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The author contends that Indonesia's COVID-19 recovery stimulus should shift away from fossil fuel support toward renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and decentralized energy systems to ensure long-term economic stability and climate resilience.

The report finds that implementing a portfolio of flexibility resources and market reforms could reduce electricity costs by up to 13% and carbon emissions by up to 17% in Tamil Nadu. Key opportunities include leveraging electric vehicle charging, agricultural pumping, and retrofitting coal plants to operate at lower technical minimums. The study emphasizes that while demand flexibility is often the lowest cost, a combined approach with storage and powerplant flexibility provides the highest system reliability and carbon benefits. Integration into a wider India-wide market could further reduce system costs by an additional 6%.

The document outlines a pathway for the United States to reach 90 percent zero carbon electricity by 2035, asserting that plummeting technology costs make this achievable without increasing consumer electricity bills. It details the economic benefits, including $1.7 trillion in investment and 530,000 annual energy sector jobs, while avoiding 85,000 premature deaths by 2050. To prevent a scenario where zero carbon sources only reach 53 percent by 2035, the brief proposes a series of policy interventions for Congress, including a Clean Energy Standard, expanded tax credits, increased DOE capital for manufacturing, and support for coal communities through a 'Just Transition' framework and the RECLAIM Act.

The report finds that while India has shifted resources toward clean energy since FY 2014, subsidies for fossil fuels remain over seven times larger than those for renewables and electric vehicles. Oil and gas subsidies rose by over 65% between FY 2017 and FY 2019, driven by higher oil prices and LPG use, while renewable energy subsidies fell by 35% in the same period. Electricity transmission and distribution subsidies doubled, primarily due to under-priced electricity for residential and agricultural users. Electric vehicle subsidies grew over 400-fold since FY 2014. A special analysis of coal indicates a massive net cost of INR 3,36,446 crore in FY 2018 when accounting for social costs like air pollution and GHG emissions, far outweighing tax revenues and charges.

The document examines the uncertainty surrounding the hosting of COP26 in Glasgow due to COVID-19, noting that while the UK government initially aimed to proceed, the decision involves the UNFCCC. It highlights the impracticality of virtual summits and emphasizes that Paris Agreement obligations for 2020 NDC submissions remain. The author argues that post-pandemic economic recovery packages must avoid high-carbon industries and instead invest in low-carbon infrastructure to avoid repeating the missed opportunities of the 2008 financial crisis.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has written to Minister Gwede Mantashe seeking clarification on two draft determinations for new generation capacity. The CER questions whether the Minister has conducted or intends to conduct public participation as required for administrative actions affecting the public. Additionally, the CER seeks to determine if the proposed 1500 MW coal capacity allocation includes the 900 MW already appointed to 'preferred bidder' projects Thabametsi and Khanyisa, which would leave only 600 MW of new capacity available.

The document advocates for the integration of advanced nuclear energy into a diversified zero-carbon energy portfolio to mitigate the risks and costs associated with relying solely on variable renewables. It highlights nuclear's advantages in power density, dispatchability, and its ability to produce carbon-free hydrogen for hard-to-electrify sectors. While acknowledging challenges such as high costs, waste disposal, and public perception, the author suggests that standardized construction, advanced reactor designs, and supportive federal policies—specifically the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA)—can make nuclear a scalable and cost-effective tool for climate mitigation.

The document details Hawaii's approach to climate resilience through the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA), highlighting its use of non-traditional underwriting to democratize clean energy for low-income residents and renters. It discusses specific projects, such as the Kahauiki Village microgrid and the Kahuku Point coastal restoration, as models for combining mitigation and adaptation. The briefing also argues for the National Climate Bank Act to scale these models federally, noting that while mitigation is easier to finance due to cash flows, adaptation requires more innovative financial structures to address unpriced positive externalities.

The report argues that natural gas is not a viable 'bridge' fuel but rather a risk to climate stability and shareholder value. It highlights that new gas infrastructure is increasingly incompatible with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal and faces significant economic threats from the falling costs of renewables and storage. The document details how utilities face 'stranded asset' risks, regulatory pressure from state and city decarbonization mandates, and customer defection to community choice aggregations and corporate clean energy contracts. It suggests that 'steel for fuel' strategies—replacing fossil fuel generation with capital investment in renewables—offer a more sustainable financial model. The report concludes by urging investors to demand better disclosure on emissions and transition plans and to support policies like performance-based regulation and securitization to facilitate a just and rapid energy transition.

The document asserts that off-grid renewable energy, such as solar home systems and mini-grids, outperforms grid extension in cost, emissions, and deployment speed. It provides quantitative evidence showing that off-grid solutions can reduce investment costs by up to 30% and save 500 to 800 Mt of CO2 by 2030. The paper recommends integrating off-grid renewables into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), implementing financial de-risking mechanisms, fostering digital and storage innovations, and enforcing technology and consumer protection standards.

The CLEAN Future Act proposes a national goal of a 100 percent clean economy by 2050, targeting the power, building, and transportation sectors. Key mechanisms include a national Clean Electricity Standard, zero energy ready building codes by 2030, and the establishment of a National Climate Bank. The act emphasizes environmental justice, state-level climate planning, and workforce development through renewable energy job training.

The European Union views the transition to renewable energy as a path toward energy security and industrial power, yet it faces significant strategic hurdles. Internally, the EU lacks a unified vision for its future integrated energy system, leading to risks of redundant spending and a 'multi-speed' transition where Western and Eastern member states have diverging interests. Externally, the shift creates new dependencies on critical materials and intensifies industrial rivalry with the US and China. The author suggests that the EU must move beyond a purely economic approach to a comprehensive industrial and political strategy, potentially supported by the Green Deal and the Just Transition Fund, to ensure long-term stability and competitiveness.

The report argues that flexibility needs in India's electricity system are growing faster than energy demand, particularly under high renewable energy scenarios. It finds that a balanced portfolio of demand-side flexibility, powerplant upgrades, and energy storage can reduce total system costs by 5% to 8% and carbon emissions by 8% to 12% compared to a base case. The analysis highlights regional disparities, noting that states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu face higher curtailment risks, and emphasizes the need for updated market designs, business models, and infrastructure to unlock these flexibility options.

The report argues that India's flexibility needs are growing faster than its energy demand, which could impede the deployment of renewable energy if not addressed. It identifies three primary flexibility resources: demand-side response (e.g., agricultural pumping, air conditioning, and industrial loads), improved thermal and hydroelectric powerplant operations, and energy storage (specifically lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro). The analysis demonstrates that a 'balanced portfolio' combining these resources can reduce total system electricity costs by 5% to 8% and carbon emissions by 8% to 12% compared to a base case. Regional analysis shows that states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu face more acute ramping and seasonal flexibility challenges due to high solar and wind penetration, while Uttar Pradesh could potentially export flexibility. The report concludes that achieving these goals requires significant reforms in market design, data collection, infrastructure, and business models.

The document examines the potential of 'flexible demand'—shifting the timing of electricity use—to support a clean energy transition. It contrasts this with traditional demand response, highlighting how advanced metering and smart technology can align consumption with renewable energy production, reduce the need for natural gas 'ramp' plants, and avoid costly infrastructure upgrades. The author identifies key flexible end uses, such as electric vehicle charging and space heating, and proposes three mobilization models: behavioral, price-exposed, and subscription-enrolled. It concludes with recommendations for regulators to align utility incentives and ensure equitable program design.

The Union of Concerned Scientists projects that without reductions in carbon emissions, US military installations will face a significant increase in days with a heat index above 100°F by midcentury, potentially increasing the rate of heat-related illnesses (HRIs). The report highlights that basic training recruits are particularly vulnerable and that installations in Florida are projected to be among the most affected. To address these risks, the memo recommends increased funding for HRI research, the establishment of an expert working group, improved training on acclimatization, and a transition toward renewable energy to limit future warming.

The document argues that green investments in the Bełchatów region, primarily funded by the EU's Just Transition Mechanism (JTM), can generate significantly more employment than is currently provided by the Bełchatów Power Plant complex. It highlights that the lodzkie voivodeship could access up to PLN 45 billion in EU funds for 2021-2027, though this amount depends on a government pledge to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The highest job creation potential is identified in thermal retrofitting, solar, and onshore wind, with the potential to create 61,000 jobs from JTM funds alone.

The document examines the South African energy storage market, highlighting the shift toward hybrid solar PV and battery systems to mitigate the economic impact of record load shedding. It identifies Lithium-ion (specifically Lithium Iron Phosphate) and Lead Acid as the dominant technologies, while noting that Vanadium Redox Flow and Hydrogen storage face barriers due to limited market penetration and the need for specific use-case analysis. The brief provides cost benchmarks for Li-ion systems and models a hybrid solar PV and storage scenario where the return on investment is estimated at 8-12 years, noting that this period could be reduced if business continuity benefits are factored in.

The South African energy services market, comprising small-scale embedded generation (SSEG), energy storage, and energy efficiency, is projected to reach a total available market value of approximately R125 billion by 2035. Growth is driven by rising Eskom electricity tariffs, falling costs of renewable technologies, and supportive regulatory shifts, such as the unbundling of Eskom and the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). Key emerging opportunities include the bundling of rooftop solar PV projects to attract larger investors, solar PV for energy resellers in property developments, and the retrofitting of existing buildings for energy efficiency. While the C&I sector currently dominates solar installations, the energy storage market is expected to grow significantly through grid management and resource adequacy applications, potentially valued between R15 billion and R30 billion by 2030.

The report outlines the growth of South Africa's utility-scale renewable energy market, driven by the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2019). It highlights a potential market value of R418 billion for solar PV, wind, and distributed generation by 2030. Key opportunities include the upcoming Bid Window 5, local manufacturing of PV panels and wind towers, and the deployment of utility-scale batteries. The document also discusses the unbundling of Eskom into generation, transmission, and distribution entities to improve market competition and transparency.