Search Climate Insights Directory

The report finds that while most US states meet the minimum legal requirements for Title V air permitting notices, there are substantial gaps in transparency, accessibility, and the actual influence of public input on final decisions. It highlights that many public notices are written at a college reading level and lack plain language, and that few agencies transparently report how public comments shape permit outcomes. The analysis suggests that states with specific environmental justice or cumulative impacts laws tend to have better engagement practices. It recommends that agencies adopt plain language, provide multilingual resources, and establish clear mechanisms for reporting how community input affects regulatory decisions.

GreenLatinos and a coalition of organizations have called on the American Trucking Associations (ATA) to select a new leader who embraces the transition to electric vehicles and cleaner technology. The group criticizes the ATA for lobbying against California's Advanced Clean Trucks framework and the EPA's 2027 heavy-duty NOx rule, arguing that these actions prolong driver exposure to carcinogenic diesel pollution and harm 'Diesel Death Zones'.

GreenLatinos opposes the EPA's repeal of carbon pollution standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, stating that the rollback prioritizes fossil fuel profits over the health of Latino and working-class communities. The organization notes that the repealed standards were projected to prevent 1,200 premature deaths and 360,000 asthma attacks in 2035. GreenLatinos highlights that Latino households face median energy costs 24% higher than white households and that 1.6 million Hispanics live within a half mile of oil and gas wells.

GreenLatinos highlights the health risks faced by truck drivers and nearby communities due to diesel exhaust, noting that Latinos make up nearly 25% of the workforce. The statement criticizes the EPA for rolling back truck pollution standards and calls on the American Trucking Association and vehicle manufacturers to prioritize zero-emission technology and driver well-being over lobbying against health standards.

The report examines 'the Alliance,' a coalition formed in April 2026 within the 'Com Network' that coordinates fragmented groups of nihilistic violence. The Alliance is characterized by an emphasis on offline violence, operational sophistication, and a shared goal of creating 'Chaos.' The author identifies several indicators of possible Russian state sponsorship, including financial incentives for violence, advanced technical infrastructure, and coordinated propaganda. While the broader Com remains an organic youth ecosystem, the Alliance represents a shift toward professionalized, potentially state-linked hybrid warfare using 'disposable agents' for arson and sabotage globally.

California state legislators are calling on their federal representatives to oppose 13 Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions aimed at overturning state emissions standards. The legislators argue that revoking the Advanced Clean Cars I (ACCI) and Small Off-Road Engines (SORE) programs would increase air pollution, jeopardize public health in frontline communities, and risk billions of dollars in federal highway funding by undermining California's ability to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). They highlight that the state's air quality is already critical, with six of the ten most ozone-polluted cities in the U.S. located in California.

The 2026 Private Equity Climate Risks Scorecard reveals that 20 private equity firms, managing $7.3 trillion in assets, back 244 energy companies operating over 1,050 fossil fuel assets. These portfolios generate approximately 1.5 gigatons of annual greenhouse gas emissions, a volume that exceeds the emissions of the international shipping and aviation industries and ranks fifth globally, behind China, the U.S., India, and Russia. The report highlights that these firms own 15,000 miles of pipelines and 124GW of capacity across 324 fossil fuel plants. Furthermore, an analysis of dedicated oil and gas private equity funds active since 2001 indicates poor financial performance, with inflation-adjusted returns being negative on average. The document concludes that most of the studied firms have made limited progress in aligning their portfolios with climate standards to mitigate climate and financial risks.

The authors contend that while generative AI is useful for staff work, its use in war colleges can lead to 'cognitive submission,' where officers outsource the intellectual struggle necessary to develop strategic judgment. They argue that PME is a 'boot camp for the brain' where the process of writing and debating is the primary mechanism for cognitive development. The document warns that AI can exacerbate military biases toward overconfidence and technology, potentially homogenizing thought and eroding critical thinking. To mitigate this, the authors propose 'governance by design,' using AI as a thought partner to surface counterarguments and test assumptions rather than as a tool to produce finished analysis or define problems.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) provides recommendations for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) $10.75 million funding opportunity for Innovative Research and Training for Subsurface Energy Production. CATF argues that to move beyond regions with shallow heat, funding must target the primary hurdles of drilling deeper than 7km and completing wells in temperatures exceeding 400°C. The document highlights the need for advanced digital twin capabilities and system-wide modeling to reduce development risk, noting that current data for extreme environments is insufficient. It emphasizes that public-private partnerships are essential to share the high cost and risk of exploratory drilling and to develop a skilled workforce. Specifically, CATF recommends that the DOE award projects focusing on either well field development at temperatures >400°C in shallow heat regions or drilling to 200°C at depths >7km.

The Canadian Climate Institute asserts that climate policy and economic growth are not mutually exclusive, arguing that Canada's long-term prosperity depends on a robust energy transition plan. The document highlights the global growth of clean energy technologies, noting that the US and China are leading in this sector. It advocates for investments in clean electricity networks, critical minerals, and a clean innovation strategy in the 2026 federal budget to prevent long-term GDP reduction caused by climate change.

The Canadian Climate Institute asserts that climate policy should not be viewed as a trade-off against economic growth, but as a necessity for it. The author argues that Canada must leverage its competitive advantages in critical minerals and clean electricity to capture a share of the global clean energy market, which reached nearly US$1.2 trillion in 2025. The document emphasizes that the costs of climate-related damage—including infrastructure repairs and health costs—are rising faster than the costs of solutions, and warns that climate change could reduce Canada's long-term annual economic growth rate by almost half. It calls for the 2026 federal budget to translate the proposed National Electricity Strategy into action and prioritize best-in-class clean technologies for all major infrastructure investments.

Based on a Fall 2025 survey of 1,146 U.S. adults, the report finds that YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram are the most commonly used social media platforms across all segments of the 'Six Americas' framework. While 23% of Americans hear about global warming on social media at least once a month, this is most frequent among the 'Alarmed' segment (43%). The authors suggest that climate communicators should strategically select platforms and prioritize video content to reach diverse audiences, while noting that platform algorithms may reinforce existing beliefs by exposing users to information aligned with their habits.

Based on a Fall 2025 survey of 1,146 U.S. adults, the report finds that 94% of Americans visit at least one social media platform weekly, with YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram being the most common across all climate-opinion segments. The 'Alarmed' segment hears about global warming on social media most frequently (43% at least once a month), while the 'Disengaged' hear about it least (8%). The authors suggest that climate communicators should prioritize video content and strategically select platforms to reach different segments, noting that algorithms likely reinforce existing beliefs by tailoring climate information to user habits.

The document criticizes Nippon Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs for investing in coal-fired infrastructure despite public commitments to green steel. It highlights a $350 million renovation of a blast furnace at Gary Works by Nippon Steel and the refurbishment of a 73-year-old furnace by Cleveland-Cliffs in Middletown, Ohio, despite the latter receiving a $500 million Inflation Reduction Act grant for decarbonization. The author suggests that automotive companies and international markets, particularly in Europe, should use their purchasing power to pressure steelmakers to transition away from coal.

Global Witness reports that Mondelez has shifted from supporting the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to actively lobbying for its weakening and delay. The company has engaged with US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder, joined the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, and targeted conservative MEPs and government officials in France, Germany, Ireland, and Luxembourg. This lobbying occurs despite Mondelez's lack of transparency regarding its deforestation-free cocoa supply and its links to forest destruction in West Africa.

The author critiques the field of climate communication for being dominated by Global North institutions and research, which often fails to account for the realities of the Global South, such as limited connectivity and the value of traditional ecological knowledge. The text advocates for a 'bottom-up' approach that treats communication as a right and supports local media ecosystems as essential 'climate stability infrastructure.' Examples of successful community-led communication are highlighted in Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil, alongside a call for the implementation of the Escazú Agreement and increased funding for local voices.

Mighty Earth reports that major US RV manufacturers (Winnebago, Thor, Forest River) source meranti plywood from Mayawana Persada in Borneo, Indonesia. This sourcing is linked to the destruction of 40,000 hectares of carbon-rich peatlands, which have become highly susceptible to wildfires during the 'Godzilla El Niño', resulting in orangutan deaths. The organization is campaigning for the industry to switch to FSC-certified wood or low-footprint composites.

The report finds that August 2026 saw widespread above-average temperatures across the U.S., with an average anomaly of 1.6°F across 192 cities. The Southwest was the hottest region, and 39 cities recorded one of their top-five hottest Augusts on record. Long-term trends show August warming since 1970 in 187 of the 192 analyzed locations, with Reno, Nevada, seeing the largest increase.

The report finds that 91% of energy-related federal actions are categorically excluded from higher-level NEPA reviews, with higher scrutiny typically reserved for larger-scale projects. It provides quantitative evidence that tiered reviews can reduce timelines compared to standard Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). The analysis identifies the Department of the Interior as the central hub for interagency coordination on decarbonization projects. Additionally, it notes a modest reduction in EIS page lengths following the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, while highlighting significant gaps in federal data management and metadata standardization.

The report identifies a 'planning gap' in deregulated U.S. power markets where short-term wholesale price signals and Clean Electricity Standards (CES) fail to incentivize long-lead time, capital-intensive technologies like nuclear, geothermal, and long-duration energy storage. To address this, the authors propose a 'hybrid market' approach called state-led planning, which consists of three core components: system needs assessments, technology development roadmaps, and state-led procurement. This framework allows states to provide the long-term revenue certainty required by investors while maintaining the operational efficiencies of competitive wholesale markets. The report highlights Illinois's Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act as a primary example of this approach in practice and discusses the role of FERC Order 1920 in improving regional transmission planning.