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The report by IPEN and CIEL proposes a coordinated international tax on chemical feedstocks (basic chemicals) to generate sustainable funding for the sound management of chemicals and wastes, particularly in developing and transition countries. It argues that current funding mechanisms are inadequate and that the chemical industry must internalize the social and environmental costs of its products in accordance with the polluter pays principle.

This briefing argues that increasing stimulus funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) can address systemic racial and income inequities in the United States by improving energy affordability, creating domestic jobs, and enhancing public health for low-income households.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the air conditioning (AC) sector in Brazil, focusing on the impact of the Zona Franca de Manaus (ZFM) industrial policy. It argues that current tax incentives and the Basic Productive Process (PPB) requirements hinder energy and productive efficiency, leading to products with outdated technology and a deterioration in production indicators between 2003 and 2015.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the air conditioning (AC) sector in Brazil, specifically the impact of the Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM) industrial policy. It finds that despite significant tax incentives, the sector has experienced declines in productive and energy efficiency between 2003 and 2015, lagging behind international peers and the broader Brazilian manufacturing industry. The authors argue that the Basic Production Process (PPB) requirements create distortions and hinder the adoption of efficient technologies, such as inverter compressors, and recommend aligning industrial policy with energy efficiency standards.

RMI urges the California Energy Commission (CEC) to mandate all-electric new construction in the 2022 building energy code cycle to avoid significant carbon emissions and financial waste.

This briefing by RMI discusses how improvements in lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cycle life—specifically the pursuit of batteries capable of lasting a million miles—can enable critical energy transition applications beyond electric vehicles (EVs), including vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services, fast charging, and long-duration energy storage using second-life batteries.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that Caribbean nations can use COVID-19 recovery stimulus to accelerate the transition to distributed energy resources (DERs). By focusing on solar PV, wind, electric vehicles (EVs), and energy efficiency, islands can create immediate jobs to offset pandemic losses while enhancing long-term resilience against climate-related shocks and diversifying economies heavily dependent on tourism.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute provides guidance for Ministries of Finance on integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation into COVID-19 economic recovery packages. It argues that aligning stimulus spending with climate goals can maximize long-term economic gains, create more jobs than traditional investments, and reduce future systemic risks.

The Center for International Environmental Law argues that the oil, gas, and plastic industries are in a state of systemic decline that predates the COVID-19 pandemic, and that government bailouts or regulatory rollbacks will not reverse this trend.

This research note by the Institute for Economic Justice argues for bold, decisive economic interventions in South Africa to mitigate the social and economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors propose a four-pronged strategy focusing on supporting households, protecting workers, sustaining businesses, and transforming the economy to be more equitable and sustainable, while warning against the use of austerity-based reprioritisation to fund these measures.

This report by RMI argues that the global climate should be viewed as a foundational infrastructure asset. It compares the high costs of climate inaction—categorized as direct physical losses, indirect economic growth reductions, and market uncertainty—against the relatively lower costs of preventive investments in energy efficiency, grid modernization, and carbon pricing.

This report outlines the potential for 'undergrid' minigrids in Nigeria, detailing the economic benefits for distribution companies, operators, and communities, and proposing four collaborative business models to implement these projects.

This report analyzes the feasibility and costs of Estonia achieving climate neutrality by 2050. It concludes that the goal is technically and strategically possible, requiring an estimated investment of 17.3 billion euros between 2021 and 2050, with the majority funded by the private sector. The analysis emphasizes that early action in energy efficiency and renewable energy is critical to avoid higher future costs and risks.

This briefing describes the 'Sustainable Infrastructure in the Amazon' project, an initiative by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The project aims to integrate socio-environmental risk assessments into the decision-making and lifecycle of infrastructure projects in Brazil, specifically focusing on the Amazon region, to ensure economic growth does not compromise vital ecosystem services.

This policy brief by RMI argues that the United States can reduce carbon emissions and lower consumer costs by replacing proposed new natural gas power plants with 'clean energy portfolios' consisting of zero-emissions technologies.

This executive summary by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the economic transition of the Berau District in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, from a coal-dependent economy to one based on palm oil. The study finds that shifting from coal to a palm oil mono-crop is unsustainable and risks food security. It recommends a transition plan focusing on RSPO certification, increasing production efficiency, diversifying into other high-value crops like pepper and cocoa, and developing downstream processing refineries to capture added value and increase government revenue.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the scale and impact of fossil fuel subsidies in the United States and globally. It details specific tax provisions and federal funding mechanisms that support the coal, oil, and natural gas industries, arguing that these subsidies are outdated and undermine climate goals. The document also analyzes the 'externalities' of fossil fuel use—societal, health, and environmental costs—that are not reflected in market prices.

This report by Ember (published by Sandbag) analyzes the collapse of lignite profitability in Germany during 2019. It argues that German lignite plants, particularly those built before 1990, have become loss-making due to rising carbon prices and falling power prices, suggesting that the German government should push for early closures with minimal compensation.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) advocates for "subsidy swaps," the process of redirecting government financial support from fossil fuels to clean energy. It argues that while removing fossil fuel subsidies can reduce emissions, a swap is necessary to ensure permanent reductions and provide economic, social, and health benefits. The document analyzes the global context of these shifts and provides case studies from India, Indonesia, Zambia, and Morocco to demonstrate the feasibility of reallocating resources to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the drivers of stressed coal power assets in India and advocates for a 'just transition' that prioritizes workers and communities over the protection of stranded assets.