Search Climate Insights Directory

The report examines the synergy between decentralised renewable energy (DRE) and electric mobility (e-mobility) in rural and peri-urban areas of emerging economies. It argues that DRE systems, such as solar mini-grids, can overcome electricity access barriers and provide a sustainable power source for electric vehicles (EVs), which in turn can act as mobile batteries to balance DRE systems. Through 13 case studies and an expert interview, the document highlights the socio-economic benefits of this transition—including reduced operational costs for transport operators, job creation, and improved access to healthcare—while identifying critical barriers such as high capital expenditure (CAPEX), lack of supportive regulatory frameworks, and supply chain disruptions. The report provides specific recommendations for project developers, policymakers, and investors to scale these solutions through local R&D, blended finance, and gender-lens investment.

The document outlines the shift from static school bus business models to new arrangements necessitated by the different cost structures of electric school buses (ESBs). While ESBs have higher upfront capital costs, they offer lower operating costs and a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) over time, with TCO parity with diesel buses projected by 2029. The guide identifies six key roles in the ESB ecosystem—bus owner, charger owner, bus operator, bus maintenance provider, energy/fuel manager, and electricity customer—and provides examples of various business models, including Charging-as-a-Service and Transportation-as-a-Service, implemented by districts in California, Quebec, Virginia, Illinois, and Maryland.

The report analyzes the current trajectory of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, noting that while sales are growing exponentially and battery costs have fallen by 89% since 2010, market forces alone are insufficient to meet climate targets. It recommends that policymakers target 60% ZEV sales by 2030 and 100% by 2035. The authors advocate for a policy portfolio combining ZEV sales standards and tailpipe GHG emissions standards, alongside consumer incentives, charging infrastructure investment, and critical mineral supply chain development. The document also highlights the role of 'learning curves' and the success of the solar industry in overcoming material bottlenecks as evidence that the EV transition can be accelerated through strategic policy.

The report identifies significant gender disparities in the transport sectors of Panamá, Paraguay, and Uruguay, particularly regarding safety, employment, and mobility patterns. It argues that urban transport is often designed around a male commuter model, ignoring the 'mobility of care' typical of women's trips. The document highlights endemic gender-based violence in public transport and the disproportionate economic impact of COVID-19 on women. To address these, the E-Motion programme proposes a three-fold approach: using the transport sector to change social norms, increasing women's access to green jobs in electric vehicle (EV) markets, and systematizing gender mainstreaming in investment plans through capacity building and sex-disaggregated data collection.

The GCF is implementing a four-pillar operational framework to enhance coordination with other climate funds. Key achievements include the establishment of a joint steering committee for the Long-Term Vision (LTV) with the GEF, the fast-track reaccreditation of nine entities with the AF, and the development of a joint GCF-GEF pavilion for COP 26 and COP 27. The report details specific funding proposals and readiness grants that demonstrate national programming coherence, as well as ongoing technical dialogues to harmonize results indicators and impact measurement methodologies across funds.

As of June 2022, there were 12,720 committed electric school buses across 38 US states, representing approximately 2-3% of the national fleet. California leads adoption, and while deployment is high in communities of color and areas with high PM2.5 pollution, it remains lower in the lowest-income school districts.

The E-Mobility Program for Sustainable Cities in Latin America and the Caribbean is a 450 million USD initiative (200 million USD from GCF) designed to accelerate the transition to commercial electric vehicles (EVs) and enhance the climate resilience of urban transport systems. The program focuses on high-utilization commercial vehicles, including buses, taxis, trucks, and vessels, while excluding private passenger cars. It integrates EV deployment with sustainable urban mobility measures, such as cycle lanes and pedestrianization, and explores advanced technologies like green hydrogen and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems to improve grid stability. The program targets nine countries: Barbados, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Key goals include reducing GHG emissions by 7.55 million tCO2e and benefiting approximately 8.9 million people through adaptation measures.

The Gender Action Plan for the E-Motion Sub-Program 2 in Panamá, Paraguay, and Uruguay establishes a framework to integrate gender equality into the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs). The plan focuses on three primary outputs: conducting country-level gender assessments to inform EV roadmaps, facilitating regional knowledge exchange on gender in transportation, and integrating gender-responsive components into financed sub-projects. Key objectives include improving women's access to green jobs, addressing sexual harassment in public transport, and accounting for 'mobility of care' in infrastructure design. The program allocates a total budget of 621,000 USD for these activities, including the employment of a four-specialist gender implementation team.

The report argues that military decarbonization is essential for both climate mitigation and operational effectiveness, as fossil fuel dependency creates strategic vulnerabilities. It highlights the lack of a standardized emission measurement methodology, noting that while 'standard operations' (buildings and administration) are relatively easy to green, 'non-standard operations' (heavy weaponry and combat mobility) present significant technological hurdles. The document evaluates the current efforts of NATO and the EU, suggesting that NATO can lead through standardization and normative influence, while the EU can leverage its legislative power and financial instruments like the European Defence Fund. It concludes with recommendations for EU-NATO coordination to avoid duplication and accelerate the transition to clean military power.

The document asserts that electric trucks can effectively replace up to half of the trucks currently on the road, as many medium- and heavy-duty routes are short enough for existing battery technology. While electric trucks are heavier, the text notes that most trucks reach cargo volume limits before weight limits, and federal and state exemptions help mitigate weight concerns. Driver preference is high due to reduced noise and vibration. Economically, the document highlights California's use of subsidies, fuel standards, and infrastructure rebates as a model. To scale adoption, the document emphasizes the need for broader policy frameworks—such as the Advanced Clean Truck regulation—and significant upgrades to the electric grid.

The report critiques the historical failure of technology transfer in clean energy, agriculture, and health, proposing a 'co-development' model to bridge the gap between developed and developing nations.

The India E-Mobility Financing Program, submitted by Macquarie Alternative Assets Management Limited (MAAML), proposes a financing platform to decarbonize India's road transport sector. Requesting USD 200 million in equity from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as first-loss capital, the program aims to mobilize a total of USD 2.1 billion, including USD 205 million from commercial investors and approximately USD 1.1 billion from debt markets. The platform will provide innovative financial solutions, such as operating and finance leases, targeting e-buses, shared four-wheeler fleets, and charging infrastructure to reduce high upfront costs and residual value risks. The program targets a lifetime reduction of 9.5 MtCO2e and the deployment of 115,000 new EVs and 10,500 charging stations. It includes comprehensive environmental, social, and gender action plans to ensure inclusive growth and safety in the transport sector.

The report examines current and future battery chemistries, including those using indigenous materials like sodium and aluminium, to support India's decarbonization of electricity and transportation. It highlights that domestic manufacturing of common NMC and LFP cells could allow India to capture 40% to 90% of total cell value, benefiting the e-mobility and grid-scale energy storage sectors.

The authors evaluate the EU and German recovery funds, noting that while they are framed as 'green', much of the funding remains conditional or vague. They contrast this with the 2008 financial crisis, where green investments were limited. The text emphasizes the role of the European Parliament in ensuring accountability and pushing for a 60% CO2 reduction by 2030, while warning that Germany's current plans may not meet its 65% renewable energy target due to restrictive zoning laws and continued fossil fuel subsidies.

The report assesses the gender landscape in India's urban transport and e-mobility sectors to identify barriers for women, such as safety concerns and limited workforce participation. It proposes a Gender Action Plan for a financing platform, focusing on increasing female employment, improving safety infrastructure (like lighting and CCTV), and collecting sex-disaggregated data to mitigate gender-blindness in project design.

RMI identifies three promising electric mobility modes—microtransit, carsharing, and micromobility—to address transportation gaps for low- to moderate-income communities in Connecticut. The briefing emphasizes that electric utilities are critical partners, capable of providing administrative support, capital for infrastructure and vehicles, and optimized electricity rate designs to ensure these services are affordable and accessible.

The report 'Electric Mobility for All' examines how to extend the benefits of electric vehicle (EV) adoption to low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities in Connecticut, who face barriers such as cost premiums and limited charging infrastructure despite being most affected by poor air quality.

The Union of Concerned Scientists and EV Noire argue that Clean Fuel Standards (CFS) can provide critical financial support for transportation electrification by setting declining carbon intensity standards for fuels. Using examples from California and Oregon, the briefing emphasizes that while CFS are technology-neutral, they can enable broader goals like zero-emission bus fleets and equitable EV access if paired with strong oversight, public engagement, and safeguards against harmful fuel pathways.

The document outlines the financial landscape for electric school bus (ESB) adoption in the US, noting that while ESBs can cost up to three times more than diesel buses upfront, they offer significant lifetime operational savings. It details various funding mechanisms—including grants, rebates, vouchers, and loans—and identifies specific funding sources from the federal government (such as the IIJA), state programs (like California's HVIP), and local utilities or air quality districts. The guide also emphasizes the role of financing and 'stacking' multiple funding streams to make electrification viable for school districts.

The report argues that while Kenya is advancing in renewable energy and climate policy, its transition to a low-carbon economy risks marginalizing informal workers, women, and youth. It examines sectoral vulnerabilities in agriculture, energy, transport, industry, forestry, waste, and tourism, highlighting a critical gap between national climate goals and the social protection mechanisms needed to ensure a just transition. The document recommends integrating just transition principles into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Medium-Term Plans, emphasizing the need for reskilling, gender quotas, and the formalization of the informal sector to prevent livelihood losses.