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The document details the selection process and scoring criteria used to evaluate 30 companies' palm oil commitments. Companies were selected from the Forbes Global 2000 (2013) and QSR Magazine’s Global 30 (2012) lists. Scoring was based on public data available as of January 16, 2014, and evaluated across five categories: deforestation-free commitments, peat-free commitments, traceability, transparency, and early action. Each category is worth 20 points, with specific rubrics for awarding points based on the strength and specificity of company commitments and reporting.

The document details the scoring for a palm oil scorecard across three sectors: packaged foods, personal care, and fast food. Companies are evaluated on five criteria: deforestation-free commitments, peat-free commitments, traceability, transparency (including annual reporting and time-bound goals), and early action based on current sourcing. Nestlé (85.5) and Unilever (83.5) achieved the highest scores among packaged foods, while L'Oréal (80) led the personal care sector. In contrast, several companies, including Kraft, Estée Lauder, Clorox, and multiple fast food chains like Burger King and Wendy's, received scores of 0 due to a lack of documented commitments.

The report concludes that current U.S. corn and soybean production systems cannot prevent the contamination of food and feed supplies by pharmaceutical and industrial crops without substantial modification. It identifies seed mixing and pollen flow as the primary contamination routes and argues that a "virtually zero contamination" standard is necessary. While theoretically possible through geographic isolation or strict biological and management controls, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) recommends an immediate halt to outdoor production of these crops in favor of non-food/feed crops, indoor cultivation, or fermentation systems.

The U.S. electricity system relies heavily on freshwater, with cooling power plants accounting for 41 percent of all freshwater withdrawals. This dependence creates a 'collision' where energy production competes with municipal, agricultural, and ecosystem needs, a situation exacerbated by global warming. The report details regional risks—such as hydropower instability in the Northwest and cooling water shortages in the Southeast—and highlights low-water alternatives like wind, solar photovoltaic, and dry-cooling systems.

The report argues that large-scale institutional food procurement can drive systemic change in the US food system by leveraging collective buying power to demand sustainable, healthy, and fair food production. It highlights the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP), which uses five value categories—local economies, environmental sustainability, nutrition, valued workforce, and animal welfare—to guide procurement. A case study of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) demonstrates that adopting these standards can lead to significant local economic gains, reduced carbon and water footprints, improved student health outcomes, and industry-wide shifts, such as the increased production of antibiotic-free chicken in the US.

The toolkit outlines strategies for institutions to shift toward sustainable and equitable food procurement, using the Good Food Purchasing Program as a model. It emphasizes the importance of diverse coalitions, the use of food hubs to connect small farms with large purchasers, and the potential for cost-neutral implementation through operational changes. The document provides detailed frameworks for collecting baseline and annual data from vendors and institutions to measure impacts on local economies, sustainable farming practices, and nutritional quality.

The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies a range of 153 to 353 coal-fired generating units in the U.S. that are economically uncompetitive and should be retired. These units, totaling up to 59 GW of capacity, are typically older, underutilized, and lack modern pollution controls. The report argues that retiring these units, alongside 288 already scheduled for closure, would not jeopardize grid reliability and could reduce annual CO2 emissions by 245 to 410 million tons if replaced by natural gas, renewables, or energy efficiency.

The document argues that the Sentinel ICBM program is prohibitively expensive, increases the risk of nuclear war due to high-alert postures, and is unnecessary given the existing submarine-launched ballistic missile capability.

The report provides a state-by-state breakdown of progress toward 2020 Clean Power Plan benchmarks, noting that some states have exceeded 500% of their goals while others show 0% progress. It highlights the role of energy efficiency, renewable energy standards, and regional initiatives in achieving these targets.

The document details five modeling scenarios for US decarbonization, comparing a business-as-usual reference case against pathways aiming for net zero emissions by 2050. It provides quantitative data on emissions, energy supply, and technology deployment, specifically highlighting the roles of electrification, renewable energy, and carbon capture.

The report assesses fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) as a path toward a clean-vehicle future in the US, focusing on hydrogen and methanol as primary fuels. It analyzes the environmental benefits, such as the potential for 'zero-emission vehicles' (ZEVs) when using renewable hydrogen, and compares FCV performance and safety to gasoline vehicles. The document also addresses the infrastructure challenges of hydrogen distribution and the economic value of reducing urban air pollution in cities like Los Angeles and New York City.

The survey results indicate that while a majority of federal scientists feel their direct supervisors support scientifically defensible positions, there are significant concerns regarding staff capacity, political influence, and the representation of marginalized groups in leadership.

The document consists of qualitative feedback from 502 FDA scientists across various centers. The responses overwhelmingly highlight systemic issues including political interference from the executive and legislative branches, the perceived conflict of interest created by industry user fees (PDUFA/MDUFMA), chronic underfunding, and a management culture that prioritizes political agendas and industry interests over scientific evidence and public health.

The Union of Concerned Scientists evaluated 40 companies in the packaged food, personal care, fast food, and store brands sectors based on their commitments to deforestation-free and peat-free palm oil, traceability, transparency, and current sourcing. Scoring was based on public documents available as of January 16, 2015, and included a weighted analysis of current sourcing. Results showed significant variance, with Nestle scoring the highest (90.5) and several companies, including Clorox and various store brands, scoring zero.

A coalition of climate, conservation, and fiscal responsibility organizations argues that IRA conservation funds should be protected from diversion to commodity and crop insurance programs. The letter asserts that conservation investments provide a positive return for taxpayers, reduce crop insurance costs by mitigating extreme weather impacts, and that diverting these funds would reduce opportunities for farmers across all U.S. states.

The UCS Town Hall Toolkit is a guide for advocates to hold Members of Congress accountable through public engagement. It outlines strategies for finding and attending town halls, provides a framework for preparing and delivering questions, and offers specific sample questions focused on opposing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), protecting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and defending various tax credits and grants within the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The document identifies key drivers of tropical deforestation, noting that cattle and soy are primary drivers in Latin America, while palm oil and timber dominate in Southeast Asia. It highlights a shift in demand from rural to urban and export markets, driven by urbanization and global dietary trends toward meat. While Brazil has seen success in reducing deforestation through industry moratoria and REDD+ programs, the report warns that biofuel production could create new pressures on forests. Overall, tropical deforestation emissions have decreased by a third or more compared to the late twentieth century.

Alaska has warmed at more than twice the rate of the rest of the United States over the last 50 years, leading to significant permafrost thaw, coastal erosion, and disruptions to marine and terrestrial ecosystems. These changes threaten public infrastructure, commercial fisheries, and the survival of ice-dependent species like polar bears.

The Great Plains region has experienced increasing average temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns, with winter temperatures in northern states rising by more than 6°F over the last 30 years. Climate change is projected to exacerbate the depletion of the High Plains (Ogallala) aquifer, particularly in the southern region where unsustainable water use and extreme heat are already prevalent. Agriculture and livestock are highly vulnerable; rising temperatures are expected to shift crop zones, increase pest prevalence, and reduce livestock yields, with a projected 10% decline in cow/calf and dairy operations under higher emissions scenarios. Ecosystems, specifically prairie potholes and playa lakes, face threats from altered evaporation and recharge rates, which impacts migratory birds and aquifer replenishment. The document also highlights the vulnerability of 65 Native American tribes on rural lands facing water quantity and quality issues.

The document details how a warming climate will increase the frequency and severity of heat waves and heavy precipitation in the Midwest, leading to higher mortality, infrastructure damage, and agricultural losses. It highlights specific risks to the Great Lakes shipping industry due to falling water levels and the threat to public health from water-borne diseases and combined sewer overflows in cities like Chicago and Milwaukee.