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This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and Carbon War Room profiles 10 case studies of islands and remote communities transitioning from oil-dependent electricity systems to renewable microgrids. It identifies the drivers of change, technical and administrative challenges, and lessons learned to provide a roadmap for other isolated communities seeking to reduce costs and oil dependence through wind, solar, hydro, and energy storage.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) details a case study in Kiambu County, Kenya, exploring the behavioural drivers affecting the adoption of advanced biomass pellet cookstoves (specifically the Philips model). Using a service design methodology, the research identifies that while trust in local microfinance partners like the Visionary Empowerment Programme (VEP) facilitates initial acquisition, long-term adoption is hindered by a lack of user-centric value propositions, poor fuel supply chains for pellets, and a failure to address the diverse cooking needs of households, leading to 'stove stacking' rather than full transition.

This research paper examines the structural inequality in the distribution of centrally financed fuel subsidies in India, arguing that Bihar, one of the country's poorest states, consistently receives the lowest per capita subsidy transfers compared to wealthier states.

A statement from the Center for International Environmental Law and other civil society organizations urging the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to adopt a robust accountability framework, including an independent Oversight Mechanism and clear requirements for Operational-Level Grievance Mechanisms, to ensure the protection of marginalized communities and the environment.

This research paper analyzes the economic constraints facing South Africa in the context of the #FeesMustFall student protests, specifically examining the 2015 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). It details the government's struggle with rising debt, low growth, and the competing financial demands of social spending, infrastructure, and energy security.

The 2015 EIA Guideline for Renewable Energy Projects provides a legal and procedural framework for the development of wind, solar, hydro, and biomass energy in South Africa. It aims to streamline the environmental authorization process, integrating requirements from NEMA and other acts to support the country's transition toward a target of 17.8GWe of renewable capacity by 2030.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines the critical objectives for climate negotiations in Bonn as a prelude to COP21 in Paris. It evaluates the current state of national climate plans and identifies key areas in the co-chairs' draft agreement—including improvement cycles, long-term goals, transparency, finance, and adaptation—that require further clarity and ambition to ensure a strong global agreement.

This fact sheet by the World Resources Institute outlines how Virginia can meet and exceed the U.S. EPA's Clean Power Plan requirement to reduce power sector emissions by 23 percent below 2012 levels by 2030. It identifies three primary pathways—improving energy efficiency, increasing renewable energy, and utilizing existing natural gas plants—and details the potential economic benefits of these actions.

This fact sheet from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment describes the nature of neonicotinoid pesticides, their impact on honey bee populations in Canada and globally, and the regulatory actions taken in Ontario and the European Union to mitigate these risks.

Energy Innovation analyzed policy combinations using the Energy Policy Simulator to identify a cost-effective path for the U.S. to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP). The report proposes a six-policy package that would meet the CPP's requirement of 32 percent less CO2 emissions from the power sector by 2030 while generating nearly 40 billion dollars in savings between 2016 and 2030.

This case study examines the sustainable urban development of Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm, Sweden, evaluating it against 12 Green Guidelines. The district is presented as an economically and environmentally successful model of infill development on a former industrial brownfield, utilizing a closed-loop 'Hammarby Model' to integrate waste, energy, and water systems. The report details the planning process, financing mechanisms, and the role of a multi-disciplinary Project Team in achieving high sustainability targets.

The communiqué from the 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), held in October 2015 in Geneva, focuses on aligning mining practices with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the critical importance of integrated mine closure planning.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes the economic value of battery energy storage in the U.S. electricity grid, arguing that 'behind-the-meter' (customer-sited) deployment offers the highest potential value because it can provide the widest array of services. The authors identify thirteen fundamental services across three stakeholder groups—ISO/RTOs, utilities, and customers—and demonstrate through four case studies that 'stacking' multiple services (using a battery for several different purposes over its lifetime) is essential for achieving positive net economic benefits under current cost structures.

This insight brief by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provides a systemic framework for understanding sustainable finance, specifically focusing on the global energy transition to a low-carbon future. It decomposes financial transactions into five core elements and identifies three primary categories of barriers—risk/return, information, and scale—that impede the flow of capital into sustainability initiatives. The document proposes a matrix of 26 broad strategies, utilizing both policy and non-policy approaches, and applies this framework to case studies on U.S. residential solar and electric vehicles (EVs).

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) discusses the October 2015 IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the region's economic challenges and South Africa's specific vulnerabilities in growth, energy, and exports.

This report by Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific outlines the need to transform Asia's economic and political systems to address the dual crises of inequality and climate change. It advocates for the 'scaling up' of community-led, sustainable solutions and provides a ten-point set of recommendations for regional governments and institutions to ensure public service access, corporate accountability, and a transition to 100% renewable energy.

This briefing analyzes the UN Sustainable Development Summit, which focused on the adoption of the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It examines the successful negotiation process led by the Open Working Group (OWG), initial national commitments to implementation, and outstanding requirements such as the development of indicators and the outcome of the Paris Climate Change Conference.

This report argues that Iran has a strategic opportunity to replace its costly and ambiguous nuclear power program with a modernized energy strategy focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy. The author contends that shifting away from nuclear power would reduce the risk of proliferation, lower the likelihood of renewed sanctions, and improve regional stability by discouraging a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

This project overview describes an initiative by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to integrate Water-Energy-Food (WEF) security into development decisions related to mining in Suriname. The project involved a literature review, the development of the WEFsat-Mining tool, the creation of hydrologic assessment guidance, and capacity building through regional workshops.

This research paper argues that while military interventions and shipping industry protections reduced Somali piracy, they failed to address root causes such as political instability, youth unemployment, and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The author advocates for a shift from traditional naval deterrence toward supporting Somalia's maritime governance, specifically through the implementation of the Somalia Maritime Resource and Security Strategy (SMRSS) and the development of the national coast guard and navy to combat IUU fishing.