Energy and Environment Issues

Blog

Reconstructing Ukraine, Wildfires, Telehealth: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on reconstructing Ukraine, what to do about wildfires, virtual mental health care services, and more.

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.

Blog

Extremist Beliefs Among Veterans, Space Traffic, Teacher Well-Being: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on whether extremist beliefs are more prevalent among veterans, why it's time to manage traffic in outer space, crises facing the Russian military, and more.

Report

How Does Climate Change Affect Force Readiness?

Droughts, flooding, wildfires, and tropical storms are likely to become more severe as global temperatures rise. Understanding the links between climate and readiness can help the U.S. military ensure that forces are able to reliably and affordably sustain readiness in a changing climate.

Blog

RAND Turns 75: A Look Through the Decades At World-Changing Research

From anticipating the Space Age in the 1940s to studying gun policy and COVID-19 responses in the 2020s, RAND is celebrating 75 years of research that has made a difference.

Adapting to Climate Change on the Coast: Lessons from Louisiana for Federal Policy

What can be done to reduce the chances of widespread disaster when the next "Sandy" hits? Jordan Fischbach will discuss how climate change and other long-term challenges can affect coasts and the tools federal or state policymakers will need to address them.

The Impact of Air Pollution on Hospital Spending in California

John Romley presents findings from a study that suggests publicly funded insurers as well as employers and private insurers would benefit financially from reductions in air pollution—particularly in California, which has more people living in areas that do not meet federal air quality standards than any other state.

Improving the Energy Performance of Buildings

Ambassador Charles Ries discusses how energy efficiency in buildings affects energy security and climate change. He gives an overview of the European Union's and Australia's experiences driving energy efficiency in the building sector and the lessons the United States can learn from their efforts.

Costs and Benefits of Importing Oil into the United States

Director of RAND's Environment, Energy, and Economic Development Program Keith Crane will present Imported Oil and U.S. National Security on May 11, 2009.

What Constitutes an Effective Approach to Limiting Greenhouse Gases?

The Obama administration and Congress have called enactment of a cap-and-trade program for limiting U.S. emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases a top priority. Our panelists will address some key questions about cap-and-trade programs that need to be resolved.

Climate and Energy Policy in the 118th Congress

What are the biggest climate and energy policy issues facing the 118th Congress? RAND experts offer up insight on a variety of energy, natural resources, and climate topics, including adaptation, resilience, and hazard mitigation.

Observed Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation Solutions to Climate Change

The impacts of climate change have arrived and are widespread, pervasive, and in some cases irreversible. Robert Lempert describes where climate adaptation efforts are falling short and provided guidance on how adaptation might become more effective.

Climate and Resilience Policy in the 117th Congress

What are the biggest climate and resilience policy issues facing the 117th Congress? RAND experts offer up insight on a variety of topics, including climate science, decarbonization, resilience, adaptation, and more.

Critical Materials and U.S. Import Reliance

Richard Silberglitt recently testified before Congress on imported materials critical to U.S. manufacturing. He outlined potential actions to increase resiliency to supply disruptions or market distortions.

Getting Smarter About Smart Grids

With a fully functional smart grid, society could benefit from more efficient management, transmission, distribution, and consumption of electricity–but there are barriers to implementing this technology. Experts recommend that performance standards are developed at the federal level and that regulators consider forward-looking test cases.

RAND Experts Available to Discuss Hurricane and Natural Disaster Preparedness

Although this year's hurricane season has been mild, communities should not be lulled into a false sense of security. Experts from the RAND Gulf States Policy Institute are available to discuss how communities can best prepare for and recover from hurricanes.

Adapting to a Changing Colorado River

The Colorado River system is a critical resource for the southwestern U.S., providing power and water for nearly 40 million people. However, in part due to 14 years of drought, the River's reservoirs are being rapidly depleted. RAND helped define the key Basin vulnerabilities and identify strategies to reduce them.

RAND.org's Redesign: New Homepage and Navigation Optimization for All Devices

RAND.org has been reimagined to make high quality research and insights more accessible to Hill staff like you. The new homepage and updated navigation optimize content delivery for your preferred device and place our most timely content at your fingertips.

RAND Can Help Policymakers Strengthen Coastal Resilience

Tools developed by RAND for use in Louisiana can help policymakers in other coastal states weigh complex decisions on the many possible strategies to prevent coastal land loss, reduce flood risks, rebuild or restore coastal environments, and otherwise increase the resilience of developed coastlines.

Using Air Power Against Pirates Off West Africa

Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has affected petroleum and natural gas production. RAND research recommends building the Nigerian Air Force's ability to provide surveillance and defend the offshore energy infrastructure.

Managing Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste

The Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future has called for creating a new, single-purpose organization whose sole task would be managing and disposing of nuclear waste. What model of governance is best suited to meet the substancial challenges of such a group?

SOTU Policy Preview

Preparing for the State of the Union address? Here is a preview of topics from President Obama's inaugural address that he may cover on Tuesday night, along with helpful links to related RAND analyses, reports, and commentary.

Converting Harmful Methane Emissions Into Useful Energy

Though methane does not stay in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, it has 20 times the global warming potential. But methane can be captured and used, not only reducing methane emissions, but offering a cost-effective source of energy.

Options for an Organization to Manage and Dispose of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-level Radioactive Waste

The nation must agree upon a solution to the spent-nuclear fuel problem that meets safety and environmental standards. Congress will need to work with the Obama administration to determine the best governance form. A study finds that the two most promising models are a federal government corporation or an independent government agency.

Looking Beyond the 2012 U.S. Election

As the U.S. presidential election draws to a close, there is increasing demand for simple answers to complex questions, immediate solutions to entrenched challenges, and ten-second sound bites to sum it all up. RAND has always focused on big, long-term, core public policy issues and has cultivated the farsighted perspectives required to address those issues.

Reusing Coal Mine Water for Marcellus Shale Extraction

First-ever national standards for air emissions from shale gas extraction preceded new national regulations related to water pollution from hydraulic fracturing, another key issue which has thus-far been left to the individual states.

Earth Day: RAND Energy and Environment Research

The RAND Corporation's Environment, Energy, and Economic Development Program helps lawmakers put policy proposals in context by analyzing the effects of existing and proposed energy policies on the environment.

Senior Staff SOTU Debrief from RAND Corporation

We've assembled a selection of RAND reports, journal articles, commentary, videos, and experts on these SOTU topics that provide you with analysis, insights, and ideas you can use in the months ahead.