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Despite Pandemic, Many Europeans Still See Climate Change as Greatest Threat to Their Countries
From the Document: "In a year when the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has dominated news headlines around the world, it is perhaps unsurprising to discover that majorities in 14 countries surveyed this past summer see the spread of infectious disease as a major threat to their countries. But across the European countries included in the study, climate change remains the topmost perceived threat, even as people there also express grave concern about the risks posed by infectious disease."
Pew Research Center
Poushter, Jacob; Huang, Christine
2020-09-09
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Preparing for the Health Impacts of Climate Change in the Southwest
From the Document: "This fact sheet was prepared by the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] Climate and Health Program, which empowers communities to protect public health from a changing climate. Information on the health impacts of climate change is provided by the Fourth National Climate Assessment."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-09-02
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Disasters, Finances, Nutrients, and Climate Change: A Case for Waterless Sanitation Systems
From the Thesis Abstract: "The practice of sewering (transporting with underground pipes) human excreta began in the mid-1800s and propelled the United States into the current wastewater paradigm. Water is the key element of wastewater conveyance, treatment, and disposal/reuse systems. Although this process has arguably improved quality of life, extending it to manage human excreta with water is becoming problematic due to water's increasing scarcity, mounting costs, contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and deleterious environmental effects. This thesis sought to answer the following central research question: To what extent would an alternative means of managing human excreta benefit homeland security? Through appreciative inquiry and structured interviews with human subjects, research revealed that a method known as container-based sanitation has applications in multiple contexts. Container-based sanitation is rapidly deployable, scalable, and can be used in any situation in which traditional wastewater systems are nonoperable or nonexistent, such as disaster recovery, homelessness, and temporary encampments such as refugee camps or military bases."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Smith, Ryan A.
2020-09
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Perfect Storm: Climate-Induced Migration to the United States
From the Thesis Abstract: "From the Mariel boatlift in the 1980s to the recent mass migration of familial units from the Northern Triangle in 2019, the United States has consistently been unprepared to handle mass migration events. With the world approximately 1.0°C warmer than pre-industrial levels, climatic-driven migration events will now challenge the U.S. borders. This thesis explores how the United States might prepare to handle cross-border climate change-induced migration from a homeland security perspective. Using the research methodology of scenario planning, this study assesses the many ways the future might unfold by focusing on intersecting global megatrends and an array of global warming projections in the year 2050. As a result, this thesis finds that regardless of how the world chooses to combat global warming in the coming decades, migration will continue. If the United States is to prepare for such a future, regional agreements and national legislation will be necessary. In turn, if leveraged correctly, climate migrants can help the United States compete with future emerging economies. This thesis ultimately concludes that a proactive approach to cross-border climate change-induced migration might not only benefit climate migrants but also the future resiliency of United States well into the mid-century."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Wright, Katelin M.
2020-09
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Power, Profits and the Pandemic: From Corporate Extraction for the Few to an Economy That Works for All
From the Summary: "There are three main ways in which companies have exacerbated the economic impacts of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]: 1. Excessive shareholder payouts before the crisis have left companies, workers and governments vulnerable to the pandemic shock. The world's largest corporations could have had a lot of cash on-hand when COVID-19 hit to shield workers, adjust business models and prevent costly public bail-outs. [...] Yet, the profits they made prior to the current crisis almost went exclusively to a small group of predominantly wealthy shareholders rather than being reinvested in better jobs or climate-friendly technologies. [...] 2. Corporations make money but do little to support government resources to respond to the pandemic[.] [...] As many of the world's billionaires are also some of the largest shareholders in these companies, the 25 wealthiest billionaires increased their wealth by a staggering $255bn between mid-March and late-May alone. Some would argue that corporates have made up for this with their tax payments and the generosity of their philanthropy, but the evidence does not support this. [...] 3. Companies putting profits before people has worsened the COVID-19 crisis [...] Unless we change course, economic inequality will increase [...] This is the time for governments to create incentives and limitations to radically rein in corporate power, restructure business models with purpose, and reward all those who create value. This could create a post-COVID economy for everyone that will be better placed to withstand future shocks[.] [...] This paper proposes such a blueprint."
Oxfam International
Gneiting, Uwe; Lusiani, Nicholas; Tamir, Irit
2020-09
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H. Rept. 116-481: Safeguarding America's Future and Environment Act, Report Together with Dissenting Views, to Accompany H.R. 2748, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, September 1, 2020
From the Purpose of the Bill: "The purpose of H.R. 2748 is to establish an integrated national approach to respond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving the fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States, and to maximize government efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation with state, local, and tribal governments and other entities, and for other purposes."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-09-01
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Climate-Related Extreme Weather Events and COVID-19: A First Look at the Number of People Affected by Intersecting Disasters
From the Summary: "The ongoing COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic is an unprecedented humanitarian crisis which intersects with the global climate emergency. Climate change has not stopped in the midst of the pandemic's global spread. In fact, COVID-19 is directly affecting and increasing the needs of persons affected by climate-related disasters. People in the path of extreme weather events are currently faced with overlapping disasters with compounding effects. [...] This paper aims to provide a preliminary analysis of the number of people jointly affected by COVID-19 and climate-related disasters - demonstrating the multi-layered nature of these crises and highlighting the compounded vulnerability faced by communities."
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre; Global Heat Health Information Network
Walton, Dan; Aalst, Maarten K. van
2020-09
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Another Possible Cost of COVID-19: Returning Workers May Lead to Deforestation in Nepal
From the Document: "In rural Nepal, 10 years of conflict between government forces and Maoist fighters, followed by a series of devastating earthquakes, forced many young people to migrate to urban areas or overseas in search of employment. Farm sizes remained the same, but with remittance income coming in from migrants plus a sharp reduction in available labor at home, many farmers left some of their land uncultivated. This expansion of uncultivated land brought an important environmental benefit. After years of forest loss, surveys conducted from 1992 to 2016 found that tree cover--on both state forest land (often managed as community forests) and on private agricultural land--increased by almost 20 percent. At a time when forests are shrinking in many parts of the world due to a combination of logging, land clearing, and climate change, the 20-year trend of increasing tree cover in Nepal stands out as a model for other developing countries. Today, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has forced many Nepali migrants to return home. With more available labor and less remittance income, will farmers in Nepal now remove trees on their land to expand cultivation?"
East-West Center
Fox, Jefferson, 1951-; Yokying, Phanwin; Paudel, Naya S. . . .
2020-08-28
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Case for Climate Action: Building a Clean Economy for the American People
From the Introduction: "The climate crisis threatens our lives and livelihoods. The evidence is clear: we must flatten the warming curve, and fast. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the U.S. National Climate Assessment, and other reports give us the scientific imperative for action. It is scary stuff. But too much of the climate movement of the past was about what climate change is doing to us, and not about what climate action will do for us. Taking action does not require austerity and scarcity. Done well, it will result in more wealth, more fairness, better jobs, and more security for every American. We already have the technologies needed to avert catastrophe. We just need the American optimism and the political will to deploy them on an unprecedented scale. To ignite this transition, we need Congress to act. This report provides a framework for Congress to finally do what is necessary to build the clean energy future we all deserve."
United States. Congress. Senate. Special Committee on the Climate Crisis
2020-08-25
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Can This Time Be Different? Challenges and Opportunities for Asia-Pacific Economies in the Aftermath of COVID-19
From the Summary: "'Asia and the Pacific is facing its worst economic contraction at least since the 1970s due to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The consequent economic weakness is likely to set back the region's socioeconomic progress and is predicted to push a significant number of people into unemployment and poverty while increasing inequality. Although slowdown in economic activities has provided some breathing space to the environment, such a benefit could turn out to be temporary. The region faces a difficult path to recovery, due to deepened existing vulnerabilities that include weak economic conditions and other exogenous shocks. These challenging times call for unprecedented relief and stimulus policies and offer an opportunity for countries to align their socio-economic policies with the 2030 Agenda to ensure a more inclusive, greener and more resilient future. Such policies include increasing investments in Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening governance to improve investment efficiency. Climate resilience should be built into investment projects. Regulatory changes could catalyze such efforts to 'build forward better'. Partnership with local, national and international stakeholders is critical for Governments to support this development transition.'"
United Nations. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Saxena, Sweta Chaman; Huang, Zhenqian
2020-08-10?
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Climate Case for a National Investment Authority
From the Introduction: "The economic devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic creates a crucial opening for a speedy and deliberate move to a massive infrastructure-led rebuilding and 'greening' of the U.S. economy. In the wake of the worst health crisis in over a century, potentially followed by the worst economic depression in nearly as long a time, the political mood in the U.S. is increasingly open to big and bold solutions. As polls show, demand for comprehensive strategic solutions is especially strong in the context of addressing global climate change."
Data for Progress
Omarova, Saule T.
2020-08
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Army Climate Resilience Handbook
From the Executive Summary: "The effects of a changing climate are currently and will continue to be a national security issue, impacting Department of Army installations, operational plans, and overall missions. Army recently released a memo directing installations to plan for energy and climate resilience efforts by identifying the installation's vulnerability to climate-related risks and threats. This memo is consistent with Department of Defense guidance per 10 USC § 2864 (Master plans for major military installations, April 2020). To address these risks and threats, the Army Climate Resilience Handbook (ACRH) takes Army planners through the process to systematically assess climate exposure impact risk and incorporate this knowledge and data into existing installation planning processes such as master plans. [...] This handbook is divided into two main sections--an ACRH overview and an in-depth explanation of the four-step ACRH process. The report utilizes a simulated Army base as an example to give a cohesive understanding of the outputs from each step. Appendices provide resilience measures, additional climate change and ACAT [Army Climate Assessment Tool] information, a short user's guide for the ACAT, and a glossary of terms."
United States. Army. Corps of Engineers
2020-08
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Nile Dam Dispute: Issues for Congress [July 27, 2020]
From the Overview: "A long-running dispute between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan over the waters of the Nile flared in 2020, as Ethiopia moves toward completion of Africa's largest hydroelectric power project, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The domestic stakes are high for both Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who seeks to guide Ethiopia through a fragile political transition, and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al Sisi, who seeks to preserve Egypt's share of the Nile amidst population growth, pollution, and rising sea levels. Efforts to resolve the conflict, including by the United States, have yet to result in a final agreement. Alongside the potential for the dispute to escalate, failure to reach an accord could set a negative precedent for transboundary water cooperation at a time of growing global concern over climate change, demographic growth, and resource scarcity."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell
2020-07-27
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Climate Change Adaptation: U.S. Department of Agriculture [July 17, 2020]
From the Introduction and Background: "Congress has debated the significance of global climate change and what federal policies, if any, should be adopted to address risks and effects associated with climate change. Federal policies may focus on climate change 'mitigation'--to prevent or slow the progress of climate change--or 'adaptation'--to avoid the consequences or capture the benefits of climate change (see text box). Policies focused on adaptation can reduce risks associated with climate change at federal agencies (including risks to infrastructure, operations, and mission delivery), including at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Such policies may affect costs to the department or the sectors it serves. Given that agriculture and forestry are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, adaptation policies are particularly important for these sectors."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Schnepf, Randall Dean, 1954-; Stubbs, Megan . . .
2020-07-17
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COVID-19 and CO2
From the Document: "One potential side effect from the rapid decline of global economic activity since the worldwide pandemic is a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Historically, CO2 [carbon dioxide] emissions rise and fall in tandem with economic activity in the short run. Since the industries most affected by the downturn also produce the most CO2, emissions could drop more than output this time around. However, without substantial and sustained changes in energy sources and efficiency, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere--the relevant factor causing climate change--will continue on its upward trajectory."
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Hale, Galina; Leduc, Sylvain, 1969-
2020-07-06
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Brazil: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated July 6, 2020]
From the Introduction: "As the fifth-largest country and the ninth-largest economy in the world, Brazil plays an important role in global governance [...]. Over the past 20 years, Brazil has forged coalitions with other large, developing countries to push for changes to multilateral institutions and to ensure that global agreements on issues ranging from trade to climate change adequately protect their interests. Brazil also has taken on a greater role in promoting peace and stability, contributing to U.N. peacekeeping missions and mediating conflicts in South America and further afield. Although recent domestic challenges have led Brazil to turn inward and weakened its appeal globally, the country continues to exert considerable influence on international policy issues that affect the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.
2020-07-06
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Divided We Stand? Towards Post-Corona Leadership
From the Introduction: "The Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] virus presents the world with a global challenge - i.e. a challenge that can only be tackled by the combined effort of nations worldwide - that is much [more] tangible and more acute than other global challenges, such as climate change or nuclear-proliferation. Multilateral cooperation is required to best deal with the Corona crisis and its aftermath, encompassing public health governance as well as economic and human development issues in general, both in the immediate and longer-term sense. This is especially pertinent as experts warn pandemics are here to stay. Covid-19 may turn into a seasonal disease, and the next virus outbreak in the SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome]-Swine Flu-MERS [Middle East Respiratory Syndrome]-Ebola-Bird Flu-Covid-19 sequence might be just around the corner. Structural, world-wide collaborative measures are needed to better monitor, prevent, counter and/or mitigate potential future outbreaks. [...] [I]n the face of the current pandemic and its aftermath, a tension between the need for international cooperation and the deteriorating conditions for doing so is evident. How will [t]his tension play out during the next global crisis? In this article, we address this question by looking at what the 'cultural differences between nations' and 'the different leadership styles' from the current world leaders may imply for 'the need to collaborate' to manage global crises."
Hague Centre for Strategic Studies; DISCvision
Doffer, André; Reitsma, Douwe; Reitsma, Jetse . . .
2020-07-03?
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Prescriptions for a Healthy and Green Recovery from COVID-19 [video]
From the YouTube Video Description: "The third webinar within this series will focus on Prescriptions for a Healthy and Green Recovery from COVID-19 [coronavirus disease] and will take place at 14:00-15:30 (CET) on July 2nd, 2020. WHO [World Health Organization] has launched a new manifesto for a healthy recovery from COVID-19 emphasizing that the world cannot afford repeated disasters on the scale of COVID-19, whether they are triggered by the next pandemic, or from mounting environmental damage and climate change. Aligning with the ethos of build back better within the global health community, the manifesto states that going back to 'normal' is not good enough. Building back better will require taking a look at the current policies and interventions that affect levels of air pollution and how we can move forward to develop healthier cities and healthier populations, ultimately reducing the burden on NCDs [noncommunicable diseases] and mental health conditions. Speakers include: María Neira, Director of Public Health and the Environment, World Health Organization; Elliot Treharne, Air Quality Manager, Greater London Authority, ; Arnfinn Helleve, Head of Research, Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Measures, Norwegian Institute of Public Health ; Margrete Bjørge Katanasho, CO-CREATE Project Manager, PRESS [Save the Children Norway's youth organization] ; Wenjia Cai, Associate Professor in global change economics, Tsinghua University and Principal Investigator in the Lancet Countdown Regional Centre for Asia." The duration of the video is 1 hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds.
World Health Organization
Fones, Guy; Neira, Maria, Dr.; Treharne, Elliot . . .
2020-07-02
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Climate Change: A Climate Migration Pilot Program Could Enhance the Nation's Resilience and Reduce Federal Fiscal Exposure, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "According to the 13-agency United States Global Change Research Program, relocation due to climate change will be unavoidable in some coastal areas in all but the very lowest sea level rise projections. One way to reduce the risks to these communities is to improve their climate resilience by planning and preparing for potential hazards related to climate change such as sea level rise. Climate migration--the preemptive movement of people and property away from areas experiencing severe impacts--is one way to improve climate resilience. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review federal support for climate migration. This report examines (1) the use of climate migration as a resilience strategy; (2) federal support for climate migration; and (3) key challenges to climate migration and how the federal government can address them."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-07
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Global Order in the Shadow of the Coronavirus: China, Russia, and the West
From the Executive Summary: "The coronavirus pandemic has thrown a harsh spotlight on the state of global governance. Faced with the greatest emergency since the Second World War, nations have regressed into narrow self-interest. The concept of a rules-based international order has been stripped of meaning, while liberalism faces its greatest crisis in decades. Western leaders blame today's global disorder on an increasingly assertive China and disruptive Russia. Yet the principal threat lies closer to home. Western governments have failed to live up to the values underpinning a liberal international order-- a failure compounded by inept policymaking and internal divisions. The actions of Donald Trump, in particular, have undermined transatlantic unity, damaged the moral authority of the West, and weakened global governance. It is tempting to accept the inevitability of great power confrontation and the demise of international society. But an alternative future is still possible. This lies in a more inclusive order, driven by a common imperative in meeting twenty-first century challenges such as climate change, pandemic disease, and global poverty. These threats transcend national boundaries and strategic rivalries -- and so must our responses."
Lowy Institute for International Policy
Lo, Bobo, 1959-
2020-07
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Preparing for the Regional Health Impacts of Climate Change in the United States: A Summary of Health Effects, Resources, and Adaptation Examples from Health Departments Funded by CDC's Climate and Health Program
From the Executive Summary: "Each region of the United States experiences climate change and its impacts on health differently, due to the regions' location-specific climate exposures and unique societal and demographic characteristics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Climate and Health Program supports states, counties, cities, tribes, and territories to assess how climate change will affect their community, identify vulnerable populations, and implement adaptation and preparedness strategies to reduce the health effects of climate change. This document describes the various health impacts climate change will have on different regions of the United States as outlined in the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4), actions taken by the CDC Climate and Health Program's health department partners to prepare for and respond to climate change in their communities, and relevant tools and resources."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-07
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Climate Change: USAID is Taking Steps to Increase Projects' Resilience, but Could Improve Reporting of Adaptation Funding, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "USAID [United States Agency for International Development] is the primary U.S. government agency helping countries adapt to the effects of climate change. USAID has provided this assistance through activities that directly address climate adaptation as well as indirectly through activities that received funding for other purposes, such as agriculture, but which also support climate adaptation goals. GAO was asked to review issues related to U.S. foreign assistance for climate adaptation. For USAID, this report examines (1) funding the agency provided for climate adaptation assistance in fiscal years 2014 through 2018, and (2) how climate risk management is implemented. GAO analyzed funding data and documentation of agency activities and climate risk management; interviewed agency and project officials; and conducted fieldwork in three countries receiving adaptation assistance--Guatemala, the Philippines, and Uganda. GAO selected these countries based on the amount of funding they received for climate adaptation activities, geographic diversity, and variety of observed and projected climate effects, among other factors."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-07
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Strengthening Resilience: Acting on Climate Change and Health
From the Document: "Climate change has been described as the biggest global health threat of the 21st Century and its potential damage to global health outcomes cannot be underestimated. Whilst climate change is often marked by extreme weather events, rising sea levels and polar bears teetering on melting ice sheets, the impacts on human health if left unaddressed could be devastating. The challenges ahead are immense. As the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, so too does the opportunity for government and business to implement actions that align with the Paris Agreement. The global COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic is also an opportunity for business to press pause, take stock, and develop strategies and systems that build greater resilience to future crises in alignment with a net zero future."
United Nations. Global Compact Office; Australia. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Schoch, Corinne
2020-07?
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Regaining U.S. Global Leadership on Anticorruption
From the Introduction: "U.S. policymakers used to view international corruption largely as an issue relating to economic development. However, in recent years, they have come to recognize that it in fact affects a much wider set of U.S. interests. The United States' main geopolitical competitors are deploying corruption as a hybrid weapon: China seeks to win influence in Africa and other parts of the world dealing with weak governance, and Russia aims to undermine its neighbors' sovereignty. Globally, corruption-riddled governance drives migration and drug trafficking, while hindering the ability of border officials to enforce the law. Violent extremists exploit grievances around corruption to fuel recruitment and enable operations, while counterterrorism units are undermined by self-dealing. Corruption also slows progress on climate change: regulations can be bypassed through bribery, and massive energy projects are vulnerable to leakage."
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Bellows, Abigail
2020-07
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Bouncing Forward Sustainably: Pathways to a Post-COVID World Governance for Sustainability
From the Abstract: "The ongoing COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] crisis is generating massive adverse socio-economic impacts for societies around the globe and brings many issues of relevance for ongoing sustainability transformations into the spotlight. One such issue is the role of governance for sustainability, for which COVID-19 provides encouraging as well as challenging lessons. In this background note, we draw first, tentative lessons on how COVID-19 management has been governed across levels of governance, focusing on identifying opportunities for enhancing governance for sustainability including for tackling climate change."
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis; International Science Council
Mechler, Reinhard; Stevance, Anne-Sophie; Deubelli, Teresa M. . . .
2020-07-01
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Heat Exposure and Cardiovascular Health: A Summary for Health Departments
From the Executive Summary: "Extreme heat events (EHEs) are a leading cause of weather-related injury and death in the United States, and under a changing climate, these meteorological episodes are predicted to increase in both frequency and intensity. Prolonged heat exposure from EHEs places an increased strain on the heart and may lead to heat-related illness if the cardiovascular system fails to properly thermoregulate internal body temperature. Every individual is susceptible to heat-related illness, however, those with reduced cardiovascular function and pre-existing cardiovascular diseases are at a greater risk for morbidity and mortality during EHEs. This document gives an overview of our current understanding of heat exposure and its impact on cardiovascular health outcomes, an overview of the medications that may exacerbate heat-related cardiovascular illness, and a summary of the interaction between extreme heat and air pollutants, and their collective impact on cardiovascular health. Additionally, this document summarizes epidemiologic evidence and identifies gaps in the extant peer-reviewed literature on the effectiveness of strategies and interventions to protect against heat-related cardiovascular disease and death. This information is intended to aid health departments and other health professionals in understanding and responding to the impacts of heat exposure on cardiovascular health."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Schramm, Paul J.; Vaidyanathan, Ambarish; Halaharvi, Harikrishna
2020-07
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Evidence on the Use of Indoor Air Filtration as an Intervention for Wildfire Smoke Pollutant Exposure: A Summary for Health Departments
From the Executive Summary: "Over the last few decades, the United States has experienced an increase in frequency of intense wildfires. Climate change has likely impacted these events through increased summer and spring temperatures, drier vegetation, decreased precipitation in some areas, and an increased probability of lightning storms. Wildfires have caused billions of dollars in property damage and contributed to an estimated 339,000 premature deaths per year globally. Wildfires are also associated with negative health outcomes. The smoke from wildfires contains gaseous pollutants and particulate matter which are associated with multiple respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. There is evidence that certain populations are more vulnerable to the wildfire smoke exposure than others, including older adults and infants, pregnant women, people with preexisting medical conditions, and people of lower socio-economic status. Interventions that effectively decrease wildfire smoke exposures can protect these vulnerable populations as well as the health of the general public. This technical document summarizes the available peer-reviewed literature about the effectiveness of air filtration as an intervention to decrease exposure to wildfire smoke and protect health when sheltering indoors. It describes the different types of air filtering technology and metrics for measuring air quality and summarizes the literature on their effectiveness in protecting against the harmful air pollutants in wildfire smoke. Relevant federal and state resources for local health professionals are listed. This review illustrates that proper air filtration is an effective method of reducing certain wildfire smoke pollutants indoors and potentially limiting the risk of negative health impacts associated with exposure to wildfire smoke."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); National Center for Environmental Health (U.S.)
Joseph, Gregory; Schramm, Paul J.; Vaidyanathan, Ambarish . . .
2020-07
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2748, SAFE Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on January 29, 2020. From the Document: "H.R. 2748 would establish three groups to work on the expected effects of climate change. One group, the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy Joint Implementation Working Group, would be required to create and implement a national strategy with respect to climate change and to report biannually on its activities. The National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center and an advisory committee on Climate Change and Natural Resources would provide support for the working group."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2020-06-25
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Global Forced Migration: The Political Crisis of Our Time
From the Executive Summary: "The United States can and must lead a new global effort to address the global forced migration crisis. Current trends, including the challenge of climate change, will force more people to flee their homes, be on the move, and live in displacement. As the number of those forcibly displaced continues to balloon, the need for innovative and comprehensive international responses is imperative. Under the Trump administration, the United States has responded to the forced migration crisis with fear and regressive policies. In order to mitigate global instability and regain our standing as a nation committed to principled leadership in the world, the United States must reverse course and lead the charge in securing international cooperation and new solutions for today's forced migrants. How the United States chooses to respond to these events will define the world we will live in, and the role the United States plays in it."
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations
2020-06-18
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Environmental Effects of Battery Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles [June 16, 2020]
From the Introduction: "Increased deployment of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and other alternative-fueled vehicles in the United States could have a variety of effects on energy security, the economy, and the environment. In an effort to address certain environmental concerns, including climate change, some Members of Congress and some stakeholder interest groups have expressed interest in the promotion of these technologies--specifically BEV technologies. Much of this interest has focused on the electrification of passenger vehicles. This focus reflects the fact that, historically, passenger vehicles have dominated emissions (of both greenhouse gases and other air pollutants) in the transportation sector and that passenger vehicles have shorter development and in-use times than other modes of transportation (e.g., aircraft, trains, and ships), and thus can be more readily and systematically addressed. [...] This report discusses and synthesizes analyses of the environmental effects of BEVs as compared to the internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) and is part of a suite of CRS [Congressional Research Service] products on electric vehicles and related technology."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lattanzio, Richard K.; Clark, Corrie E.
2020-06-16
