The fossil fuel industry knew about the effects of CO2 on the planet as early as 1977 when their scientists sounded the alarm, 11 years before it became public. This hasn’t prevented oil companies from increasing production and profiting heavily from the world’s reliance on and addiction to oil, nor has governments globally subsidized the...
In order to understand the role indigenous nations have in addressing climate change in the United States, one must first understand the history of the removal and subjugation that all nations have faced at the hands of the government and the implementation of genocide over the course of the last several hundred years. In the...
The United States agriculture sector is composed of nearly 2.1 million predominantly privately owned farms. Agriculture production occurs in all 50 states across the nation, while crop production is largely concentrated in California and the Midwest, with livestock production scattered throughout the country. In 2021, agriculture, food, and related industries contributed to 5.4% of the...
Looking Back 2022: The Passing of the Inflation Reduction Act Looking Forward 2023: Passing the New Farm BillThe passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022 was a welcome step in combating climate change in the United States. This bipartisan supported legislation, signed into law on August 16th, has given some hope that the...
Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional CommissionOrganizations (RSOs) With the rise of renewable energy and the need to reduce emissions, concerns have been raised regarding the aging and underfunded US energy grid to meet current and future demands. So, what does the current energy grid look like, and how can it be adapted to meet...
In the first six months of 2022, 24% of U.S. utility-scale electricity generation came from renewable sources, based on data from our Electric Power Monthly. The renewables’ share increased from 21% for the same time period last year. Renewables are the fastest-growing electricity generation source in the United States.In 2020, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions totaled 5,981...
The United States is commonly regarded as a car-centric country, with cars being a dominant American mode of transport. U.S. infrastructure and road rules tend to privilege cars over other road users such as cyclists and pedestrians. Cars have been a major component of American culture, particularly since the 1950s. Since 2009, the United States is home to the second largest passenger vehicle market of any country...
Loss and damage are generally discussed in the international climate area in terms of developing county impacts. However, the impacts of loss and damage applied to developed countries, like the United States, also have staggering financial and non-economic implications. This discussion will explore what loss and damage has already occurred in the United States and...
In 2021, climate action made major strides in the United States as President Biden released executive orders, Congress passed a major infrastructure law, and federal agencies strengthened climate-related regulations. However, 2022, by contrast, has brought significant setbacks for climate action. Likely the most important comes in a Supreme Court decision announced on June 30th, which...
Little change in preponderance of fossil fuel usage as compared to renewables between 2020 and first few months of 2021; for the first two months of 2022, energy consumption released 953 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, up 40 million metric tons from the same period in 2021 (a 4.38% increase); emissions from wildfires so...
