Search Climate Insights Directory

This report by the World Resources Institute and the Laudato Si' Research Institute examines the role of faith communities in socio-environmental disputes across Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. It highlights how these actors use spiritual and symbolic dimensions to defend human rights and territories, often viewing their work as a 'defense of life' rather than formal natural-resource governance. The report emphasizes the critical but under-recognized leadership of women and calls for international organizations and governments to recognize faith communities as essential environmental defenders.

This report by the World Resources Institute reviews loans provided by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to developing countries for electricity policy between 2006 and 2008. It evaluates how these investments align with a framework for sustainable, low-carbon energy development, focusing on policy, regulation, and institutional capacity.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) Strategic Plan 2023-27 outlines a shift toward an interconnected approach to address systemic crises in climate, nature, and human well-being by transforming the human systems driving unsustainable production and consumption.

The World Resources Institute report 'Striking the Balance' provides guidance for investors in developing countries on designing social and environmental safeguard policies that balance accountability with recipient-country ownership. It outlines eight specific recommendations for investors and analyzes four risk management approaches used by the World Bank.

A study of over 2,000 households in Bangalore, India, found that behaviorally designed household energy reports (HERs) featuring social norm comparisons and savings recommendations led to a 7 percent decrease in average monthly energy consumption over 12 months in 2018.

This report by the World Resources Institute analyzes how the United States can reduce greenhouse gas emissions using existing federal laws and state actions without requiring new legislation from the U.S. Congress.

This technical note describes the methodology used to estimate annual electricity generation for power plants within the Global Power Plant Database, utilizing a combination of statistical regression and machine learning.

This guide by the World Resources Institute outlines five public-private financing mechanisms designed to overcome capital barriers for energy efficiency investments: on-bill financing, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) models, loan guarantees, and loan loss reserve funds (LLRFs).

This report by the World Resources Institute analyzes the market potential for clean energy products and services targeting the rural Base of the Pyramid (BoP) in India, focusing on decentralized renewable energy and energy-efficient products to inform potential investors.

An analysis of energy sector financing by major Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), finding that a majority of funding has failed to systematically incorporate climate change considerations.

This report by the World Resources Institute examines the policy landscape for greenhouse gas mitigation in the United Kingdom, focusing on the legal framework established by the Climate Change Act 2008 and the trajectory of carbon budgets.

This working paper analyzes the role of 29 Clean Cities and Communities (CC&C) coalitions in supporting the transition to electric school buses (ESBs) across the United States, focusing on their technical assistance, regional barriers, and strategies for equitable implementation.

This report assesses the employment and community impacts of Michigan's automotive industry transitioning from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) between 2024 and 2040, providing policy recommendations for a just transition.

This working paper analyzes the investment environment for solar photovoltaic (PV) in the U.S. commercial sector, identifying economic and regulatory barriers that hinder widespread adoption despite the sector's significant electricity consumption and available roof space.

This research paper analyzes how Indonesia can reconcile an 8% annual GDP growth target by 2029 with its net zero emission commitments. Using simulations based on the Comprehensive Investment and Policy Plan (CIPP) for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), the paper argues that early investment in clean energy is essential for securing high economic growth while reducing fossil fuel dependence.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute outlines six design considerations for the next generation of U.S. federal tax credits to accelerate the deployment of low-carbon technologies across the power, transportation, industrial, and buildings sectors to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Costs and Benefits Appraisal Tool for Transit Buses is a web-based tool designed to help city officials and bus operators evaluate the costs, emissions, and social benefits of different bus fuel types to inform clean bus upgrades.

This research paper estimates that annual global transport infrastructure investment needs are $2 trillion for a 2°C scenario and $2.3 trillion for a 4°C scenario. It concludes that a low-carbon pathway is more affordable and financially feasible within current annual investment flows of $1.4 to $2.1 trillion, provided that national policymakers and development banks shift investment portfolios toward sustainable options.

This research paper examines the potential for clean hydrogen to decarbonize the United States freight transport sector, including road, air, water, and rail. It positions hydrogen as a complementary solution to electrification and other clean fuels, noting that while significant cost, infrastructure, and technological barriers exist, hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels could provide mature, low-carbon alternatives by 2050.

This research paper outlines a framework for India's low-carbon growth by calculating the country's fair share of the global carbon budget and modeling decadal milestones for the power, industry, and transport sectors through 2050.