American agriculture is at a crossroads. Just 1 percent of Americans are farmers but the sector produces 11 percent of the country’s emissions. Researchers are developing technologies and farming practices that can help minimize the climate impact of farming, and even turn farms into net carbon sinks. But federal support will be essential to getting these innovations through the farm gate, and to ensuring that changes are sustained over the long term.Read more...

Few industries are more attuned to—and dependent on—the weather than farming. In the coming decades, climate change will make farmers’ jobs more difficult than ever, as rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and spreading pests all take their toll on production. But agriculture is not a neutral actor: emissions from the sector account for more than 10 percent of the U.S. total, only marginally less than those from all commercial businesses and residences. And with Farm Bill negotiations about to start in earnest, its important to explore how innovation in agriculture—including advances in biotech, animal husbandry, soil and nutrient management, and more—can help agriculture adapt to climate change and reduce emissions. Read more...

The clean energy transition and strong clean car standards have several benefits for public health and the environment, but also have implications for national security. From strategic competition with China, to military recruiting and readiness, there are many benefits to adopting strong clean car standards. Read more...

The U.S. EV transition is underway, but what does it mean for rural communities? Several recent federal actions are gearing up to supercharge the benefits for rural America. Read more...

Along with the rest of the American west, Arizona’s reputation for remote backyard desert landscapes alongside rapidly-growing central metropolises is facing a moment of reckoning.Read more...

Over the past several years, DoD and the each of the service branches have made a concerted effort to transition its domestic non-tactical fleet to electric vehicles (EVs), especially the Army. Leadership has recognized the many benefits of EVs, including less fuel dependence, less fuel convoys, and less casualties on the battlefield. But there is another positive aspect of an EV transition: the health benefits for soldiers, defense communities, and U.S. society as a whole. Read more...

As the private sector, federal regulators, and climate activists alike search for more tools to keep carbon out of the atmosphere, active carbon management approaches like carbon capture, utilization, and storage – once seen as too costly, too risky, or both – are gaining renewed attention. Read more...

As local governments, industries, and policymakers explore the different pathways in the clean energy transition, another innovative option has entered the conversation: transitioning former coal facilities to nuclear plants. A coal-to-nuclear (C2N) transition would install a nuclear reactor at the site of a retired coal power plant. Indeed, if demonstrations perform as anticipated, a C2N has the potential for deep and long-lasting environmental and economic benefits and provide robust zero-carbon energy.Read more...

2022 was a landmark year for energy and climate action. There is plenty to keep an eye on in 2023.Read more...

The Gulf of Mexico is a productive environment that suffers from extensive IUU fishing conducted by drug cartels. Often, Chinese customers make use of criminal channels to secure Gulf seafood that is otherwise inaccessible.   Read more...