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The document examines the relationship between the low-carbon energy transition and the extractive industries, specifically focusing on South Africa. It details the specific metal requirements for various renewable energy technologies—such as solar PV, wind, and geothermal—and argues that the resulting increase in global demand for these materials can provide a strategic economic advantage for South Africa. The paper suggests that the country can leverage its vast mineral reserves to move beyond primary ore exports toward high-value manufacturing of clean technologies and the modernisation of its mining infrastructure.

The report examines the deployment of small-scale renewable energy (solar PV, wind, biogas, hydro) in East Africa, highlighting Kenya as the regional leader in market maturity and local content regulation. While off-grid solutions like solar home systems and mini-grids are expanding, the report identifies significant barriers to localisation, including a lack of local manufacturing, inadequate access to seed capital for SMEs, and fragmented institutional coordination. It recommends a regional approach to policy alignment, the development of e-learning platforms for vocational training, and the use of impact investment to build sustainable local value chains.

RMI's Sunshine for Mines program proposes a systematic approach to repurposing legacy mine sites, which are often liabilities due to contamination and maintenance costs, into productive energy assets. The methodology involves a multi-stage screening process covering environmental and regulatory constraints, technical feasibility (resource screening and reserve quantification), and financial viability via Net Present Value (NPV) calculations. The brief highlights that while mining companies often face high hurdle rates, the economic case is strengthened when compared to the 'business-as-usual' cost of maintaining closed sites. A practical application of this model with BHP in North America identified a subset of sites with a collective potential exceeding 0.5 GW, primarily for solar PV.

The document analyzes the challenges and opportunities for expanding electricity access in Tanzania, focusing on the role of the private sector and the AfDB. It highlights the financial instability of the national utility, TANESCO, and the impact of recurring droughts on hydropower. The paper argues for a shift toward renewable energy and the development of a local renewable energy value chain to support industrialization and rural access.

The paper examines the shift toward 'country ownership' in environmental and social (E&S) safeguards, where MDBs increasingly allow borrowing nations to use their own national systems. Through case studies of South Africa's Medupi Power Station and Ethiopia's road sector, the authors analyze the tension between MDB technical standards and national development priorities. While South Africa is presented as a model of high legislative alignment, Ethiopia illustrates challenges including capacity gaps, limited civil society participation, and the influence of non-traditional funders like China. The paper argues for a move from prescriptive standards to results-based implementation, recommending country-specific 'E&S safeguards plans,' enhanced regional capacity building, and a greater role for national development finance institutions (DFIs).

The paper examines the alignment between national budgets and NDC commitments in four sub-Saharan African countries. It finds that while some ministries show rising budget projections, there are significant discrepancies between planned and actual spending. The analysis reveals that limited domestic resources are allocated to NDC actions, with a heavy reliance on international donor support. The author suggests that programme-based budgeting and Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks offer opportunities to better track and report climate spending, though current precision remains low.

The report examines the proposed Stiegler's Gorge hydropower dam in Tanzania, highlighting significant risks to the Selous Game Reserve (a World Heritage Site) and the Rufiji-Mafia-Kilwa Marine Ramsar Site. It argues that the project would cause irreversible damage to the region's Outstanding Universal Value, disrupt downstream ecosystems, and threaten the livelihoods of approximately 200,000 people. The document also questions the project's financial feasibility and reliability given climate change and suggests alternative energy sources such as natural gas, solar, wind, and geothermal power.

The report finds that while coal may appear cheaper on a per-unit basis when considering only generation costs and subsidies, its "true cost" is significantly higher than that of renewable energy once environmental and health externalities are included. In 2015, subsidies to coal were estimated at USD 644 million, nearly five times the USD 133 million provided to renewables. The authors argue that Indonesia's energy policy should shift toward increasing the share of renewable energy and reducing coal to lower the long-term cost to society.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is requesting USD 265 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF)—USD 250 million for an investment vehicle and USD 15 million for a technical assistance facility—to launch GEEREF NeXt. Structured as a fund-of-funds, the programme aims for a total size of USD 750 million, blending GCF public seed capital with USD 500 million in private sector finance. The programme targets the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) projects in emerging markets, expecting to finance over 200 projects and add up to 18 GW of clean energy capacity. By using a two-tier capital structure with a 'first-loss' mechanism for public capital, GEEREF NeXt intends to mitigate risk for private investors and achieve a projected 50x multiplier, potentially mobilising USD 30 billion in total project financing. The programme will be managed by the EIB Group, leveraging the experience of its predecessor, the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF).

The document examines the DRC's energy crisis, characterized by an 11% electricity access rate and a heavy reliance on traditional biomass. It analyzes the complexities of the Grand Inga hydropower project, including financial hurdles, governance failures within the state utility SNEL, and socio-environmental concerns. The author argues for a 'two-track strategy' that combines large-scale hydro with diversified, small-scale renewable energy sources (RES) such as solar, wind, and geothermal, supported by the 2014 electricity law to attract private investment. Regionally, the paper highlights the role of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and the potential for the DRC to act as a strategic energy hub for Southern, Central, and Eastern Africa.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) created the Clean Energy Momentum State Ranking to evaluate how US states are advancing renewable energy, energy efficiency, and vehicle electrification. California, Vermont, and Massachusetts are identified as top overall leaders. The report emphasizes that state-level policy is a critical driver of progress, particularly in the absence of consistent federal leadership, and that clean energy momentum creates jobs and improves public health by reducing power plant emissions.

The Union of Concerned Scientists ranked U.S. states on their clean energy momentum using 12 metrics divided into technical progress, direct effects, and policy environments. California ranked first overall, followed by Vermont and Massachusetts. The analysis found that 13 percent of U.S. electricity was generated from renewable energy in 2015, and 36 percent of generating capacity being built between 2016 and 2019 is expected to be renewable. Significant reductions in power plant emissions were noted between 2011 and 2015, with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide declining by 47, 24, and 11 percent, respectively.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) evaluated the 50 US states using 12 indicators to rank their progress in clean energy, focusing on renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, and transport electrification. California leads the ranking, followed by Vermont and Massachusetts. The analysis highlights that clean energy progress is tangible across the US, with wind farms in 41 states and over half a million electric vehicles on the road. The report argues that state-level leadership is critical for job creation and public health improvements, and recommends that states adopt multi-dimensional policies, facilitate corporate participation, and improve energy equity for low-income and minority communities.

The document provides a detailed breakdown of 'green jobs' in the US and internationally, contrasting clean energy employment with fossil fuel industry figures and detailing specific subsectors such as solar, wind, and energy efficiency.

The report finds that a significant portion of Trump voters acknowledge global warming and support various clean energy and climate policies, including renewable energy development on public lands and carbon taxation, despite the skepticism expressed by President Trump.

Ethiopia is positioned as a climate leader, being the first Least Developed Country to submit an Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC). The government aims to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions from 150 Mt CO2eq in 2010 to 145 Mt CO2eq by 2030. To support these goals, CDKN has assisted the Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation (MoFEC) in achieving accreditation as a National Implementing Entity for the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund in March 2016. Infrastructure investments include a 34-km light rail transit in Addis Ababa and a 750-km railway to Djibouti. Additionally, CDKN is supporting the development of geothermal risk insurance and research into greening the industrial sector, specifically leather, garments, and cement.

The document provides a detailed breakdown of jobs in clean energy, contrasting them with fossil fuel employment in the U.S. and highlighting global leaders like China and Brazil. It details specific employment numbers for solar, wind, biomass, and energy efficiency subsectors, while noting the methodological challenges in comparing data from different sources.

Between 2010 and 2014, US$748 million in climate finance primarily targeting climate change was committed to 15 Pacific SIDS, predominantly as grants. The funding was split between adaptation (59%) and mitigation (36%), with 72% sourced through bilateral channels, led by Australia. The vast majority of support (86%) was project-based, with a heavy concentration in creating 'enabling environments' and renewable energy. The analysis notes that Polynesian countries were more successful in attracting diverse funding than Micronesian countries, and highlights significant differences in flexibility and transaction costs between bilateral and multilateral funding sources.

The document lists various entities awarded for pioneering green bond activities in 2016. Key achievements include the first green sovereign bond from Poland, the largest overall issuer (Shanghai Pudong Development Bank), and the first green bonds from several countries including Colombia, Costa Rica, Morocco, and the Philippines. It also recognizes the People's Bank of China for regulation and CICERO for its 'Shades of green' assessment model.

The document examines the trade-offs between low-carbon and high-carbon energy pathways in Kenya, highlighting the financial, regulatory, and social challenges of transitioning to renewable energy. It emphasizes the need for a balanced energy portfolio, the integration of decentralized power solutions, and the critical role of stakeholder engagement and transparent benefit-sharing to overcome public resistance to renewable energy projects.