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The Obama administration's FY 2012 budget proposal emphasizes investments in clean technology, energy efficiency, and renewable energy to drive economic growth. Key funding increases are proposed for the DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office, bioenergy RDD&D, and transportation infrastructure, while funding for fossil energy and the EPA's overall budget is reduced. The proposal also introduces new initiatives such as the Better Buildings Initiative and a National Infrastructure Bank.

The guide outlines a comprehensive checklist for public-sector entities to transition from a 'best value for money' approach to 'best value across the project/product life cycle'. It emphasizes the importance of legal mandates, life-cycle costing (LCC), and e-procurement in integrating environmental and social risks into purchasing decisions. The document argues that the public sector's significant spending power—representing 13-17% of GDP in high-income countries and up to 47% in Brazil—can trigger private sector innovation and the commercialization of green technologies. Key recommendations include using performance-based specifications, negotiating bulk discounts or leasing to offset higher upfront costs, and maintaining dialogue with suppliers to foster green competitiveness.

The document argues that policymakers must move beyond the traditional separation of adaptation, mitigation, and development to avoid inefficiencies and conflicting strategies. It defines 'Climate Compatible Development' as a framework for 'Triple Win' strategies that minimize climate impacts while maximizing opportunities in a low-emission future. The brief details how mitigation (e.g., REDD+), adaptation (e.g., disaster risk reduction), and economic development (e.g., transitioning away from high-carbon exports) must be merged. It highlights the role of climate finance, shifting from charity to the 'polluter pays' principle, and emphasizes the need for national governance systems that integrate climate goals into budgets and plans to ensure benefits reach poor populations.

The document examines REDD+ as a tool for mitigating climate change through the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. It argues that while REDD+ offers opportunities for low-carbon transitions, economic growth, and climate adaptation, its success depends on significant institutional investment and the mitigation of risks to forest-dependent communities.

The guide emphasizes that avoiding dangerous climate change requires significant emissions reductions below 1990 levels by 2050, necessitating action at all levels of society. It highlights the unique role of local governments in implementing cost-effective community measures and educating the public on sustainable living. The text asserts that climate actions—such as improving energy efficiency, investing in public transit and biking infrastructure, developing renewable energy, and promoting local food production—not only reduce emissions but also lower energy bills, create green jobs, and enhance community resilience against economic downturns and extreme weather events.

The report finds that Hispanics, African Americans, and other minority groups are often as supportive of, or more supportive of, national climate and energy policies than white Americans, challenging the perception that climate change is primarily a concern of the white upper-middle class.

The report argues that China can achieve a deep carbon reduction by 2050 through sectoral transformations in electricity, industry, transport, and buildings, provided it receives international financial and technological support. It proposes a combination of domestic carbon taxes, a future cap-and-trade system, and a new 'Inter-country Joint Mitigation Plan' to facilitate technology transfer. The analysis emphasizes that a low-carbon transition is essential for China's modernization, offering opportunities to move up the value chain and improve energy security, though it will require active labour market policies to manage job losses in heavy industry.

The document outlines the job creation potential of the clean energy economy, citing that renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) industries created over nine million jobs in the U.S. in 2007. It provides specific employment projections for various technologies, including wind, solar, bioenergy, and geothermal, across U.S. states and international markets such as Germany, Brazil, and India. The text also compares these figures to employment trends in the fossil fuel and nuclear sectors and details U.S. legislative efforts, such as the Green Jobs Act of 2007 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to support workforce training and clean energy deployment.

Friends of the Earth criticizes H.R. 2454, stating it fails to mandate actual U.S. emissions reductions until 2030 and weakens the EPA's authority under the Clean Air Act. The organization contends the bill prioritizes polluting industries and Wall Street through free pollution permits and carbon market loopholes, thereby undermining U.S. global leadership and job creation in green industries.

Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and Public Citizen issued a joint statement expressing concern that reported compromises to the American Clean Energy & Security Act undermine the goals of addressing global warming and transitioning to a clean energy economy.

The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) is the most cost-effective way to meet new energy needs in Florida, potentially saving the state $14 billion and creating nearly 20,000 jobs by 2020.

A national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) in Georgia could save $6.3 billion and create nearly 9,000 jobs by 2020, while reducing electricity consumption by 13% by 2015.

A national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) in Mississippi could save nearly $2 billion and create 2,700 new jobs by 2020, while reducing electricity consumption by 11% by 2015.

The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) is the most cost-effective way to meet new energy needs in North Carolina. By 2015, the state could reduce electricity use by 13%, which would offset approximately 90% of the projected increase in demand. Based on a 2009 ACEEE analysis for 2020 targets (15% for electricity and 10% for natural gas), the implementation of an EERS would result in $3.017 billion in energy savings, the creation of 6,426 net jobs, and a reduction of 11.5 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, alongside annual electricity savings of 13,840 GWh and peak demand savings equivalent to 15 300 MW power plants.

The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) would provide South Carolina with significant electricity savings, job creation, and CO2 emission reductions by 2020, while noting that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to meet new energy needs.

The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) would provide significant benefits to Tennessee, including $3.5 billion in energy savings and the creation of over 5,000 jobs. It highlights that Tennessee could reduce electricity consumption by 11% by 2015, effectively offsetting 100% of the expected increase in demand through efficiency gains, which is identified as the cheapest option for meeting new energy needs.

The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) is the most cost-effective way to meet new energy needs in Virginia. By 2020, such a standard could result in $2.3 billion in energy savings, the creation of over 3,700 jobs, and a reduction of 7.5 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. Additionally, Virginia could reduce electricity consumption by 13% by 2015, which would cover 62% of the projected increase in demand.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis indicates that a national 25 percent by 2025 renewable electricity standard would create 297,000 jobs, generate $263.4 billion in new capital investment, and lower consumer energy bills by $64.3 billion by 2025. The policy would diversify the U.S. energy mix by increasing renewable capacity from 28,000 MW in 2007 to 248,000 MW by 2025, primarily through wind, solar, bioenergy, and geothermal sources. Environmentally, the standard would reduce power plant CO2 emissions by 277 million metric tons annually by 2025, equivalent to removing 45.3 million cars from the road.

The document presents a collection of data points from multiple research organizations arguing that renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) sectors generate more employment per unit of energy or investment than fossil fuels. It highlights national and state-level projections in the US, such as the potential for 4.2 million new green jobs by 2038, and international examples from Germany, Spain, Brazil, and India. Specific technology sectors—including wind, solar, biofuels, and geothermal—are detailed alongside the impact of policy mechanisms like Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and investment tax credits.

The report identifies a critical leadership gap in sustainable development driven by a retiring generation of experts and the increasing complexity of global environmental challenges. It reviews various training models—including internships, scholarships, and professional placements—used by organizations like IUCN, WWF, and IISD. The findings emphasize that while technical knowledge is important, there is a significant need for 'enabling' soft skills such as communication, innovation, and multi-stakeholder management. The document advocates for the creation of a consortium to standardize skill sets, share training materials, and better track alumni to support a non-linear, mobile career path for the next generation of sustainability leaders.