Energy and Environment

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RAND energy and environmental analyses examine the implications of existing and proposed energy policies on the environment. Building on a long history of policy research, RAND helps balance the need for environmental protections and economic development.

  • Members of the Groundwork Elizabeth Mayor's Youth Council, which meets with the mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey, once a month to discuss ideas to improve the local environment, pose for a photo, August 2022, photo by Evan Banks/RAND Corporation

    Multimedia

    What Does Environmental Justice Look Like?

    Videos describe the impact of grassroots environmental justice campaigns in two redlined neighborhoods. This work features RAND research that shows how a shared community vision can help residents, organizers, and policymakers understand the root causes of injustices and identify actionable responses.

    Apr 19, 2023

  • Wide shot of Sitka, Alaska, photo by AlexSava/Getty Images

    Essay

    An Early Warning System for Landslides Protects Sitka, Alaska

    A 2015 landslide that killed three people in Sitka, Alaska, changed how residents looked at the steep hills all around them. The community worked with researchers to develop a warning system to prevent such tragedies in the future.

    Mar 14, 2023

Topics in Focus:

Explore Energy and Environment

  • Active pumpjacks from oil wells at the Inglewood Oil Field in Culver City, California, March 10, 2022, photo by Bing Guan/Reuters

    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.

    Apr 1, 2022

  • A historical map of Philadelphia showing the outlines of the 'redlined' neighborhoods determined by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation.

    Project

    Environmental Racism

    Past housing policies—such as redlining—have an enduring legacy on urban neighborhoods today, and have contributed to which communities enjoy more trees, less traffic, and better air quality, and which face hazards such as pollution, toxic waste sites, and flooding risk.

    Mar 31, 2022

  • Tool

    Tool

    Environmental Racism: A Tool for Exploring the Enduring Legacy of Redlining on Urban Environments

    Researchers developed an online tool for visualizing the spatial relationships between the discriminatory practice of redlining and exposure to environmental hazards (e.g., pollution, waste sites).

    Mar 31, 2022

  • Student Maria Melendez sets up equipment to collect public wastewater samples from the University of Oklahoma campus to test for COVID-19 in Norman, Oklahoma, April 9, 2021, photo by Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman/USA Today Network via Reuters

    Commentary

    National Wastewater Tracking Could Help Us Stay Ahead of COVID-19—but Congress Cut the Funds

    For years, medical experts have used wastewater to track the spread of diseases. The National Wastewater Surveillance System has the potential to significantly change the way we fight COVID-19 as well as future pandemics, bacterial diseases, and viruses. But building up the robustness of a wastewater surveillance system will take financial support, and it's not clear Congress will provide it.

    Mar 24, 2022

  • A world map superimposed over people's raised hands, photo by Rawpixel/Getty Images

    Report

    Advancing Global Citizenship in America

    Concerted international action is required to address climate change and sustainability, pandemics, global security, and economic growth. But such action requires a sense of common destiny and shared responsibility among people across nations. What are Americans' attitudes toward global issues, and what could encourage them to become citizens of the world?

    Mar 24, 2022

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Remote Sensing for Natural Disaster Recovery: Lessons Learned from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico

    We present how remote sensing data was incorporated into the assessment and planning process, focusing on the applications for Puerto Rico's natural resources in the months following the hurricanes.

    Mar 23, 2022

  • This combination of Sept. 11, 2005 and July 29, 2015 aerial photos show the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans flooded by Hurricane Katrina and the same area a decade later. Before Katrina, the Lower Ninth Ward was a working-class and predominantly African-American neighborhood just outside the city's historic center. Photos by David J. Phillip, Gerald Herbert / AP Photo

    Report

    The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Mitigation Grant Program

    Natural disasters have become more frequent and destructive, with the damage from disasters affecting some communities—most notably, low-income and disadvantaged communities—more than others. Hazard risk mitigation could reduce disruption and damage, and equity issues are important in helping communities' mitigation efforts.

    Mar 23, 2022

  • Report

    Poor indoor climate: Its impact on health and life satisfaction, as well as its wider socio-economic costs

    This study looks at the prevalence of poor indoor climate in Europe, its impact on health and well-being, as well as its wider socio-economic costs.

    Mar 22, 2022

  • Tool

    Tool

    Mid-Atlantic Regional Climate Impacts Summary and Outlook: Winter 2021–2022

    This climate summary aims to inform Mid-Atlantic policymakers and practitioners about winter 2021–2022, regional climate trends, and the upcoming winter season. A tool shows an analysis of future projected changes in precipitation, compared to climate normals.

    Mar 18, 2022

  • Periodical

    Periodical

    RAND Review: March-April 2022

    The cover story describes a yearlong study of a group of military veterans experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. Other features examine the global digital skills gap and the magnitude and sources of disagreement among gun policy experts.

    Mar 10, 2022

  • Flood damage is shown in this aerial photo in Percival, Iowa, March 29, 2019, photo by Tom Polansek/Reuters

    Testimony

    Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation Solutions to Climate Change

    The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change brings together scientists from around the world to assess the current state of knowledge regarding climate change, and potential consequences and solutions. Its recent report has a strong focus on adaptation solutions but also describes where adaptation is falling short.

    Mar 10, 2022

  • RAND Weekly Recap

    Blog

    The West's Response to Russia, the State of the Union, Outer Space: RAND Weekly Recap

    This weekly recap focuses on how to prevent Russia's war on Ukraine from becoming a war with NATO, insights from RAND on the State of the Union, the future of outer space, and more.

    Mar 4, 2022

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    A Multicity Analysis of Daytime Surface Urban Heat Islands in India and the US

    Satellite data and various spectral indices are used to predict surface heat. Built-up indices used in the U.S. do not differentiate sparse vegetation and built-up surfaces, and thus fail in India.

    Feb 25, 2022

  • The crew of the CGC Stratton conducts patrols to combat IUU fishing in Fiji's exclusive economic zone with Fijian law enforcement personnel, February 11, 2022, U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of the CGC Stratton

    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.

    Feb 24, 2022

  • Wind turbines surrounded by fog in Costa Rica, photo by OGphoto/Getty Images

    Report

    A Green Costa Rican COVID-19 Recovery

    Before COVID-19 hit, Costa Rica had been taking a leading role in addressing the effects of climate change by investing in decarbonization. Could these same investments also accelerate Costa Rica's pandemic economic recovery and help address historical inequities?

    Feb 24, 2022

  • Illustrated graph shows how Costa Rica could reach net-zero emissions by 2050 under its National Decarbonization Plan. Achieving net-zero emissions is estimated to create a net economic benefit of $40.9 billion, visualization by Gabrielle Mérite

    Project

    Costa Rica's Carbon-Neutral Future

    In her final piece for RAND Art + Data, Gabrielle Mérite brings one country's vision for a carbon-neutral future to life. Her designs are based on RAND research that analyzed the potential outcomes of Costa Rica's National Decarbonization Plan.

    Feb 23, 2022

  • Brochure

    Brochure

    Spotlight 2021–2022

    Spotlight 2021-2022 highlights selected RAND Europe projects that address the important issues of our time. It also features research that is poised to make a difference in the coming year.

    Feb 23, 2022

  • An aerial view of Lake Hodges hydroelectric dam in Southern California. Photo by AutumnSkyPhotography / Getty Images

    Report

    Equity Metrics for Climate Adaptation in the Electricity Sector

    Social equity has become a key concern among public agencies. The authors developed an illustrative set of context-specific equity metrics that Southern California Edison could build on and incorporate into its ongoing work toward climate adaptation.

    Feb 17, 2022

  • RAND Weekly Recap

    Blog

    NATO's Open-Door Policy, U.S. Health Care Payments, Climate Migrants: RAND Weekly Recap

    This weekly recap focuses on NATO’s open-door policy, U.S. health care payments, supporting climate migrants, and more.

    Feb 4, 2022

  • 24 Commando Royal Engineers delivering ice survey training to members of the U.S. Marine Corps during Winter Deployment 21 in the Arctic, February 24, 2021, photo by UK MOD/© Crown copyright 2021

    Commentary

    A United Strategy Could Reap Rewards for the United Kingdom in the High North

    The multifaceted nature of Arctic policies, stretching from climate security and scientific cooperation to economic development and conflict mitigation, may require a whole-of-government approach from the United Kingdom. Such an approach could be necessary for the United Kingdom to appear a credible partner to Arctic countries and other third parties.

    Feb 2, 2022

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