Search Climate Insights Directory

Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) use the constant temperature of the earth to provide efficient heating and cooling with zero direct emissions. While installation costs are higher than fossil fuel alternatives, the Inflation Reduction Act provides tax credits and rebates that can reduce these costs by up to 50%. In the U.S. Midwest, GHPs can reduce emissions by 85-90% compared to gas or propane furnaces and use approximately 80% less energy annually. The document highlights 'networked geothermal' systems for campuses and neighborhoods as a way to achieve over 500% efficiency and lower individual costs through economies of scale.

GreenLatinos and partner organizations applaud the creation of the Castner Range and Avi Kwa Ame National Monuments and the introduction of the Ocean Climate Action Plan. The group highlights the benefits of these actions for public health, economic opportunity, and the protection of Indigenous sacred sites and biodiversity, particularly for Hispanic, Latino, and frontline communities in Texas and Nevada.

GreenLatinos supports the designation of the Castner Range and Avi Kwa Ame National Monuments and the Ocean Climate Action Plan, highlighting their roles in improving public health, protecting indigenous sacred sites, and creating economic opportunities for marginalized communities in the US.

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.

An analysis of 215 U.S. locations reveals that 84% have experienced a long-term decrease in winter chill since 1980. This trend threatens the $27 billion U.S. non-citrus fruit and nut industry, as many temperate trees require sustained cold temperatures to ensure proper flowering, pollination, and fruit yield. The study highlights significant chill decreases in key producing regions, particularly in California, Washington, and the Southeast, affecting high-value crops such as grapes, almonds, and strawberries.

A coalition of environmental justice organizations argues that the EPA's proposed regulations for the oil and gas sector must be strengthened to protect Black, Latine, tribal, and low-income communities. The commenters detail how these groups suffer disproportionate health risks from air and water pollution, economic burdens from orphaned wells and property devaluation, and heightened climate vulnerability. They recommend specific policy enhancements, including stricter leak detection and repair (LDAR) requirements, the elimination of routine flaring, and more robust community monitoring and well-closure mandates.

The report finds that U.S. solar and wind capacity grew to over 238 GW in 2022, generating 683,130 GWh of electricity. Texas and California emerged as the primary drivers of this growth, with Texas leading in wind capacity and generation, and California leading in solar generation. While historical growth rates might leave the U.S. short of 2030 benchmarks set by the Net-Zero America project, the report suggests that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides the necessary incentives to accelerate the transition toward the 2050 net-zero goal.

In 2022, private equity healthcare investments in the US remained high, with 125 buyouts and 503 add-on acquisitions. Outpatient care, medtech, and health IT were the most active categories. The report highlights risks associated with the private equity model, such as cost-cutting and high debt, which may negatively impact patient care and increase prices. It recommends expanding federal and state pre-merger reviews for all private equity-backed healthcare transactions.

The briefing highlights the significant energy consumption and emissions of Bitcoin, noting its annual consumption of 127 TWh and US emissions of 25 to 50 million tons of CO2. It discusses the transition of Ethereum to proof-of-stake as a successful model for reducing energy use by over 99.9 percent and advocates for Bitcoin to move away from proof-of-work to mitigate both emissions and e-waste. RMI details its contributions through the Crypto Climate Accord and the development of the RE Emissions Score to ensure renewable energy procurement is 'additional' rather than drawing from existing capacity. The document concludes that while RMI is ending its direct engagement with the crypto industry, it will focus on the broader goal of decarbonizing the global energy grid.

The report identifies 41 federal laws enacted since 2017 that support climate adaptation, noting a shift from disaster recovery toward pre-disaster mitigation. It highlights the role of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the National Defense Authorization Act in integrating resilience, while also noting the use of nature-based solutions through conservation laws. The author argues that despite these bipartisan advancements, the U.S. still lacks a cohesive, coordinated federal strategy to address the increasing frequency and cost of climate-related disasters.

The US power grid is described as highly fragmented, consisting of three isolated interconnections (Eastern, Western, and ERCOT) and 12 transmission planning regions, lacking a national-scale development plan unlike the EU or China. This fragmentation hinders the coordinated response needed for extreme weather events, such as Winter Storm Uri and Winter Storm Elliott. The author advocates for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to mandate both a minimum amount of inter-regional transfer capability based on a simple metric and a robust, scenario-based inter-regional planning process to ensure resource sharing and cost-effective resilience.

In 2022, the U.S. experienced 18 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters causing $165 billion in damages and 474 deaths, with Hurricane Ian being the costliest hurricane on record. The year was the 18th hottest on record for the U.S., with 73% of analyzed locations experiencing warmer-than-normal temperatures. These events are part of a longer warming trend, with 98% of analyzed U.S. locations showing increased average annual temperatures from 1970 to 2021. Meanwhile, U.S. fossil fuel emissions increased by 1.5% in 2022, though the Inflation Reduction Act is expected to help double annual wind and solar PV capacity additions by 2027 compared to 2021.

The report details how private equity firms are acquiring and managing rural hospitals and other health services, such as air ambulances and behavioral health centers. It argues that the pursuit of high short-term returns often leads to cost-cutting, asset-stripping through sale-leaseback transactions, and reduced access to essential services. The document provides case studies of hospital closures and quality failures, and it calls for increased regulatory oversight, limits on dividend recapitalizations, and direct public investment to safeguard rural health systems.

The report documents 203 incidents of anti-drag mobilization in the US, noting an increase in activity in early 2023 compared to late 2022. It identifies a diverse coalition of actors—including the Proud Boys, parents' rights groups, and anti-vaccine activists—who employ tactics such as doxxing, vandalism, and the 'groomer' narrative to intimidate performers and venues. The analysis highlights the real-world consequences of this hate, including the cancellation of events and the financial distress of small businesses.

Environmental organizations oppose the CP2 LNG Terminal in Louisiana, arguing that the application is incomplete and fails to account for severe impacts on wetlands, chenier plains, and local communities. They contend that the project would destroy critical storm protections, exacerbate climate change through greenhouse gas emissions, and pose significant risks of accidents and explosions. The commenters request that the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources deny the permit due to inadequate alternatives analysis and a failure to meet public trust duties under the state constitution.

The report argues that while the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) significantly advances U.S. climate goals, it is insufficient on its own to meet the 2030 NDC. Using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), the authors propose a comprehensive set of additional federal, state, and local policies across the electricity, industry, transportation, and building sectors. The electricity sector is identified as the primary driver for 2030 reductions due to its ability to decarbonize faster than sectors limited by slow stock turnover. Proposed measures include a nationwide 80 percent clean electricity standard, stricter tailpipe emissions standards, and the electrification of industrial and building heating. The report estimates that this combined policy pathway would create 2.7 million additional jobs, grow GDP by $700 billion, and avoid 3,900 premature deaths by 2030.

Private equity firms have significantly enabled the U.S. to become the world's largest LNG exporter, with investment in 86% of operating terminals. The report argues that these investments drive climate change via methane emissions and pose safety risks to frontline communities, citing the 2022 Freeport LNG explosion as an example of operational failure linked to worker fatigue and mismanagement.

Climate Central's analysis of 246 U.S. locations since 1970 reveals that winter is the fastest warming season for 74% of these sites, particularly in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions. While winter warming disrupts snowfall and water supplies, other regions experience faster warming in different seasons: western U.S. locations often see faster spring and fall warming, while parts of Washington, Oregon, Texas, and Florida experience the most rapid summer warming. These shifts contribute to increased wildfire risks, altered agricultural cycles, and higher energy demands for cooling.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with over 80 times the warming power of CO2 over 20 years, though it breaks down in about 12 years. Approximately 60% of methane emissions result from human activity, primarily agriculture (40%), the energy sector (35%), and waste management (20%). The five largest global emitters are China, the U.S., Russia, India, and Brazil. In the U.S., the energy sector's contribution is estimated by the IEA at 54%, significantly higher than the EPA's 38% due to underreported 'ultra-emitting events'. Reduction strategies include repairing leaks in oil and gas production, capturing biogas from waste and agriculture, and using alternative livestock feed. Measurement is shifting from 'bottom-up' inventories to 'top-down' remote sensing via satellites and aircraft to better identify point sources. The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26, aims for a 30% reduction in global methane emissions from 2020 levels by 2030, though several top emitters have not yet joined.

A 50-state survey by Global Energy Monitor reveals that major U.S. corporations in the tech, banking, and insurance sectors frequently employ lobbyists who also represent fossil fuel interests. This creates a paradox where companies with public net-zero pledges provide political cover and credibility to lobbyists promoting continued fossil fuel dependence. The report highlights specific companies—such as Amazon, State Farm, and Bank of America—and notes that weak state disclosure laws and the absence of a national database hinder accountability.