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RMI and OTS R&D conducted laboratory tests on residential split systems and packaged rooftop units to determine if reclaimed R-410A refrigerant, processed to AHRI 700 standards, performs differently than virgin refrigerant. The results showed no statistically significant differences in heating capacity, cooling capacity, or energy efficiency across all tested operating conditions. The report argues that scaling refrigerant recovery and reclamation is essential to bridge the structural gap between declining HFC production under the AIM Act and the ongoing servicing demand for existing equipment, particularly for R-410A, which served approximately 85% of US residential and 92% of light commercial cooling systems in 2022.

The document describes El Niño as a natural climate phenomenon characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. It argues that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme El Niño events, particularly Central-Pacific (CP) events, and complicating their prediction. For 2026, there is a 61% chance of an El Niño emerging between May and July, with some models suggesting it could be the strongest in 140 years. The briefing details global teleconnections, noting that El Niño typically causes droughts in southern Africa, Australia, and India, while increasing flood risks in East Africa and the Americas. These shifts significantly impact global agriculture, reducing yields for maize, rice, and wheat while often increasing soybean yields. Regional analysis highlights specific risks, such as increased cholera in East Africa, hydropower reductions at Kariba Dam in Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the Amazon becoming a net carbon source during Eastern-Pacific (EP) events.

The Council on Strategic Risks describes a workshop in California that explored how extreme weather events, such as wildfires and droughts, can be leveraged by opportunistic actors to spread mis- and disinformation. The report identifies key uncertainties regarding generative AI, institutional capacity, and public trust, and presents three divergent future scenarios for the state: a 'muddling through' crisis, a geopolitical collapse triggered by conflict in the Pacific, and a positive social transformation in water management. It concludes that information manipulation is a persistent risk to disaster response and national security, necessitating cross-sector partnerships for resilience.

Friends of the Earth International issues a statement condemning U.S.-led imperialism, specifically citing military actions in Palestine, Iran, Venezuela, and Lebanon, and the blockade of Cuba. The organization argues that imperialist strategies to control global resources and the economy result in severe human rights violations, environmental degradation, and the prolongation of fossil fuel reliance, thereby exacerbating the permanent climate crisis.

Amigos de la Tierra Internacional denounces US-led imperialism, specifically citing military actions in Iran, Venezuela, Lebanon, and Palestine, and the blockade of Cuba. The organization argues that imperialist aggression secures corporate control over resources and critical minerals, prolongs fossil fuel reliance, and diverts trillions in public funds from basic services to war. It calls for the dismantling of imperialist and corporate power, the redirection of military spending toward global recovery, and the adherence to international law to ensure environmental and social justice.

Friends of the Earth International denounces US-led imperialism and the actions of the US and Israel, asserting that military aggression and economic warfare—including sanctions and blockades—cause severe humanitarian crises and environmental degradation. The organization argues that imperialist control over resources, including oil and critical minerals, prolongs the fossil fuel era and threatens the climate. It calls for an end to these aggressions, the redirection of war funding toward global repair, and the dismantling of corporate power and far-right influence to achieve environmental and social justice.

The statement contends that the global fossil fuel system is inherently violent and volatile, citing 2026 conflicts in the Middle East and Venezuela as evidence. It advocates for the Santa Marta conference as a mechanism to move beyond the industry-influenced COP process to implement concrete actions, such as 'polluters pay' taxes on fossil fuel profits and grant-based climate finance for the Global South. The author asserts that the economic cost of fossil fuel price spikes outweighs the cost of transitioning to net zero, noting that 91% of new renewables projects are now cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives.

Earthjustice criticizes a proposed EPA rule that would dismantle protections established by the 2015 and 2024 coal ash regulations. The organization asserts that the proposal would allow coal power companies to avoid cleaning up contaminated groundwater, exempt hundreds of legacy dump sites from regulation, and permit the use of toxic ash as structural fill in residential areas. According to the text, industry data shows coal ash is already contaminating water above federal safe drinking water standards at 91 percent of U.S. coal plants.

The document argues that while the second Trump administration has targeted wind, solar, and electric vehicles, bipartisan support for clean firm energy—including nuclear, geothermal, and carbon capture—remains durable through existing statutory foundations and congressional appropriations.

The report examines the shift in U.S. energy policy from 2020 to 2026, highlighting a conflict between the second Trump administration's efforts to roll back clean energy initiatives and a persistent bipartisan congressional consensus on 'clean firm' energy. While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) significantly curtailed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits and rescinded grant funding, key credits for nuclear, geothermal, and carbon capture remained. The administration has aggressively targeted wind, solar, and electric vehicles through deregulation and the cancellation of billions in obligated funding, while the federal workforce has seen a significant loss of STEM expertise. However, the report notes that annual appropriations processes have partially mitigated the administration's requested spending cuts, and billions in prior clean energy outlays remain in place.

The document analyzes a global trend of decreasing climate coverage in news media, particularly in the US, while identifying specific reasons for this decline and offering a prescription for revitalizing climate journalism to reflect the high level of public concern.

Fossil fuel subsidies, which exceeded USD 1.2 trillion in public financial support in 2024, distort energy markets and lock countries into fossil fuel dependence. These subsidies take the form of consumer price supports, producer incentives, and general services. While subsidies declined to USD 921 billion in 2024 from a 2022 peak of USD 1.76 trillion, geopolitical tensions in 2026 are risking a new increase in support measures to shield consumers from price shocks.

The document examines the rapid growth of private equity-backed autism therapy services, specifically Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and its impact on Medicaid budgets. It highlights a pattern of widespread improper payments and billing issues identified in state audits, while noting that rising demand for services coincides with projected federal Medicaid funding cuts.

The policy brief outlines seven critical functions that U.S. states perform to advance clean energy and climate goals, emphasizing that state-level action is resilient to federal political swings and provides scalable models for emissions reductions and economic development.

The document outlines the environmental and social risks of fracking, highlighting its high water consumption and methane emissions. It specifically discusses Mexico's shift toward exploiting unconventional gas reserves under President Claudia Sheinbaum to reduce dependence on US gas, while noting the technique's controversy in Argentina and other Latin American nations.

The briefing examines the impact of energy supply disruptions stemming from the US-Iran war, noting that the current crisis is larger than the 1970s oil embargo. It argues that while governments are using short-term fixes like strategic reserves and subsidies, the long-term solution lies in electrification, demand-side efficiency, and the scaling of 'green molecules' like hydrogen and ammonia. The text highlights specific vulnerabilities in Southeast Asia and the US, and suggests that mitigating methane leakage and flaring could recover energy volumes equivalent to approximately half of worldwide LNG trade.

The document examines how climate change and human activity are increasing the vulnerability of both fire-adapted and non-adapted forests. It highlights the severe carbon emissions and ecological losses from recent record-breaking fires in 2023 and 2024, particularly in Canada and South America. The text details the drivers of vulnerability—including forest fragmentation and drought—and proposes resilience strategies such as securing Indigenous land rights, implementing fire breaks, and expanding restoration financing.

The Genesis Mission, supported by a $293 million initial funding opportunity, aims to use AI and supercomputing via a National Discovery Platform to accelerate breakthroughs in fusion, fission, and geothermal energy. However, the author contends that AI models will be limited by data gaps regarding novel physical phenomena, such as high-energy neutron bombardment on structural materials. To resolve this, the document calls for Congress to fund the construction of small- to medium-scale test stands, a Fusion Prototypic Neutron Source, and an Integrated Blanket and Fuel Cycle Test Stand, as well as the Fusion BRIDGE program for co-investment with private and philanthropic stakeholders.

The Gulf Coast is a primary hub for U.S. hydrogen due to its concentration of petroleum refining and chemical production. With Texas and Louisiana leading in refining and ammonia capacities, the region is well-positioned to transition to clean hydrogen to meet domestic needs and international demand from markets like Japan, South Korea, and the European Union.

The report analyzes the 'twin fossil shocks' of the 2020s—the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the 2026 shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz—comparing them to the 1970s oil crises. It contends that unlike the 1970s, today's energy transition is driven by 'electrotech' (solar, wind, batteries, and EVs) that is cheaper, faster to deploy, and more secure than fossil fuels. The authors suggest these shocks will accelerate the absolute peak of fossil fuel demand, particularly by pushing LNG out of power generation and oil out of road transport, especially in Asia. The document concludes with policy recommendations to prioritize electrification and remove fossil fuel subsidies to end fuel dependency.