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California is facing a critical water supply shift as climate change depletes traditional snowmelt-fed reservoirs, leading to an increased reliance on groundwater. The document highlights that snow is melting up to 30 days earlier than in the mid-twentieth century and that the state's surface-water storage is not designed for a future of rain-dominant precipitation. This has led to the over-pumping of aquifers, particularly in the Central Valley. To address this, the document advocates for the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014, which requires local agencies to develop sustainability plans by 2020. The authors propose capturing floodwaters to recharge aquifers, which would simultaneously reduce flooding risks and provide a buffer against future droughts.

The report examines the vulnerability of the U.S. power sector to water constraints and climate change, comparing a 'business as usual' pathway with low-carbon alternatives. It finds that a combination of renewable energy and energy efficiency can drastically reduce water withdrawals and consumption while lowering consumer costs and mitigating climate impacts.

The report analyzes the intersection of the U.S. electricity sector, water resources, and climate change, arguing that current power generation is vulnerable to water scarcity and high temperatures. Through modeling of four scenarios—Business as Usual, Renewables-and-Efficiency, CCS-and-Nuclear, and a general Carbon Budget—the authors find that a transition toward renewable energy and energy efficiency can drastically reduce both carbon emissions and water withdrawals and consumption. Conversely, low-carbon options like nuclear power and carbon capture and storage (CCS) remain water-intensive. The report provides a set of "water-smart criteria" for decision-makers to enhance the resilience of the U.S. power grid in a warming world.

The U.S. Southwest is currently relying on unsustainable groundwater extraction to meet water demands. Climate change is projected to exacerbate this crisis by increasing agricultural water needs and shifting snowmelt timing, leading to significant water shortfalls. The report finds that without adaptation, the region faces a cumulative water shortfall of up to 2,253 million acre feet over the next century under a severe climate scenario (A2). While desalination and imports are deemed non-viable due to cost and availability, planned reductions in urban and agricultural water use—particularly the elimination of low-value crops—could bring water use to sustainable levels. The economic cost of inaction is estimated between $2.3 trillion and $5 trillion over the next century.

The document outlines five core elements for BESS zoning ordinances: treating BESS as a distinct land use, creating clear approval pathways, referencing national safety standards, basing setbacks on safety rather than size, and addressing project lifecycle changes. It provides detailed technical recommendations on permitting, environmental mitigation, noise and visual impacts, and the incorporation of NFPA and UL safety standards.

The document provides a framework for solar-enabling zoning ordinances in the Southwest, focusing on clear definitions, permitting pathways, and mitigation strategies for visual, sound, and environmental impacts. It advocates for designating accessory solar as an 'allowed use' and large-scale projects as 'conditional use,' while suggesting specific standards for setbacks, height limits, and noise. The guide also emphasizes reducing environmental footprints through wildlife-friendly fencing and water management plans, and promoting dual-use solar, such as agrivoltaics. Additionally, it outlines requirements for decommissioning, fire safety, and the creation of local benefit analyses to ensure community upside.

Hourly rainfall intensity in 126 U.S. cities has increased by an average of 15% since 1970, with the heaviest 1% of downpours intensifying most in the Northeast (+60%) and Midwest (+45%) between 1958 and 2021. Future warming of 2°C is projected to increase precipitation during the heaviest events by an average of 17% across U.S. counties. The document highlights that flood risks disproportionately affect people of color, those in mobile homes, and Black communities along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, noting that rainfall changes between 1988 and 2017 caused approximately $73 billion in flood damages.

The report examines the economic viability of 'grid defection'—where customers use solar PV and battery storage to operate independently of the electric grid. It analyzes five U.S. geographies to determine when the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for these systems undercuts retail utility prices. The findings suggest that grid parity is already present in Hawaii and is imminent for millions of other U.S. customers, threatening to strand utility assets and trigger a 'utility death spiral' of rising prices and falling sales.

The U.S. electricity system relies heavily on freshwater, with cooling power plants accounting for 41 percent of all freshwater withdrawals. This dependence creates a 'collision' where energy production competes with municipal, agricultural, and ecosystem needs, a situation exacerbated by global warming. The report details regional risks—such as hydropower instability in the Northwest and cooling water shortages in the Southeast—and highlights low-water alternatives like wind, solar photovoltaic, and dry-cooling systems.

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.

WWF urges the US Congress to utilize the 2023 Farm Bill to end habitat conversion, reverse species decline, and achieve net zero agriculture by 2040. Key recommendations include protecting the $20 billion Inflation Reduction Act investment in agricultural conservation, eliminating subsidies for the conversion of grasslands, and reducing the approximately 35% of food that goes unsold or uneaten in the US. The document advocates for the integration of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, the promotion of regenerative agriculture, and the implementation of rigorous biodiversity safeguards for bioenergy and advanced fuels.