Search Climate Insights Directory

The document argues that while battery-powered electric buses (BEBs) have higher initial purchase costs than diesel buses, they offer superior long-term economics through lower operating and maintenance costs. It highlights the significant health benefits of removing diesel carcinogens from urban areas and school routes. While China dominates global deployment, U.S. cities and states are increasingly adopting BEBs through local pledges and federal grants, despite some reported performance issues with specific manufacturers.

A joint statement from various organizations advocating for the use of domestic biomass—including forest residues, agricultural waste, and animal manures—to reduce wildfire risk, sequester carbon in building materials, and provide renewable energy for rural communities in the United States.

The document highlights the environmental benefits of mass timber over steel and concrete, specifically noting significant reductions in CO2 emissions per square foot of floor assembly. It showcases various projects in Washington and Oregon, including residential, office, and school buildings, while calling for new building codes and national action to support the adoption of mass timber and sustainable forest practices like restorative thinning.

The Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), administered by the USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), provides approximately $100 million in zero-interest loan capital to rural electric cooperatives and utilities. These funds are intended to launch or expand energy efficiency financing programs, allowing members to implement cost-effective energy measures or switch to renewable energy systems. EESI offers guidance to utilities through a four-step application process, which includes submitting a Letter of Intent and a full application, with a deadline of September 2019.

The document examines the transition from diesel to battery-powered electric buses (BEBs), highlighting that while upfront costs remain higher, BEBs offer lower operating and maintenance costs, higher fuel economy, and zero tailpipe emissions. It details the current global deployment—dominated by China—and the growing adoption in U.S. cities like Los Angeles and New York. The text also discusses the health risks of diesel exhaust, particularly for children, and outlines available federal and state funding mechanisms, such as FTA grants and Volkswagen settlement funds, to support the transition.

The statement by EESI Board Chair Jared Blum asserts that Senator John McCain's early efforts to sponsor bipartisan legislation and lead Senate hearings on global warming created a benchmark for prescience and gave credibility to the business case for renewable energy and energy efficiency. This leadership influenced petroleum-based industries, energy efficiency sectors, and Republican-led states to consider CO2 reduction. The document further links McCain's concerns to the current recognition of climate change as a direct threat to U.S. national security, as codified in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.

The document analyzes how climate change increases the frequency and intensity of 'billion-dollar' disasters, straining national budgets and widening the 'protection gap'—the difference between total economic losses and insured losses. It details the transition from traditional actuarial science to forward-looking 'cat models' and geospatial modeling to price risk. To address 'tail risks' and the lack of insurability in vulnerable regions, the text highlights alternative mechanisms: catastrophe bonds for capital market risk transfer, microinsurance (parametric insurance) for low-income populations, and sovereign risk pools for multi-country coverage. It also notes the codification of insurance in international frameworks like the Paris Agreement's 'Loss and Damage' pillar and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The document analyzes the role of insurance in mitigating the fiscal shocks of climate change, highlighting the growing 'protection gap' where economic losses far exceed insured amounts. It details the shift from historical actuarial data to forward-looking 'catastrophe models' and explores innovative tools such as catastrophe bonds, microinsurance, and sovereign risk pools. The text also discusses the integration of insurance into international climate governance frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The document examines the global landscape of high-speed rail (HSR), highlighting the extensive networks in China, Japan, and Europe compared to the limited development in the United States. It defines HSR as new lines exceeding 250 km/h (160 mph) and existing lines exceeding 200 km/h (120 mph). The text details China's rapid expansion, which is expected to reach 38,000 km by 2025, and Japan's long-standing safety record with the Shinkansen. In the U.S., only California is currently building a full HSR system, with the first phase expected by 2029. The report argues that HSR is more energy-efficient than cars and planes, offering a path to lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced oil demand.

The document argues that the U.S. is unprepared for an accelerating wave of nuclear plant shutdowns. It highlights critical risks including deteriorating spent fuel pools, inadequate dry cask storage, and the potential for long-term environmental contamination. The briefing emphasizes the lack of state and local oversight, the insufficiency of decommissioning funds—estimated by some to be $40 billion short—and the dangers of transporting radioactive waste to consolidated interim storage (CIS) sites. It uses case studies from Zion, Illinois; Rowe, Massachusetts; and San Clemente, California, to illustrate the devastating economic impacts and public health risks associated with decommissioning failures.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute criticizes a June 30, 2018, EPA report for omitting a comparative analysis between biofuels and petroleum. The statement asserts that biofuels generally offer better environmental and health outcomes than fossil fuels and highlights the role of cellulosic fuels in reducing methane emissions and waste. It further argues that biofuels are essential for meeting Paris Climate Accord goals, particularly in hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation and shipping.

A coalition of 19 organizations advocates for the adoption of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) and the PREPARE Act in the U.S. Senate's FAA Reauthorization legislation. The letter argues that shifting federal resources toward pre-disaster mitigation and updating building codes will reduce fatalities and long-term federal spending. It specifically promotes the use of green infrastructure, nature-based defenses, and distributed energy resources to protect critical infrastructure from extreme weather events.

The document examines the global landscape of high-speed rail (HSR), highlighting the leadership of China, Japan, and Europe in deployment. It contrasts this with the United States, where HSR is largely absent due to factors like low population density, car culture, and property rights. The text argues that HSR offers significant energy and environmental advantages over air and car travel, while noting that China's rapid expansion is driven by government funding and strategic goals for economic integration and energy independence.

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 USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) opened a one-year application window on August 6, 2018, offering approximately $100 million in zero-interest loan capital via the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP). These loans allow rural cooperatives to implement energy efficiency measures or transition to renewable energy systems for their members without upfront costs, with the installation costs paid back through monthly electricity bills. Eligible projects include lighting, building envelope upgrades, water and waste efficiency, energy storage devices, and on- and off-grid renewable energy systems, provided the utility can justify the cost-effectiveness for the end-user. The application process involves submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the RUS, which are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the window remaining open through September 2019.

The document analyzes climate change as a 'threat multiplier' that exacerbates global instability and poses direct risks to U.S. military infrastructure and operations. It details how the Department of Defense (DOD) and other agencies like the DHS and CIA integrate climate risk into planning, focusing on issues such as mass migration, water scarcity, and the opening of the Arctic. The brief also outlines specific energy and resilience initiatives across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, while noting the tension between military adaptation needs and Congressional fiscal priorities.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) views climate change as a "threat multiplier" that amplifies existing global instabilities such as poverty and political tension. The document outlines critical risks including mass population displacement, water scarcity leading to potential "weaponization of water," and shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Arctic due to sea ice loss. Domestically, climate change threatens the readiness of DOD's vast real estate portfolio, valued at approximately $850 billion. The briefing details adaptation and mitigation efforts across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, while noting the inconsistent nature of Congressional support for climate-security policies.

The briefing discusses the challenge of meeting 2025 fuel efficiency standards due to low gas prices and the popularity of SUVs and trucks. It proposes the adoption of high-octane, low-carbon fuels, such as E25, as a cost-effective compliance method that supports the increasing production of direct-injection, turbocharged engines while reducing greenhouse gas and toxic emissions.

This briefing by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute argues that the United States must proactively plan for climate-induced migration to avoid regional instability and humanitarian crises. It highlights the lack of legal protections for environmental migrants and the specific risks of agricultural decline in Mexico and Central and South America, while noting the potential strain on U.S. military resources tasked with humanitarian aid.

The United States produces over 70 million tons of organic waste annually, yet utilizes less than 20 percent of its biogas potential. By employing anaerobic digestion to process livestock manure, food waste, and crop residues, the U.S. could add 13,500 new biogas systems, creating over 350,000 total jobs and significantly reducing methane emissions. Biogas can be used for on-site heat and power or refined into renewable natural gas (RNG) for pipelines and vehicles, with the potential to replace 10 percent of U.S. natural gas. Key policy drivers include the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and various USDA and DOE funding programs, though some face appropriation reductions.