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Environmental and Natural Resource Management

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The use and conservation of natural resources such as water, land, soil, plants, and animals affects a multitude of industries, from agriculture and mining to tourism, fishing, and forestry. RAND researchers concerned about ecosystems and sustainability pursue studies in flooding, nuclear energy, drought, coastal restoration, and more in their quest to mitigate the potential adverse effects of mismanagement.

Essay
The Time to Prevent Shortfalls in Critical Materials Is Now
China's domination of the rare earth market is a matter of economic and national security concern. Existing plans to diversify the market and help the United States break its reliance on China likely don't go far enough or fast enough, and the clock is running.
Mar 20, 2023
Commentary
Governance in Space: Mining the Moon and Beyond
Without further cooperation and agreement among space powers, multiple, competing governance systems may end up being established, further increasing potential for conflict. The time to address this issue is now, so that the use of deep-space resources contributes to prosperity, security, and freedom on Earth and throughout the solar system.
Nov 18, 2022

Explore Environmental and Natural Resource Management

Report
Demographic and Geographic Characteristics of Green Stormwater Infrastructure Investments in Five U.S. Cities: A Machine Learning–Based Analysis
This report presents the results of an exploratory machine learning–based analysis of green stormwater infrastructure asset data across five cities in the United States.
Dec 4, 2023
Visualization
Evaluating the Demographic and Geographic Characteristics of Green Stormwater Infrastructure: Findings from a Machine Learning–Based Analysis of Five U.S. Cities
This visual presents the results of an exploratory machine learning–based analysis of green stormwater infrastructure asset data across five cities in the United States.
Dec 4, 2023
Commentary
An Affordable Energy Transition Will Require Supportive and Sensible Regulation
The transition to decarbonize the grid and to electrify end uses to reduce emissions will be challenging, and customer bills may increase in the short term. Regulators can help to keep utilities financially healthy and make a smoother energy transition possible.
Nov 13, 2023
Tool
Mid-Atlantic Regional Climate Impacts Summary and Outlook: Summer 2023
This climate summary aims to inform Mid-Atlantic policymakers and practitioners about weather patterns for summer 2023, regional climate trends, and the upcoming fall season.
Oct 3, 2023
Dissertation
Assessing the Governance of Water Utility Financial and Infrastructure Management
Studies financial and infrastructure management related to publicly-owned utilities which serve the vast majority of U.S. water utility customers.
Sep 19, 2023
Commentary
After Maui Fires, Food Security Is a Major Concern and Opportunity
The full impact of the deadly Maui fires on food resilience strategies remains to be seen. But the disaster highlights an urgent need for a systems-based approach to address both food security and wildfire prevention.
Sep 6, 2023
Journal Article
Developing Key Indicators for Adaptive Water Planning
The MWD of SoCal addresses the challenges of hard-to-predict changes in future demand, climate, supply options, budgetary constraints, etc. Plans should be flexible and robust, designed to meet agency goals over a wide range of future conditions.
Jul 11, 2023
Blog
Taiwan, Gun Violence, Fishing in the Arctic: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the potential for a Chinese attack on Taiwan, America's persistent gun violence problem, managing Arctic fisheries, and more.
Jul 7, 2023
Commentary
The Arctic Is Our Last Global Commons—Let's Manage Its Fisheries Properly
It is time to create a multilateral Arctic fisheries management plan before a moratorium on fishing in Arctic high seas sunsets in 2037. Agreements can lead to economic and food security for partners; a lack of coordination will lead to conflict, environmental degradation, and overfishing. The clock is ticking.
Jun 30, 2023
Tool
Mid-Atlantic Regional Climate Impacts Summary and Outlook: Spring 2023
This climate summary aims to inform Mid-Atlantic policymakers and practitioners about weather patterns for spring 2023, regional climate trends, and the upcoming summer season.
Jun 29, 2023
Commentary
We Aren't Helpless in the Face of Increasing Fires and Smoke
Modernizing, better funding, and expanding wildland firefighting forces in North America won't make fires or smoke magically disappear. A massive paradigm shift is necessary. But it's clear something needs to happen immediately too.
Jun 12, 2023
Report
Elicitation of Climate Information to Support Water Agency Planning: Report of a Workshop with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Expert elicitation can supplement information from climate models to support adaptation planning. This report describes how the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission used elicitation to identify climate impacts on the city's water supply.
May 8, 2023
Commentary
Do Car Companies Know Where Their Critical Minerals Come From?
The initial slate of electric vehicles qualifying for a new federal tax credit was announced in April. Key to eligibility is the source of critical minerals used in their batteries. While the list of acceptable nations of origin is still being worked out, there's an important practical question the IRS should ask: Do carmakers really know where their critical minerals come from?
Apr 28, 2023
Commentary
Militaries, Metals, and Mining
Securing access to supply, increasing global and domestic capacity, and diversifying supply chains for critical minerals should be at the top of the agenda for both nations and private industry. Failure could jeopardize climate mitigation strategies and U.S. military readiness.
Apr 18, 2023
Blog
Dementia and National Security, Finland Joins NATO, the Four-Day School Week: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the risk that dementia could pose to national security, Finland's NATO membership, the downside of a four-day school week, and more.
Apr 7, 2023
Tool
Mid-Atlantic Regional Climate Impacts Summary and Outlook: Winter 2022–2023
This climate summary aims to inform Mid-Atlantic policymakers and practitioners about winter 2022–2023, regional climate trends, and the upcoming spring season. A tool shows an analysis of how the average number of days per year with cold low temperatures is projected to change in the future.
Mar 29, 2023
Periodical
RAND Review: March-April 2023
The cover story describes how K-12 schools can build trust with students to increase threat reporting and strengthen school safety. The Q&A with Ashley Woo explores how restrictions on race- and gender-related topics are affecting teachers.
Mar 22, 2023
Research Brief
Growing Toward a Low-Carbon Future: Policy Implications of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Their Trade-Offs in California's Westlands Water District
The authors assessed the greenhouse gas emissions of crop production in California's Westlands Water District and the trade-offs of policies aimed at decarbonization. They provide policy insights and recommendations to local and state decisionmakers.
Mar 1, 2023
Report
Growing Toward a Low-Carbon Future: Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions in California's Westlands Water District
The authors assessed the greenhouse gas emissions of crop production in California's Westlands Water District and the trade-offs of policies aimed at decarbonization. They provide policy insights and recommendations to local and state decisionmakers.
Mar 1, 2023

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RAND Topic:
Environmental and Natural Resource Management

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Rebecca Tisherman

Associate Physical Scientist

Rebecca (Becky) Tisherman is an associate physical scientist at the RAND Corporation. She specializes in geospatial analysis (ArcGIS), natural resource extraction impacts, topographic analysis, and soil and water contamination issues. Broadly, Tisherman is interested in land use change, natural…
Benjamin Lee Preston

Director, Community Health and Environmental Policy Program

Benjamin Preston (he/him) is a senior policy researcher at RAND and director of Community Health and Environmental Policy, a program of RAND Social and Economic Well-Being. He is also a professor at Pardee RAND Graduate School. Preston's recent research efforts include advancing understanding of…

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