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The report provides a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of 40 low-carbon interventions in Mexico, focusing on electricity, oil and gas, end-use energy, transport, and agriculture and forestry. It argues that Mexico can stabilize its greenhouse gas emissions at 2008 levels by 2030 while maintaining economic growth, provided it overcomes institutional and regulatory barriers. The study highlights 'win-win' interventions with positive economic returns and significant co-benefits for public health and energy security.

The document identifies fine particulate matter (PM2.5), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and benzene as primary pollutants of concern in the Kathmandu Valley, with PM10 and PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO guidelines by 2 to 10 times. Road transport and re-suspended dust are the dominant sources of PM10, contributing approximately 63 percent of emissions. The brief estimates that PM10 exposure causes about 1,600 premature deaths annually, while benzene and PAH exposure increase risks of leukaemia and lung cancer. To combat this, the document recommends the implementation of the Programme for Rapid Evaluation of air Pollution (PREPair) and specific interventions including the transition to Vertical Shaft Brick Kilns, the introduction of Bus Rapid Transport, and the use of low sulphur fuels.

The report investigates the feasibility of reducing transport-related CO2 emissions in Yorkshire and Humber using the REAP model. It tests three scenarios: Business as Usual, Step Change, and Accelerated. Findings indicate that while a combination of practical measures (such as Bus Rapid Transit, teleworking, and rail improvements) can flatten emission growth, they are insufficient to meet the theoretical targets of the Stabilising Carbon Trends scenario. Aviation is identified as a major driver of emissions that remains largely outside regional policy control. The report concludes that the scale of investment required for these reductions is unprecedented and likely unaffordable under current funding mechanisms.

The transport sector in Pakistan is projected to see a 128% increase in greenhouse gas emissions between 2012 and 2030, rising from 35.4 MtCO2e to 80.7 MtCO2e. The document identifies several mitigation strategies, prioritizing efficiency norms for passenger vehicles, road-to-rail transfers, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and improved car maintenance. Efficiency norms for passenger cars, taxis, and vans are identified as the highest priority, with a potential reduction of 7.45 MtCO2e by 2030. Shifting freight and passengers from road to rail is another key strategy, though rail's share of freight has dropped to under 1%, with a national target of 20%. The expansion of BRT systems in cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi-Islamabad, and Multan is also highlighted as a means to improve urban mobility and reduce emissions.

The report examines the historical lack of gender consideration in climate change mitigation financing, which has traditionally prioritized 'gender neutral' technical measures. Through case studies in Nepal, Mali, and Colombia, it demonstrates that gender mainstreaming—integrating gender issues from a project's outset—enhances outcomes. Key findings emphasize the necessity of socially disaggregated data, the role of economic co-benefits in securing community support, and the importance of gender-sensitive institutional policies. The document highlights that women's active participation in planning and decision-making is critical for the long-term viability of emission reduction initiatives.

The report argues that a small number of well-designed policies—categorized as economic signals, performance standards, and R&D support—can substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and provide economic benefits. It details ten specific policy areas, including vehicle and appliance standards, clean energy supply, and smart urban design, while emphasizing the need for policies to be predictable, market-driven, and synchronized with infrastructure turnover. The text highlights successful examples from the US, China, Europe, and Japan to demonstrate the effectiveness of these approaches.

The Green Buses project aims to transition Kathmandu Valley's public transport from fossil fuel dependence to a zero-emission eBRT system. The proposal requests USD 164 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as part of a total indicative cost of USD 243 million. The project consists of three components: strengthening the policy and institutional framework via the creation of the Kathmandu Valley Public Transport Authority (KVPTA), constructing climate-resilient infrastructure including a 27 km Ring Road corridor and charging stations, and implementing a financial mechanism to support private operators in procuring a fleet of approximately 100 electric buses. The project expects to mitigate 870,000 tCO2e over 20 years by replacing conventional minibuses with electric alternatives powered by Nepal's hydropower-dominant grid.

The assessment finds that the proposed MRT system in Pampanga, consisting of four bus rapid transit lines and one light rail transit line, provides significant societal value. While traditional benefit-to-cost ratios (BCR) suggest the project is not investment-worthy at 0.62 or 0.63, the sustainable BCR (S-BCR) is 1.72. Over a 30-year period from 2023 to 2053, the project is estimated to generate a cumulative discounted net benefit of PHP 360.3 million (USD 6,402 million). The most significant impacts are the avoided costs of traffic accidents (PHP 239.7 million), time savings (PHP 182,367 million), and avoided vehicle operating costs (PHP 109,988 million).

The SAVi assessment of Dakar's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project reveals that while traditional financial analysis suggests the project is not viable, the inclusion of externalities—such as time saved and avoided transportation costs—significantly enhances its financial performance. The project, estimated to cost EUR 369,490,000 and transport 300,000 passengers daily upon completion in 2023, generates total net benefits ranging from CFA 1.7 trillion to 2.7 trillion across different demand scenarios. While the BRT is expected to cause a 14% net job loss within the transportation sector, it is projected to increase overall economy discretionary spending by 15.6% due to improved mobility.

The document applies the SAVi methodology to the Dakar BRT project, demonstrating that while conventional financial analysis suggests the project is not viable, the integration of external effects—such as time saved and avoided pollution—reveals substantial net benefits for Senegalese society. The analysis covers four scenarios, including variations in passenger demand, and predicts a net job loss of 14% in the transport sector, offset by a 15.6% increase in discretionary spending across the wider economy.

The SAVi assessment of Bogota's Sustainable Transport Strategy—comprising the TransMilenio BRT, non-motorized transport (NMT) infrastructure, and the under-construction Metro de Bogota MRT—indicates a cumulative discounted net benefit of USD 12,237 million. While a traditional benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 0.6 suggests the project is not economically viable based only on tangible costs and revenues, the sustainable BCR (S-BCR) is 4.5 when accounting for wider externalities. The largest added benefit is increased retail revenues around stations (USD 5,941 million), followed by health benefits (USD 2,177 million) and increased property values (USD 1,895 million). The MRT system alone represents an investment of USD 5 billion and is expected to serve 1.05 million passengers daily by 2030.

The text explores the concept of 'human capitalism,' which applies the principles of natural capitalism—resource productivity and loop-closing—to social systems. It focuses extensively on Curitiba, Brazil, detailing how the city avoided traditional, single-solution urban planning in favor of an integrated design process. Key achievements include a high-capacity bus rapid transit system that functions like a subway at a fraction of the cost, 'design with nature' flood control using linear parks, and social programs like the 'Green Exchange' that trade recyclable waste for food. The document posits that treating citizens as resources rather than burdens creates a sustainable, dignified urban environment.

The report analyzes 40 low-carbon interventions in Mexico's electric power, oil and gas, energy end-use, transport, and agriculture and forestry sectors. It finds that implementing these measures could stabilize emissions at 2008 levels by 2030, avoiding approximately 477 Mt CO2e relative to a baseline scenario. Many of these interventions are 'no-regrets' options with positive economic returns, though their scale-up is hindered by institutional, regulatory, and financial barriers.

The document argues for prioritizing public transport in South African cities to reduce carbon emissions, which currently account for 25% of city emissions, and energy consumption, which accounts for 50%. It identifies barriers such as fragmented management, safety concerns, and apartheid-era urban planning. Proposed solutions include the creation of Transport Authorities, the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and travel demand management strategies like congestion charging and high-occupancy vehicle lanes. A case study of Cape Town suggests that a 10% shift in commuters from private to public transport by 2020 could save 148 million gigajoules of energy and 9 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2024.

The report analyzes bus system improvements across 13 cities in Latin America and Asia, highlighting the benefits of bus rapid transit (BRT) such as high usage levels and low capital investment. It identifies recurring failures in planning and implementation, including rushed launches and lack of integration with other transport modes. The document concludes with strategic recommendations for the planning and decision-making phases of urban transport reform.

The document compares BRT systems in 18 Chinese cities against international counterparts across 30 indicators. It finds that Chinese systems score significantly lower in 11 design areas and recommends improvements in infrastructure, network planning, and vehicle technology to help China reach its goal of 5,000 kilometers of BRT by 2020.

A case study in Queretaro, Mexico, found that introducing a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and enhancing bus network efficiency would significantly reduce emissions, whereas alternative fuel and vehicle emission control technologies would provide minimal additional benefits.

The study evaluates transport interventions in Porto Alegre, Brazil, finding that a BRT system could reduce annual CO2 emissions by 25-31 thousand tonnes compared to a business-as-usual scenario with fare integration, whereas fare integration alone might increase emissions.

The WRI Ross Center's long-term engagement in Mexico City, beginning in 2002, demonstrates that combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of the local political landscape can drive transformative urban change. A primary example is the 2006 implementation of the Metrobús Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. The organization identifies three critical success factors for such urban transformation: trust with city officials, knowledge of the political and institutional ecosystem, and flexible funding and institutional structures. Additionally, collaboration through global initiatives like the Building Efficiency Accelerator has enabled WRI to expand its technical expertise into new sectors such as building efficiency.

The WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities employs an integrated approach combining data-driven research and long-term city partnerships to address urban challenges in land use, mobility, and energy efficiency. The organization focuses on the global south, implementing projects such as low-emission zones in Beijing, sustainable housing standards in Brazil, and last-mile mobility solutions in Bengaluru. Its strategy emphasizes scaling road-tested solutions through national policy guidance and global coalitions to help cities decarbonize and improve equitable access to core services.