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Submission to the Presidential Climate Commission on South Africa’s Just Energy Transition - Investment Plan
The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and Climate Finance for Equitable Transitions (CLiFT) argue that the JET-IP's strategy of 'de-risking' private finance is insufficient to mobilise the required R1.5 trillion and exposes South Africa to significant fiscal, legal, and social risks. The authors contend that the plan fails to meet National Determined Contributions (NDCs) due to an over-reliance on private renewable energy and a lack of investment in public transport and energy efficiency. They recommend shifting to a 'rights-based' governance framework and an 'allocative credit policy' that prioritises public investment, local manufacturing, and comprehensive social protections for workers and communities.
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Document type: Report
Strategic Plan for ADVANCING ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACROSS DEMAND SECTORS BY 2030
The Strategic Plan for Advancing Energy Efficiency Across Demand Sectors by 2030 outlines a framework for G20 countries to double the global annual rate of energy intensity improvement. It focuses on five pillars: buildings, industry, transport, financing, and behavioral change. The plan argues that energy efficiency is the 'first fuel' for the energy transition and proposes specific high-impact opportunities, such as rethinking building codes (RENEW), scaling motor efficiency for SMEs (SME²), and aggregating energy services (FAST). It emphasizes the need to triple annual energy efficiency investments to approximately USD 840 billion by 2030 and highlights the potential of the Indian 'Lifestyle for Environment' (LiFE) initiative to reduce global CO2 emissions by 2 billion tonnes by 2030.
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Document type: Report
Fit for the future, not Fit-for-55
The briefing argues that the EU is on course to reach a 45% renewable energy share by 2030, rendering the current 40% Fit-for-55 target outdated. This trajectory is driven by solar capacity growth, heat pump adoption, and electric vehicle expansion, which are all outpacing original policy forecasts.
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Document type: Briefing
Climate action can address the cost of living crisis
The document asserts that the current cost of living crisis is driven by fossil fuel price volatility, particularly natural gas, rather than the costs of net-zero policies. It identifies that poorer households are disproportionately affected by energy poverty and argues that short-term government subsidies are insufficient. The briefing proposes that expanding renewable energy capacity, implementing building energy efficiency retrofits, installing heat pumps, and electrifying transport can lower energy bills, reduce market volatility, and enhance energy security.
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Document type: Briefing
Australia’s Green Bank
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), Australia's green bank, uses an endowment-based model to provide concessional loans and equity to low-carbon projects. Since 2012, it has committed A$10.8 billion, leveraging a private-finance rate of 242 per cent and achieving over 200 megatonnes of CO2e reductions. While successful in crowding-in private investment and maintaining profitability, the CEFC faces risks of political interference via government-appointed boards and lacks specific targets for climate justice. The document suggests Canada's Canada Growth Fund and Canada Infrastructure Bank should adopt clear mission-driven mandates, target strategic institutional partners, and prioritize technical institutional knowledge.
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Document type: Case study
La Banque verte de l’Australie
The document examines the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), Australia's 'green bank', which uses public capital to crowd-in private investment for low-carbon technologies. It details the CEFC's financial instruments, its success in generating a positive return on investment and significant emission reductions, and its vulnerability to political shifts. The analysis concludes with strategic recommendations for Canada's Canada Infrastructure Bank and Canada Growth Fund based on the CEFC's ten-year experience.
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Document type: Case study
Time To Scale It All Up
The We Mean Business Coalition calls for a massive increase in climate finance, specifically $3 trillion per year, to achieve net zero and address nature loss. The text references 'The Breakthrough Effect' report, which identifies electric vehicles, green ammonia, and plant-based diets as positive tipping points for emissions reduction. It emphasizes the role of the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) initiative in leveraging philanthropy to unlock public and private funding. Additionally, it notes that 92% of organizations surveyed in the 'Corporate Minds of Climate' report prioritize long-term decarbonization, and highlights the impact of the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), SME Climate Hub, and RE100 in driving corporate climate commitments.
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Document type: Statement
Declaración de GreenLatinos sobre el discurso del Estado de la Unión 2023 del presidente Joe Biden
GreenLatinos endorses President Joe Biden's 2023 State of the Union goals, specifically those regarding the replacement of lead pipes, the construction of resilient power grids, and the transition to clean energy. The organization emphasizes the need for the Inflation Reduction Act and the Justice40 Initiative to provide tax credits and grants to marginalized communities, including Latino, Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander populations, to ensure a just transition and address the disproportionate pollution burdens faced by these groups.
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Document type: Statement
The Economic Tides Just Turned for States
RMI's analysis indicates that US states can secure significant federal investment, job growth, and health improvements by ambitiously adopting the Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) tax credits, rebates, and grants. Under a "Climate Ambitious Scenario," states could see cumulative investments between $1 billion and $130 billion by 2030, with the highest per capita gains expected in states with strong renewable energy potential and industrial activity, such as Wyoming, Montana, and Louisiana.
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Document type: Report
How the Energy Policy Simulators Work and are Developed
The Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) is a free, open-source System Dynamics model created in Vensim to help policymakers assess the effectiveness of climate and energy policies. It allows users to model policies such as renewable portfolio standards and fuel economy standards across sectors including transportation, electricity, and agriculture. The model tracks 12 pollutants, economic impacts on GDP and jobs, health outcomes, and energy sector composition. Its methodologies have been peer-reviewed by experts from institutions such as MIT, Stanford, and various national laboratories.
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Document type: Guide
The Big Picture
In 2022, the EU experienced a temporary 7% rise in coal generation driven by shortfalls in nuclear and hydro power, rather than a structural 'return to coal'. This was offset by a record surge in solar capacity and a significant 7.9% drop in electricity demand in Q4 2022. Solar power generated 7.3% of EU electricity, avoiding approximately 249 billion in gas import costs. Looking ahead to 2023, the report forecasts a potential 20% plummet in fossil fuel generation as French nuclear capacity returns and renewable capacity continues to grow.
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Document type: Report
Asantys Systems – Sunlight & batteries fuelled eco-safari (Tanzania)
Tanganyika Expeditions, operating in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, transitioned its safari lodges and vehicles to a sustainable energy model. By partnering with Asantys Systems, the operator implemented solar power systems with 220 kWh battery storage using SMA SunnyIsland battery inverters to power the lodges and charge a fleet of retrofitted electric Toyota Landcruisers. These e-vehicles, converted from diesel by Elektro Fleck, feature battery capacities between 40-80 kWh and operating ranges of 130-240 km per charge, resulting in reduced noise and CO2 emissions.
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Document type: Case study
Strengthening Strategic Framework and Institutional Capacity to Enhance Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Implementation in Saint Kitts and Nevis
The proposal seeks USD 989,098 over 30 months to address systemic barriers hindering climate action in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Key objectives include establishing a National Climate Change Committee (NCCC), updating the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) strategy, conducting climate vulnerability assessments for agriculture, health, and tourism, and supporting the GCF accreditation of the St. Kitts Co-operative Credit Union (SKCCU). The project also aims to develop two GCF project concept notes through public-private partnerships and implement a gender-sensitive NDC awareness strategy.
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Document type: Report
Virtual Power Plants, Real Benefits
Virtual power plants (VPPs) aggregate distributed energy resources like batteries and electric vehicles to provide grid benefits. In the United States, VPPs could reduce peak demand by 60 GW by 2030 and 200 GW by 2050, while potentially reducing annual power sector expenditures by $17 billion by 2030. They support decarbonization by reducing reliance on polluting peaker plants and enable economy-wide electrification by providing revenue streams and avoiding grid bottlenecks.
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Document type: Briefing
ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT ON ELECTRIC VEHICLE UPTAKE IN THE UNITED STATES
The report finds that the IRA will significantly accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the US, potentially exceeding the Biden administration's 2030 targets. However, the authors argue that these incentives alone are insufficient to meet the US Nationally Determined Contribution or the Paris Agreement goals, necessitating additional federal GHG standards and investments in infrastructure and manufacturing.
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Document type: Report
Genesee - Finger Lakes Emissions Scenario Analysis
The report evaluates three emissions scenarios for the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region: an existing policy scenario, a low ambition scenario, and a high ambition scenario. It finds that while the high ambition scenario can meet the 2030 intermediate target of the CLCPA, none of the current scenarios are sufficient to meet the 85% reduction goal by 2050. Key challenges include high emissions from enteric fermentation in dairy cows and methane leakage from large landfills. The analysis emphasizes the need for a carbon-free grid, electrification of transport and heating, and enhanced agricultural manure management.
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Document type: Report
Croissance propre et abordabilité de l’énergie : budget fédéral 2023
The Canadian Climate Institute argues that the 2023 federal budget must prioritise clean growth to mitigate economic risks and compete with the United States' Inflation Reduction Act. The Institute identifies four priority areas for evaluation: the Canada Growth Fund, carbon contracts for difference, investment tax credits for electricity, and 'electro-federalism' to improve the electrical grid. The document highlights that climate change could cost the Canadian economy 25 billion in lost growth by 2025, while transitioning from fossil fuels to clean electricity could reduce average household energy bills by 12% by 2050.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Clean growth and energy affordability in the 2023 Federal Budget
The Canadian Climate Institute identifies key priorities for the 2023 Federal Budget to ensure Canada remains competitive in the global race to net zero, specifically focusing on mobilizing investment, leveraging carbon pricing, and upgrading electricity systems to reduce costs for households and businesses.
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Document type: Briefing
A Toolkit for Just Transitions to a Low-Carbon Economy in Ghana’s Transport Sector
The document outlines a framework for transitioning Ghana's transport sector—which accounts for approximately 22.6% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions—to a low-carbon model while ensuring social equity. It emphasizes the need for participatory planning, awareness-raising, and the development of a socially inclusive vision to protect vulnerable workers, particularly those in the informal sector. The toolkit proposes a transition timeline from 2022 to 2070, aiming for all road and rail mobility to be electricity and hydrogen-fuelled by 2070. It also identifies significant financing gaps, noting that an estimated USD 22.6 billion is needed for 31 climate actions, and recommends inter-ministerial coordination and public-private partnerships to secure funding for both technical infrastructure and social support measures.
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Document type: Guide
Energy Innovation and System Transition in India: What do models tell us?
The report examines India's energy transition, comparing three models (MARKAL, EPS, and E3ME-FTT) to project electricity demand and the optimal generation mix for deep decarbonisation by 2050. It argues that decarbonisation is compatible with economic growth, potentially creating millions of net jobs and providing environmental co-benefits like reduced air pollution and water savings. However, it highlights significant risks, including land scarcity for solar projects, the need for massive green finance, and the challenge of a just transition for coal-dependent regions.
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Document type: Report