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The report highlights a pipeline of 38 green infrastructure projects in Indonesia for 2018-2019, ranging from a USD15m solar project to a USD6bn high-speed rail development. It emphasizes the role of green finance, specifically green bonds and the world's first sovereign green sukuk, in bridging a USD150bn infrastructure investment gap. Key sectors identified include low-carbon transport (rail and BRT), renewable energy (geothermal and hydropower), sustainable water and waste management, and the built environment (certified green buildings).

The document analyzes Pune's efforts toward urban sustainability and equity, highlighting the role of civil society organization (CSO) coalitions in collaborating with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). While progress was made in sustainable transport (via the BRTS) and solid waste management (via the SWaCH cooperative), these gains are threatened by fragmented governance, the corporatization of waste, and a shift toward centralized, high-tech infrastructure like the Metro rail. The authors argue that lasting transformation is hindered by the PMC's lack of financial and political autonomy from the state government of Maharashtra.

Bhopal launched India's first fully automated public bicycle sharing (PBS) system in June 2017, featuring 500 bicycles, 60 docking stations, and 11 kilometers of segregated bike lanes. Developed with support from WRI India and the Bhopal Municipal Corporation through a public-private partnership, the system aims to integrate with the Bhopal Bus Rapid Transit System to address the 'last-mile problem'. In its first five months, the system registered over 25,000 users, more than half of whom are women. There are plans to expand the dedicated bike lane network to over 50 kilometers.

The transportation sector accounts for 36% of greenhouse gas emissions in large cities. To address this, the handbook outlines several strategic actions: electrifying municipal fleets, reducing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles through bans or restrictions, managing urban freight emissions, expanding EV charging infrastructure, creating car-free downtown zones, and enhancing public transit and mobility alternatives like bikeshare and pedestrian-friendly streets.

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 New Climate Economy report 'Better Cities, Better Growth: India’s Urban Opportunity' finds that compact cities in India experienced faster economic growth from 2002-2012 than sprawled cities. Smart urban growth could save India between $330 billion and $1.8 trillion annually by mid-century, representing up to 6 percent of GDP. The document identifies three target areas for reform: land regulations, sustainable urban infrastructure (such as bus rapid transit), and the strengthening of urban local governments. It highlights the high costs of car-driven growth, citing Delhi as an example where traffic congestion and air pollution create significant economic and livability crises.

The document details Bogor City's transition toward a low-carbon development trajectory from 2013 to 2016. By utilizing the GreenClimateCities framework, the city established a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and integrated low-emission development strategies (LEDS) into its Regional Medium Term Development Plan for 2015–19. Key initiatives include the revitalization of the Transpakuan bus rapid transit system using compressed natural gas, a 'Walkability Campaign' to expand pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and streetlight retrofitting. The case emphasizes the necessity of political leadership, technical coordination, and international peer-to-peer learning to move from planning to implementation.

The authors contend that current 'business-as-usual' urbanization, characterized by car-oriented infrastructure, leads to high greenhouse gas emissions, economic losses from congestion, and safety risks. They advocate for 'smart urban mobility'—which combines technology with coordinated planning—to 'leapfrog' car-centric development. Examples of successful interventions include Mexico City's Metrobús BRT, Beijing's low emission zone, and Medellín's Metrocable. The document highlights 2015 as a pivotal year due to the finalization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, upcoming climate negotiations, and the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety.

EMBARQ Brasil provided technical assistance to Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Brasilia to design and implement bus rapid transit (BRT) systems. By 2014, 154 kilometers of BRT corridors were launched, reducing commute times by 50 percent for 1.5 million people and improving air quality and road safety. The success of these projects has led to plans for an additional 211 kilometers of BRT networks in these cities.

The document provides a comprehensive review of empirical studies demonstrating that compact, transit-oriented, and walkable urban design leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced infrastructure costs, and increased labor productivity. It highlights specific findings from China, such as the negative energy impacts of 'superblocks' in Jinan and the property value premiums associated with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Beijing and Guangzhou. The report also emphasizes the cost-effectiveness of BRT over light rail and the public health benefits of non-motorized transit, while identifying research gaps in developer-side profit data and the specific productivity effects of density in Chinese cities.

The report argues that low-carbon technology adoption in developing countries requires tailored innovation systems rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. It identifies specific needs for the 'bottom of the pyramid' (energy access), the rising middle class (lifestyle and urban planning), and industrial sectors (efficiency and value chain integration). The authors emphasize that the public sector must mitigate risks through financial support and coordination, while international bodies like the UNFCCC's Technology Mechanism should act as brokers to link finance, R&D, and knowledge sharing.

The Transoeste BRT system in Rio de Janeiro has reduced travel times for 65% of riders by at least half and is projected to save 300,000 tons of CO2 annually by 2016. Supported by EMBARQ, the system improves social inclusion for residents in west Rio and is part of a plan to expand the network to 153 km by 2016.

The document argues that the consumption patterns of the growing middle class in developing countries are a critical determinant of the global ability to limit temperature rise to 2°C. It suggests that because traditional carbon pricing is often difficult to implement in these contexts, targeted technology and innovation policies—focusing on urban planning, transport, and energy efficiency—are necessary. Using case studies on Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the brief emphasizes that success depends on addressing the political economy and building local capabilities rather than relying solely on economic incentives.

The document examines the impact of the growing middle class in developing countries on global carbon emissions, projecting that this group will grow from 1.5 billion in 2009 to almost 5 billion by 2030. It argues that because traditional carbon pricing is often impractical in these contexts, targeted technology and innovation policies are needed to steer consumption toward low-carbon alternatives in urban planning, transport, and household energy. Using case studies on Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the brief emphasizes that success depends on addressing the political economy and building local capabilities rather than relying solely on economic incentives.

The document examines Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as a cost-effective, low-carbon alternative to private car-based transport in rapidly growing cities. It details the hardware and software components of BRT, analyzes the value chain and organizational roles (owner, manager, and asset manager), and discusses the political economy challenges, such as resistance from informal transport operators and car owners. The report emphasizes that while BRT is a mature technology, its success depends on local context, institutional capability, and integration with broader transport networks.

The National Climate Change Action Plan 2013-2017 provides a strategic roadmap for Kenya to reduce its vulnerability to climate change while maintaining low greenhouse gas emissions. It identifies priority actions across sectors such as agriculture, energy, forestry, and transport, and proposes the establishment of a National Climate Change Council and a Kenya Climate Fund to coordinate governance and finance. The plan emphasizes a 'low carbon climate resilient development pathway' that aligns with Kenya Vision 2030, estimating total investment requirements at approximately KSh 1,085 billion (USD 12.76 billion) for the five-year period.

The document identifies China's urbanization as a critical factor for global climate change, noting that by 2030, China will have approximately 1 billion urban residents. It argues that the current development pattern of 'single use superblocks served by auto-centric transportation' is unsustainable and leads to congestion and pollution. To counter this, the authors propose six 'ingredients for success': permeable urban form (smaller, mixed-use blocks), transit-centered transportation (prioritizing walking, biking, and Bus Rapid Transit), effective and enforced building codes, municipal finance reform to move away from land-leasing incentives, new sustainability performance metrics for mayors, and a strengthened planning process with increased technical capacity.

The report examines the critical intersection of transport and environment in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), highlighting severe road safety risks, rising urban air and noise pollution, and increasing traffic congestion. It argues that current transport systems are often inequitable, neglecting vulnerable groups like pedestrians and the rural poor. The document advocates for a paradigm shift toward sustainable mobility using the 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' strategy, emphasizing the need for integrated land-use planning, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and the protection of non-motorized transport to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health.

The briefing addresses the urgency of improving air quality in China following severe pollution events in Beijing. It argues that while fuel quality standards are a necessary first step, long-term success requires avoiding car-reliant urban development. The author advocates for 'transit-oriented development' characterized by walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and high-quality public transit, specifically Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), to reduce transportation-related emissions. Additionally, the document highlights the role of energy-efficient building standards in reducing power plant pollution and the benefit of compact cities in preserving natural ecosystems.

The report examines the transition from traditional, inefficient bus services to modernized systems, primarily Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), across 13 cities in Latin America and Asia. It highlights that while these systems generally improve travel speed, reduce emissions, and lower capital costs compared to rail, they often suffer from rushed implementation, inadequate user education, and financial instability due to politically determined fares. The analysis emphasizes the importance of high-level political commitment, comprehensive planning, and the use of technical fare-setting to ensure long-term sustainability.