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.
Air quality is essential for protecting public health and the environment across the United States.…
View All →America's wildlife and natural habitats face unprecedented challenges from habitat loss, invasive species, and climate…
Climate adaptation and resilience describe how the federal government and local partners prepare communities, infrastructure,…
View All →Climate change affects every aspect of American governance—from federal spending on disaster recovery to international…
U.S. climate policy involves federal laws, regulations, and international commitments to address greenhouse gas emissions…
U.S. energy policy shapes how Americans power their homes, commute to work, and pay for…
U.S. energy production generates electricity from diverse sources, including natural gas, coal, solar, wind, and…
Environmental health and justice ensures fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of…
Environmental protection in the United States relies on a network of federal agencies, laws, and…
Hazardous materials and waste include substances that pose risks to health and the environment. These…
America's land and soil form the foundation of federal environmental, agricultural, and economic policies. Multiple…
Natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and winter storms impact communities across the United…
For most USPS issues, call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777), an automated toll-free line available 24/7 for general…
The federal government has set an ambitious sustainability agenda to cut greenhouse gases across its…
View All →Water is essential to every American community, from drinking water supplies to agriculture and industry.…
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is a vast agency responsible for managing America's natural resources, cultural heritage, and…
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is a Cabinet-level department of the federal government responsible for overseeing America's vast…
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) is the federal agency charged with promoting economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development…
In 1970, the United States government created the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to unify its weather, climate, and…
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a U.S. scientific agency with a broad mission that touches daily life,…
Our planet's climate is changing faster than at any point in modern history. As we look ahead to the next…
When a weather forecast says there's a "30% chance of rain," many people misinterpret what that actually means. Some think…
The weather forecast often includes terms like "weather watch" and "weather warning," which can sometimes cause confusion. Understanding the distinction…