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Pluvial flood impacts and policyholder responses throughout the United States
Pluvial floods pose a significant threat to properties, yet comprehensive impact analysis is hindered by data limitations on pluvial inundation. To assess pluvial flood impacts, we leveraged U.S. flood insurance claims and policy records for a subset of properties outside 100-year floodplains, streamflow records, and nationwide precipitation data, enabling us to distinguish damage claims caused by pluvial floods over 1978–2021. Strikingly, 87.1% of the claims analyzed from this subset were due to pluvial floods. Utilizing these pluvial flood claims unveiled distinct regional patterns of pluvial impacts across the contiguous U.S. These patterns are informed by the relationship between claim frequency and precipitation within each region. Remarkably, despite the pervasiveness of impacts, many states are seeing declining uptake in pluvial flood insurance coverage. Our study highlights regions facing heightened pluvial flood risks and underscores the critical need for enhanced consideration of pluvial inundation within risk management frameworks.
Automated fact-checking of climate claims with large language models
Accurate identification of true versus false climate information in the digital age is critical. Misinformation can significantly affect public understanding and policymaking. Automated fact-checking seeks to validate claims against trustworthy factual data. This study tackles the challenge of fact-checking climate claims by leveraging the currently most capable Large Language Models (LLMs). To this end, we introduce Climinator, an acronym for CLImate Mediator for INformed Analysis and Transparent Objective Reasoning. It significantly boosts the performance of automated fact-checking by integrating authoritative, up-to-date sources within a novel debating framework. This framework provides a trustworthy and context-aware analysis incorporating multiple scientific viewpoints. Climinator helps identify misinformation in real time and facilitates informed dialog on climate change, highlighting AI’s role in environmental discussions and policy with reliable data.
Redefining antibody patent protection using paratope mapping and CDR-scanning
Enablement requirement for antibodies Central to any US patent strategy is fulfillment of the enablement requirement outlined in 35 USC §112(a), which mandates that patent…
Assessing airline communication for voluntary carbon offsets
Airlines offer voluntary carbon offsetting (VCO) programmes in response to growing climate action demands. However, these programmes face scrutiny over potential greenwashing in communication. This study uses a two-step approach to examine the communication practices of 32 airlines across Asia, Europe, and North America. The content analysis assesses accessibility, transparency, and flexibility in communications, focusing on emphasizing not just the content but also how easily travellers can find, understand, and engage with VCO information. The interpretive analysis identifies misleading practices. Findings reveal diverse practices, regional variations, and differing transparency levels. While some airlines provide detailed communication, others use misleading tactics such as vagueness and selective disclosure. Notably, a third of the airlines did not offer VCO programmes, with many shifting towards sustainable aviation fuels. The results underscore the need for standardized regulations for VCO communication to enable travellers to make informed decisions in the evolving landscape of airline environmental responsibility.
The “Future of Energy”? Building resilience to ExxonMobil’s disinformation through disclosures and inoculation
Disinformation campaigns can significantly impact beliefs about climate change. This study involved an online experiment with 1045 U.S. participants, exposing them to a misleading ExxonMobil advertisement, some with disclosures and others preceded by inoculation messages. Participants were divided into five conditions: a control group, a group exposed to pre-bunking messages from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and groups shown social media posts featuring the ad—with or without disclosures—claiming ExxonMobil’s commitment to renewable energy. Results showed the ad effectively influenced beliefs, but disclosures helped participants recognize the content as advertising, and inoculation messages reduced susceptibility, though not entirely. These findings highlight the value of using disclosures and inoculation to counter climate disinformation, providing a foundation for communication strategies that support climate action.
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