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AMES: A model for energy, economic and environmental assessment
The paper presents AMES, an open-source, multi-sector macroeconomic model developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute. AMES is designed to integrate with the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) to create a hybrid energy-economy model. Unlike neoclassical models, AMES is based on structuralist theory, allowing it to simulate structural change and hysteresis, where energy investments can lead to persistent positive impacts on GDP and employment. It is specifically tailored for the economic conditions of low- and middle-income countries, focusing on demand-led growth and capacity utilization rather than assuming full employment and competitive market equilibrium.
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Document type: Research paper
Standards and Related Initiatives in International Cooperation to End Plastic Pollution: Mapping and State of Play
The document categorizes plastics-related instruments into government legislation, voluntary multistakeholder standards, and non-governmental initiatives. It identifies significant gaps in standards for upstream production and reuse systems, while noting a concentration of existing efforts in waste management. The authors argue for enhanced international cooperation to reduce regulatory fragmentation and improve inclusivity for developing countries, suggesting that a future global plastics treaty could drive the development of harmonized design and transparency standards.
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Document type: Policy brief
Pennsylvania Clean Trucks Program
The report analyzes two policy scenarios for Pennsylvania's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet: the adoption of California's Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule and a more aggressive '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. Both scenarios project significant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter (PM) emissions, leading to substantial public health benefits and net societal gains. While initial costs for fleets are higher, the report finds that ZEVs will reach lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles as purchase prices fall and fuel/maintenance savings accumulate. The transition is projected to generate positive macroeconomic effects, including net national job gains and increased GDP by 2035, and could potentially lower electricity rates for residential and commercial customers due to increased utility net revenue from EV charging.
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Document type: Report
AN EQUITABLE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES
The World Resources Institute (WRI) is leading an initiative to replace the U.S. diesel school bus fleet with electric alternatives to improve student health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative focuses on supporting low-income communities and communities of color, collaborating with manufacturers and utilities, and engaging policymakers to remove barriers to electrification. Full fleet electrification by 2030 could reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 9 million metric tons.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Pollution prevention planning for primary food plastic packaging
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN), and Breast Cancer Action Quebec (BCAQ) advocate for mandatory, transparent pollution prevention plans for large grocery chains to reduce single-use plastic food packaging. They argue that reuse systems are the most effective waste reduction method and demand that any new packaging be free of toxic chemicals like PFAS and phthalates. The organizations emphasize that plastic production is a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions and that plastic-related health harms disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including Indigenous peoples in Canada.
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Document type: Statement
Implementing the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Investment Needs, Barriers and Opportunities
The report analyzes the funding gap for the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), estimating that investment needs for net-zero emissions in priority categories will rise from $131 billion in 2023 to $761 billion by 2035. It highlights that low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDCs) account for approximately one-third of these needs. The document identifies critical barriers to deployment, including financial capacity constraints for community lenders, household distrust, and a lack of a trained workforce, recommending targeted technical assistance to develop project pipelines.
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Document type: Report
Young Leaders Hope for Action After the NATO Summit
Following the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, a delegation of young leaders from the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS) proposed three strategic priorities for the alliance: moving beyond token youth engagement toward substantive decision-making, integrating Indigenous Peoples' traditional knowledge into high-level climate security dialogues, and leveraging new NATO documents to push member states toward deeper climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
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Document type: Statement
Renewable Energy Manufacturing: Opportunities for Southeast Asia
The report examines the potential for Southeast Asia to develop manufacturing capabilities in solar PV, batteries, and electric two-wheelers. It highlights the region's high vulnerability to climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% to 25% by 2030 to align with a 1.5°C pathway. The development of local low-carbon mobility and clean power manufacturing could generate USD 90 billion to USD 100 billion in revenues by 2030 and create 6 million jobs by 2050.
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Document type: Report
Kein Fortschritt: Klimaschutzpolitik im deutschen Verkehrssektor entspricht etwa 3°C globaler Erwärmung
The study finds that Germany's transport sector remains on a trajectory consistent with approximately 3°C of global warming, despite new measures such as EU emission standards for vehicles and changes to truck tolls.
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Document type: Research paper
10 climate change myths debunked
The document debunks ten common climate change myths, asserting that over 99% of climate scientists agree human activity is overheating the planet. It argues that the current rate of carbon release is unprecedented in 66 million years and that while the climate has changed naturally before, the current rapid change is caused by burning fossil fuels. The guide highlights that the US is the largest cumulative emitter of greenhouse gases in history, followed by China. It further states that current global temperatures are approximately 1.2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, which is already intensifying extreme weather. Finally, it emphasizes that humanity possesses the necessary tools and technologies to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and that a significant portion of the global population is concerned about climate change.
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Document type: Guide
Pathways to Equity and Savings for Low-Income Households
The report examines the financial and energy impacts of the US Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Agriculture (USDA) proposing to adopt the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). It highlights that transitioning to the 2021 IECC could reduce energy consumption by 27% and save $14,536 in life cycle costs per single-family home. The analysis emphasizes that all-electric homes are cheaper to build and operate than gas-powered homes, and that the Inflation Reduction Act's 45L tax credit—offering up to $5,000 for Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH) and $2,500 for ENERGY STAR certification—makes high-efficiency construction financially viable, particularly in the Southeast US.
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Document type: Report
Expert Report – Tetra4 Cluster 2 Gas Field
The report evaluates the CCIA for the Tetra4 Cluster 2 gas field expansion, which includes up to 400 test wells and 300 production wells. The author argues that the CCIA fails to meet South African legal requirements for a full life-cycle emissions assessment, specifically citing the omission of Scope 3 emissions from the final impact determination and several errors in Scope 1 calculations. Key technical failures identified include the use of outdated global warming potential (GWP) values, unrealistic flaring efficiency assumptions, and the omission of methane emissions from well drilling and operational gas production. Additionally, the report finds that the CCIA provides an unsupported claim that the project's LNG will replace more GHG-emitting fuels, while failing to account for the transport of 40% of the produced LNG.
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Document type: Report
Oportunidades e desafios para a reposição florestal na Amazônia e no Cerrado
The report analyzes forest replacement policies in the Amazon and Cerrado, arguing that current regulations are outdated because they treat forests as biomass stocks for market supply rather than ecological systems. It highlights that while financial mechanisms like replacement fees exist, funds are rarely directed toward actual restoration. The document specifically criticizes a 2022 law in Goiás for creating exemptions that undermine environmental compensation for agribusiness.
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Document type: Report
This is the year for Colorado to map a full transition to electric cars
GreenLatinos and Western Resource Advocates are calling on Colorado regulators to implement a comprehensive clean cars standard by 2035. They argue that a full transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) would generate up to $95 billion in net benefits by 2050 and significantly improve public health, particularly in disproportionately impacted communities. The authors highlight that current consumer demand is rising, with battery-powered vehicles exceeding 10% of new registrations in 2022, and advocate for policies that increase the availability of affordable new and used ZEVs.
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Document type: Statement
Mitigación del Metano del Sector de los Residuos
The report identifies municipal solid waste and wastewater as significant contributors to anthropogenic methane emissions, accounting for approximately 12% and 8% respectively. It details how poor waste management leads to health crises, including respiratory diseases from landfill fires and waterborne illnesses from untreated sewage. The document proposes a 'waste hierarchy' approach—prioritizing reduction and reuse—and technical solutions such as anaerobic digestion and landfill gas (LFG) capture. Case studies from Nigeria, Indonesia, India, and the Philippines illustrate the potential for these interventions to reduce premature deaths, create economic value through biogas, and improve sanitation in the Global South.
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Document type: Report
After the Storm: Health risks from damp, moldy homes
The document argues that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of floods, which leads to damp buildings and the growth of mold. This process degrades indoor air quality and poses significant respiratory and mental health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. It highlights that mold can grow on absorbent materials within two to three days after a flood and notes that in the U.S., up to 20% of common respiratory infections may be attributed to dampness and mold.
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Document type: Briefing
Climate-Energy Governance Model in Indonesia National study
The report identifies a gap between Indonesia's international climate pledges and its domestic energy policies, which continue to favor coal. It highlights a governance model characterized by sectoral silos, informal decision-making influenced by politically exposed persons (PEPs) from the coal sector, and significant financing shortfalls for renewable energy.
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Document type: Report
Brazilian Agricultural Mitigation and Adaptation Policies
The report analyzes Brazil's agricultural policy framework, highlighting that while mitigation and adaptation tools exist, many lack social justice elements. It identifies key policies like PNAPO and the PRONAF ABC+ credit line as essential for a just transition, while noting that the ABC+ Plan primarily targets large-scale producers. The document recommends expanding technical assistance to smallholders and improving coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (MDA).
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Document type: Report
Maryland Clean Trucks Program
The analysis finds that transitioning Maryland's medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) would yield significant net societal benefits, ranging from $6.6 billion under the ACT rule to over $11.6 billion under the 100 x 40 ZEV scenario by 2050. These benefits are driven by reductions in greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, leading to fewer premature deaths and hospital visits. While ZEVs currently have higher purchase costs, the report projects they will reach lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles due to lower fuel and maintenance expenses. The transition is expected to have positive macroeconomic effects, including net national job gains and increased GDP, although it requires substantial investment in depot and public charging infrastructure.
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Document type: Report
Electric school bus U.S. market study
The U.S. electric school bus (ESB) market is expanding, driven by the EPA's Clean School Bus Program and state-level mandates. As of December 2022, 895 districts had committed to 5,612 ESBs. While upfront costs remain three to four times higher than diesel buses, ESBs offer lower operational costs, zero tailpipe emissions, and potential grid resilience through bidirectional charging. The market currently features 24 models across Type A, C, and D buses, with a growing emphasis on repowering existing fleets to reduce costs and waste. Successful deployment requires coordinated planning between districts, utilities, and manufacturers to manage charging infrastructure and specialized maintenance training.
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Document type: Policy brief