Search Climate Insights Directory

The briefing proposes "clean repowering" as a strategy to overcome the US grid interconnection backlog, which currently sees over 2 TW of clean energy projects delayed. By utilizing existing interconnection points through surplus interconnection or generator replacement processes, the time to reach commercial operation can be reduced from an average of five years to less than one year. RMI analysis suggests this could deploy 250 GW of new clean energy, saving regulated utilities $46 billion over 30 years and reducing US carbon emissions by 25 percent relative to business as usual through 2035. The document highlights Xcel Energy's Sherco project in Minnesota as a model for this transition, combining solar, storage, and workforce retention.

The document assesses the viability of Canada's planned LNG expansion, concluding that it is incompatible with 1.5°C global warming targets and economically precarious. It highlights that new facilities would increase domestic emissions and divert clean energy resources. Economically, the brief warns of a global supply glut by 2030, with Canadian projects struggling to compete against lower-cost producers in Qatar and the United States, thereby risking significant losses for taxpayers and investors.

The report finds that while burning hydrogen in power plants is technically feasible, it is likely not a cost-effective solution for bulk power production or load following. The authors highlight significant inefficiencies, such as a 24% round-trip efficiency for electrolytic hydrogen, and high costs for necessary geological storage and transport infrastructure. Lifecycle emissions reductions for hydrogen derived from natural gas with carbon capture are limited (averaging 50%) due to upstream methane leaks. The report concludes that clean hydrogen production should be prioritized for heavy industry and transportation rather than the power sector, where clean firm generation (e.g., nuclear, geothermal) or other storage options (e.g., pumped storage hydropower) are generally more economical.

The Ironbound community in Newark, New Jersey, is a vibrant immigrant neighborhood facing significant economic distress, characterized by low median household incomes, high housing cost burdens, and a job market dominated by low-paying service and logistics roles. While employment and average wages have grown since 2015, the community suffers from a mismatch where high-paying jobs are largely filled by non-resident commuters, and residents often work in low-barrier 'Tier 3' occupations that do not provide a living wage. The area also faces environmental burdens from chemical contamination and diesel truck traffic, compounding the social and economic isolation of its residents.

The report details the systemic impacts of plastic pollution on municipal infrastructure, public health, and ecosystems, asserting that a small number of petrochemical and FMCG companies knowingly exacerbated the crisis by promoting inadequate recycling solutions. It provides a guide for government attorneys to use nuisance, products liability, and consumer protection laws to hold these polluters accountable, drawing parallels to successful litigation against the tobacco and PCB industries.

The document assesses the viability of Canadian LNG expansion, concluding that it is incompatible with climate goals and economically precarious. It highlights that new facilities would increase domestic emissions and potentially strand assets due to a projected global supply glut and declining demand in advanced economies. The brief specifically notes that Canadian projects face higher production costs than competitors in Qatar and the United States, making them reliant on substantial public subsidies. It recommends a shift in investment toward green industries to avoid economic shocks and environmental damage.

The report identifies significant barriers to grid battery deployment in South Africa, including an outdated electricity sector framework, insufficient understanding of battery capabilities, and economic challenges related to capital access and revenue stacking. It highlights the potential for local value chain development in lithium-ion and vanadium redox flow batteries, while warning of environmental risks in raw material extraction and the danger of technological lock-in. The authors propose a series of priority actions, including the alignment of national planning documents, the establishment of a market for ancillary services, and the implementation of pragmatic local content requirements in procurement.

The author contends that the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline would undermine China's energy security by increasing dependence on Russia, create unnecessary capital expenditure in an oversaturated market, and conflict with China's goal to peak carbon emissions by 2030.

Germany invested USD 89.12 billion in clean technologies in 2023, representing 29% of total EU investment. While China dominates wind and solar PV, Germany maintains a leadership position in the EU for battery and heat pump manufacture. The document highlights a significant global investment opportunity, with renewable technologies and battery storage potentially reaching USD 5.68 trillion by 2050. However, Germany faces risks from the aggressive industrial policies of the US (such as the Inflation Reduction Act) and China, which may lead companies like Tesla and Northvolt to scale back German operations. The briefing argues that a more robust industrial strategy is required to prevent a repeat of the collapse seen in Germany's solar and wind sectors around 2012 and 2016.

The report argues that while GDP growth suggests sound economic development in Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2020, an analysis of comprehensive wealth reveals an unsustainable path. The country's wealth is heavily skewed toward the petroleum industry, leaving non-oil sectors like agriculture, fisheries, and forestry under-invested. Additionally, human capital has declined globally from 35th in 2009 to 46th in 2018, and financial capital contributes little to overall wealth despite sovereign wealth fund efforts.

The report argues that GDP is an insufficient measure of national progress as it ignores costs to nature and society. By analyzing Indonesia's comprehensive wealth—which includes produced, human, natural, financial, and social capital—the study finds that while Indonesia's comprehensive wealth nearly tripled between 1995 and 2020, its GDP grew at a significantly slower rate, suggesting the country is not fully benefiting from its increasing assets.

Between 1995 and 2020, Ethiopia's comprehensive wealth grew at an average annual rate of 3.3%, with human capital serving as the primary driver. However, real per capita wealth declined in 2018/19 and 2019/20, coinciding with increasing environmental pressures on ecosystems and climate.

The document argues that Mexico's power sector transition requires a shift to entirely renewables-based capacity, estimating investment needs of approximately $180 billion USD for two separate decades leading up to 2040. It highlights the complexity of calculating compensation for the early retirement of fossil gas plants, noting that needs could range from negative values to $9 billion USD depending on the methodology. Finally, it emphasizes that a socially just transition for workers and regions must be country-driven and tailored to specific local contexts through stakeholder engagement.

The document argues that hydrogen blending is neither an economical nor an effective way to decarbonize natural gas users, noting that low-concentration blends provide insignificant emissions reductions and high-concentration blends require significant infrastructure upgrades.

This report analyzes how G20 nations are advancing the bioeconomy, categorizing approaches into biotechnology, bioresources, and bioecology. It highlights the potential for the global bioeconomy to reach US$ 30 trillion by 2050 and emphasizes the need for equitable, biodiversity-regenerative models. The document details technological advancements in biorefineries and bio-based materials, the role of indigenous knowledge, and the importance of sustainable finance and international cooperation to align economic growth with planetary boundaries.

The document assesses the current state of bioeconomy strategies across G20 nations, identifying three primary thematic axes: biotechnology (R&D&I), bioresources (sustainable use of biodiversity), and bio-ecology (sustainable development). It highlights the significant economic potential of the sector, citing estimates that its value could reach US$30 trillion by 2050. The report emphasizes the necessity of integrating indigenous and local knowledge, ensuring social equity, and aligning bioeconomy growth with biodiversity conservation and climate action. It further examines policy enablers such as Green Public Procurement and carbon pricing, and discusses financing mechanisms including nature markets and sustainability-linked bonds. The report concludes by proposing five key themes for the G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy's program of work: integration into growth plans, livelihoods and equity, enabling finance, facilitating biotrade, and measurement methodologies.

The report argues that GDP is an insufficient measure of national success because it ignores the depletion of assets and non-market well-being. By analyzing data from 1995 to 2020 for Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Trinidad and Tobago, the study demonstrates that comprehensive wealth (CW)—which includes natural, human, social, produced, and financial capital—reveals critical sustainability trends invisible to GDP. Key findings include the unsustainable depletion of fossil fuel assets in Trinidad and Tobago, the inefficient management of natural capital in Indonesia, and the critical need for increased agricultural productivity and wealth accumulation in Ethiopia.

The ATOM project seeks USD 12.5 million from the Green Climate Fund to enhance the Cook Islands' health system resilience against climate-sensitive health risks (CSHRs). The initiative focuses on three components: strengthening institutional capacity to integrate climate data into health operations, retrofitting health facilities in the Pa Enua for cyclone and water security, and implementing community outreach and food security programs. The project targets 15,040 direct beneficiaries and aims to reduce the climate-induced health burden, which is estimated to cost the country USD 3.7 million annually.

The report estimates that governments in Los Angeles County will need to spend at least $12.5 billion through 2040 to adapt to climate change, with municipal governments bearing the largest share. The highest costs are associated with stormwater management to mitigate flooding ($4.3 billion) and combating urban heat islands through cool pavements ($2.5 billion) and tree planting ($1.4 billion). The study highlights that these costs disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color, and argues that fossil fuel companies should be held legally accountable for these expenses.

The report analyzes Indonesia's Comprehensive Wealth Index (CWI), which grew by an average of 4.3% annually between 1995 and 2020, driven primarily by human and produced capital. However, real per capita GDP grew more slowly at 2.8%, indicating a declining rate of return on wealth from 6.8% in 1995 to 4.8% in 2020. The study highlights inefficiencies in natural resource management and a lack of investment in renewable energy, suggesting that better asset management could have pushed Indonesia into the World Bank's upper-middle-income category by 2020.