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The Union of Concerned Scientists investigated 15 federal agencies, finding significant inconsistency in how scientific results are communicated. While agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey and Nuclear Regulatory Commission demonstrate a culture of openness, others such as the EPA and OSHA are characterized by message control, lack of central policy, or restrictive pre-approval requirements. The report argues that federal agencies should adopt policies that protect the right of scientists to express personal views with a disclaimer and allow them to review and approve documents based on their research.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis indicates that motor coaches and trains are generally the lowest-emission travel options, while first-class flights and large SUVs produce the highest carbon footprints. The guide emphasizes that the greenest choice depends on the number of travelers and the distance of the trip; for example, while solo travelers are encouraged to avoid cars, cars become a low-carbon option for larger groups. To further reduce emissions, the document recommends nonstop flights, fuel-efficient rental cars, and avoiding peak traffic periods.

The Vacation Traveler Carbon Guide ranks transportation options by carbon emissions for solo travelers, pairs, and families of four across distances of 100, 500, and 1,000+ miles. Motor coaches are consistently ranked as the best option across all categories, while first-class flights and SUVs generally represent the worst options, depending on the distance and group size.

The report argues that while nuclear power produces few global warming emissions, its expansion poses significant risks of radioactive releases from accidents or terrorism and increases the likelihood of nuclear proliferation. It finds that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) suffers from a poor safety culture and inadequate enforcement of standards. The authors recommend reinstating a ban on reprocessing, internationalizing uranium enrichment, and requiring new reactors to be significantly safer than current designs. Specifically, it identifies the Evolutionary Power Reactor (EPR) as the only new design with potential for significant safety and security improvements, while criticizing the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) for increasing proliferation risks without providing waste disposal benefits.

The briefing examines the European Union's Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS), the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), and the Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord. It argues that for cap-and-trade to be effective, the emissions cap must be sufficiently tight and the distribution of allowances should favor auctioning over free allocation to avoid windfall profits for firms.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that while biofuels can reduce transportation emissions, their actual impact varies widely based on feedstock and production methods. The report advocates for 'well-to-wheel' life cycle analysis to prevent the adoption of high-carbon alternatives like liquid coal and to promote advanced cellulosic biofuels. It specifically highlights California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard as a model for federal policy to create market incentives for the lowest-carbon fuels while maintaining environmental safeguards.

The document explains how nuclear power plants use water to absorb waste heat and cool equipment, detailing once-through and closed-cycle cooling systems. It highlights the significant volumes of water required, the environmental impact on aquatic life, and the critical role of the Ultimate Heat Sink (UHS) during accidents. The author argues that the primary safety hazard is not radioactive leakage, but rather the failure of water to reach the plant or leaking into the plant.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis indicates that a 15 percent by 2020 national renewable electricity standard would reduce consumer energy costs, increase renewable energy capacity, and lower power plant CO2 emissions in the United States.

The report argues that to avoid dangerous climate change, the U.S. must reduce emissions by at least 80% below 2000 levels by 2050. This target is derived from a global stabilization goal of 450 ppm CO2eq, which provides a medium chance of limiting global warming to 2°C. The authors calculate a U.S. cumulative emissions budget of 160 to 265 GtCO2eq for 2000–2050 and warn that delaying reductions until 2020 would double the required annual reduction rate from 4% to 8%. An assessment of then-current federal bills found that only the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (S. 309) and the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590) were consistent with the upper limit of the proposed U.S. emissions budget.

The document outlines a framework for constituents to conduct productive meetings with legislators, emphasizing preparation, clear messaging, and the importance of local connections. It advises on everything from dress codes in Washington, D.C. to the utility of meeting with legislative aides when members are unavailable.

The document describes hydrokinetic energy as a clean alternative to fossil fuels and traditional dams, utilizing the kinetic energy of moving water. It details various conversion technologies, including wave energy converters and rotating devices, while assessing the resource potential of US coastal and river systems. The text highlights the predictability of water-based power and the potential to avoid millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2025. However, it identifies significant barriers to commercialization, specifically citing a restrictive regulatory environment and the need for increased federal funding and streamlined permitting processes.

The report details how the U.S. Northeast is warming, with winter temperatures rising faster than summer ones, leading to reduced snowpack, rising sea levels, and shifting species habitats. It compares a higher-emissions scenario with a lower-emissions scenario, finding that while some warming is inevitable, aggressive emissions reductions can significantly mitigate severe risks to the region's economy, ecosystems, and public health.

The Union of Concerned Scientists' 2007 report ranks eight major automakers on their environmental impact, focusing on smog and global warming pollutants. Honda is named the 'Greenest Automaker' for the fourth consecutive time, though Toyota has closed the gap significantly due to hybrid technology and consistent performance across all vehicle classes. The report highlights a stark contrast between the top performers and the 'Big Three' (Ford, GM, and DaimlerChrysler), with DaimlerChrysler ranking as the dirtiest. Key findings indicate that while smog emissions have improved due to tighter regulations, progress on global warming emissions has been minimal since 1998. The analysis also critiques the use of flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) as a regulatory loophole that increases overall emissions and notes that diesel vehicles reduce global warming pollution but significantly increase smog.

The Union of Concerned Scientists' 2007 rankings identify Honda as the 'Greenest Automaker' and DaimlerChrysler as the most polluting based on 2005 emissions data. The analysis evaluates eight companies representing 96 percent of the U.S. vehicle market, using a 50/50 weighting of smog-forming pollutants (NOx and NMOG) and global warming pollutants (CO2-equivalent). While Honda and Toyota lead in consistency across vehicle classes, the report notes that conventional technologies could reduce global warming emissions by 40 percent, and hybrids could offer further reductions.

The document explains how wind energy integrates into the New England electricity grid to displace polluting fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, oil, and coal. It highlights the importance of siting turbines in high-wind areas to maximize pollution reduction and discusses policy mechanisms like cap-and-trade and renewable portfolio standards to accelerate the transition to clean energy.

The document advocates for wind power as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear energy, particularly in New England. It details the severe environmental and health costs of conventional energy—including CO2 emissions, air pollution, water consumption, and land degradation—while positioning wind energy as a low-impact solution with minimal land footprints and no operational emissions.

The document identifies wind power as the most cost-effective near-term option for increasing renewable electricity in New England, noting that the region's onshore wind resources have the technical potential to supply approximately 60 percent of its current electricity use. It frames this within the broader need to transform the energy system to limit global warming, noting that the Northeast United States emits more CO2 than all but six countries globally. While other solutions like energy efficiency and carbon capture are discussed, wind is presented as more viable than solar, bioenergy, or geothermal power in the region due to cost and resource availability. The document states that if all currently proposed wind projects in New England were completed, they would generate over 5,700 gigawatt-hours of CO2-free electricity annually, representing about seven percent of the electricity used in the proposing states.

The document outlines the advantages of wind energy for New England, focusing on reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, stabilizing energy costs, and generating local economic growth through taxes, lease payments, and jobs. It highlights specific projects in Massachusetts and Vermont to demonstrate positive community impact and environmental gains.

The document outlines the potential for wind energy in New England, emphasizing that the region has "excellent wind resources, particularly on mountain ridges and along the coast." It details the criteria for optimal siting—primarily wind speed, topography, and proximity to transmission lines—and highlights economic benefits such as tax revenues for towns and lease payments for landowners. The text addresses environmental concerns, noting that modern turbines cause significantly fewer bird fatalities than other human structures and that wind power does not reduce property values. It also discusses human impacts, including visual aesthetics, noise, and aviation lighting, while noting that 81 percent of surveyed Vermont residents find turbines "beautiful or acceptable."

The document outlines the environmental and economic benefits of wind energy in New England, noting that over 60 percent of the region's electricity was generated from fossil fuels in 2005. It explains how wind power integrates into the grid via ISO New England to displace more expensive and polluting plants, particularly oil-fired plants during winter peaks. The text highlights that 18 proposed wind projects with a total capacity of 1,890 MW could avoid millions of tons of pollution annually, including over 3 million tons of CO2. It also discusses the importance of siting for efficiency and the role of policy mechanisms like cap-and-trade and renewable portfolio standards in accelerating the transition.