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This briefing by RMI outlines a demand-side strategy to decarbonize the buildings sector, which accounts for nearly 40 percent of global carbon dioxide pollution. The document advocates for a combination of full electrification, holistic energy efficiency retrofits, the reduction of embodied carbon in construction materials, and a commitment to equitable delivery for underserved communities.

This RMI fact sheet analyzes the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the United States, concluding that federal funding is insufficient to cover the energy costs of all eligible low-income families and that significant numbers of eligible households remain unserved due to barriers like lack of awareness and complex application procedures.

This case study describes how the Progressive Community Church inSSSSS in Gary, Indiana, addresses economic and environmental challenges in the Emerson neighborhood through cleanS energy efficiency, solar power, and urban farming.

This RMI briefing analyzes the potential impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act on the United States economy and climate goals. The legislation commits $369 billion to energy and climate, targeting the decarbonization of buildings, transportation, and heavy industry while aiming to reduce inflation by securing domestic clean energy supply chains.

The report 'Landscape of Green Finance in India' by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes green finance flows in India for FY 2019-20, focusing on climate mitigation and adaptation. It finds that while green finance flows increased by 150% between FY 2017/18 and FY 2019/20, the total of INR 309 thousand crores per annum remains significantly below the estimated INR 11 lakh crores per year required to meet India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This draft explanatory memorandum outlines proposed amendments to the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill, 2022, covering income tax, value-added tax (VAT), carbon tax, and customs and excise duties. The proposals aim to resolve technical anomalies, align tax laws with new accounting standards (IFRS 17), curb tax avoidance regarding contributed tax capital, and support South Africa's climate commitments through a ramped-up carbon tax trajectory and extended energy efficiency incentives.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute provides a guide for nonprofits on overcoming the barrier of upfront costs for energy efficiency retrofits. It details a combination of utility rebates, state and federal incentives, internal funding strategies, and third-party financing mechanisms to achieve long-term operational savings and environmental sustainability.

This scoping paper by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the challenges and priorities for cities in decarbonizing the buildings sector to reach net zero carbon. It examines the drivers of building stock growth, technical mitigation solutions, and the financial instruments and policies required to scale these solutions, with specific deep dives into Nigeria and Indonesia.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how Indonesia can reallocate fossil fuel subsidies and taxes to fund a green recovery and accelerate its energy transition. It proposes redirecting these funds toward renewable energy deployment, grid modernization, energy access in remote areas, and energy efficiency measures to meet national climate targets.

This report, commissioned by the British Embassy in Tallinn, evaluates Estonia's progress toward climate neutrality by 2050, building on a 2019 SEI study. While total greenhouse gas emissions fell from 18,687.4 kt CO2e in 2018 to 11,555.8 kt CO2e in 2020, the report identifies significant gaps in the energy, buildings, industry, LULUCF, transport, and agriculture sectors. Key challenges include a lack of incentives for non-residential building renovations, lagging wind energy investment, and the LULUCF sector transitioning from a carbon sink to an emitting sector in 2020.

This guide provides a framework for nonprofit organizations to implement energy efficiency projects, covering goal setting, the assembly of internal energy teams, benchmarking processes, and the utilization of financial incentives and auditing standards.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute outlines a framework for achieving climate-neutral cities, focusing on the identification of emission sources across three scopes and the deployment of efficiency and carbon capture technologies. It emphasizes a systems-thinking approach to urban mitigation, specifically targeting the transportation and built environment sectors while excluding large-scale electricity generation and general industry solutions.

This case study examines how Australia became a global leader in decarbonizing premium commercial buildings through 'ambition loops'—positive feedback cycles involving government regulation, industry leadership, and market demand. It highlights the roles of the Victoria and New South Wales governments, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), and transparency tools like NABERS in driving sector-wide climate goals.

This research paper examines the challenges of institutionalizing industrial energy efficiency in Uganda, arguing that while targeted interventions have provided gains, a robust regulatory framework and broader consensus on trade-offs and benefits are needed to achieve systemic institutionalization.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) introduces a series titled "Living with Climate Change," focusing on community preparation for climate threats including polar vortices, sea level rise, wildfires, and extreme heat. The document specifically highlights the risks associated with polar vortex events, noting that climate change is expected to affect their frequency and severity, and emphasizes the need for adaptation strategies to prevent deadly power outages.

A briefing by Ember, E3G, RAP, and Bellona stating that the European Union can eliminate all Russian fossil gas imports by 2025 through the accelerated deployment of clean energy and efficiency measures, rather than new gas infrastructure.

This report assesses the progress of sustainable cooling policies across the 'Critical 9' high-impact countries, focusing on access to cooling, energy efficiency standards, and climate change integration. It highlights significant gaps in electrification planning, financial incentives for efficient devices, and the implementation of National Cooling Action Plans (NCAPs).

This report examines the critical role of sustainable cooling and electricity in health services, focusing on vaccine cold chains, the management of temperature-sensitive medical products, and the need for temperature regulation in hospitals and clinics to improve patient care and resilience against heat stress.

This report examines the critical role of sustainable cooling and cold chains in reducing global food loss, improving nutrition, and supporting agricultural economies, particularly in low-income and high-impact countries.

The document outlines the policy tracking approach used in the Chilling Prospects series to assess sustainable cooling progress in the 'Critical 9' countries. It details the goals of this tracking, the specific policy areas assessed, and the data sources used to evaluate regulatory, information, and incentive policies across various cooling technologies and needs.