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The report examines Energy Savings Insurance (ESI), an instrument developed by the Inter-American Development Bank and BASE to unlock energy efficiency investments for SMEs by insuring against the risk that projected energy savings are not met. ESI can absorb up to 80% of underperformance risk and is being piloted or replicated across several countries, including Mexico, Colombia, and El Salvador. If scaled globally, the instrument is estimated to drive USD 10-100 billion in investment and reduce annual emissions by 27-234 MtCO2 by 2030.

The document analyzes China's GPP framework, highlighting the reliance on product lists (ECP and ELP) and the challenges posed by fragmented legal frameworks and administrative overlaps. It proposes a shift toward performance-based specifications and introduces a quantification model to demonstrate the potential benefits of expanding GPP beyond goods to include services and infrastructure.

The document examines South Africa's 2014 five-point plan to mitigate electricity shortages, which includes emergency measures, cogeneration, gas substitution, coal independent power programmes, and nuclear and renewable energy exploration. It highlights a lack of clarity in government prioritisation of energy sources and notes that private sector confidence is waning, as evidenced by companies like Sibanye Gold Limited seeking energy independence. The author argues that the government must update the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010-2030 and provide a transparent assessment of the financial viability and suitability of different energy sources, particularly regarding the high costs and long lead times associated with nuclear and coal investments.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is calling on the South African Department of Environmental Affairs to formally publish the draft Strategy to Address Air Pollution in Dense Low-Income Settlements for public comment by 30 April 2015. The CER argues that residents in low-income settlements suffer disproportionate exposure to poor air quality from industrial sources and domestic fuel burning, leading to severe respiratory and cardio-vascular illnesses, particularly in children and the elderly. The document highlights that the strategy was a deliverable as far back as 2010 and is essential for local governments, such as the Nkangala District Municipality, to meet air quality compliance goals by 2020. The CER asserts that the state's failure to address these health risks violates constitutional rights to an environment not harmful to health and the progressive realisation of adequate housing.

Kaiser Permanente partnered with NextEra Energy Resources to procure 110 MW of solar and 43 MW of wind power, aiming to meet 50% of its California electricity consumption through renewable sources. The organization views climate change as a health issue and set a 2012 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2008 levels by 2020. The deal is expected to avoid 215,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in California, equivalent to removing over 45,000 cars from the roads. The case study highlights the importance of assembling a cross-functional team, balancing economic feasibility with mission-driven goals, and managing internal stakeholder engagement to successfully execute complex off-site renewable energy transactions.

The document examines China's transition from a flat-rate residential electricity pricing system to a tiered electricity pricing (TEP) system introduced in October 2010. The TEP system is designed to ensure affordability for low-consumption households through subsidized initial blocks while discouraging overconsumption via higher rates for increased use. The analysis focuses on the reform's effects on equity, economic efficiency, and the cost of subsidies, as well as the communication strategies used with stakeholders.

The We Mean Business Coalition acknowledges the US pledge to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025 as a positive step but argues it is insufficient to prevent 3.5 degrees Celsius of warming. The coalition calls for a detailed national decarbonization pathway targeting 80% or more reductions by 2050, a five-year cycle for strengthening targets, and the scale-up of public finance via the Green Climate Fund to leverage private sector capital.

The Energy Savings Insurance (ESI) instrument is designed to stimulate energy efficiency investments by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by mitigating the risk that actual energy savings fall below projections. A pilot in Mexico's agro-industry sector targets 10 fast-track projects valued at USD 2.14 million, utilizing a package of surety insurance, credit lines from FIRA, and third-party verification by ANCE. Financial modeling indicates that the ESI package can absorb 60-80% of the impact of underperformance on debt service repayments, significantly reducing risk for both equity investors and loan providers. The report proposes scaling the initiative to 6-14 additional Latin American and Caribbean countries through a regional facility, with further replication planned for China, India, Indonesia, and Africa, aiming for a global potential of USD 10-100 billion in investments by 2030.

The Long-Term FX Risk Management instrument, developed by The Lab in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and The Currency Exchange Fund Management Company (TIM), aims to unlock climate-relevant investments in emerging markets. By offering long-term fixed and inflation-linked cross-currency swaps, interest rate swaps, and local currency loans, the instrument addresses the financial uncertainty caused by currency mismatches in capital-intensive clean infrastructure projects. A proposed pilot requires USD 250 million in donor risk capital to provide up to USD 1 billion in hedging capacity, potentially supporting USD 1.5 billion in clean investment projects and reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1.7 MtCO2.

The document presents a framework for achieving clean air in China, emphasizing the need for a robust air quality management system, the application of Best Available Control Technologies (BACT), and the alignment of fiscal policies with pollution goals. It advocates for the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, the implementation of a coal cap to reduce coal's share of the energy structure to less than 50% by 2030, and the adoption of Euro 6 fuel standards by 2018 for heavy-duty trucks and off-road vehicles. The experts highlight that integrating air pollutant and greenhouse gas reductions is more cost-effective than treating them separately.

The report examines China's green public procurement (GPP) landscape, highlighting a reliance on two product lists: the mandatory Energy Conservation Product (ECP) list and the voluntary Environment Labeling Product (ELP) list. It identifies significant barriers to effectiveness, including a fragmented legal framework split between the Bidding Law and the Government Procurement Law, a lack of life-cycle cost assessments, and corruption. The authors argue for a transition toward performance-based specifications and the expansion of GPP to include services and construction projects. To support this, the report introduces the 'China Green Public Procurement model,' a system dynamics tool designed to monetize and quantify the trade-offs and multiplier benefits of more ambitious GPP policies across various product categories.

The document argues that deep energy retrofits—defined as integrated measures reducing energy consumption by 30 percent or more—are often undervalued because investors focus solely on energy cost savings. It proposes a 'deep retrofit value' (DRV) approach that incorporates five key value elements: initial development costs, non-energy operating cost reductions (such as maintenance and insurance), risk analysis, tenant-based revenues (via higher rents and occupancy), and increased sales revenues driven by higher net operating income and lower cap rates.

The document examines carbon pricing mechanisms, specifically carbon taxes and cap-and-trade programs, as a core strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. It details design features such as scope, point of regulation, and cost-containment mechanisms, while analyzing various ways to utilize generated revenues—including tax cuts, deficit reduction, and dividends—to offset economic impacts and increase political viability. The authors argue that a well-designed carbon price can provide a 'double dividend' of environmental benefit and economic efficiency.

The briefing outlines the anticipated US climate commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. It emphasizes that for the US proposal to be effective and transparent, it should clarify implementation pathways, address the fairness and ambition of its contribution relative to global goals, and provide clear data on base years and market mechanisms.

The report provides a framework for measuring the transition to sustainable consumption and production (SCP) by identifying specific indicators for SDG 12 and related targets in other SDGs. It organizes these indicators into six domains: scale of resource use, decoupling, environmental impact, technology and lifestyles, financing and investing, and policy support. The document emphasizes the need for 'positive indicators' to show the return on investment in SCP and highlights significant data gaps, particularly in developing countries, while suggesting a set of headline indicators to serve as proxies for global progress.

The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group and We Mean Business partners support the EU's commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. While praising the EU's leadership and the Energy Union framework strategy, the group calls for the Market Stability Reserve to be implemented by 2017 to remove surplus carbon permits and requests clearer guidance on financing the transition from gas to greener energy alternatives.

The document examines the drivers and implementation of low-carbon policies in China, noting a transition from national targets to local design across provinces and industrial zones. While this approach allows for local adaptation and policy learning, it has created a complex, overlapping regulatory environment that causes industry uncertainty, risks high compliance costs, and may lead to capital lock-in of high-emitting technologies. The text also references a separate IISD study on the fiscal risks facing BRIICS nations, including China, due to the global transition away from fossil fuels.

The document argues that most global decarbonization scenarios require energy intensity improvements that far exceed historical rates, while noting that policy makers have limited influence over the mechanisms driving these trends.

The document explains that green bonds are fixed-income instruments where proceeds are earmarked for projects with environmental benefits, such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. It details four main types of green bonds—'use of proceeds' bonds, revenue bonds, project bonds, and securitized bonds—and notes that the majority are 'use of proceeds' bonds backed by the issuer's entire balance sheet. The market grew significantly from $11bn in 2013 to $36.6bn by the end of 2014, with major issuers including the European Investment Bank and the World Bank. While the 'Green Bond Principles' provide best practice guidelines, the document highlights a lack of universal definitions for 'green' projects, a gap the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) is addressing with sector-specific standards. For investors, green bonds offer a way to meet ESG objectives without necessarily taking on additional project-specific risk, though the secondary market remains thin due to a 'buy-and-hold' investor base.

The document argues that the EU's 2030 target of reducing non-ETS emissions by 30% relative to 2005 levels will create a significant gap between the demand for and supply of Annual Emissions Allocations (AEAs). It suggests that the existing 2020 flexibility mechanism is insufficient and proposes the creation of an AEA Clearinghouse to facilitate project-based trading, increase market transparency, and catalyze low-carbon investment in lower-income Member States.