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The report finds that electric vehicle (EV) drivers in all U.S. states can expect cost savings per trip and annually compared to gas vehicle drivers. The highest savings occur in Washington State due to high gasoline prices and low residential electricity rates, while the lowest savings are found in Hawaii due to higher electricity costs. The analysis focuses on three vehicle classes—sedans, SUVs, and trucks—using 2023 base models and a mix of home and public charging data.

The document highlights the growing threat of extreme heat in Canada, noting its severe health impacts and economic costs. It advocates for a combination of mechanical cooling, urban greening, updated labor standards, and improved early warning systems to mitigate these risks.

The document highlights the dangers of extreme heat in Canada, noting that 619 people died during the 2021 B.C. heat wave, with 93% lacking functional home cooling. It advocates for a combination of mechanical cooling (heat pumps, air conditioners) and urban greening, noting that in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, these could reduce heat-related hospitalization costs by 30% by mid-century. The text also recommends implementing occupational heat standards, earlier public heat warnings, and flexible workplace schedules to protect workers and maintain productivity, citing that schedule adaptations in B.C. could save $4 million annually in GDP losses by the 2030s.

The briefing examines the debate over New York's transition to a 20-year global warming potential (GWP20) timeframe and the inclusion of upstream and biogenic emissions. It argues that this accounting method increases the avoided temperature rise by 66% compared to old methods and could avoid up to $240 billion in damages. The author contends that changing the accounting timeframe does not increase physical emissions and that affordability can be maintained through strategic policy design and federal funding.

The Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation aims to reduce light-duty vehicle emissions in California by 50% by 2040, mandating that 100% of new vehicle sales be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) by 2035. The regulation applies to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) selling more than 4,500 light- and medium-duty vehicles annually, utilizing a 'vehicle value' accounting system to track compliance. OEMs can accrue value through ZEV and PHEV sales, environmental justice credits, and flexibility measures such as trading, banking, and pooling values.

The document argues that current US federal standards for landfill methane are insufficient and proposes a two-pronged approach: enhancing the monitoring and capture of methane from waste already in place and reducing the disposal of organic materials. It highlights that landfill methane emissions may be underestimated by a factor of two and that 54% of reporting landfills have adjacent communities exceeding national averages for low-income or people of color populations. Proposed solutions include the use of satellites, drones, and continuous sensors for leak detection, the adoption of biocovers, and the diversion of food waste to composting or anaerobic digestion. The authors call on the EPA to implement more ambitious federal standards under the Clean Air Act during its 2024 review.

The June 2021 heatwave in British Columbia was the deadliest disaster in the province's history, resulting in 619 heat-related deaths. The report estimates the economic value of these lost lives at 5.5 billion CAD using the value of a statistical life. Key vulnerabilities identified include a lack of mechanical cooling in residential and public buildings, inadequate urban canopy, and institutional failures in emergency coordination and early warning systems. Economic impacts extended to agriculture, where producers lost at least 25 million CAD in revenue, and the labor market, with significant productivity losses. Future projections suggest that without adaptation, heat-related hospitalizations could reach 6,000 per year by 2030, and annual heat-related deaths could average 1,370 by 2030. The report recommends prioritizing mechanical cooling, urban greening, updating building codes, and improving the precision and lead time of weather warnings to three days.

The June 2021 heat wave in British Columbia was the deadliest disaster in the province's history, resulting in 619 direct heat-related deaths. The report estimates the societal cost of these lives lost at $5.5 billion using the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL) metric. Beyond mortality, the event caused $12 million in healthcare costs, significant agricultural revenue losses (at least $25 million), and disruptions to electricity and transportation infrastructure. Vulnerabilities were exacerbated by a lack of mechanical cooling in homes, inadequate urban greening, and institutional failures in disaster response and communication. The report argues that without adaptation, heat-related hospitalizations could double by 2030 and annual deaths could average 1,370 by 2030. Key recommendations include updating building codes for mechanical cooling, increasing urban forest canopies, improving weather warning lead times to three days, and implementing independent public reviews of disaster responses.

The Stockholm Environment Institute argues that full linkage between Washington's carbon market and the California-Quebec (WCI) market currently poses risks to Washington's environmental goals due to misaligned time horizons and differing levels of ambition. Specifically, the authors highlight a large bank of unused allowances in California that could reduce in-state emission reductions and auction revenues in Washington. They recommend that full linkage be contingent on California extending its program beyond 2030 and tightening its 2030 cap. As an interim measure, the authors propose 'restricted linkage'—such as a limit on the import of WCI allowances (e.g., 2-3% of compliance obligations)—to provide cost containment while maintaining environmental integrity and revenue streams for overburdened communities.

The South Tacoma Warehouse Project involves a proposed warehouse complex on a 147-acre site containing wetlands and a Superfund site. Earthjustice highlights that the project would increase diesel truck traffic and greenhouse gas emissions in an area already overburdened by pollution and home to a disproportionate number of residents of color. Despite community opposition, the City of Tacoma approved a land use permit in April 2023 without requiring an Environmental Impact Statement under the State Environmental Policy Act.

Colorado faces a housing shortage requiring approximately 325,000 units to stabilize prices, which currently drives suburban sprawl and increases greenhouse gas emissions. The document proposes transit-oriented development (TOD) and 'missing middle housing' as solutions to reduce vehicle miles traveled and land consumption. Specifically, RMI estimates that upzoning and infilling along transit corridors in the Denver metro could reduce per-capita vehicle miles traveled by 13% and greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 2040.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds that 48% of the rise in fire-danger conditions in western North America since 1901 and 37% of the cumulative burned forest area since 1986 are attributable to emissions from the 88 largest fossil fuel companies and cement manufacturers. In Washington state, nearly 8,000 wildfires burned over 2.5 million acres between 2017 and 2022. The document argues for holding these companies accountable and urges state governments to implement resilience-building policies, including reducing human-ignited fires, improving forest health, and protecting vulnerable communities.

The document asserts that nuclear energy is essential for a decarbonized global energy system to provide 'clean firm' power, reducing reliance on over-built variable renewables and expensive long-duration storage. It identifies a 'profoundly dysfunctional' current delivery model characterized by high costs and delays, exemplified by the Vogtle 3 and 4 projects in Georgia. To achieve a target build rate of hundreds of Gigawatts per year, the author proposes transitioning from bespoke construction projects to standardized, commoditized 'products' with capital costs below $4,000/kw and delivery times of 3-5 years. Key recommendations for U.S. policy include reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to adopt performance-based licensing, establishing a 'sandbox' for testing new designs, creating an International Bank for Nuclear Infrastructure, and ensuring the domestic availability of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU).

The report finds that if all 177 States adopting California's standards implement the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule, U.S. emissions could be reduced by 1,310 million metric tons of CO2e by 2050. This adoption would lead to three-quarters of U.S. cars being electric vehicles (EVs) by 2050, creating nearly 300,000 jobs and saving households an average of $238 annually. The analysis emphasizes that while the IRA provides near-term incentives, the ACC II mandate is necessary for long-term electrification goals. Case studies for Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York highlight significant state-level benefits, including substantial reductions in asthma attacks and premature deaths, particularly in communities of color.

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.

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 document presents data from a 2019 nationwide survey and several state-level polls showing that a majority of US voters believe oil and gas companies should pay for climate change damages. It highlights that support for suing these companies and requiring them to cover costs often increases after respondents are informed about the industry's history of deception.

The Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative (CBRI), proposed by the 'Six Sovereigns' (four Tribal Nations and the states of Oregon and Washington), outlines a long-term strategy to restore native fish populations to 'healthy and abundant levels'. The centerpiece of the proposal is the breaching of four Lower Snake River (LSR) dams, which the document asserts is the only reasonable way to ensure the recovery of Snake River stocks. To make this viable, the CBRI calls for federal investment to secure 'continuity of services'—replacing the dams' energy, transportation, irrigation, and recreation benefits—prior to breaching. The plan also includes reintroducing fish into blocked areas of the Upper Columbia, improving water quality and quantity, and implementing predator control. It emphasizes a 'whole of government' approach to funding, including the use of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Northwest Power Act, while upholding federal Treaty and trust responsibilities to Tribal Nations.

The report identifies 1,135 private equity-backed healthcare deals in 2023, noting a decline from 2021 peaks due to high interest rates and labor shortages. While outpatient care, dental care, and medtech were the most active subsectors, the report warns that the private equity model of short-term profit and high debt leads to cost-cutting and bankruptcies, as seen with Envision Healthcare and GenesisCare. It recommends expanding federal and state pre-merger reviews to protect healthcare quality and access.

In 2023, private equity dealmaking in US healthcare continued a two-year decline from its 2021 peak, driven by high interest rates and labor shortages. Despite this, the Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) identified 1,135 unique deals, with add-on acquisitions comprising 64% of activity. Outpatient care, dental care, health IT, and medtech were the most active subsectors. The report highlights that high debt loads associated with private equity ownership led to several major bankruptcies in 2023, including Envision Healthcare and GenesisCare. PESP argues that the pursuit of short-term returns often results in cost-cutting that harms care quality and recommends expanding federal and state pre-merger review processes to include all private equity-backed healthcare transactions.