Common Resources

RFF on the Issues: EPA’s Clean Power Plan

RFF researchers on the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants Today, the Obama administration proposed a new rule to reduce emissions from existing power plants, using EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy commented: “The glue that holds this plan together, and the key to making it work, is […]

This Week in the RFF Library Blog

Each week, we review the papers, studies, reports, and briefings posted at the “indispensable” RFF Library Blog, curated by RFF Librarian Chris Clotworthy. A Carbon Tax in Broader U.S. Fiscal Reform [From Foreward] This report by Adele Morris and Aparna Mathur, economists with the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute respectively, examines the issues […]

Resources Magazine: Private Funding of Public Parks, Assessing the Role of Philanthropy

With private donations making up an increasingly large share of city parks’ revenue, Margaret A. Walls explores the downsides of a heavy dependence on philanthropy. In 2012, a hedge fund manager made headlines by donating $100 million to the Central Park Conservancy, the largest gift in the park’s history. Though the gesture was initially applauded, […]

Conservation Return on Investment Analysis: Three Case Studies

An increasing number of conservation projects designed to address ecological management, protection, and restoration are being judged based on the investment returns they are able to produce. The costs, benefits, and risks of these projects can all be assessed using conservation return on investment (ROI) analysis, a method to help conservancies prioritize possible programs based […]

This Week in the RFF Library Blog

Each week, we review the papers, studies, reports, and briefings posted at the “indispensable” RFF Library Blog, curated by RFF Librarian Chris Clotworthy. BLM Failed to Inspect Vulnerable Oil Wells, Relied on Outdated Rules and Guidance : GAO The government has failed to inspect thousands of oil and gas wells it considers potentially high risks […]

Resources Magazine: Surveying American Attitudes toward Climate Change

Despite the fact that the nation’s leaders continue to debate the existence of global warming, the American public appears to be nearly united on the topic—and has been for quite some time. According to a survey conducted by RFF, Stanford University, and USA Today, 73 percent of Americans say that the world’s temperature has been going […]

RFF on the Issues: Managing Coastal Flooding Risks; Ice Sheet Collapse

Managing Coastal Flooding Risks Alabama port cities, such as Mobile, have the potential to be devastated by “as much as 25 feet of water” from rising seas, according to federal studies. However, local governments can “adopt land use strategies that manage risks effectively,” writes RFF’s Carolyn Kousky. For example: “More flexible property rights, such as rolling […]

RFF on the Issues: The US National Climate Assessment

RFF researchers on emissions, sea level, ecosystems, water, adaptation, and poverty Last week, the US Global Change Research Program released the National Climate Assessment, which concluded “that the evidence of human-induced climate change continues to strengthen and that the impacts are increasing across the country.” In a statement about the assessment, RFF Vice President for […]

RFF ON THE ISSUES: Looking ahead with Exelon; CSAPR authority upheld

Looking Ahead with Exelon Energy provider Exelon has announced its purchase of Washington-based Pepco, forming a “large electric and gas utility in the Mid-Atlantic region” to service about 10 million customers. On Tuesday, May 13, Exelon CEO and President Chris Crane will join RFF President Phil Sharp for an RFF Policy Leadership Forum to discuss […]

Understanding the IPCC: An Important Follow-Up

This post originally appeared on Robert Stavins’s blog, An Economic View of the Environment. A week ago, I wrote at this blog about my recent frustrations with the government approval process of one part of the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) Working Group III […]