphorus removal in wetlands and how increasing vegetation cover can mitigate heat-related labor productivity losses.

Washington Sea Grant developed a localized sea level rise assessment for Washington State to bridge the 'action gap' between the perceived importance of climate impacts and the availability of planning tools. The project introduced a probabilistic framework for communicating uncertainty and integrated vertical land movement data to create site-specific relative sea-level projections. These data were delivered via an interactive map and a Tableau-based tool. Implementation efforts included pilot projects in Tacoma and Island County, where the data informed the redesign of Owen Beach, the visioning of a linear park, and the creation of a community-based coastal resilience planning guide for shoreline homeowners.

The briefing highlights a significant opportunity for electric vehicles (EVs) to become a dominant class of renewable energy buyers, potentially requiring 640 TWh of electricity by 2030. It urges EV charge point operators (CPOs), electric mobility service providers (eMSPs), and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to develop seamless 100% renewable energy charging solutions, starting with large centralized fleets. The author suggests using energy attribute certificates (EACs) to link electricity consumption with renewable purchases and argues that the incremental cost of renewables is low enough to be absorbed by providers to accelerate adoption. Finally, the document advocates for industry-wide technical standards and interoperable digital infrastructure to enable EVs to participate in energy markets and decarbonization schemes.

The report analyzes the climate impact of transportation network companies (TNCs) in seven major U.S. cities. It finds that non-pooled ride-hailing trips emit 47% more than private vehicle trips of the same length, largely due to 'deadheading' (driving without passengers). When accounting for the modes of transport that ride-hailing displaces—including mass transit, walking, and biking—typical ride-hailing trips are approximately 69% more polluting than the trips they replace. The analysis suggests that a transition to electric vehicles and an increase in pooling rates to 50% could reduce these emissions by 52% relative to displaced trips.

The report argues that a negative feedback loop exists in the United States where restrictive voting laws and partisan gerrymandering insulate legislators from accountability, leading to the adoption of policies that exacerbate public health disparities. Using data from America's Health Rankings and the Cost of Voting Index, the author finds that states with greater partisan bias and higher barriers to voting are associated with lower life expectancy and more severe health declines between 2010 and 2017. Specifically, the report links extreme gerrymandering to higher increases in opioid deaths among African Americans in high-poverty states and higher infant mortality for non-Hispanic black communities. To break this cycle, the document recommends reforms to reduce the costs of eligibility (such as automatic voter registration), reduce the costs of casting a vote (such as early in-person voting), and protect the equal value of votes through independent redistricting commissions and public campaign financing.

The Union of Concerned Scientists asserts that the United States has the lowest electoral integrity among advanced industrial democracies, which undermines the ability to create science-based policies. The report links voter suppression and gerrymandering to poor public health and environmental outcomes, citing examples in Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Texas. It advocates for reforms such as automatic voter registration, nonpartisan redistricting, and public campaign financing to reduce the influence of 'dark money' and corporate interests on government decision-making.

The document analyzes the evolution of bicycle-sharing schemes (BSS) across four technological generations, moving from simple free-bike models to sophisticated dockless and electric systems. It provides a comprehensive guide for city officials on planning, regulatory frameworks, financing, and safety, emphasizing the need for proactive governance to manage the risks and opportunities of the 'fourth generation' of bike sharing.

The document outlines a systemic approach to urban freight management, combining a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with a library of global best practices. It argues that urban logistics efficiency is driven by a combination of land-use planning, infrastructure investment, and regulatory flexibility. Key strategies discussed include the use of ring roads to divert through-freight, the implementation of urban consolidation centers, and the transition to zero-emissions vehicles. The report emphasizes the necessity of data-driven decision-making through GPS logs and stakeholder engagement via Freight Quality Partnerships to reduce the high costs of the 'final mile' and improve city livability.

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.

The document highlights the environmental benefits of mass timber over steel and concrete, specifically noting significant reductions in CO2 emissions per square foot of floor assembly. It showcases various projects in Washington and Oregon, including residential, office, and school buildings, while calling for new building codes and national action to support the adoption of mass timber and sustainable forest practices like restorative thinning.

The document outlines six key actions for regional governments to decarbonize mobility: expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, electrifying commercial and government fleets, implementing clean vehicle manufacturing standards, improving freight delivery efficiency, investing in public transit, and promoting non-motorized travel alternatives.

The document outlines five specific actions to decarbonize regional industry: methane containment, transitioning to clean industrial processes, implementing shared industrial flows (such as eco-industrial parks), decarbonizing ports and airports, and transitioning to clean industrial vehicles. It provides a framework for regional authorities to eliminate waste, electrify processes, and implement regulatory penalties for emissions, supported by references to policies from jurisdictions such as California, Brazil, and Hong Kong.

Climate change is causing record-breaking wildfires, ocean acidification, and declining snowpack in Washington, threatening the state's shellfish, forestry, and hydroelectric industries. Projections suggest temperatures could rise by 5°F to 8.5°F by the end of the century, with significant risks to coastal property and forest health. The document advocates for carbon pricing, cleaner transportation fuels, and a transition to zero-carbon electricity to mitigate these risks.

The document analyzes the different approaches the U.S. and China take to overcome barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption, such as high upfront costs and limited charging infrastructure. While the U.S. relies on a mix of federal tax credits and varied state-level incentives, China has implemented more aggressive central government subsidies, a 'dual-credit policy' for manufacturers, and significant government fleet mandates. China's approach has led to faster growth in EV registrations and a larger network of charging outlets compared to the U.S.

The transportation sector accounts for 36% of greenhouse gas emissions in large cities. To address this, the handbook outlines several strategic actions: electrifying municipal fleets, reducing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles through bans or restrictions, managing urban freight emissions, expanding EV charging infrastructure, creating car-free downtown zones, and enhancing public transit and mobility alternatives like bikeshare and pedestrian-friendly streets.

The report argues that electrifying heavy-duty vehicles in California can significantly reduce hazardous air pollutants and global warming emissions while creating economic opportunities. It finds that battery and fuel cell electric buses have substantially lower life cycle emissions than diesel or CNG alternatives. The authors highlight that low-income communities and people of color are disproportionately exposed to heavy-duty vehicle pollution. While the sector offers growth in manufacturing, infrastructure, and maintenance, the report emphasizes the need for targeted electrical skills training to make these jobs accessible to underserved populations.

The briefing analyzes China's 'Standard for Energy Consumption of Civil Buildings' (GB/T51161-2016), which establishes energy quotas based on metered performance relative to peer groups. It argues that U.S. entities can benefit from China's approach to whole-building metered assessment, the localization of performance targets to account for market dynamics, and the challenges of aligning operational energy targets with design codes.