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The report highlights a critical gap in US public health policy: the lack of comprehensive, science-based indoor air quality (IAQ) guidelines. While the US regulates outdoor air via the Clean Air Act, indoor environments—where people spend approximately 90% of their time—remain largely unregulated. The document details how pollutants like nitrogen dioxide from gas stoves and wildfire smoke exacerbate health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. It reviews existing international models from the WHO and Health Canada, and limited US efforts in states like California and Texas. RMI recommends that the EPA use its authority under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) to develop federal guidelines, which could then inform building codes, product safety standards, and electrification efforts to reduce combustion pollution.

The document argues that city officials face challenges in building decarbonization due to inconsistent definitions of Net Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEBs) and Zero-Carbon Buildings (ZCBs). It highlights that NZEBs often neglect embodied emissions—those released during material extraction, construction, and demolition—and advocates for the use of carbon-based life-cycle assessments (LCA) to achieve true zero carbon emissions. The guide recommends specific LCA tools such as openLCA, One Click LCA, Tally, and the EC3/Embodied Carbon Calculator, while noting that technical expertise and data quality remain barriers. Additionally, it lists several global resources and policy toolkits, including the Global Roadmap for Buildings and Construction 2020-2050 and the Carbon Leadership Forum Policy Toolkit, to help cities implement regulatory, economic, and fiscal instruments for decarbonization.

The report finds that heat pumps are the lowest-cost heating and cooling option for most Canadian households over the system's lifetime, though adoption is hindered by high upfront costs, information gaps, and structural barriers for renters. It recommends streamlining rebates, establishing one-stop shop services, and updating building codes to include cooling requirements.

The report finds that heat pumps are the most economical heating and cooling option for the majority of Canadian households over their system life cycle, particularly in cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax. Despite this economic advantage, adoption remains low due to behavioral, economic, and structural barriers, including high initial costs, lack of consumer confidence, and complex government rebate programs. The document argues that heat pumps are critical for both decarbonizing residential buildings and increasing resilience against extreme heat, which has caused significant mortality in regions like British Columbia. It recommends that governments maintain financial supports, simplify application processes through 'one-stop shops', implement indoor maximum temperature limits in building codes, and mandate high-efficiency, non-polluting systems in new constructions where electrically-powered heating is most cost-effective.

The report examines the financial and energy impacts of the US Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Agriculture (USDA) proposing to adopt the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). It highlights that transitioning to the 2021 IECC could reduce energy consumption by 27% and save $14,536 in life cycle costs per single-family home. The analysis emphasizes that all-electric homes are cheaper to build and operate than gas-powered homes, and that the Inflation Reduction Act's 45L tax credit—offering up to $5,000 for Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH) and $2,500 for ENERGY STAR certification—makes high-efficiency construction financially viable, particularly in the Southeast US.

The June 2021 heatwave in British Columbia was the deadliest disaster in the province's history, resulting in 619 heat-related deaths. The report estimates the economic value of these lost lives at 5.5 billion CAD using the value of a statistical life. Key vulnerabilities identified include a lack of mechanical cooling in residential and public buildings, inadequate urban canopy, and institutional failures in emergency coordination and early warning systems. Economic impacts extended to agriculture, where producers lost at least 25 million CAD in revenue, and the labor market, with significant productivity losses. Future projections suggest that without adaptation, heat-related hospitalizations could reach 6,000 per year by 2030, and annual heat-related deaths could average 1,370 by 2030. The report recommends prioritizing mechanical cooling, urban greening, updating building codes, and improving the precision and lead time of weather warnings to three days.

The June 2021 heat wave in British Columbia was the deadliest disaster in the province's history, resulting in 619 direct heat-related deaths. The report estimates the societal cost of these lives lost at $5.5 billion using the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL) metric. Beyond mortality, the event caused $12 million in healthcare costs, significant agricultural revenue losses (at least $25 million), and disruptions to electricity and transportation infrastructure. Vulnerabilities were exacerbated by a lack of mechanical cooling in homes, inadequate urban greening, and institutional failures in disaster response and communication. The report argues that without adaptation, heat-related hospitalizations could double by 2030 and annual deaths could average 1,370 by 2030. Key recommendations include updating building codes for mechanical cooling, increasing urban forest canopies, improving weather warning lead times to three days, and implementing independent public reviews of disaster responses.

The document argues that major carbon producers are responsible for a significant portion of the increasing wildfire risk in western North America. It attributes 48% of the rise in fire-danger conditions since 1901 and 37% of the cumulative burned forest area since 1986 to emissions from 88 major fossil fuel and cement companies. In California, wildfires between 2017 and 2021 caused over $21 billion in economic damages and released an average of 53 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent annually. The report calls for corporate accountability, legal access to justice, and state-level policies to reduce emissions, improve forest health, and protect vulnerable communities.

The report examines the opportunity to phase out residential central air conditioners in Canada in favor of heat pumps. It argues that because the two technologies are mechanically similar, a market transformation strategy could bypass significant adoption barriers. The authors project that installing heat pumps instead of central air conditioners from 2025 to 2035 would result in C$12.6 billion in net benefits, including C$10.4 billion in energy bill savings and a reduction of 19.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. The document identifies barriers such as low consumer familiarity, high upfront costs, and emergency replacement cycles, and proposes implementation routes including national equipment mandates, building code updates, and upstream incentives for distributors.

The report examines the potential for decarbonizing Canada's residential building sector by replacing central air conditioners with heat pumps. It identifies five primary barriers to adoption—lack of familiarity, the infrequent nature of HVAC replacement, short decision windows during emergencies, limited stock, and higher initial costs. The authors model a scenario where all new central air conditioners are replaced by heat pumps from 2025 to 2035, projecting a net benefit of 12.6 billion CAD, including 10.4 billion CAD in energy bill savings and a reduction of 19.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The document proposes several policy interventions, including national equipment regulations, updated building codes, and upstream incentives for distributors and manufacturers, while highlighting the importance of energy justice for low-income tenants and vulnerable populations.

The February 2023 earthquakes in southern Türkiye and northern Syria caused massive loss of life and displacement, including a collective trauma for the Turkish Cypriot community after a school volleyball team from Famagusta perished. While the disaster initially sparked empathy and solidarity from Greek Cypriots, political tensions regarding recognition and sovereignty quickly impeded structured cooperation. The authors argue that Cyprus remains vulnerable to natural disasters and should utilize UN-established Technical Committees and EU disaster resilience frameworks, such as prepEU and rescEU, to develop joint crisis management plans.

The Canadian Climate Institute highlights that while Canada's first Emissions Reduction Plan can meet 2030 obligations, success depends on the 2023 finalization of three key policies: an oil and gas emissions cap, the Clean Electricity Regulation, and carbon pricing improvements. The report emphasizes the need for a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, the implementation of the National Adaptation Strategy, and increased leadership from provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments to mobilize green capital and reduce emissions.

The Canadian Climate Institute outlines a path for Canada to meet its 2030 emission targets, emphasizing the need for a strict oil and gas emissions cap, a clean electricity framework by 2035, and improved carbon pricing certainty via carbon contracts for difference. It notes that these domestic efforts are supported by global trends, such as the EU's Green Deal and the US Inflation Reduction Act, and calls for increased leadership from provinces, territories, and Indigenous governments to ensure a successful energy transition and climate adaptation.

The report argues that while the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) significantly advances U.S. climate goals, it is insufficient on its own to meet the 2030 NDC. Using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), the authors propose a comprehensive set of additional federal, state, and local policies across the electricity, industry, transportation, and building sectors. The electricity sector is identified as the primary driver for 2030 reductions due to its ability to decarbonize faster than sectors limited by slow stock turnover. Proposed measures include a nationwide 80 percent clean electricity standard, stricter tailpipe emissions standards, and the electrification of industrial and building heating. The report estimates that this combined policy pathway would create 2.7 million additional jobs, grow GDP by $700 billion, and avoid 3,900 premature deaths by 2030.

The report analyzes the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on the U.S. building sector, highlighting its potential to reduce annual emissions by 32 to 33 million metric tons of CO2e by 2030. It details various residential rebates (HEEHRA, HOMES), tax credits (25C, 25D, 45L), and commercial incentives (179D), while emphasizing that these must be paired with stricter appliance standards and updated building codes to overcome slow stock turnover. The document provides specific implementation guidance for State Energy Offices and utility regulators to ensure an equitable transition, particularly for low-to-moderate-income households.

The report examines the role of the buildings sector in global GHG emissions, which account for 37% of energy-related emissions. It identifies key technical solutions for decarbonization, including reducing embodied carbon in materials and improving operational efficiency in heating and cooling. The document evaluates various financial instruments—ranging from traditional mortgages to specialized on-bill financing—and policy tools like building codes and green labels. It emphasizes that the transition requires a network of instruments tailored to different building archetypes and regional contexts, providing specific deep dives into the unique challenges and opportunities in Nigeria and Indonesia.

The document highlights the vulnerability of Canadian infrastructure to climate change, noting that current construction often relies on outdated climate data. It proposes four key actions: improving climate risk information, integrating climate considerations into all government infrastructure decisions, requiring risk disclosure from owners and investors, and increasing financial support for municipalities to fund resilience projects.

The document argues that electrifying homes and businesses is a critical pathway to net-zero emissions, noting that these buildings account for 13% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. It highlights high-efficiency heat pumps, smart thermostats, and weatherization as key upgrades that can reduce emissions and lower utility bills. The brief emphasizes that while individual actions are important, systemic support through government incentives, building codes, and financing is necessary to overcome barriers, particularly for low-income households and renters in multifamily housing.

The report identifies significant climate risks to Canadian infrastructure, including permafrost degradation in the North and flooding in coastal and urban areas. It recommends a whole-of-society approach combining climate-informed planning, structural changes, and natural infrastructure solutions. While federal initiatives like the Climate Lens and the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund provide a foundation, the report argues for greater investment to close an infrastructure gap estimated up to CAD 1 trillion and the adoption of more diverse sustainable finance mechanisms.

The report identifies that Canada's physical infrastructure is the country's most significant climate risk zone, facing threats from extreme weather, permafrost degradation, and sea-level rise. It details specific vulnerabilities across transport, buildings, water, wastewater, maritime, and energy/ICT sectors, proposing a combination of structural modifications, improved monitoring, and nature-based solutions. The document evaluates federal initiatives like the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, while highlighting a significant infrastructure deficit, particularly for First Nations communities. It advocates for an integrated, whole-of-society approach that combines scientific data with Indigenous knowledge and diversifies financing through sustainable and risk-based investments.