2012-05-24T21:01:06Z Copyright (c) 2012, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation http://www.rand.org/topics/the-natural-environment.html http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG816.html Nov 3, 2008 Nov 3, 2008

<p>Western Riverside County's Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan&mdash;a sweeping effort to protect endangered and threatened species while accelerating the approval of transportation improvements&mdash;has made significant progress, but needs modifying to reach its goals in Southern California's changing economy.</p>

http://www.rand.org/commentary/2012/05/23/NJ.html May 23, 2012 May 23, 2012

Technological development challenges suggest that it is highly unlikely that advanced approaches for producing hydrotreated renewable oils suitable for military applications will constitute an important fraction of the commercial fuel market until well beyond the next decade, writes Keith Crane.

http://www.rand.org/publications/randreview/issues/2012/spring/publisher.html May 14, 2012 May 14, 2012

In the spring 2012 issue of RAND Review, RAND president Michael Rich writes, "Since its founding in 1970, PRGS has trained generations of policy leaders. ... The school exhorts students and faculty to 'be the answer' in addressing policy challenges in our communities and around the world."

http://www.rand.org/commentary/2012/05/11/RAND.html May 11, 2012 May 11, 2012

RAND President and CEO Michael Rich writes about how RAND computer models and empirical analyses are helping protect and restore the Louisiana coast.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/CF300.html Apr 16, 2012 Apr 16, 2012

There are large quantities of coal mine water in Pennsylvania&mdash;much more than could be used in the coming decade for hydraulic fracturing. Researchers and operators will need to further explore quantity and quality needs to confirm whether coal mine drainage sources represent a viable, large-scale alternative to fresh water.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR1170.html Apr 10, 2012 Apr 10, 2012

By examining not only how a service is produced but how it is provided, energy services analysis can lead to greater reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions than conventional approaches.

http://www.rand.org/commentary/2012/03/08/PALPOST.html Mar 8, 2012 Mar 8, 2012

In case after case, the theory that best fits the data is the one that also leads inexorably to the conclusion that human influence is one of the most important forces currently changing the climate, writes Robert J. Lempert.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/documented_briefings/DB639.html Feb 23, 2012 Feb 23, 2012

This briefing offers a menu of potential future activities for the nonaviation lands at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) to enhance the quality of life in Santa Monica through community-linked programs.

http://www.rand.org/labor/centers/clasp/research/projects/save-the-forest.html Feb 9, 2012 Feb 9, 2012

The Forest Allowance Program (Programa Bolsa Floresta) is an avoided deforestation initiative in Brazil that pays the local population a monthly allowance for environmental services and increases deforestation monitoring and enforcement. RAND is studying this and similar initiatives to determine their success in reducing deforestation.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR1210.html Jan 31, 2012 Jan 31, 2012

A first systematic picture of United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) leaders' views of priorities and approaches regarding sustainable development (SD). Survey and interview responses are drawn on to show the importance of SD and ways forward.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/rgs_dissertations/RGSD292.html Jan 20, 2012 Jan 20, 2012

Applies robust decision methods to evaluate California's transportation policies that considers multiple views of the future, and identifies strategies that consistently reduce emissions at acceptable costs regardless of future conditions.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP360.html Jan 10, 2012 Jan 10, 2012

Climate change, water scarcity, and pandemics are examined for their national security implications and impacts on the global commons. This paper describes four clusters of policy approaches for these complex, interconnected issues and uses suggestive examples to build the case for policy evolution away from fixing problems and toward innovative alternatives, such as anti-fragile systems, that actually benefit from change and uncertainty.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120044.html Jan 1, 2012 Jan 1, 2012

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) is an important social goal to mitigate climate change. A common mitigation paradigm is to consider strategy "wedges" that can be applied to different activities to achieve desired GHG reductions.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100196.html Nov 30, 2011 Nov 30, 2011

Natural disasters can strain a society and its government, creating vulnerabilities which terrorist groups might exploit. Using a structured methodology and detailed data on terrorism, disasters, and other relevant controls for 167 countries between 1970 and 2007, we find a strong positive impact of disaster-related deaths on subsequent terrorism incidence and fatalities.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/rgs_dissertations/RGSD289.html Nov 15, 2011 Nov 15, 2011

Explores the relationship between natural disasters and terrorism and investigates and clarifies causal links between terrorism, female labor force participation, and larger gender disparities in the labor market.

http://www.rand.org/commentary/2011/11/04/CNN.html Nov 4, 2011 Nov 4, 2011

We cannot wish away serious ecological issues, such as the steady increase in greenhouse gases or the steady decrease in critical resources (e.g., phosphates). But population growth per se need not portend ecological catastrophe, writes Martin Libicki.

http://www.rand.org/multimedia/audio/2011/10/25/californias-water-challenges.html Oct 25, 2011 Oct 25, 2011

David Groves discusses an innovative approach to dealing with the many challenges that may contribute to sustainable and affordable solutions of long term water supplies in California.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9612.html Sep 23, 2011 Sep 23, 2011

Describes how nonstructural measures &mdash; such as incentives for home elevation, incentives for relocation to lower-risk areas, and restrictions on the use of floodplain land &mdash; can make New Orleans less vulnerable to storm surge.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG1106.html Sep 22, 2011 Sep 22, 2011

The Qatar Foundation is establishing a national research institute to conduct and collaborate on applied research in energy, environment, and water issues, the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute. This book recommends research priorities for the new institution and reports on a survey of relevant research institutions in the region.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/corporate_pubs/CP22-2011-09.html Sep 1, 2011 Sep 1, 2011

The 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks warrants a thoughtful review of America's progress and future strategy. In this <em>RAND Review</em> cover story, RAND experts offer perspectives on Afghan-led solutions, ways to counter al Qaeda, air passenger security, and compensation for those affected by terrorism.