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The document argues that current climate policies focus too heavily on the demand side, allowing fossil fuel exporting countries to increase production with little impact on their own territorial emissions accounts. It proposes 'extraction-based emissions accounting', which attributes CO2 emissions to the country where fuels are extracted, as a way to promote producer responsibility and identify economic vulnerabilities. The brief notes that countries heavily dependent on high-carbon exports face risks of 'stranded' assets if global demand declines, as projected in some IEA scenarios. Additionally, it suggests integrating life-cycle assessments (LCA) to account for varying upstream emissions, such as those from Canadian oil sands, which can be significantly higher than conventional crude.

ClientEarth advocates for the European Investment Bank (EIB) to reinforce its support for energy efficiency and savings, suggesting that the bank develop innovative financing instruments and increase technical assistance to overcome market barriers such as high upfront costs. The organization argues that energy efficiency investments drive local job creation and economic growth, citing potential EU-wide gains of 2 million jobs and greenhouse gas emission reductions of 740 million tons annually. ClientEarth recommends upgrading the EIB's minimum energy efficiency criteria as project volume grows and explicitly calls for the exclusion of unabated coal and lignite plants from financing to avoid carbon lock-in.

The authors contend that natural gas cannot solve the climate problem without carbon capture and storage (CCS), as it only offers a 50 per cent carbon dioxide reduction relative to coal, assuming no methane leakage. Given that fossil fuels are projected to remain a major energy source to meet growing global demand, particularly in developing countries, the document asserts that large-scale CCS is essential for all fossil power. While post-combustion capture (PCC) is commercially available for natural gas plants and faces fewer technical hurdles than coal PCC, the authors warn that relying on cheap, unabated natural gas may delay the commercialization of CCS. They recommend stricter CO2 emission limits, expanded incentives for enhanced oil recovery, and increased governmental support to scale up CCS technology.

The document examines the strategic opportunity for South Africa to leverage Mozambique's massive gas discoveries in the Rovuma Basin to diversify its energy mix and reduce its reliance on coal. It highlights the need for political and financial commitment, including the construction of an LNG terminal and the formation of strategic partnerships, to ensure South Africa does not miss the window of opportunity as Mozambique prepares for gas production by 2018.

The report argues that investments in clean energy and environmental protection generally create more jobs than the fossil-fuel industries they replace. Through a survey of 36 studies and original analysis using IMPLAN 2009 data, the authors find that non-fossil-fuel sectors have significantly higher job-to-spending ratios. A case study on eliminating coal and nuclear power by 2050 suggests a potential net gain of over 21 million full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, although it notes that workers in fossil-fuel sectors would face real layoffs and require retraining.

The document examines the potential for Mozambique's hydrocarbon wealth to supplant its chronic reliance on foreign aid, particularly from the G19 group of Western donors. While resource revenues could increase government autonomy and shift commercial partnerships toward Asia and South America, the author warns that this may replace aid dependence with a new dependence on foreign capital and technology. The brief highlights risks such as the 'resource curse', rent-seeking, and the limited local economic impact of capital-intensive 'mega-projects', recommending that the government integrate resource strategies with broader development goals and that donors shift from budget support to targeted sectoral funding.

The analysis finds that EVs generally produce lower global warming emissions than average compact gasoline vehicles, though their relative performance against high-efficiency hybrids depends on the regional electricity grid's fuel mix. In 'BEST' regions, EVs outperform 50 mpg hybrids, while in 'GOOD' regions, some hybrids remain a better choice for emissions. Financially, EV owners in 50 major U.S. cities can save between $750 and $1,200 annually in fuel costs when using the lowest-cost electricity plans, with significant additional savings available through time-of-use (TOU) rate plans, particularly in California.

The document examines the scale and impact of energy subsidies in Bangladesh, noting that they consume a significant portion of the national budget while primarily benefiting wealthier citizens. It analyzes subsidies for petroleum, natural gas, electricity, and coal, arguing that these measures distort the economy and discourage energy diversification. The guide suggests transitioning toward targeted social assistance, such as cash transfers, and implementing gradual, transparent price adjustments to mitigate the impact on the poor during reform.

The document outlines how different international organizations estimate fossil-fuel subsidies, highlighting the distinction between the 'Inventory Approach' used by the OECD and GSI and the 'Price-Gap Approach' used by the IEA and IMF. It notes that estimates vary based on the types of support included, the countries and fuels covered, and the time periods analyzed. While most focus on direct fiscal incentives, the IMF's 'post-tax' measure uniquely includes implicit support from the failure to charge for environmental damages and externalities.

The document examines Indonesia's energy subsidy regime, focusing on petroleum products, electricity, and coal. It argues that these subsidies primarily benefit high-income groups rather than the poor, create fiscal vulnerability to global oil price volatility, and discourage investment in clean energy. The guide provides evidence from international experiences to suggest a comprehensive reform strategy involving gradual price phase-outs, targeted cash transfers, and improved governance to mitigate social and economic shocks.

The Rocky Mountain Institute contends that the U.S. government has historically provided far more subsidies to fossil fuels than to renewables, citing $72 billion for fossil fuels versus $29 billion for renewables between 2002 and 2008. The document argues that wind and solar are rapidly becoming cost-competitive, noting a 43% decline in solar PV installed costs from 1998 to 2010. It further highlights the economic burden of fossil fuel externalities, estimated at $63 billion annually, and dismisses the Keystone XL pipeline as a viable energy security solution because it does not support the electricity system.

The document analyzes the relationship between the demand for environmental quality, government legislation, and energy transitions. Using five historical British case studies—ranging from the 17th century to the late 20th century—it argues that while markets can drive transitions under specific conditions, effective shifts to low-polluting energy sources typically require strong, sustained public demand and creative pressure groups to ensure legislation is introduced, enforced, and maintained. The author concludes that the transition to a low-carbon economy will likely require similar conditions, as current demand for climate stability may not yet be powerful enough to overcome economic counter-lobbying and political reluctance.

The document analyzes China's rapid expansion in wind power, highlighting the role of the 2006 Renewable Energy Law, the transition from concession bidding to feed-in tariffs, and the growth of domestic manufacturing.

The document outlines the current state of U.S. energy use across transportation, buildings, and industry, while projecting the economic and efficiency gains possible by 2050 through a transition to renewable energy and increased efficiency.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) advocates against the Keystone XL pipeline, citing the high greenhouse gas emissions of Alberta's tar sands and concerns over political influence in the State Department's permitting process. The statement also details CIEL's efforts to eliminate coal funding in international finance institutions, specifically criticizing World Bank loans for coal projects in South Africa and Kosovo, while referencing IPCC findings that renewables could meet nearly 80 percent of global energy supply by mid-century.

The report argues that transitioning the Midwest to a clean energy economy through renewable electricity and energy efficiency standards would create 85,700 net new jobs, save consumers $42.8 billion on energy bills, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions by 2030.

The document analyzes indirect fossil fuel subsidies in the U.S., which include tax breaks, abnormal accounting, royalty relief, and unpriced societal costs. It argues that many of these subsidies, often established decades ago, persist despite the maturity of the fossil fuel industry and the emergence of cleaner energy alternatives. The report highlights significant financial losses to the federal government, such as billions in foregone royalties and tax expenditures, and notes that the external costs of fossil fuel usage—including health and environmental damages—far exceed the revenue collected to mitigate them.

The document describes a project to assess the impact of policy on clean energy financing, focusing on whether policies encourage a sustainable and cost-effective mix of investments. It highlights the role of risk allocation and the importance of project financing eligibility in determining the overall cost of energy projects. The project aims to analyze debt, equity, venture capital, and mezzanine finance across different technology maturity levels and global regions.

The document examines a project by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) and the Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) that questioned 80 governments on their fossil-fuel subsidy spending over three fiscal years. The findings highlight a significant lack of transparency and opacity in how governments report and manage public money spent on oil, gas, and coal subsidies.

The report presents wind power as a viable alternative to fossil fuels in the U.S., highlighting its competitiveness with natural gas and its ability to reduce CO2 emissions and water consumption. It details economic advantages such as job creation and local tax revenue, while addressing environmental impacts on wildlife and human concerns regarding noise and aesthetics. The document concludes that reaching a target of 20 percent wind electricity by 2030 is feasible and affordable, provided the U.S. adopts stable long-term policies like a national renewable electricity standard.