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The document calls for urgent action to address the climate crisis, asserting that the necessary zero-emissions technologies already exist and are increasingly cost-competitive. It advocates for a broad spectrum of solutions, the immediate end of fossil fuel subsidies, and the rapid shutdown of coal plants and other carbon-intensive assets to prevent the planet from reaching an unbearable hothouse earth scenario.

The document contends that continued investment in US gas distribution infrastructure is counterproductive to climate goals, as the transition to electric appliances will likely leave these systems underutilized. It argues that low-carbon gases like hydrogen and biomethane are too expensive for residential and commercial use and should be reserved for industrial applications. Furthermore, it suggests that electrification and targeted leak detection are more cost-effective ways to reduce methane emissions than massive pipeline replacement programs, which risk creating stranded assets and imposing high costs on consumers.

The report analyzes the role of hydrogen in the energy transition, contrasting 'green hydrogen' (produced via renewable-powered electrolysis) with the current industry standard of steam methane reformation (SMR) from fossil fuels. It warns that the oil and gas industry uses hydrogen rhetoric to justify continued fossil fuel infrastructure and delay electrification. The authors argue that green hydrogen should be reserved for 'hard-to-electrify' sectors like maritime shipping and high-heat industrial processes, while being rejected for use in passenger vehicles, home appliances, and gas-fired power plants due to energy inefficiency, high costs, and pollution risks.

The policy brief advocates for targeted, refundable tax credits to drive the transition to zero-carbon buildings and deep energy retrofits in the US. It proposes six specific tax credit mechanisms—including improvements to existing credits like 45L and 179D and the creation of new ones for lead safety and clean heating—to overcome cost barriers, support low-income housing, and scale domestic manufacturing of heat pumps.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that the US can technically achieve a 50% reduction in heat-trapping emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2050 through widespread electrification and renewables. However, it emphasizes that carbon-only modeling is insufficient; a transformative transition must actively dismantle structural racism and economic inequality by prioritizing marginalized communities, ensuring a fair transition for fossil fuel workers, and shifting power from corporate interests to community governance.

The United States aims to reduce carbon pollution to at least 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. RMI asserts that this is achievable by immediately phasing out fossil fuel infrastructure and scaling three primary solutions: renewables (wind, solar, and batteries), electrification (electric vehicles and heat pumps), and holistic efficiency. The document emphasizes that cumulative emissions are the critical metric for limiting warming to 1.5°C and that the transition will provide significant public health benefits, job creation, and social equity, particularly for historically disadvantaged communities.

The research paper proposes a comprehensive policy pathway for the United States to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and a 50% reduction in GHGs by 2030. Using the U.S. Energy Policy Simulator, the authors argue that a small group of targeted policies—specifically a clean electricity standard, zero-emission vehicle mandates, and building electrification—can drive this transition. The analysis suggests that this pathway would not only meet climate goals but also expand the U.S. GDP by $920 billion by 2050 and create nearly 5 million new job-years, while significantly reducing premature deaths and respiratory illnesses due to the phase-out of fossil fuels.

The document outlines eight benefits of building electrification in the United States, asserting it is the only established way to eliminate carbon pollution from residential and commercial heating and cooking. It highlights that all-electric homes are cheaper to build than mixed-fuel homes, improve indoor air quality—particularly for children and marginalized communities—and can create millions of jobs. The text dismisses alternatives like renewable natural gas (RNG), hydrogen, and synthetic methane as too costly or limited in scale, while noting that nearly 60 percent of new US homes are already built all-electric.

The authors advocate for a diversified strategy to reach Canada's 2050 carbon neutrality goal, distinguishing between "safe bets" (commercialized technologies) and "risky bets" (emerging technologies). They argue that while safe bets can provide two-thirds of the emissions reductions needed by 2030, risky bets are necessary for cost-effective long-term elimination of emissions. The document calls for a combination of clear incentives for deployment and regulatory support for pilot projects, emphasizing public-private partnerships.

The document examines on-bill financing as a tool to overcome financial barriers to clean energy adoption, specifically for low-and moderate-income (LMI) households and renters. It highlights design features such as using utility payment history instead of credit scores and tying obligations to the utility meter to solve the 'split incentive' problem for renters. The report provides case studies of the Hawaii Green Energy Money Saver (GEM$) and Orcas Power and Light Cooperative's (OPALCO) Switch It Up! programs, demonstrating how these models facilitate the installation of solar PV and beneficial electrification projects while ensuring positive cash flow for participants.

The report finds that Minnesota's business-as-usual scenario would only reduce emissions by 8% by 2050, failing to meet state goals or 1.5°C targets. While a proposed 100% clean electricity standard by 2040 could reduce emissions by 19% below the reference scenario, a more comprehensive '1.5°C Scenario'—incorporating aggressive electrification of buildings and transport, industrial fuel switching, and land management—could cut statewide emissions by over 75% by 2050. This deep decarbonization pathway is projected to add $11 billion annually to the state's economy and create 39,000 additional job-years by 2050, while avoiding 700 premature deaths and 20,000 asthma incidents annually.

The document critiques Governor Charlie Baker's veto of bill S.2995, which proposed a voluntary net-zero stretch code for new construction in Massachusetts. It argues that electrification is the most cost-effective path to meeting the state's 2050 net-zero carbon emissions target, citing state analysis and RMI research showing that all-electric single-family homes in Boston are already cheaper to build and operate than gas-powered ones. The text highlights that net-zero affordable housing is already viable in the state and warns that continuing to invest in Massachusetts' aging gas pipeline infrastructure—estimated to require $15.5 to $16.6 billion in repairs—is a poor financial decision for ratepayers.

The Gas Index finds that methane leakage across the U.S. natural gas supply chain is significantly more extensive than EPA estimates, particularly within city distribution systems and buildings. The report argues that replacing gas heating with electric heat pumps would reduce emissions in every city evaluated, with the greatest benefits occurring where electricity grids are decarbonized.

The document defines net zero as the balance between greenhouse gas emissions released and those removed from the atmosphere. It identifies the primary U.S. emitting sectors as transportation (28%), electricity (27%), and industry (22%), and outlines solutions including the electrification of transport and buildings, the expansion of wind and solar power, and the use of natural and technological carbon sinks. It highlights that while 12 U.S. states have net-zero mandates by 2050, massive adoption of electric vehicles and carbon removal technologies is necessary to meet Paris Agreement targets.

The World Resources Institute outlines ten priorities for President Biden to address the climate crisis, centered on the principles of inclusive prosperity, focusing on carbon-heavy sectors, and supporting subnational action. Key recommendations include committing to a 45-50% emissions reduction by 2030, passing a $2 trillion climate-smart stimulus package, and phasing out new passenger vehicle sales of polluting cars by 2035. The plan emphasizes a 'whole-of-government' approach combining standards, investments, carbon pricing, and environmental justice to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Nova Scotia has achieved significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions between 2005 and 2018 while maintaining economic growth, driven by fuel switching in electricity, energy efficiency, and a growing clean tech sector. However, the province faces structural unemployment in rural and Indigenous communities, high energy costs for households, and difficulties in decarbonizing the transportation sector to meet its target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

The briefing advocates for increased stimulus funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to combat energy insecurity and racial disparities in the US. It highlights that low-income and non-White households face disproportionately high energy burdens and insecurity. Drawing on the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the document suggests that expanding WAP to include electrification, investing in workforce diversity, and improving administrative coordination can maximize public health and economic benefits.

Following the rejection of the Northeast Supply Enhancement gas pipeline, New York faces a projected gas supply gap in its downstate region. While National Grid proposes a combination of LNG vaporization and gas compression upgrades, the document argues that these infrastructure investments are incompatible with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). It asserts that the state must slash gas demand by approximately 25 percent by 2030 and that investing in electrification, demand response, and energy efficiency is the most cost-effective path to ensure reliability and meet decarbonization goals.

The report refutes the claim that fossil gas alternatives (FGAs) can decarbonize buildings, asserting that their limited supply and high costs make them an inefficient choice compared to electrification. It highlights that FGAs can only replace a small fraction of gas demand and may exacerbate pollution and health risks. The document further alleges that the gas industry uses FGAs as a rhetorical tool and employs 'front groups' to stall the transition to all-electric buildings to protect its financial interests.

The report argues that current utility regulation is incompatible with an all-electric future and proposes ten strategies to decarbonize US buildings. It emphasizes electrification via heat pumps as the primary solution, warning that alternative fuels like biomethane are costly and limited in scale. Key recommendations include reforming electricity rate designs, updating energy efficiency standards to account for total emissions, and proactively managing the retirement of gas infrastructure to avoid stranded asset risks and inequitable cost burdens on low-income customers.