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Environmental Sustainability

Global Climate Change

commentary
Climate Change Will Transform How We Live, but These Tech and Policy Experts See Reason for Optimism
To slow climate change and adapt to the damage already underway, the world will have to shift how it generates and uses energy, transports people and goods, designs buildings, and grows food. That starts with embracing innovation and change.
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Apr 18, 2022
Robert J. Lempert @RobertLempert, Elisabeth Gilmore

Petroleum

commentary
How We Might Better Live with Oil in California
As California grapples with the question of balancing environmental stewardship with the recent renewed focus on “local oil,” lawmakers could look to local communities for the best answers to avoid future petro-disasters.
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Apr 1, 2022
Jalal Awan, Aaron Clark-Ginsberg @aclarkginsberg
United States Coast Guard

commentary
A Timely Opportunity for the U.S. Coast Guard to Teach a Man to Protect His Fish
The U.S. Coast Guard has made strong statements suggesting it would be increasing its effort to deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activity. As it does so, the Coast Guard might also consider enhancing its role as a trainer of other nations.
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Feb 24, 2022
Katherine Anania
Banking and Financial Services

commentary
More Than Green: Leveraging Green Bonds to Invest in Greater Climate Resilience
The significance of green bonds may depend not only on having a lot of them but also on carefully developing, investing, and tracking projects against the larger goal of climate resilience.
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Nov 24, 2021
Karishma V. Patel, Michelle E. Miro
Banking and Financial Services

commentary
The Growing Green Bond Market Could Plateau. How Can It Grow Further?
If green bonds are a viable tool to reduce emissions and adapt infrastructure to the effects of climate change, how can governments encourage the issuance, sales, and growth in the share of green bonds in the total bond market?
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Nov 23, 2021
David Catt, Nihar Chhatiawala, et al.
Infrastructure Finance

commentary
Green Bonds Can Leave Issuers in the Red
To achieve the Biden administration's blueprint for solar energy and focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation, green bonds may be worth considering. But, like any other financing instrument, they may be best considered through a cost-benefit lens.
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Nov 22, 2021
Brian Wong, Ismael Arciniegas Rueda
Global Climate Change

commentary
COVID-19 and Climate Change Both Require One Generation to Sacrifice for Another
COVID-19 and climate change are both global phenomena that left unmanaged will inflict excruciating human and economic tolls. They also require a similar mix of approaches to solve. But they have one more similarity that attracts less attention: they both require one generation to change behavior in support of another.
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May 17, 2021
Michael E. Webber, Constantine Samaras
Water Resources Management

commentary
Los Angeles River Revitalization: Taking Inspiration from Near and Far
Currently a predominantly concrete channel running through the city, the Los Angeles River has great potential to revitalize Los Angeles's water resources, landscape, and identity. Creating a new vision for the river presents a complex challenge for policymakers, engineers, and urban planners.
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Feb 4, 2020
Keren Zhu, J. Luke Irwin, et al.
Water Resources Management

commentary
More Than Stormwater: How Green Infrastructure Offers Multiple Benefits for Los Angeles Communities
California faces water supply shortages, which are worsened by climate change. Applying a systems framework is essential to addressing complex problems for the sustainability of water resources.
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Jan 29, 2020
Joan Chang, Kristin Warren, et al.
Water Resources Management

commentary
Lessening Leakages: How Water Systems Can Learn From Smart Electric Grids
As drought and population growth place increasing pressure on water supply, the need to save and efficiently manage Southern California's water resources becomes increasingly critical. A single information and communication technology platform could go a long way toward moving water utilities from reactive to proactive maintenance practices.
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Mar 22, 2019
Jalal Awan, Michelle E. Miro, et al.
Water Supply

commentary
Increasing Groundwater Reliance in L.A. County Means Dealing with Extensive Contamination
As the Los Angeles region increases its reliance on groundwater sources to become more resilient in the face of drought and to reduce demand for imported water sources, advances in the information available on groundwater quality and contamination could help community water systems avoid health hazards and better ensure a safe drinking water supply.
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Mar 12, 2019
Alexandra Huttinger, Michelle E. Miro, et al.
Global Climate Change

essay
Resilience and Adaptation Strategies Can Address the Impacts of Climate Change
With climate change already generating storms, heat waves, and droughts beyond historical norms, local governments need to do more to prepare. A decisionmaking framework developed by RAND allows communities to stress-test ideas, weigh the trade-offs, and plan for a range of possible futures.
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Feb 26, 2019
Energy Conservation

commentary
Can Innovative Financing by the Public and Private Sectors Build on Momentum in Energy Efficiency Improvements for Affordable Multifamily Housing?
Nearly one in three American households in 2015 reported difficulty paying their energy bills or sustaining adequate home heating and cooling. Emerging models of energy services and financing show promise, and could identify creative ways to increase access to funding that could preserve and improve home affordability for millions of Americans.
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Dec 12, 2018
Lisa Jonsson, Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright
Global Climate Change

commentary
Navigating the Uncertain Path to Decarbonization
Deep decarbonization can reduce the risk of climate change, and it offers opportunities to reimagine energy, transportation, and infrastructure. But it could also fail in many ways. Diverse, independent actors need a shared understanding of its complexity and deep uncertainty to design a solution to this challenge.
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Jul 11, 2017
Robert J. Lempert @RobertLempert, Horacio R. Trujillo
Alternative and Renewable Energy

commentary
Uncertainty and Complexity: Biomass Can Help on the Path to Deep Decarbonization
While biomass will almost certainly never become the dominant fuel for the electricity sector in the United States, it is still worth including as part of a menu of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies.
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Feb 24, 2017
Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright, Sara Turner
Environmental Sustainability

announcement
$5 Million Cazier Gift to Pardee RAND Graduate School Launches Environmental and Energy Sustainability Initiative
A $5 million gift from engineer and philanthropist John M. Cazier will turbocharge research in environmental and energy sustainability at the Pardee RAND Graduate School.
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Jun 20, 2014
Surface Transportation

commentary
As U.S. Energy Booms, Don't Forget About Roadway Infrastructure
Natural gas production is growing and many states and communities are reaping the economic benefits. One of the costs, however, will be damage to roads. One hydraulic fracturing operation requires about 600 to 1,100 one-way, heavy truck trips to bring equipment, materials, and sometimes water to and from a well site.
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Mar 11, 2014
Constantine Samaras
Environmental Pollution

commentary
The Environmental Costs of Emissions from Shale Gas Extraction
Further study, including primary data collection in regions where extraction is occurring, will be important to track the magnitude of emissions and to insure that the DEP's permit requirements are adequate to protect human health and the environment, writes Aimee Curtright.
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Feb 14, 2013
Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright
Environmental Sustainability

blog
Bringing Sustainability to the Louisiana Coast
Policy Researcher David Groves describes RAND's role in helping to develop a plan to guide Louisiana's coastal investments, help its coastal citizens plan for the future, and create a sustainable coast.
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Jun 7, 2012
David G. Groves
commentary
Missed Opportunities in Johannesburg
Published commentary by RAND staff: Missed Opportunities in Johannesburg in United Press International on October 22, 2002.
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Oct 22, 2002
Robert J. Lempert @RobertLempert