Union of Concerned Scientists

News Media Help ExxonMobil, Koch Bros. Spread Climate Disinformation

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The U.S. news media routinely fail to inform the public about the fossil fuel industry funders behind climate change contrarian think tanks, according to a new UCS investigation.

Congress Should Prioritize Modern, “Healthy Farm” Practices When Farm Bill Debate Re-Starts This Month

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

A policy brief and interactive web feature released today by UCS shows how several key agriculture practices can benefit American farmers, consumers and the environment.

McCarthy Vote Boycotted: Lawmakers Urged to Quickly Reschedule Vote

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee are boycotting a committee voting session on President Barack Obama's choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

World Leaders Lack Political Will to Make Progress at Climate Negotiations in Bonn

Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The first climate negotiation meeting of 2013 ended today with some progress but little narrowing of major differences.

Draft Nuke Waste Bill Ignores Current Storage Safety Issues at Plants

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Four senators released a draft nuclear waste bill today that failed to address current storage safety issues at nuclear power plants around the country.

Coastal cities discuss how to prepare for rising sea levels

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Six months after Hurricane Sandy lashed the East Coast, officials from coastal communities along the Eastern seaboard sat down for the first time to discuss the hurricane’s consequences and how to best protect their residents from sea level rise.

UCS Climate Preparedness Forum in Fresno April 15

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

UCS Climate Preparedness Forum in Fresno April 15

As Farm Bill Drafting Starts Anew, Congress Should Prioritize Healthy Food and Farm Programs

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Today, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will re-introduce the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act.

UCS Tells EPA: No More Food for Fuel

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce competition between food and fuel as it implements the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Federal Judge Rules Emergency Contraception “Plan B” Can Be Sold Over the Counter to All Women Of Child-Bearing Age

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

A federal judge ruled today that women of all ages should be able to purchase the emergency contraception pill Plan B, over the counter.

Ohio Senator Compares Renewable Policy to Communism

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Ohio state Sen. Bill Seitz told the Wall Street Journal that the state’s renewable energy standard reminded him of “Joseph Stalin’s five-year plan.”

Lower Tailpipe Emissions Will Lead to Cleaner Air, More Jobs

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The Obama administration’s proposed plan for reducing harmful tailpipe emissions from passenger vehicles is a huge step forward toward cleaning our country’s air and creating jobs, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said today.

Warmer Springs Affect Snow, Plants, Animals, Allergies

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Warmer springs are leading to declines in snow cover, changes to species’ biological clockwork, and longer and more intense allergy seasons, according to scientists who spoke at a telephone press conference convened by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) earlier today.

Union of Concerned Scientists Expert to Testify at Kalamazoo Energy Forum

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

UCS's Steve Frenkel will call for Governor Rick Snyder (R) and the legislature to extend and strengthen the state’s clean energy policies at the governor’s energy forum today.

National Research Council Study Charts Course to a Half the Oil Future

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

An important National Research Council study released today concludes that the right policies and a wide variety of automotive technologies can significantly reduce our nation’s oil use and heat-trapping emissions in the coming decades.

EPA Projects Highest Ever Fuel Economy in 2012, But It’s Just the Beginning

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is projecting model year 2012 cars and truck will have the highest ever real-world average fuel economy, according to the agency’s annual trends report released today. Based on preliminary data, the report estimates that model year 2012 cars and trucks will average 23.8 miles per gallon (mpg), 1.2 mpg higher than the previous peak of 22.6 in 2010 and a growth of 1.4 mpg over the 2011 average of 22.4 mpg.

Limited Access to Scientists Persists Under Obama

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Some federal science agencies are doing a better job ensuring journalists and federal scientists can freely communicate than they were four years ago, but too many agencies still fail to ensure scientists’ First Amendment rights, according to a new scorecard.

Four Year Later, a Mixed Bag of Scientific Integrity Policies

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Federal agencies have made great strides in establishing new scientific integrity policies, but four years after they started this process a new analysis from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) finds that agencies were inconsistent and sometimes lackluster in their approach.

NRC Still Inconsistent in Maintaining Nuclear Plant Safety, Report Finds

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The Union of Concerned Scientists' third annual review of nuclear plant safety, "The NRC and Nuclear Power Plant Safety in 2012: Tolerating the Intolerable," finds fault with the NRC's performance last year.

California Energy Crisis Case Names Koch, Shows Need For Diverse Portfolio

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The 2000 California energy crisis shows that decisionmakers should ensure a portfolio of clean energy types as a better protection against shortages and high prices, and a mix of renewable energy supplies will protect against manipulations and fuel cut off.

Michigan Governor Hearings on Energy Future Must Lead to Policy in 2014

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) recently announced that he will use 2013 to initiate a conversation about energy policy before proposing legislative policies in 2014.

FERC Inquiry on Natural Gas Reliance

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Union of Concerned Scientists weighs in as FERC holds a meeting with officials from electricity generation companies to discuss the over-reliance on natural gas.

President Says Nation Should Heed Science, Act on Climate Change

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

UCS responds to President Obama's State of the Union address, which included comments on climate and energy.

NRC should reject calls to weaken & slow down safety upgrades

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

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Energy Efficiency and Renewables Best Alternatives for Replacing Duke’s Florida Coal and Nuclear Plants

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The Union of Concerned Scientists has issued reports showing that energy efficiency and renewables are the best alternatives for replacing Duke’s coal and nuclear plants in Florida.

Drivers Spend Almost as Much on Gas as They Paid for Their Cars

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Most Americans are likely to spend almost as much on gasoline over the life of their vehicle as its original cost but could save thousands with a fuel-efficient vehicle, according to a new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which also found most drivers see their oil company stock grow less than a penny a year from their own fill-ups.

New EPA Rules Over-rely on Food Crop Biofuels

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released proposed biofuel mandate volumes for 2013. The new requirements used so-called “advanced” food-based biofuels such as biodiesel and sugarcane to make up for a shortfall in cleaner cellulosic biofuels, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). The volume requirements were adopted under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which was designed to promote renewable fuels that don’t compete with food supplies.

Obama Pledges to Lift Restrictions on Gun Research

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

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Task Force: Lift Federal Gun Violence Research Restrictions

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

According to media reports, a task force led by Vice President Joe Biden has recommend lifting restrictions on federally funded scientific research regarding gun violence. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is urging the Obama Administration and Congress to embrace that recommendation.

Federal Advisory Committee Releases Draft National Climate Assessment

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The United States Global Change Research Program released its draft National Climate Assessment today, just a week after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed the United States experienced its warmest year on record.

Georgia Power Announces Closure of Power Plants Science Group Identified As Ripe For Retirement

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Georgia Power has announced the closure of coal-fired generating units that the Union of Concerned Scientists, in November, identified as ripe for retirement.

Survey of FDA Scientists Reveals Food Safety Concerns

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

After a year of delay, the Food and Drug Administration is releasing new food safety rules today that will cover fruit and vegetable farms and food processors.

New Year’s Day Farm Bill Extension a Giant Step Backward

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

UCS weighs in on the 11th hour ‘fiscal cliff’ Farm Bill extension deal passed late last night.

Early Draft of International Climate Science Report Posted Online

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Yesterday, a blogger who had signed up to review a forthcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on climate science posted unauthorized drafts online.

Negotiators Fail to Deliver at Doha Climate Summit

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600

“For all of the nations wrestling with the new reality of climate change – which includes the United States – the U.N. climate change summit in Doha failed to deliver the goods,” said Alden Meyer, UCS’s director of strategy and policy.

Report Warns World is Off Track on Warming

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600

A string of recent reports paint a clear picture that the world is not on track to fulfill leaders’ stated goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees C (3.6 F) above pre-industrial levels, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

Organic Dairy Farms Benefit Farmers and Local Economies, Report Finds

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600

The organic dairy sector provides more economic opportunity and generates more jobs in rural communities than conventional dairies, according to a report released today by UCS.

UCS report finds As much as 18 percent of the country’s coal generating capacity should be considered for closure

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600

A Union of Concerned Scientists report found that as much as 18 percent of the country’s coal generating capacity (59 GW) should be considered for closure because the generators will likely be more expensive to run -- after being upgrade with modern pollution controls -- than switching to natural gas or wind power.

California launches cap-and-trade program

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600

California becomes the first in the nation to kick off an economy-wide, cap-and-trade program aimed at significantly reducing carbon emissions that cause climate change.

Michigan Renewable Energy Ballot Initiative Fails

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600

A significant percentage of Michigan voters cast ballots in favor of a stronger state renewable electricity standard, despite a well-funded disinformation campaign orchestrated by coal burning utilities and out of state opponents of renewable energy, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

More Than 200 Academic, Professional Experts Support 25 Percent Renewable Energy for Michigan

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

More than 200 academics, scientists and experts in Michigan have signed an open letter in support of ramping up Michigan’s renewable electricity standard to 25 percent by 2025.

Hurricane Sandy Underscores Climate Change Threat to Coasts

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

As Hurricane Sandy dissipates and recovery efforts begin, people are asking what role climate change plays in influencing such storms.

NRC Has Failed to Adequatedly Address Flood Risks from Dam Failures at Nuclear Plants

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Details of a censored Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) report show that the risk of a flooding accident at U.S. nuclear power plants appears to be greater than previously thought.

U.S. Biomass Has Huge Potential for Renewable Energy

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Non-food crops, farm residues and waste -- collectively known as “biomass” -- have the power to dramatically increase our nation’s renewable energy supply, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) concluded in a report released today.

Florida scientists, city and county officials ask presidential candidates to address sea level rise

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

More than 120 city and county officials and scientists in Florida, all of whom are working on issues related to sea level rise, sent a letter to the presidential candidates urging them to discuss how they will address rising sea levels that threaten the state.

House plays politics around Farm Bill

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

House plays politics while imperative Farm Bill in danger of expiring.

Analysis Shows Fox News, Wall Street Journal’ Opinion Pages Heavily Misrepresent Climate Science

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is calling on News Corporation to improve the representation of climate science on two of its prominent media holdings, Fox News Channel and the Wall Street Journal’s opinion section, after an analysis showed both heavily distort the facts on the issue.

Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy Spent More Than $1 Billion in 2010 to Import Coal

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy, the largest utilities in Michigan, sent more than $1 billion out of state to import coal in 2010, creating a drain on the state economy, according to a Union of Concerned Scientists report released today.

Seabrook Nuclear Plant Owner Must Investigate Concrete Damage

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The C-10 Research and Education Foundation and the Union of Concerned Scientists today asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to require the owner of the Seabrook nuclear plant in New Hampshire to address potentially serious concrete degradation problems at the facility.

NRC Missile Defense Report Concedes Decoys Will Foil System

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The National Research Council (NRC) today released a report that calls for expanding ground-based U.S. missile defense but acknowledges that decoys and other countermeasures can foil the system. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), the U.S. government should not expand the program unless and until it can be demonstrated to address this serious shortcoming.