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The report evaluates the environmental performance of the 'Big Six' automakers—Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, General Motors, and DaimlerChrysler—using government data on smog-forming pollutants and greenhouse gases. Honda is ranked as the cleanest, while DaimlerChrysler is the dirtiest. The analysis highlights a significant pollution gap between cars and trucks, noting that trucks are permitted to emit more pollutants under current regulations. While smog-forming emissions decreased across the industry due to the National Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program, global warming gas emissions increased, driven by a shift toward larger, less efficient vehicles. The report argues that voluntary corporate commitments, such as Ford's effort to reduce truck emissions, can improve rankings, but emphasizes that government regulation is necessary for industry-wide progress.

The document outlines actionable steps for town planners, building inspectors, developers, real estate brokers, contractors, builders, architects, and suppliers to integrate energy-efficient practices and renewable energy technologies into the built environment.

The Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA) of 1935 prevents utility holding companies from using profits from regulated activities to subsidize unregulated businesses. The Union of Concerned Scientists warns that repealing PUHCA could lead to market consolidation, increased rates, and the suppression of renewable energy in favor of fossil fuels.

The document analyzes the target suite for the IFT-8 missile defense test, arguing that the addition of small balloon decoys does not significantly increase the difficulty of the discrimination task. The authors contend that the kill vehicle's infrared sensors can easily distinguish these decoys from the mock warhead because their infrared signals differ substantially in brightness. Furthermore, the paper criticizes the discrimination methodology for relying on 'reference data'—detailed prior knowledge of target characteristics—which the authors describe as an unrealistic operational assumption.

In July 2002, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) edited an op-ed by EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman to exaggerate the negative economic impacts of the Kyoto Protocol. Despite objections from EPA Associate Administrator Tom Gibson, who noted that the claim of 5 million job losses was based on an unrealistic implementation scenario and represented the high end of a range, the CEQ insisted on the figure to remain compelling and consistent with presidential rhetoric. Although Whitman initially removed the statistic, the CEQ overruled her, and the final piece published in Time Magazine claimed that the protocol "would put millions of Americans out of work."

The report evaluates the emissions of US school bus fleets, finding that the vast majority rely on high-polluting diesel engines that pose significant health risks to children. It advocates for a transition to cleaner alternatives, specifically natural gas, and calls for federal and state funding to replace aging fleets.

The Union of Concerned Scientists asserts that the United States can meet 20% of its electricity needs via renewables by 2020, saving consumers $440 billion and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by two-thirds compared to business-as-usual forecasts. The report suggests this approach would avoid the need for 975 new power plants and significantly decrease reliance on coal and natural gas.

The Clean Energy Blueprint proposes a comprehensive set of policies to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy in the US. By 2020, the plan aims to have non-hydro renewables provide 20% of electricity, reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by two-thirds compared to business-as-usual, and save consumers $440 billion. The report argues that these measures would eliminate the need for 975 new power plants and significantly reduce reliance on coal and natural gas.

The report analyzes the vulnerability of the Gulf Coast's diverse ecosystems—from upland forests to coral reefs—to rising temperatures and sea levels. It highlights that while climate change poses significant threats to water resources, biodiversity, and public health, current human activities like shoreline development and water engineering remain the primary drivers of ecological change. The authors advocate for a three-pronged strategy of mitigation, minimization of human impacts, and adaptive management to safeguard the region's economic and natural heritage.

The report argues that the US can significantly reduce its oil consumption and environmental footprint by aggressively raising Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. It proposes a path to 40 mpg by 2012 and 55 mpg by 2020 using evolutionary conventional technologies and hybrid electric vehicles. The analysis suggests these improvements would save consumers billions of dollars, create over 100,000 automobile industry jobs by 2020, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 888 million tons by 2020. Furthermore, the report contends that these fuel savings would far exceed the potential oil supply from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and that safety can be maintained or improved through better design and the reduction of weight disparity between light trucks and passenger cars.

The document details how political appointees in the early 2000s allegedly pressured MSHA investigators to prematurely end an investigation into a 300-million-gallon toxic sludge spill in Kentucky, resulting in fewer citations and lower fines for the Martin County Coal Corporation. It highlights the testimony of whistleblower Jack Spadaro, who claimed retaliation for exposing this interference. Additionally, the text describes a broader policy shift under the Bush administration to restrict the public release of mine inspection reports, which critics argue undermined accountability and contributed to a spike in mining deaths in 2005 and 2006.

The report argues that while diesel trucks and buses are essential for commerce, they are disproportionate sources of smog, soot, and greenhouse gases. It evaluates a transition from conventional diesel to a 'green truck path' involving advanced exhaust controls, natural gas, hybrids, and fuel cells. The authors model a 2030 scenario where aggressive policies could reduce pollutant emissions by over 90% and global warming pollutants by 26%, while maintaining current oil consumption levels despite doubling truck travel.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) asserts that US nuclear plant risk assessments are merely probability assessments that ignore catastrophic consequences and rely on unrealistic assumptions. The report details how the lack of minimum standards leads to inconsistent results between identical plants and argues that the NRC is using these flawed calculations to justify cutting safety inspections and tests to reduce costs for plant owners.

The report concludes that the planned US National Missile Defense (NMD) system is technically unworkable because any state capable of deploying long-range ballistic missiles could also deploy simple countermeasures to defeat it. The authors identify three primary countermeasures: submunitions for biological or chemical weapons, anti-simulation balloon decoys for nuclear warheads, and cooled shrouds for nuclear warheads. They argue that the NMD system's reliance on hit-to-kill interceptors and infrared sensors makes it vulnerable to these tactics. Furthermore, the report asserts that deploying NMD would destabilize international security by prompting Russia and China to increase their nuclear arsenals or adopt riskier launch-on-warning postures, while potentially driving emerging missile states toward alternative delivery methods like cruise missiles or clandestine smuggling. The authors recommend postponing deployment until the system is successfully tested against realistic countermeasures and suggest focusing on deterrence, diplomacy, and export controls instead.

The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies seven policy tools—Renewables Portfolio Standards, public benefits funding, net metering, fair transmission/distribution rules, fair pollution rules, consumer information, and green customer demand—to transition the US to renewable energy. It argues that deregulation risks favoring fossil fuels unless these mechanisms internalize the public benefits of renewables and remove market barriers.

The report advocates for a "whole buildings" approach, treating buildings as integrated systems rather than collections of components. It highlights the significant energy and environmental impact of the US buildings sector and argues that federal R&D is currently too fragmented and underfunded to realize the potential benefits of systems integration. The author proposes five policy criteria: establishing the whole building framework as a cornerstone of policy, funding collaborative R&D, supporting verification efforts, embracing education, and stimulating market demand.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) monitored 10 US nuclear power plants and found a "serious breakdown in quality assurance," noting that internal auditors failed to identify any of the 200+ reported incidents. The study found that 44 percent of problems were caused by poor procedures and 35 percent by worker mistakes. While some plants like Surry and Oyster Creek demonstrated proactive safety cultures, others like LaSalle and Sequoyah showed systemic failures, including ignored warnings and repetitive errors. UCS recommends better training for auditors and workers, revised procedures, and stronger NRC enforcement.

The report challenges claims by the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) that modern cars are 90-96% cleaner than 1960s precontrol cars. It finds that real-world emissions are significantly higher than regulatory standards due to equipment malfunction and 'off-cycle' driving. Furthermore, a 2.7-fold increase in total vehicle miles traveled and a shift toward light trucks—which have less stringent standards—have offset per-vehicle gains. Consequently, while hydrocarbons decreased, nitrogen oxide emissions for the total passenger fleet actually increased by over 20% between 1965 and 1995. The author concludes that passenger vehicles remain a primary source of carbon monoxide and smog-forming pollutants, necessitating a shift toward intrinsically-clean vehicle technologies.

The World Scientists' Call for Action, signed by 1,586 scientists including 110 Nobel laureates, demands that the 1997 Kyoto Climate Summit result in a strong treaty with legally binding emission reductions for industrial nations. The signatories warn that human-induced global warming threatens sea levels, human health, and food security, while exacerbating existing environmental crises such as deforestation and species loss. They emphasize that the developing world is particularly vulnerable and call for a transition to renewable energy and a new commitment to global environmental stewardship.

The document warns that human beings and the natural world are on a 'collision course' due to the degradation of the atmosphere, water, oceans, soil, and forests. It argues that the earth's finite capacity to provide food and energy is being overwhelmed by unrestrained population growth and overconsumption by developed nations. To avert catastrophe, the authors advocate for a transition from fossil fuels to inexhaustible energy sources, the stabilization of the human population through voluntary family planning, the elimination of poverty, and the diversion of war funding—estimated at over $1 trillion annually—toward environmental stewardship.