Climate Energy and Environment

Climate, energy, and environmental policy shape everything from gas prices to how communities prepare for floods and fires. This category explains how government collects climate data, assesses risks, debates the science, and increasingly treats climate change as a security challenge.

Climate Policy, Treaties, and Federal Programs

Explore how climate rules are made and changed, from the EPA process for updating emissions standards to legal fights over whether states can sue oil companies. See how international climate agreements work in practice, including withdrawing from international treaties, the funding impacts of U.S. withdrawal from climate agreements, and why the Paris Agreement was designed to let countries exit easily.

Other explainers follow the federal money behind climate damages and the broader debate over how climate, energy, and environmental policy should balance emissions, reliability, equity, and economic costs.

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Dive Deeper Into Climate Energy and Environment

Air Quality

Air quality is essential for protecting public health and the environment across the United States.…

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Climate Adaptation and Resilience

Climate adaptation and resilience describe how the federal government and local partners prepare communities, infrastructure,…

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Energy Production

U.S. energy production generates electricity from diverse sources, including natural gas, coal, solar, wind, and…

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Environmental Health and Justice

Environmental health and justice ensures fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of…

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Land and Soil

America's land and soil form the foundation of federal environmental, agricultural, and economic policies. Multiple…

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Sustainability

The federal government has set an ambitious sustainability agenda to cut greenhouse gases across its…

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Water Resources and Quality

Water is essential to every American community, from drinking water supplies to agriculture and industry.…

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All Articles on Climate Energy and Environment

Challenges Facing the Department of the Interior

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is a vast agency responsible for managing America's natural resources, cultural heritage, and…

What the Department of the Interior Does

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is a Cabinet-level department of the federal government responsible for overseeing America's vast…

What the Department of Commerce Does

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) is the federal agency charged with promoting economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development…

What the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Does

In 1970, the United States government created the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to unify its weather, climate, and…

Purpose of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a U.S. scientific agency with a broad mission that touches daily life,…

Climate Predictions for the Next Decade

Our planet's climate is changing faster than at any point in modern history. As we look ahead to the next…

What Do Precipitation Percentages in Weather Forecasts Actually Mean?

When a weather forecast says there's a "30% chance of rain," many people misinterpret what that actually means. Some think…

Weather Watch vs. Warning: Key Differences Explained

The weather forecast often includes terms like "weather watch" and "weather warning," which can sometimes cause confusion. Understanding the distinction…