The success of many payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs is determined, in large part, by programs’ ability to successfully enroll participants. However, underenrollment remains a frequent challenge and little systematized knowledge about the determinants of participation is available. While case studies of PES programs abound, there is less work suggesting trends or lessons that can inform improvements in PES program design or operation to increase enrollment.

Damages resulting from coastal and riverine flooding in the United States exceed $32 billion annually and cause accelerating societal impacts, with disproportionate disruptions to the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable populations. Two approaches for flood risk mitigation include managed retreat from flood-prone areas, implemented in US buyout programs, and the construction of nature-based solutions (NBS).

This StoryMap displays recent LIHEAP data, illustrating typical allocations by state and providing an analysis on the extent to which state-level funding allocations are aligned with low-income home energy expenditure (LIHEE) burdens. The analysis summarizes trends in program funding and coverage, evaluates how state allocations compare to state LIHEE burdens, and analyzes the potential effects of a policy reform currently before Congress.

Resilience is needed for every community to thrive in a world at increased risk of natural disasters. But small and medium-sized communities don’t need expensive analyses or teams of people to get started. Resilience is achievable—even for lean municipal teams—when people, sound governance, and systems thinking are supported by increasingly accessible digital tools that help inform decisions and strengthen community outcomes.

Flexible demand response offers the potential to significantly reduce the amount of new capacity needed to meet rapidly growing electricity demand from data centers over the next 5 to 10 years. Without flexibility, the additional electricity may largely be provided by new gas units; with flexibility, the capacity mix shifts more toward renewables.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is the federal government’s primary tool for addressing energy affordability, distributing billions of dollars to low-income households each year. While LIHEAP has served millions of households for decades, it has faced ongoing criticism for the efficiency, adequacy, and fairness of its funding distribution.

Socially vulnerable communities within the contiguous United States (CONUS) face disproportionate heat exposure, yet how these disparities will change under future warming remains unclear. Although socially vulnerable communities already experience higher air temperatures, high-resolution downscaled climate projections have not been used to assess future exposure disparities under different Global Warming Levels (GWLs).

Water security is the backbone of a healthy society, a prosperous economy, and a resilient environment. The Aspen National Water Strategy—published by the Aspen Institute in partnership with Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab—identifies six interconnected strategies essential to America’s water security.

Smallholder agriculture underpins livelihoods in Kenya, with more than 70% of the rural population relying on farming as their primary source of income. Most of these farmers rely on rainfed production in an environment marked by rising temperatures, increasingly variable rainfall, and frequent economic and climate shocks. Research led by Duke University and the University of Nairobi evaluated the SunCulture model—a Kenyan social enterprise providing small-scale solar irrigation systems bundled with financing and support services.

The study ends with three sets of implications:

Smallholder agriculture underpins livelihoods in Kenya, with more than 70% of the rural population relying on farming as their primary source of income. Most of these farmers rely on rainfed production in an environment marked by rising temperatures, increasingly variable rainfall, and frequent economic and climate shocks. Research led by Duke University and the University of Nairobi evaluated the SunCulture model—a Kenyan social enterprise providing small-scale solar irrigation systems bundled with financing and support services.