Search Climate Insights Directory

The report argues that while Canada has made positive climate commitments, there is a significant investment gap between current budget allocations and the funding required to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. By comparing federal spending with recommendations from expert coalitions, the document identifies critical funding shortages across seven sectors: transport, building retrofits, clean energy, nature and adaptation, agriculture, industry and innovation, and workforce development. It highlights that Canada's per capita climate spending during the pandemic is more than eight times lower than the promises made by the US under Joe Biden. The report calls for the 2021 Budget to prioritize deficit spending on green infrastructure, eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, and implement a just transition for workers, particularly in the coal, oil, and gas sectors.

The document analyzes Canada's 2020 COVID-19 recovery spending, noting a higher commitment to clean energy (CAD 14.7 billion) than fossil energy (CAD 3.6 billion) according to Energy Policy Tracker data. However, it highlights significant transparency gaps regarding credit support from public finance institutions like EDC and BDC. Compared to France, Germany, and the UK, Canada's per capita investment in electric vehicles is lower, while its investment in building retrofits is relatively high. The brief warns that Canada's hydrogen strategy leans toward 'blue hydrogen' (fossil-based) while European peers prioritize 'green hydrogen'. It recommends applying strict 'green strings' to stimulus, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, and aligning ambition with international standards.

The research develops a model to calculate the investment needs for nine Swedish cities to reach climate neutrality by 2030. Using five 'strategy mixes' and three emission forecasts, the study assesses the financial feasibility of these transitions. Preliminary results indicate that while targets are achievable and financially viable, they require significant shifts in food consumption and substantial investments from private citizens, governments, and industry. For example, in Malmö, total mitigation reductions could range from 17% to 51%, with annual per capita investments between 19,790 and 23,765 SEK.

The Canadian Climate Institute asserts that Canada now possesses a credible climate plan capable of meeting its 2030 targets. The centerpiece of this strategy is a nationwide carbon price projected to reach $170/tonne by 2030, which the Institute claims minimizes overall economic costs while driving low-carbon innovation. The plan includes output-based pricing to maintain industrial competitiveness and quarterly rebates to ensure household affordability. While the document notes the inclusion of regulations for fuels, vehicles, and electricity, it identifies the lack of a national adaptation strategy as a current gap in the overall strategy.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development evaluates Canada's new climate plan, highlighting the carbon pricing trajectory, the commitment to a national adaptation plan, and CAD 15 billion in low-carbon economy investments. While acknowledging the plan as a 'good start', the statement emphasizes the need for further just transition policies, increased provincial ambition, and private sector investment to ensure national competitiveness in the global race to net zero.

The document analyzes COVID-19 recovery funding for cities, noting that while USD 1.1 trillion was pledged, the vast majority (USD 916 billion) targeted short-term liquidity rather than long-term climate resilience. It identifies gaps in funding programming and recommends that funders structure instruments for direct city access, utilize project preparation facilities, and leverage city networks to bridge the investment gap for green infrastructure.

The document proposes a federal, state, and local coordinated infrastructure strategy focused on six sectors—mobility, buildings, power, broadband, water, and natural systems—to create a more resilient and equitable America. It emphasizes that cities are essential for the design and delivery of these projects due to their capacity for innovation and understanding of local needs.

RMI proposes four strategic programs to guide US economic recovery toward a zero-carbon future: a large-scale building retrofit program, investments in electrified and sustainable mobility, debt forgiveness tied to emissions reductions, and the creation of a federal facility to finance clean energy and infrastructure.

RMI proposes a green stimulus strategy for the United States focused on four pillars: a national building retrofit program, the electrification and diversification of mobility, debt forgiveness linked to emissions reductions, and the creation of a federal Economic Recovery Facility to finance clean projects.

The author contends that green stimulus is a useful tool for economic recovery but cannot replace the regulatory and pricing mechanisms necessary for deep emissions reductions. While infrastructure projects can create jobs and increase resilience, the specific nature of the COVID-19 recession—which hit service and education sectors harder than construction—means traditional 'shovel-ready' green projects may not address the root of the current economic crisis. The document emphasizes that climate action often provides economic and health benefits regardless of the economic cycle and warns against the notion that climate policy is only justifiable when linked to a crisis.

The We Mean Business coalition calls for governments to integrate a climate and resilience lens into economic stimulus packages and public financial support for companies. The author argues that recovery efforts must avoid 'business-as-usual' and instead incentivize zero-carbon technologies to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Specifically, businesses receiving public assistance should be required to adopt TCFD-aligned risk disclosures, set science-based targets consistent with a 1.5°C temperature limit, and prioritize investments in low-carbon solutions such as building retrofits and renewable energy.

The report frames the climate as a critical infrastructure asset, asserting that the economic costs of inaction—comprising direct physical losses, indirect growth reductions, and market uncertainty—are significantly higher than the costs of preventive climate action. It provides specific financial projections for the United States, noting that value-at-risk for all assets could reach $5.2 trillion under a 4.5°C warming scenario and $17 trillion under a 6.0°C scenario. Conversely, it highlights that targeted investments, such as building retrofits and grid upgrades, offer positive financial returns, and a $50/ton carbon tax could generate $180 billion in annual revenue from 2020-2029 while helping avoid trillions in climate-related costs.

The Drawdown Review 2020 argues that the world can reach Drawdown by the mid-2040s to mid-2060s by scaling existing technologies and practices. The framework categorizes solutions into reducing emission sources, supporting carbon sinks, and improving society. The report emphasizes that the financial benefits of these solutions, with operational savings exceeding implementation costs four to five times over, outweigh the costs of action.

The report finds that Green Public Procurement (GPP) in Canada provides significant benefits over business-as-usual (BAU) scenarios, particularly in reducing operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. By 2035, sustainable procurement for buildings and vehicles could save nearly CAD 2 billion annually in operating costs. While a 'sustainable plus domestic' scenario for steel and cement increases production costs due to the replacement of imports, it generates higher domestic revenue and employment. The report concludes that GPP reduces total emissions and provides substantial savings when measured by the social cost of carbon.

The John Madden Company (JMC) implemented a $7.1 million energy efficiency project for two buildings in Greenwood Village, Colorado, achieving 30 percent energy savings. By utilizing Commercial PACE (C-PACE) financing, JMC overcame the 'split incentive' problem common in leased buildings, as the loan is repaid as a property tax assessment rather than an operating expense. The project bundled high-efficiency rooftop units with shorter-payback measures like advanced submetering and controls to ensure the investment remained cost-neutral for tenants from day one. The C-PACE mechanism allowed for an 18-year simple payback period, reducing risk for the owner because the loan remains attached to the property regardless of ownership changes.

The Carbon-Free City Handbook outlines a strategic framework for cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through immediate, economically viable actions. It categorizes recommendations into buildings, transportation and mobility, electricity, industry, and biological resources, emphasizing the importance of setting bold 100% targets to drive transformational change rather than incremental progress.

The text examines how regional governments and cities can maintain climate ambitions despite national withdrawals from international agreements, such as the US's proposed exit from the Paris Agreement. It highlights the Under2MoU as a global sub-national alliance and details Baden-Württemberg's legal and strategic approach to climate neutrality, while noting that regional success remains dependent on supportive national and EU frameworks.

The report examines the progress of decarbonisation across three global energy sectors. It highlights the rapid growth of wind and solar power, the emerging scale of electric vehicle sales, and the relative lag in the buildings sector despite available technological solutions.

The Transformation to Zero Summit, convened by RMI, NBI, and Architecture 2030, identified key strategies to transition the building sector to zero carbon by 2050. The group prioritized generating demand across specific real estate sectors, driving national models for reach codes and standards, and addressing embodied carbon and workforce training. The organizers plan to conduct a gap analysis of their respective activities to operationalize these goals and develop a comprehensive aligned strategy.

The RMI Community Energy Resource Guide offers a structured process for local governments to transition to clean energy. It outlines a 6-to-12-month planning cycle involving stakeholder collaboration, data baselining, and the selection of sector-specific tactics. The guide details strategies across four primary domains: buildings, electricity supply, transportation, and industry, while emphasizing the role of 'broad enablers' like Green Banks and updated utility regulatory models to scale implementation.