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Climate Central analyzed temperature data from 244 U.S. cities to determine the increase in days falling within the 61-93°F range suitable for disease transmission by Aedes and Culex mosquitoes. The analysis found that 94% of these cities are experiencing an increase in these 'disease danger days' since 1970, with significant increases noted in California, the Southwest, and some northern cities. While most areas face higher risks, some locations like Phoenix may become too hot for mosquito survival. The report also highlights that warmer temperatures shorten the Extrinsic Incubation Period (EIP) of viruses, potentially increasing the number of infectious mosquitoes and expanding the range of species like Aedes albopictus.

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 report identifies USD264bn in outstanding bonds from 1,436 climate-aligned US municipal 'pure-play' issuers, suggesting a significant opportunity to scale the green bond market through refinancing. While issuance grew to USD12bn in 2017, it declined in H1 2018 due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts of 2017, which reduced refunding bond volume. The water sector represents the largest potential, accounting for 64% (USD170bn) of the identified climate-aligned universe, followed by transport at 30% (USD78.5bn). The report highlights that waste, energy, and land use sectors are currently underrepresented in the green bond market despite having substantial climate-aligned activity.

The report warns that sea level rise puts hundreds of thousands of US coastal properties at risk of chronic inundation, potentially leading to a collapse in real estate values and a significant erosion of local tax bases. Using a high sea level rise scenario, the analysis projects that by 2100, nearly 2.5 million properties valued at $1.07 trillion today will be at risk. The authors argue that current financial markets and government policies mask these risks, creating a 'narrowing window of opportunity' for communities to adapt. The report highlights particular vulnerabilities for low-income populations, the elderly, and specific states like Florida and New Jersey, while advocating for updated flood maps, transparent risk disclosure, and a shift away from subsidized insurance and disaster aid that encourages rebuilding in high-risk areas.

The report 'A Crack in the Shell' by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) uses internal documents to demonstrate that Royal Dutch Shell had early and urgent notice of climate risks associated with fossil fuels. It highlights a dichotomy between Shell's internal scientific understanding—which acknowledged the link between CO2 and global warming as early as the 1950s and 60s—and its public efforts to sow doubt through industry groups like the Global Climate Coalition and the American Petroleum Institute. The document further argues that Shell continues this pattern by promoting the 'Sky Scenario' to appear aligned with the Paris Agreement while continuing to invest in fossil fuel expansion, including in the Arctic.

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 document argues that demand flexibility—shifting electricity use to match renewable supply—can increase renewable energy revenues, reduce curtailment, and lower carbon emissions more cost-effectively than investing in new gas-fired generation.

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, supported by Earthjustice, has petitioned a federal court to compel the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to oversee a wetland permit for the Back Forty Mine. The proposed 80-acre, 750-foot-deep mine by Aquila Resources, Inc. is located 50 yards from the Menominee River and is opposed by the tribe and numerous local governments due to risks to public health, water quality, and sacred cultural sites.

The document evaluates the proposed Northwest Innovation Works methanol facility at the Port of Kalama, arguing that its greenhouse gas emissions are significantly underestimated and that it is unlikely to reduce global emissions. It proposes a 'climate test' for new industry to ensure projects do not lock in high-carbon technologies or become stranded assets in a transition to a low-carbon economy.

The document details how JLL Partners took ACE Cash Express private in 2006 and the subsequent legal and regulatory challenges faced by the lender. ACE Cash Express, which operates over 1,000 locations in 23 states, has been cited for charging interest rates up to 661% APR and using coercive tactics to trap borrowers in debt cycles. The report highlights multiple settlements, including a $10 million payment to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2014 and various penalties from state regulators in California and Washington.

Lone Star Funds acquired DFC Global Corp in 2014, a company operating as a payday lender, pawnshop operator, and check-cashing provider. DFC has faced significant regulatory actions, including a CFPB order to refund $3.3 million to US military servicemembers due to deceptive auto loan practices and a UK Financial Conduct Authority order to refund £15.4 million to customers for unaffordable lending and poor debt collection. The company charges extremely high Annual Percentage Rates (APRs), ranging from 214% in California to 33,465% in Poland, and has actively lobbied against interest rate caps in Hawaii.

The Gateway Pacific coal terminal, which would have been the largest in North America exporting 48 million tons of coal annually to Asia, was stopped after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied federal permits. This decision was the first of its kind to protect the treaty rights of a tribal nation, specifically the Lummi Nation, whose fisheries and ancestral lands were threatened. The effort involved a coalition including Friends of the Earth and Power Past Coal, who submitted over 124,000 public comments. The document further highlights the ongoing threat from the proposed Millennium Bulk Terminals project in Longview, Washington.

The document outlines the technical goals of COP23, focusing on the 'Rule Book' for the Paris Agreement, climate finance for developing countries, and the role of non-state actors. It analyzes how the US withdrawal has paradoxically strengthened international coalitions and spurred sub-national action within the US, while emphasizing Fiji's leadership in advocating for loss and damage and ocean governance.

This guide explains the role of electric utilities and Public Utilities Commissions in US energy policy, while detailing specific mechanisms like distributed generation, community solar, net metering, and decoupling that facilitate the transition to renewable energy.

The briefing presents a business case for applying R-PACE financing to new residential construction to achieve net-zero energy (NZE) goals. It identifies key market barriers—such as high up-front costs and split incentives between builders and buyers—and proposes a policy framework to integrate R-PACE into new builds. RMI's analysis across six U.S. states suggests that NZE homes can be delivered with no additional up-front cost to the buyer, providing annual energy savings that exceed the PACE assessment payments.

The document argues that federal light-duty vehicle standards set by the EPA and NHTSA provide significant financial and environmental benefits to Washington state, including millions in fuel savings and job creation, while reducing global warming emissions.

The report identifies a significant price gap between sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and conventional jet fuel as the primary barrier to adoption. It proposes that U.S. airports, specifically the Port of Seattle at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, can overcome this by funding 'co-benefits'—such as air quality improvements and greenhouse gas reductions—rather than the fuel commodity itself. The authors evaluate 14 funding mechanisms and recommend a portfolio including corporate support, port taxing authority, general non-aeronautical revenue, and airline agreements to meet an estimated $6 million annual cost for a 1% SAF blend. Additionally, the report explores infrastructure financing, noting that long-term co-benefit procurement contracts can de-risk private investment in regional SAF production.

The document asserts that the Paris Agreement is a universal and flexible framework essential for stabilizing global temperature increases below 2°C. It characterizes the U.S. decision to withdraw as an "historical mistake" that could increase future global temperature rises by up to 0.3°C and isolate the U.S. internationally. However, the authors note that a "domino effect" of other nations withdrawing has not occurred, as key players like China, the European Union, and India remain committed. The text highlights that the transition to clean energy is driven by economic opportunity, noting support from major U.S. companies, the divestment from coal by Blackrock, and the competitiveness of renewables, exemplified by subsidy-free auctions in Spain. Internal U.S. opposition is also noted, specifically from the governors of California, New York, and Washington.

The authors assert that the Paris Agreement's universal and flexible design allows it to persist despite the United States' withdrawal. While the US exit is described as a historical mistake that could increase global temperatures by up to 0.3°C, the authors note that key players like China, the EU, and India remain committed. They highlight that the transition to clean energy is driven by economic opportunities, with major US companies and financial institutions like Blackrock divesting from fossil fuels and supporting the agreement for the sake of stability. Additionally, internal US opposition from governors in California, New York, and Washington suggests a continued domestic effort to reduce emissions.

The authors describe the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement as a historical, economic, and geopolitical error that could slow global progress but may also act as a catalyst for other nations and US subnational entities to maintain climate commitments.