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The G20 has transitioned from a narrow focus on financial stability (2005–2008) to an integrated governance model where energy security, climate action, and sustainable development are central. Key milestones include the 2009 Pittsburgh Summit's first mention of clean energy, the 2015 first Energy Ministers' Meeting, and the recent sequence of Global South presidencies (Indonesia, India, Brazil, South Africa) that have shifted the narrative toward equity, just transitions, and the reform of the international financial architecture. South Africa's 2025 Presidency specifically champions African interconnectivity, critical minerals sovereignty, and debt sustainability to enable a just energy transition.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed the intersection of the housing crisis and extreme heat, finding that residents of affordable housing—particularly people of color, older adults, and people with disabilities—face significant risks. Analysis of 2024 heat alerts shows that the highest shares of exposed affordable housing are in the Northeast and Southeast, while Texas, California, and New York have the highest total number of exposed homes. The report advocates for increased investment in climate-resilient affordable housing and the expansion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to improve cooling and building efficiency.

The guide examines how community-based organizations (CBOs) can bridge the gap between solar energy programs and low- to moderate-income (LMI) households in the United States. It identifies systemic barriers to solar adoption—such as high upfront costs, complex applications, and distrust of developers—and proposes seven strategies for CBOs to overcome these obstacles. Through case studies from Georgia, Washington, D.C., and Michigan, the document demonstrates that CBOs' local trust and cultural understanding are critical for ensuring clean energy transitions are equitable and accessible.

The report examines the use of green tax incentives—such as income tax holidays and import duty relief—to address a USD 2.2 trillion annual investment gap in emerging and developing economies. It argues that while these tools can redirect capital toward climate-aligned projects, profit-based incentives often fail early-stage projects, and poorly designed measures can erode public revenue without generating meaningful investment.

The policy brief examines the misalignment between legacy gas utility energy efficiency programs and current state climate goals in the United States. It highlights how traditional cost-effectiveness tests often prioritize short-term gas appliance rebates over high-impact weatherization and electrification. Using examples from states like New York and Massachusetts, the document proposes six strategic reforms to redirect ratepayer funding toward long-term decarbonization and building efficiency.

The report argues that G20 countries are locked into oil and gas systems due to economic, geopolitical, and institutional factors, despite climate commitments. It highlights a contradiction where G20 nations are on track to produce and consume more than twice the fossil fuels permitted under a 1.5°C pathway. The document analyzes the role of National Oil Companies (NOCs), the limitations of carbon capture and storage (CCS), and the regressive nature of fossil fuel subsidies. It proposes a 'Just Transition Taxonomy' to ensure the phase-out protects workers and marginalized communities, particularly in the Global South, and recommends legislating national phase-out plans and redirecting subsidies toward renewable energy.

The document catalogues Union and State-level financial supports in Chhattisgarh across electricity transmission and distribution (T&D), coal, oil and gas (O&G), renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs), and bioenergy. Key state-level expenditures include significant subsidies for agricultural electricity, such as the Krishak Jeewan Jyoti Yojana, and the Saur Sujala Yojana for solar pumps. Union-level support is prominent in coal pricing for utilities and the FAME scheme for electric mobility. The appendix also lists the data sources used to track government receipts from these energy sectors.

The document examines the 'twin transition' of digital and green transformations, highlighting how digital technologies can both enable climate action and contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions. It identifies critical gaps in infrastructure and financing for developing countries and proposes five priority decarbonization levers: green infrastructure, energy-efficient operations, sustainable supply chains, circular economy models, and climate-compatible infrastructure. The authors argue for coordinated international cooperation, targeted financial incentives, and the integration of environmental provisions into digital trade agreements to ensure an inclusive transition to net zero.

The document examines the practice of gas line extension allowances, where the cost of connecting new buildings to the natural gas system is funded through the bills of existing customers. It argues that this model is failing as customers shift toward electric alternatives, creating a financial risk of stranded investments. Eight US states have already taken action to reduce or phase out these subsidies, which RMI estimates could save up to $750 million in annual utility costs across those states. Evidence from California and Colorado suggests that removing these subsidies encourages developers to choose all-electric options over gas.

Türkiye faces increasing electricity demand for cooling, which aligns temporally with peak solar generation. The report suggests leveraging over 120 GW of rooftop solar potential to reduce grid strain and recommends creating a comprehensive air conditioner database to improve demand forecasting. To ensure grid stability, the document advocates for grid-scale batteries, pumped-storage hydroelectric plants, and demand-side management to balance supply and demand.

Türkiye's cooling-related electricity consumption reached 10 TWh in 2024, growing by 26% since 2022. This trend is shifting peak electricity demand from winter to summer, with the gap between summer and winter peaks widening to 9.1 GW by 2025. The report projects that cooling demand could reach 35 TWh by 2035, with peak hourly demand potentially hitting 85 GWh. To address this, the study recommends expanding distributed solar power, which aligns with peak cooling hours, implementing energy storage (including pumped-storage hydro), and improving data collection on air conditioner ownership to enhance demand forecasting.

Buildings account for 18% of Canada's GHG emissions, with residential space heating as the primary energy driver. The document argues that deep energy retrofits (DERs)—defined as achieving a minimum 50% reduction in energy consumption—are essential for net-zero targets. While high upfront costs are a barrier, the green building industry could contribute CAD 150 billion to the economy by 2030, with annual energy bill savings estimated at CAD 10.8 billion. The brief recommends adopting the highest tier of the National Building Code, implementing innovative financing like Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), and scaling prefabricated retrofit models like Energiesprong.

The policy brief argues that while performance incentive mechanisms (PIMs) can drive regulatory outcomes and affordability, they require intentional evaluation to ensure benefits outweigh costs. RMI recommends that PUCs implement recurring and transparent evaluations via web-based dashboards, assess PIMs as a holistic portfolio rather than in silos, create informal stakeholder dialogue spaces to reduce administrative burdens, and utilize existing design guidelines to standardize retrospective evaluations.

The report assesses the economic damage caused by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), projecting significant costs to households and a reduction in GDP and jobs by 2035. It urges U.S. state policymakers to implement five 'no-regrets' strategies—accelerating wind and solar construction, streamlining deployment, sustaining electric transportation, increasing building efficiency, and stimulating clean industrial investment—to maintain economic opportunity and lower energy costs despite federal policy failures.

The document examines the intersection of climate change, housing quality, and health in Toronto, proposing that an equity-focused Building Emissions Performance Standards (BEPS) policy can mitigate health risks for marginalized communities. It highlights how retrofits—such as switching from gas to electric heating and stoves, improving insulation, and adding mechanical ventilation—can reduce asthma risks, protect against extreme temperature events, and lower outdoor air pollution. The brief warns against the risks of tenant displacement and 'renovictions' and recommends strong tenant protections, the creation of Community Accountability Boards, and the integration of health metrics into BEPS monitoring to ensure benefits are shared equitably.

The study finds that unreliable power supply in Benin forces businesses to invest in defensive measures, with extra costs accounting for 44% of total electricity expenditures. These costs, primarily driven by power generator operations, push an additional 5% of businesses into a state of 'electricity burden' (spending >10% of revenue on power). The burden is most prevalent among informal businesses, home-based enterprises, and those in the production sector.

The report evaluates renewable energy options for a municipal water station in Ukraine serving 400,000 residents. It compares 100% decentralised systems (PV+Battery vs. Wind+Battery) and feasible grid-connected hybrid systems, finding that while wind is more cost-effective, solar PV is the only viable on-site installation due to space constraints. For heating, water-to-water heat pumps are identified as the optimal solution. The report also maps international financing opportunities from institutions like the EBRD, EIB, and World Bank to support implementation.

The project aims to support rural entrepreneurs in Benin through two main pillars: electricity access via mini-grids, electrified activity zones (ZAE), or solar kits, and the provision of efficient cooking stoves for agri-food processors. Targeting 20 small businesses and 108 women's groups, the initiative seeks to consolidate 100 jobs, increase incomes, and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 17,000 tCO2eq.

The paper examines how trade policy can accelerate the clean energy transition by expanding access to renewable technologies. It highlights the role of the APEC List of Environmental Goods and the need to address non-tariff measures and global value chain complexities. The author advocates for a comprehensive approach that includes preferential treatment for components and services to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of renewable energy deployment.

The document warns that reforming the MSR2 before the ETS2 launches in 2027 could lead to an oversupply of allowances, weakening the price signal and jeopardizing the EU's 2030 climate target of a 42% reduction in covered emissions. It argues that high prices should be managed through 'complementary measures'—such as CO2 standards for vehicles and boiler phase-outs—and the strategic use of the Social Climate Fund and €300 billion in ETS2 revenue. The authors contend that existing safeguards, including a 'soft price cap' of approximately €55 per tonne and the early auctioning of 30% more allowances, are sufficient for the initial phase. They caution that any increase in allowance supply must be 'cap neutral' to avoid exceeding the carbon budget.