Climate Energy and Environment

Climate, energy, and environment policy covers how the government produces and regulates the energy the country runs on, how it tracks and responds to a changing climate, and how it protects the air, water, land, and wildlife that people depend on. Multiple federal agencies share this work, from setting pollution limits to managing public lands to funding disaster preparedness, and their decisions shape everything from utility bills to what happens after a storm.

Energy: The government influences how power gets generated and delivered, and how much it costs. Energy Production covers the sources that keep the lights on, while Energy Policy looks at the rules and incentives shaping that system.

Climate science and response: Climate Change explains what the data show and where disagreement remains, Climate Policy covers government efforts to address it, and Climate Adaptation and Resilience looks at preparing communities and infrastructure for its effects. Sustainability covers broader efforts to manage resources for the long term.

Environmental protection: Environmental Protection covers the agencies and laws that set pollution rules, with more detail in Air Quality, Water Resources and Quality, Land and Soil, and Hazardous Materials and Waste. Environmental Health and Justice covers how pollution and contamination affect people’s health and safety.

Land, wildlife, and hazards: Public Lands covers who controls and uses federally owned territory, Biodiversity and Wildlife covers efforts to protect species and habitats, and Natural Disasters and Hazards covers how government prepares for and responds to floods, fires, storms, and other emergencies.

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Dive Deeper Into Climate Energy and Environment

Air Quality

Air quality rules shape the invisible thing everyone in the country breathes. This section covers…

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Climate Adaptation and Resilience

Climate adaptation and resilience covers how governments, communities, and infrastructure prepare for a changing climate…

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Environmental Health and Justice

Environmental health and justice looks at how pollution, contamination, and hazardous conditions affect people's bodies…

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Sustainability

Sustainability covers how government policies try to balance economic activity, natural resource use, and long-term…

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All Articles on Climate Energy and Environment

The Case for Investing in Public Transit

Public transportation moves nearly three million Americans daily, but its impact extends beyond getting people from point A to point…

How NEPA Environmental Reviews Shape Federal Projects in Your Community

The National Environmental Policy Act may sound like bureaucratic jargon, but this 50+ year-old law gives ordinary Americans extraordinary power…

How the Council on Environmental Quality Works

The Council on Environmental Quality, or CEQ, operates with a modest staff and budget. However, it wields significant influence as…

How Earth Day Inspired the White House’s Environmental Watchdog

In the late 1960s, the nation that put humans on the moon watched helplessly as rivers caught fire and cities…

Why Gas Prices Are So High: Breaking Down the Cost of Every Gallon

The price you see at your local gas station isn't set by one person or company. It's the final number…

Why Climate Change Is Now Treated as a National Security Threat

The National Security Council now treats climate change as a critical threat to American security. This shift reflects a change…

How Government Data Shows Climate Change Is Accelerating

The U.S. government measures the pace of climate change. Federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and…

The Fight Over Your Gas Stove: A Real Look at Health, Climate, and Regulation

Your kitchen stove has become an unlikely symbol in America's culture wars. What started as a scientific discussion about indoor…