Search Climate Insights Directory

This document, a chapter from 'Natural Capitalism', argues that traditional design often relies on compromise and diminishing returns, whereas 'whole-system engineering' can 'tunnel through the cost barrier' to achieve massive resource savings at lower capital costs. By optimizing systems as a whole and thinking 'downstream to upstream,' designers can eliminate expensive equipment and create synergies that reduce both operating and construction expenses.

This document is a letter or statement arguing against the proliferation of nuclear power reactors, asserting that they facilitate the production of plutonium for atomic bombs and that the global community should instead focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy transitions.

This briefing by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) outlines 17 federal energy policy goals designed to reduce U.S. oil use and greenhouse gas emissions by 50% each within 10 years. The strategy prioritizes reducing energy demand through efficiency in buildings, transport, and industry before substituting supply with renewables and a 'Smart Grid'. RMI estimates these goals could create over three million jobs by 2012.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes opportunities to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Canadian Class-8 truck fleet through the adoption of aerodynamic retrofits, low rolling-resistance tires, and auxiliary power units (APUs). It argues that government leadership, technical guidance, and financial incentives are necessary to overcome industry inertia and the fuel-efficiency losses caused by emissions regulations.

This briefing argues that energy efficiency programs are unlikely to necessitate rate increases for utilities and that, even if rates were to rise, customer bills would still decrease. The author contends that focusing on rates rather than total bills is an economic error that ignores the joint production of electricity and efficiency.

This position paper by Geres, an international development NGO, outlines its strategy for achieving universal energy access as a catalyst for the energy transition and poverty reduction. The document details Geres' approach to providing affordable, renewable energy services to households and small businesses at the 'base of the pyramid,' emphasizing the integration of energy efficiency, local capacity building, and gender equality to ensure sustainable development and climate resilience.

This report examines the impact of energy efficiency on electricity demand for cooling appliances in households at risk. It highlights that while expanding cooling access could significantly increase energy needs, the adoption of best-available technologies and passive building strategies can offset this demand and support sustainable energy transitions.

This report outlines the critical cooling and cold chain needs in Ghana across three primary sectors: food, nutrition and agriculture; health services; and human comfort and safety in the built environment. It details the economic and health impacts of inadequate cooling, such as significant food waste, vaccine distribution failures, and rising heat-related mortality, while highlighting the inefficiency of current air-conditioning infrastructure.

This report by Sustainable Energy for All analyzes how energy efficiency, specifically through Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), can expand access to cooling services for low-income households in high-impact countries by making appliances compatible with lower tiers of electricity supply.

This document introduces the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the SEforALL Cooling for All programme, highlighting the goal to reduce hydrofluorocarbon production by over 80 percent over 30 years while improving energy efficiency in cooling technologies.

This report outlines the critical cooling and cold chain needs in Kenya across the agriculture, health, and built environment sectors. It identifies significant food losses, electricity gaps in health facilities, and urban heat risks, while highlighting opportunities for sustainable cooling investments and passive design to improve public health and economic productivity.

The Global Tracking Framework, coordinated by the World Bank/ESMAP and the IEA, establishes a system of indicators to monitor progress toward three 2030 goals: universal access to modern energy services, doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement, and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

This briefing describes the development and findings of a global Evidence Gap Map (EGM) on sustainable energy, co-funded by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and 3ie. The EGM systematically screens rigorous evidence on the causal effects of sustainable energy interventions in low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs) to support SDG 7 targets regarding energy access, efficiency, and renewables.

This fact sheet by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) outlines various donor-funded financing programs available for renewable energy manufacturing and clean energy innovation, primarily targeting Africa and other developing regions.

The Barbados Energy Transition and Investment Plan (ETIP), published by Sustainable Energy for All, outlines a strategic pathway for Barbados to achieve net-zero emissions (NZE) by 2035. The plan identifies NZE 2035 as the most feasible scenario, requiring a total capital investment of BBD 19 billion through 2040, primarily driven by the electrification of the transport sector. The transition aims to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, enhance climate resilience, and create approximately 1,500 new jobs, with a strong emphasis on integrating women and youth into the clean energy workforce.

This briefing outlines the mission, progress, and 2022 strategic priorities of the Energy Transition Council (ETC), an initiative designed to facilitate dialogue between developing countries and international actors to accelerate the transition to clean, affordable, and reliable power.

This compendium, led by India's Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), explores how G20 countries can promote energy-efficient lifestyles by combining rational motivations with positive emotional narratives. It highlights the 'Lifestyle for Environment' (LiFE) movement and provides case studies on energy efficiency in buildings, industry, and transport, emphasizing that human-centered communication can accelerate the transition to decarbonized economies.

This report provides a technical and practical guide to electric cooking (eCooking) appliances for use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It categorizes appliances into cooktops, self-contained units, and task-specific devices, evaluating them based on energy efficiency, power ratings, and cultural suitability. The document aims to assist programme planners and policymakers in selecting appropriate technologies to transition households from biomass fuels to clean energy, aligning with SDG 7 goals.

This report by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) examines the cooling landscape in Ghana, highlighting the critical need for sustainable cooling to support healthcare, agriculture, and human safety. It identifies significant access gaps, with millions of people at high or medium risk due to heat exposure and lack of electricity. The document provides a roadmap for a just transition, recommending passive cooling strategies, higher energy efficiency standards, the phase-out of HFC refrigerants, and the decarbonization of the power sector to align with Ghana's net-zero emissions target by 2060.

This report analyzes the energy consumption and efficiency opportunities within Thailand's dairy cold chain, focusing on raw milk transportation, pasteurized milk processing, and the School Milk Programme. It identifies significant potential for energy savings through the adoption of best practices, electrification of transport, and the integration of renewable energy.