Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing by the Global Climate and Health Alliance argues that climate change and biodiversity loss are the primary global health threats of the 21st century, but that integrating health into climate policy presents a significant opportunity to reduce emissions and improve public health. It details the direct and indirect health risks of warming—including heat-related mortality, air pollution, infectious disease spread, and food system collapse—while highlighting that the health co-benefits of decarbonisation and meeting Paris Agreement goals can substantially offset the economic costs of climate action.

This policy brief by RMI examines the economic competitiveness of renewable energy versus natural gas in Texas, specifically analyzing the impact of the expired Chapter 313 tax incentive program and proposed legislation (HB 5) that would exclude renewables from its successor.

The report examines the regulatory and economic landscape for renewable energy in Nigeria, arguing that while immediate economic and security crises may limit large-scale public climate investment, the government can achieve 'easy wins' by reinstating fiscal incentives for solar products and leveraging existing agricultural and infrastructure programs to advance the energy transition.

This report by the NewClimate Institute reviews the current state of planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) import capacities in Germany, comparing assessments from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the Energy Economics Institute at the University of Cologne (EWI). The author argues that planned expansions are oversized, pose climate risks, and create economic dangers through potential stranded assets.

This fact sheet by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the state of energy markets one year after the invasion of Ukraine, detailing the European Union's rapid reduction of Russian gas imports, the acceleration of the global energy transition toward renewables, and the financial impacts of energy sanctions on Russia and high fuel prices on global consumers.

An analysis by Ember reporting that wind and solar growth in the EU saved €12 billion in avoided gas costs in the year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while helping the EU reduce its reliance on Russian gas imports from 40% to 16%.

This report by RMI argues for reframing the concept of 'green jobs' from a simple tradeoff between fossil fuel losses and clean energy gains toward a broader vision of 'regenerative capitalism' and the 'Great Regeneration' to address global inequality and economic instability.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics argues that the current global cost of living crisis is driven by fossil fuel price volatility, particularly natural gas, rather than the transition to net zero. It posits that accelerating the adoption of renewables, improving energy efficiency, and electrifying heating and transport are the most effective long-term solutions to reduce energy costs, enhance energy security, and lower emissions.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) provides a critique of the 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA), arguing that the government is increasingly relying on the private sector to deliver key infrastructure and manage the energy transition, which the IEJ claims undermines state capacity and affordability for the poor.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute examines China's transition away from financing overseas coal projects following its 2021 pledge. It argues that China possesses a significant comparative advantage in renewable energy due to its dominance in global manufacturing and supply chains, making renewables a more viable and sustainable investment path than natural gas, where China lacks domestic market maturity and technical export capacity.

The report 'Coal Cost Crossover 3.0' analyzes the economic viability of existing coal-fired power plants in the United States compared to new renewable energy alternatives. Using 2021 data and accounting for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the study finds that nearly all coal plants are more expensive to operate than replacing them with wind or solar, particularly when resources are sited locally to leverage existing grid interconnections and energy community tax credits.

This report analyzes the economic returns of 10 water retention projects in the Seine, Rat, and Roseau watersheds of Manitoba, Canada, finding that these projects provide significant co-benefits for livestock farm operations and the local watershed.

An updated analysis by RMI comparing the economic and environmental impacts of all-electric versus mixed-fuel single-family new construction across nine US cities.

This briefing from the Africa Policy Research Institute argues that the global decarbonisation agenda presents both socio-economic risks and industrial opportunities for Africa. It advocates for an 'African Green deal' to leverage the continent's mineral resources for economic diversification and industrialisation, rather than remaining a source of raw materials for the global energy transition.

This briefing by RMI argues that integrating urban nature—such as forests, street trees, and bodies of water—into city planning reduces greenhouse gas emissions, lowers energy costs, and improves equity. The document highlights that the global value of urban nature's benefits is nine times the costs, and it calls for a significant increase in annual investment to reach a potential $2 trillion in annual net benefits by 2030.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics argues that the global energy crisis is driven by fossil fuel volatility rather than clean energy policies. It asserts that natural gas is incompatible with Paris Agreement climate goals and that renewable energy is now a more cost-effective and secure alternative for power generation globally, including in Africa.

This policy brief by RMI argues that the European Union must utilize the European Hydrogen Bank and targeted subsidies to mitigate market and first-mover risks to accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen. The document suggests that strategic public investment can unlock hundreds of billions in private capital, ensuring energy security and sustainability for industrial and transport sectors.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that Canada can enhance its energy security by transitioning from volatile fossil fuel markets to a renewable-based electrified system. It asserts that wind and solar are now more cost-effective than gas or coal and that Canada's existing hydroelectric capacity provides the necessary flexibility to integrate variable renewable energy without compromising grid reliability.

This report by RMI analyzes the economic and technical feasibility of electrifying mid-sized office buildings (approximately 50,000 square feet) that utilize packaged rooftop units (RTUs). The study demonstrates that cost-effective electrification retrofits exist across diverse US cities when tailored to regional climate conditions and gas utility rates, often requiring a combination of heat pumps, efficiency upgrades, and on-site solar.

This October 2022 briefing by Global Energy Monitor warns that the global trend of replacing coal-fired power plants with gas-fired capacity threatens climate goals and creates significant stranded asset risks. The report argues that the 'bridge fuel' narrative is undermined by methane leakage, volatile gas prices, and the superior economics of renewables with storage.