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This guide examines how retail tariff policies and subsidy designs can be used to increase revenues for private mini-grid operators, aiming to make energy access more sustainable and profitable in un-electrified communities.

This RMI briefing examines the economic risks of continuing to invest in natural gas power plants and interstate pipelines in the United States, arguing that falling costs of clean energy portfolios make these investments prone to becoming stranded assets.

This briefing by the NewClimate Institute analyzes the potential monetary costs for the German federal government if greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the transport sector are not met by 2030.

This report analyzes the economic viability of existing U.S. coal-fired power plants compared to new local wind and solar resources. It finds that a significant portion of the U.S. coal fleet is now more expensive to operate than it would be to replace with new renewable energy located within 35 miles of the plants.

This white paper by the Climate Policy Initiative recommends aligning Brazil's Rural Credit policy with the Forest Code to incentivize environmental conservation and agricultural productivity without requiring additional treasury funds.

This white paper by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) proposes aligning Brazil's rural credit system with the 2012 Forest Code to incentivize environmental conservation and agricultural productivity. The authors recommend increasing credit limits for producers who comply with environmental laws, arguing that such a policy can be implemented without additional costs to the National Treasury by redirecting existing funds toward the provision of public goods.

The Mpumalanga Spatial Development Framework (PSDF) is a strategic report designed to guide the province's spatial transformation, aiming to reverse apartheid-era spatial imbalances and promote sustainable, inclusive economic growth. It proposes a polycentric growth management model based on a hierarchy of growth centres and corridors to integrate urban and rural areas.

This research paper examines the political economy of border economies in the SADC region, focusing on the Beitbridge and Chirundu border posts. It analyzes the causes of 'standing time' (truck delays) and the tensions between trade facilitation efforts and the sustainability of local border economies, providing policy recommendations to improve driver wellbeing, support small-scale traders, and diversify border town economies.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues for the use of comprehensive wealth measures—incorporating produced, natural, human, financial, and social capital—alongside GDP to better assess Canada's long-term prosperity and sustainability.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the relationship between energy efficiency and productive efficiency in Brazilian industry from 2003 to 2015. It finds that while individual firms have improved their resource use, the overall market share of the most efficient firms has declined, hindering aggregate productivity. The report argues that Brazil's energy efficiency policies have historically been reactive and focused on the residential sector, neglecting the industrial sector, which is the largest energy consumer.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the state of regional economic development within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It analyzes the decline in intra-regional trade and investment since 2013, the persisting overdependence on primary commodities, and the structural, infrastructural, and political-economic barriers hindering deeper integration. The document evaluates current initiatives, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), while providing case studies on sector diversification in Mozambique, the macadamia nut regional value chain, and transport infrastructure in Tanzania and Namibia.

This research note argues that $2 billion in proposed federal subsidies intended to prevent the retirement of six FirstEnergy coal and nuclear power plants should instead be redirected toward economic transition and workforce development for the affected communities.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues for the mainstreaming of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in South Africa to address risks to food security, water supply, and rural employment. The document proposes a transition toward agro-ecology and conservation agriculture (CA) to restore degraded land and protect strategic water source areas, suggesting that these labour-intensive practices can create new jobs in a 'Catchment Economy' and within the biofuel sector.

This policy brief, prepared by the Institute for Economic Justice for the Labour Caucus in the Jobs Summit Economic Sector Interventions working group, outlines opportunities and policy requirements for transitioning South Africa's manufacturing sector toward a low-carbon economy. It identifies specific growth areas in renewable energy, transport, agriprocessing, water, and the circular economy, while emphasizing the need for a 'just transition' that protects workers and includes the informal economy.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) outlines a strategy for South Africa's transition from a coal-dependent electricity system to a low-carbon model. It emphasizes the need for a 'just transition' to protect vulnerable workers, the urgent need to reform Eskom's business model, and the potential for localizing the manufacturing of renewable energy components to drive economic growth.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) outlines a strategic framework for transitioning South Africa's mining sector toward a low-carbon economy. It addresses the economic risks associated with coal dependency, the need for investment in minerals essential for clean technologies, and proposals for a 'just transition' to protect mineworkers and local communities through reskilling and infrastructure redeployment.

This report by the Centre for Environmental Rights examines the negative environmental and social externalities of coal-fired power generation in South Africa, with a primary focus on water use, pollution, and the associated economic costs. It argues that current energy planning, specifically the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), fails to internalise these costs, leading to a misrepresentation of the total cost of coal compared to renewable energy alternatives.

This policy briefing examines how the EU–SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which entered into force in October 2016, can be leveraged to develop Lesotho's agriculture and agro-processing sectors. While the EPA provides tariff preferences and an EUR 6 million development envelope, Lesotho struggles with low production volumes and stringent EU standards. The author recommends that Lesotho integrate into South African value chains as a stepping stone to the EU market and improve coordination between government and donor programs.

A letter from the Life After Coal Campaign to the South African Minister of Finance, presenting findings from a University of Cape Town Energy Research Centre (ERC) study. The document argues that the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power stations are financially, socially, and environmentally harmful and should not be pursued.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative and Indian School of Business examines the challenges of integrating high levels of renewable energy into India's power grid, specifically focusing on the need for system flexibility and the risk of coal-based assets becoming stranded. The authors propose that converting existing baseload coal plants into flexible plants is a cost-effective short-term solution to provide necessary operational reserves and mitigate financial risks for investors.