Search Climate Insights Directory

The report argues that technical and rational arguments for energy efficiency are insufficient on their own and should be paired with emotion-based narratives to drive systemic change. It highlights the 'Lifestyle for Environment' (LiFE) movement launched by India and provides a series of case studies from G20 nations—including India, the USA, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, and Japan—across the sectors of buildings, industry, and transport. These examples illustrate how leveraging feelings of pride, empowerment, and community responsibility can accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and behaviours.

The document proposes integrated planning, demand-side management, and electric mobility as key solutions for sustainable urban transport. It identifies four city profiles—Efficiency Opportunists, Electric Vehicle Leapfroggers, Digital Disruptors, and Renewable Drivers—to guide interventions in fast-growing cities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, noting that urban transport emissions are expected to double by 2050.

Ghana aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2060, a transition requiring approximately USD 550 billion in capital investment. The plan identifies a shift toward solar PV, electric vehicles, and clean cooking as primary abatement drivers, while noting that without action, emissions could rise from 28 Mt CO2e in 2021 to over 140 Mt by 2050. The strategy emphasizes the need for de-risking instruments to attract private capital and the establishment of an Energy Transition Office to coordinate implementation.

The document explains the mechanics of carbon credits, distinguishing between regulated markets under the Paris Agreement and voluntary markets. It highlights that while Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for 22% of global carbon credit sales in 2021, the region lacks the robust regulation needed to prevent environmental and social risks. The guide warns against over-reliance on the forestry sector, the risk of 'greenwashing' in voluntary markets, and the potential for 'double counting' of emission reductions. It recommends establishing transparent national registries, ensuring fair benefit-sharing with local communities, and prioritizing structural decarbonization over simple offsetting.

The analysis finds that financial incentives and charging station deployment would yield net-positive benefits in Ho Chi Minh City during early EV adoption, with a benefit-cost ratio between 1.69 and 1.86 over eight years.

The document outlines a roadmap for transitioning the U.S. school bus fleet from diesel to electric, highlighting barriers such as high upfront costs and infrastructure complexity, while proposing systems-level solutions and priority actions for the next one to three years.

The analysis identifies 105 cities with populations over one million across 34 Global South countries where electrification is currently a viable low-carbon strategy. Suitability is determined by a minimum 90 percent urban electricity access rate and a carbon intensity of electricity supply below 600 tCO2e/GWh. While all South American cities meet these criteria, suitability is significantly lower in sub-Saharan Africa (3 out of 40 cities) and South and East Asia (26 out of 202 cities).

The document examines international subnational case studies to guide Vietnamese cities in creating electric mobility roadmaps. It highlights that while Vietnamese cities share contexts with other Asian cities, they are comparable to Californian cities regarding public transit usage. The paper suggests that Vietnam can move beyond narrow e-mobility uptake goals toward broader climate and air quality objectives, noting the unique presence of a local OEM, Vinfast.

The document outlines a framework for cities to transition to electric buses, emphasizing a phased approach from initial planning and pilot projects to mass adoption. It highlights the necessity of long-term infrastructure planning, procurement strategies, operator training, and battery end-of-life management to meet global climate objectives.

The report analyzes the economic and health impacts of the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) in Michigan, projecting significant job growth and consumer savings if the state proactively adopts supportive policies. While the overall state economy is expected to grow, the transition will cause job shifts away from internal combustion engine manufacturing and maintenance, necessitating targeted policies to ensure an equitable transition for workers and low-income communities.

The document outlines a four-phase framework for developing an e-mobility roadmap: planning and preparation, visioning, development, and implementation, monitoring, and revision. It emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement, prioritizing specific vehicle segments for electrification, and utilizing both monetary and non-monetary incentives to drive adoption. Key global examples include India's investment in battery manufacturing and one-stop shop information portals, Singapore's focus on charging infrastructure in multi-dwelling buildings, and Thailand's comprehensive target-setting for EV stock and production.

The document outlines findings from workshops held between August and October 2023 regarding the role of shared mobility in Latin American cities. Experts concluded that services like bike sharing and ride-hailing can support decarbonization if integrated with mass transit and supported by cross-sector collaboration, electric mobility strategies, data-driven policymaking, and formalized regulations.

The paper analyzes 839 transport projects and 14 case studies to identify challenges in securing climate finance for low- and middle-income countries. It finds that road construction dominates funded projects, while resilience and electric mobility are underfunded. Key barriers include inadequate policy frameworks and limited project preparation capacity, with recommendations focusing on de-risking instruments and improved monitoring.

The transport sector accounts for 24% of global CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, with road transport comprising nearly three-quarters of that total. To limit global warming to 1.5 °C, the IPCC projects the transport sector must be zero-emission by 2050. WRI employs a systems-thinking approach to decarbonization, focusing on eight key areas: clean energy integration, roadmapping and policy, fleet electrification, sustainable e-mobility, integrated climate planning, equitable transition, consumer behavior, and sustainable materials. WRI's global team of over 100 experts provides research, implementation support, and stakeholder coordination to ensure the transition enhances social equity and minimizes ecological damage.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program (CSBP) has funded over 8,000 electric school buses across 48 states, four territories, Washington, DC, and 65 Tribal school districts, with over 2,000 already delivered. Electric school buses are presented as a viable alternative to diesel-powered buses, offering health benefits by eliminating tailpipe emissions and saving districts an average of $100,000 in lifetime fuel and maintenance costs per bus. Additionally, the CSBP is credited with spurring a manufacturing boom, supporting 21 facilities across 13 states and creating thousands of jobs, with an estimate that each electric vehicle manufacturing job can create three additional local third-party jobs.

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.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) has established a list of 1,508 Priority Outreach Districts across the United States to prioritize free, deep technical assistance for school bus electrification. These districts are selected based on criteria related to income, race, air pollution levels, and tribal status to address systemic inequities in air pollution exposure. WRI provides these districts with tailored support covering road-mapping, procurement, and utility coordination, while offering generalized guidance to other districts.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) provides research and policy recommendations to support the United States' transition to a low-carbon economy. Its work spans industrial modernization in sectors like cement and steel, the deployment of renewable and clean firm power, and the development of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies. WRI also focuses on systemic barriers such as permitting reform for energy transmission, the responsible sourcing of critical minerals, carbon pricing, and the electrification of transportation, including a specific initiative for electric school buses.