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The We Mean Business Coalition advocates for a global climate agreement that limits temperature rises to below 2C, emphasizing the need for a net-zero emissions goal, scalable climate finance, and increased short-term ambition through the UNFCCC Workstream 2. The coalition argues that bold climate action represents a historic economic opportunity, noting that some low-carbon investments have achieved an internal rate of return (IRR) of 27%.

The Obama administration's FY 2016 budget proposal emphasizes an "all of the above" energy strategy and the Climate Action Plan, proposing significant funding increases for the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Key investments include $7.4 billion for clean energy technology, a proposed $4 billion Clean Power Plan Incentive Fund, and $1.29 billion for the Global Climate Change Initiative. The budget targets specific greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2020, 2025, and 2050, while funding diverse initiatives ranging from solar and wind energy to sustainable transportation and international climate finance.

The document argues that green project bonds can provide a viable alternative to traditional bank lending for green infrastructure PPPs, especially in the wake of Basel III regulations. It details the characteristics of project bonds, the risks involved—such as construction risk and negative carry—and the necessity of credit enhancements to achieve investment-grade ratings. The paper also provides guidance for public procurers on integrating bond financing into tender processes and highlights the growing global market for climate-themed bonds.

The report examines three 'gold' rated transit-oriented developments—Hammarby Sjöstad in Sweden, Quartier Vauban in Germany, and Liuyun Xiaoqu in China—to illustrate the practical application of 'The 8 Principles' for sustainable urban design. These principles emphasize walking, cycling, high-quality transit, mixed-use zoning, density, and compact growth to reduce car dependency. The findings show that such designs lead to significant environmental benefits, such as lower emissions and water use, and economic gains, including higher property values and strong market demand, while only marginally increasing construction costs compared to traditional methods.

The document serves as a guide for public and stakeholder consultations to update Manitoba's climate strategy. It reviews the province's failure to meet its 2012 GHG reduction targets, analyzes sectoral emission drivers—notably the high relative contribution of agriculture—and proposes principles for a new plan that integrates mitigation with a stronger focus on adaptation. It also highlights opportunities for a green economy based on Manitoba's clean energy resources and bioproducts potential.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that increasing Minnesota's renewable energy standard to 40 percent by 2030 would drive over $6 billion in new capital investments and reduce reliance on imported electricity without significantly impacting retail rates. The analysis indicates that such a policy would increase wind capacity to nearly 6,000 MW and utility-scale solar to over 600 MW by 2030. While a strengthened RES helps position the state to comply with the EPA's Clean Power Plan, the report notes that coal would still provide 38 percent of electricity in 2030 without additional policy actions. The authors recommend combining the strengthened RES with an increased energy efficiency standard of 2 percent annually by 2020.

The report finds that while Democrats are more likely than Republicans to believe in human-caused global warming and support climate action, liberal and moderate Republicans often align with the mainstream public. Conservative Republicans remain the primary group opposed to climate action and skeptical of global warming. There is broad cross-party support for renewable energy research and tax rebates for energy-efficient products, though significant divisions persist regarding carbon taxes and emission limits on coal plants.

The report asserts that the combined fortunes of the world's wealthiest individuals could fund a total transition to renewable energy in the Global South by 2030. It estimates that $5.15 trillion is required to meet the energy demands of Africa, Latin America, and non-OECD Asia (excluding India and China). The authors argue that the energy transition must go beyond substituting fuel sources to include democratic ownership of resources and the dismantling of corporate power to address the intersecting crises of climate change and extreme inequality.

The South African energy efficiency market is driven by constrained electricity supply, rising tariffs, and government targets, such as the National Energy Efficiency Strategy (NEES) 2005 goal of reducing primary energy consumption by 12% by 2015. The market is served by consultants, technology suppliers, and Energy Service Companies (ESCos), with the latter's market estimated by the IDC to potentially reach R8 billion per annum by 2022. In the Western Cape, the market is projected to reach R1.3 billion by 2019, supporting approximately 1,000 jobs. Key challenges include accessing funding, though various tax incentives (e.g., S12I, S12L) and grants are available. The regulatory landscape is complex, involving multiple departments and standards (SANS) to mandate efficiency in buildings and appliances.

The report identifies a growing demand for energy-efficient construction in South Africa, driven by electricity price increases of over 200% since 2009 and the mandatory SANS 10400 XA regulations. It highlights significant opportunities in bulk insulation for public sector housing, estimated at over R9 billion over five years, and the rise of Light Steel Frame Building (LSFB) methods in residential and commercial sectors. The Western Cape is positioned as a strategic hub for green technology, supported by the Atlantis greentech Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and local government incentives.

The report analyzes South Africa's renewable energy landscape, divided into utility-scale, commercial/industrial, and residential segments. It highlights the success of the REIPPPP in procuring over 5,000 MW and reducing tariffs, while noting that the lack of an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) creates investor uncertainty. The Western Cape is positioned as a potential green economy hub, leveraging initiatives like the Atlantis Special Economic Zone and the SARETEC training center.

The document argues that removing fossil-fuel subsidies is a critical lever for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and unlocking low-carbon energy pathways. It highlights that global emissions could decrease by 6% to 13% by 2050 through the phase-out of consumer subsidies, though these figures are likely underestimates as they exclude producer subsidies. The paper outlines how countries can incorporate FFSR into their INDCs, Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), and the 2015 UNFCCC agreement. It emphasizes that to maximize emission reductions, subsidy removal must be coupled with binding emission caps in OECD countries to prevent 'carbon leakage' and simultaneous government investment in low-carbon energy and transport infrastructure to enable fuel switching.

The handbook defines Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) as a process to optimize value-for-money across an asset's lifecycle, rather than focusing solely on the lowest purchase price. It provides a framework for integrating sustainability into every stage of the procurement cycle—from needs analysis and market consultations to technical specifications and contract conditions. The document details specific mandatory and optional criteria for high-spend categories such as IT equipment, vehicles, and infrastructure, while emphasizing the use of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle. It also outlines strategies to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the potential for SPP to act as a catalyst for inclusive green growth and foreign direct investment.

The manual defines Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) as a process to maximize value for money over a product's life cycle, reducing environmental and social harm. It provides a structured framework for integrating sustainability into the procurement cycle—from needs analysis and market consultation to contract management—and offers specific technical criteria for common public expenditures such as ICT equipment, vehicles, lighting, paper, air conditioning, furniture, and textiles. The document also explores the 'multiplier effects' of SPP, including its ability to attract foreign direct investment, stimulate innovation, and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Additionally, it details various Public-Private Partnership (PPP) structures and provides guidelines for 'green roads' and sustainable buildings.

The document outlines the GSA's National Deep Energy Retrofit (NDER) Program and provides a framework for achieving energy savings of 50% or more in federal buildings. It highlights the effectiveness of bundling energy conservation measures (ECMs), engaging diverse stakeholders, and utilizing a 'technical potential' tool to identify aggressive energy goals. Case studies, such as the Almeric Christian Federal Building, demonstrate the feasibility of net-zero energy through the ESPC process, while data analysis shows that NDER projects achieved an average of 38% energy savings, more than double the 18.5% average of non-NDER federal ESPC projects.

The document analyzes Russia's extensive but fragmented system of development institutions, noting a lack of common strategy and a heavy reliance on government funding over private investment. It identifies the Vnesheconombank (VEB) as the primary institution, though it often duplicates the roles of others like the Russian Agricultural Bank and Rusnano. The author argues that the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) could complement this system by investing in infrastructure projects, such as the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, and providing consultancy on public-private partnerships and foreign investment legal structures.

The report examines the intersection of energy poverty and gender inequality in West Africa, highlighting how socially determined roles lead to differential access to and use of energy services. It identifies significant barriers for women in the energy workforce and entrepreneurship, including gaps in STEM education and limited access to land and finance. The document assesses the existing regional and national policy landscapes, noting a general lack of gender-disaggregated data and limited collaboration between energy and gender ministries. It argues for a gender-responsive approach to energy planning to maximize the impact of interventions and achieve universal energy access by 2030.

The GTF 2015 report finds that global progress across energy access, efficiency, and renewables during the 2010–2012 period falls substantially short of the rates required to meet 2030 targets. While electrification saw gains, primarily in India, access to clean cooking remained stagnant. Energy intensity improved, led by high-income nations, and renewable energy consumption grew, though not fast enough. The report highlights a massive investment gap, noting that annual flows must triple to reach $1.0–1.2 trillion. It also introduces the 'energy nexus' to explore interdependencies between energy and water, food, health, and gender, and advocates for a 'data revolution' to move beyond binary access metrics toward more nuanced, multi-tier measurements.

The strategy assesses the vulnerability of Estonia's energy and infrastructure systems to climate change, identifying the electricity distribution network and small ports as particularly susceptible. It outlines a comprehensive set of adaptation measures across technical support systems, buildings, transport, and energy resources, with an estimated total implementation cost of approximately 1.3 billion EUR for the 2017–2030 period. The plan emphasizes increasing energy independence through domestic renewable sources and improving the resilience of buildings and transport networks to temperature extremes and flooding.

The 2015 update to the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 (CECP Update) outlines a comprehensive strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 25% below 1990 levels by 2020. The plan identifies key drivers for these reductions, most notably vehicle GHG emission standards and the import of clean electricity. It also provides a framework for long-term goals, aiming for an 80% reduction by 2050 through a strategy of reducing energy consumption, decarbonizing the electricity supply, and electrifying transportation and heating. The report includes detailed assessments of building efficiency, transportation, electricity generation, and non-energy emissions, as well as research on land use and carbon storage in terrestrial and wetland ecosystems.