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Trump Administration Suppressed Clean Energy Research
The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that the Department of Energy (DOE) under the Trump administration suppressed, delayed, or sidelined at least 46 clean energy studies from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and seven national labs. This was achieved through a two-tiered review system implemented in May 2018 by Daniel Simmons and Alex Fitzsimmons, which required political sign-off for 'Tier 1' research on politically sensitive topics, such as comparisons between fossil fuels and renewables. The report notes that this system led to at least 25 reports being delayed by over six months, a significant increase compared to the previous 16 years under the Bush and Obama administrations. The document asserts these actions violated the DOE's scientific integrity policy, which prohibits the suppression or alteration of scientific findings.
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Document type: Report
Dear President Biden
A coalition of U.S.-based businesses and investors calls on the Biden administration to set a 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 50% below 2005 levels. The signatories argue that such a target is necessary to catalyze a zero-emissions future, drive economic recovery, and restore U.S. global leadership in climate action.
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Document type: Statement
Mexico: Policymaking to Ensure Energy Justice in Renewables Development
Mexico has rapidly increased its solar and wind capacity to meet climate goals, but this expansion has faced significant social conflict. While the 2013-2014 Energy Reform introduced compulsory social impact assessments and consultation requirements to protect Indigenous rights, implementation gaps persist. Many communities report inadequate consultations and a lack of local benefit, leading to project delays and legal challenges, such as the 2020 Supreme Court ruling voiding permits for the Yucatán Solar Park.
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Document type: Case study
Tonawanda, New York, United States: The Closure of the Huntley Generating Station and Community-led Efforts for a Prosperous Future
The document details how the Huntley Alliance, a coalition of labor, environmental, and community groups, responded to the closure of the Huntley Generating Station in Tonawanda, New York. It highlights the successful lobbying for the Electric Generation Facility Cessation Mitigation Fund to offset tax losses and the development of the 'Tonawanda Tomorrow' economic action plan to diversify the local economy and redevelop waterfront property.
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Document type: Case study
Phaesun – Improving Milk Value Chains through Solar Cooling (Kenya)
The document details a project by Phaesun, University Hohenheim, and Solar Cooling Engineering to deploy solar cooling systems for smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya. By introducing the 'Milky Way' and 'SelfChill' technologies, the project aimed to address high microbial contamination and milk losses, which are estimated at 20-30% due to a lack of cooling. The implementation of these systems across approximately 10 farms and cooperatives reduced milk losses by about 25% and increased income for at least 50 people. The project, funded by GIZ and BMZ, also validated a monthly payment model for the service and transitioned to a modular, pay-as-you-go compatible 'SelfChill' concept to meet demand for medium-scale cooling.
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Document type: Case study
What You Need to Know About Michael Regan and the EPA
The document discusses the confirmation of Michael Regan as EPA head, highlighting his experience in clean energy and environmental quality. It argues that the EPA must now focus on stricter chemical pollution standards, restoring the National Environmental Policy Act, and leading an equitable transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy.
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Document type: Briefing
Politics & Global Warming
A March 2021 survey of 922 registered U.S. voters reveals broad support for clean energy development and conservation policies, though significant political polarization persists regarding the urgency of global warming and the role of government. While majorities support tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles and renewable energy research, views on carbon taxes and national emergency declarations are more divided. The report also highlights a general preference for combined government and individual action, with a specific demand for increased corporate responsibility.
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Document type: Report
Politics & Global Warming
A March 2021 survey of 922 registered U.S. voters reveals broad support for clean energy research, tax rebates for energy-efficient products, and conservation jobs programs. While majorities support transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050 and regulating carbon dioxide, significant political divisions persist regarding the economic impact of clean energy and the use of national emergency declarations. Voters generally believe corporations and government should do more to address global warming, though confidence in the ability of state and local governments to protect communities remains low.
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Document type: Report
Investing for Tomorrow, Today
The report finds a significant investment gap between Canada's current climate-related fiscal commitments and the funding required to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. While acknowledging positive steps in public transit and building energy efficiency, the authors argue that Canada is being outpaced by international peers, such as the US and EU, in per capita green spending. The analysis identifies critical funding shortfalls across seven sectors, including transportation, clean energy, and nature-based solutions, and calls for Budget 2021 to prioritize uncosted measures and scaled-up investments to ensure an equitable green recovery.
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Document type: Report
Investir dans l’avenir dès aujourd’hui : Comment le Budget 2021 peut permettre une action climatique essentielle et une reprise verte
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.
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Document type: Report
5 Reasons the US Should Cut its GHG Emissions in Half by 2030
The World Resources Institute recommends that the US target a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. This target is presented as achievable through an "All-in" strategy combining federal and local action, with the power sector providing over 60% of the necessary reductions. The briefing asserts that this transition would create millions of jobs, with renewable energy investments generating more than twice the jobs of fossil fuel spending. Furthermore, it argues that such a target is essential for the US to regain international credibility and inspire other major emitters ahead of COP26.
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Document type: Briefing
L’Évolution de l’Action du Secteur privé dans le développement durable
The document analyzes the private sector's complex relationship with sustainable development, noting a history of corporate disinformation and lobbying against environmental regulations. It identifies three primary modes of engagement: active obstruction, partnership with governments to implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the emergence of 'Sustainability-Oriented Hybrid Organizations' (SOHOs) that prioritize regenerative equity over profit. The author argues that while impact investing and 'greening' existing systems are valuable, they may be insufficient to achieve absolute decoupling of growth from emissions, recommending that policymakers support systemic transformations and SOHOs.
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Document type: Policy brief
The Landscape of Climate Finance in South Africa
The report analyzes climate finance in South Africa for 2017-2018, tracking an annual average of R62.2 billion. It identifies a significant gap between current funding and the R8.9 trillion estimated by the IFC as necessary to achieve South Africa's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2030. Public finance averaged R22 billion annually, with a strong domestic preference, while private finance averaged R35.3 billion, focused exclusively on mitigation. The document recommends developing standardized climate finance definitions, improving public-private coordination, and scaling blended finance to leverage private capital.
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Document type: Report
The Biden-Harris Administration is Hitting the Ground Running on Climate Change: Here Are Four Ways They Can Really Hit Their Stride
The Clean Air Task Force proposes that the Biden-Harris Administration should increase domestic carbon reduction commitments to reach net-zero by mid-century, fully utilize Department of Energy funding for advanced technologies, implement a 24-7 clean electricity procurement strategy for federal facilities, and establish rigorous EPA regulations for power plants and methane emissions.
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Document type: Statement
Biden’s Executive Orders Aim to Reset Trump’s Disastrous Policies
The Biden-Harris administration has issued a series of executive orders to reverse Trump-era environmental rollbacks, focusing on rejoining the Paris Agreement, canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, and reviewing methane and fuel economy standards. The administration is also reviewing chemical safety regulations, water protections, and wilderness conservation, including a moratorium on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. These actions are intended to restore science-based policy and environmental justice across federal agencies including the EPA, Department of Energy, and Department of the Interior.
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Document type: Briefing
Biden-Harris Administration to Begin at Moment of Great Peril and Promise
Andrew Steer, President & CEO of the World Resources Institute, argues that the Biden-Harris administration must prioritize climate action by reentering the Paris Agreement, reversing previous environmental rollbacks, and investing in clean energy to stimulate the economy and restore U.S. global standing.
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Document type: Statement
Who’s Delaying Climate Action in Massachusetts? Twelve Findings
The report finds a stark contrast between public support for climate action in Massachusetts and the actual legislative outcomes. While approximately 90% of public testimony supports environmental priorities, ambitious legislation is frequently blocked by powerful industry coalitions—most notably regulated utilities and the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM). The study identifies four primary opposition coalitions: utilities, fossil and chemical companies, real estate, and power generation companies. It highlights that utilities are uniquely successful in steering policy, often opposing decentralized solar energy while supporting large-scale wind and hydro projects that benefit their business models. Furthermore, the report notes a shift in opposition rhetoric from climate denial to 'discourses of delay,' such as policy perfectionism and appeals to social justice. The authors conclude that the lack of transparency in the State House, combined with the immense spending power of corporate lobbyists, creates a hostile environment for ambitious climate policy.
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Document type: Report
Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax
Earthjustice, a nonprofit public interest environmental law organization, reported total revenue of $135,320,966 and total expenses of $127,720,008 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. The organization focuses on protecting health, preserving ecosystems, and combating climate change through legal representation and public awareness. Its largest program service expenses were dedicated to providing free legal representation, totaling $71,294,848. Earthjustice maintains significant assets, with total assets reported at $276,651,694 and net assets of $245,809,918 at the end of the year. The organization also engages in international activities, including grants to entities in Sub-Saharan Africa and Australia.
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Document type: Report
CAPE TOWN’S RESILIENCE STRATEGY
The document outlines a resilience framework—survive, adapt, and thrive—applied to support green businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the role of international collaborations, such as the International Cleantech Network and the EU Delegation, in providing financial and strategic support to green SMMEs. Key outcomes include the retention of 760 jobs and the creation of 41 new jobs through the Green Outcomes Fund, as well as the integration of South African cleantech solutions into the Solar Impulse Foundation's global portfolio.
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Document type: Case study
2021 Must Mark the End of International Support to Coal, Oil, and Gas
The statement argues that international public finance must shift from fossil fuels to clean energy to meet climate goals. It highlights that G20 members provide significantly more public finance to fossil fuels than to clean energy and calls for an immediate end to all new international public finance for fossil fuel projects across the entire value chain. The document urges governments and financial institutions to avoid loopholes, increase climate finance for the Global South, and prioritize low-income countries through debt relief and grant-based finance, specifically calling for a joint statement and leadership from the United Kingdom ahead of COP 26.
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Document type: Statement