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The briefing contends that converting fossil gas infrastructure to other energy sources is generally unrealistic due to technical challenges, prohibitive costs, and insufficient projected energy volumes. It asserts that hydrogen and biogas cannot replace the scale of fossil gas, and that 'blending' serves only to prolong fossil gas dependency. While it acknowledges limited viability for converting long-distance pipelines and geological storage for 'hard-to-abate' sectors, it concludes that no new gas infrastructure is justified based on future conversion potential.

The document challenges the gas industry's claims that existing and new fossil gas infrastructure can be converted to hydrogen or biogas to avoid stranded assets. It argues that projected energy volumes for hydrogen and bioenergy by 2050 are far too low to justify current gas infrastructure levels. While it acknowledges limited potential for converting long-distance pipelines and geological storage for 'hard-to-decarbonize sectors', it dismisses biogas as unsustainable and LNG terminal conversion as economically non-viable. Reclaim Finance recommends that financial actors cease all support for gas expansion.

The document outlines the environmental and economic dangers of expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure. It highlights that the LNG process is energy-intensive and prone to methane leaks, with US-sourced LNG potentially having a carbon footprint 28% higher than coal. Financially, the report warns of severe overcapacity in Europe, where import capacity may reach 400 billion m3 by 2030 despite a projected demand of only 150-190 billion m3, leading to a high risk of stranded assets in countries such as France, Germany, and Italy. It concludes that conversion to hydrogen or biomethane is largely technically and economically unfeasible, urging financial actors to cease all support for gas expansion.

The document outlines the technical framework for RMI's State Clean Energy Eco graphics, which project the scale of energy transformation required for the US to reach net zero emissions by 2050. It details the use of the Princeton Net Zero America (NZA) project as the primary data source, supplemented by the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), NREL Cambium scenarios, and population projections. The methodology covers specific metrics across electricity, industry, transportation, buildings, and human impact, including a detailed approach for downscaling potential federal investments from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to the state level. To account for uncertainty in 2050 projections, metrics are generally rounded to one significant figure.

The report argues that energy and mobility sectors must move from silos to synergies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It identifies 19 priority countries and 260 cities, categorizing them into four types: Efficiency Opportunists, Digital Disruptors, Electric Vehicle Leapfroggers, and Renewable Drivers. The document proposes three primary solutions: integrated energy, land-use, and mobility planning; demand-side targeting and management using digital tools; and the deployment of electric mobility (specifically buses and two-wheelers). It highlights a significant financing gap for sustainable transport in small cities and recommends cross-sector alliances and improved spatial data to attract investment.

The document proposes a series of reforms to the U.S. energy permitting process, including the designation of at least 25 high-priority projects across various energy types, the imposition of strict timelines for NEPA and Clean Water Act reviews, and measures to reduce litigation delays. It specifically suggests enhancing FERC's authority over interstate electric transmission and hydrogen facilities, and mandates the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

The research evaluates climate governance across 12 intergovernmental fora, including the G7, G20, ASEAN, and AU, using a framework of five functions: Guidance and Signal, Rules to Guide Collective Action, Transparency and Accountability, Means of Implementation, and Knowledge and Learning. The analysis of 1,412 references reveals that while most fora have adopted long-term decarbonization visions and medium-term targets, the strength of these signals varies. Informal groups, particularly the G7 and G20, provide the most significant contributions. Key strengths include commitments to the Paris Agreement and joint R&D, while critical weaknesses are found in transparency and accountability mechanisms, as well as a lack of actionable policy coordination. Some signals, such as the promotion of gas as a transition fuel or the image of coal, are noted as potentially contradictory to Paris Agreement goals.

The paper evaluates two policy packages for India: the NDC-SDG scenario, aligning with 2030 goals, and the LTD scenario, targeting 2050. The LTD scenario offers higher emission reductions and health co-benefits but relies more on nascent technologies. Both scenarios demonstrate that deep decarbonization can coexist with GDP growth and employment increases, with a carbon tax identified as a critical policy lever.

The briefing highlights the gap between current energy storage capacities, which provide only hours of power, and the days or weeks of storage needed for deep decarbonization in the US. It identifies hydrogen and modified compressed air or pumped hydro as potential long-duration solutions to manage weather-related and seasonal renewable energy fluctuations. The author urges policymakers to drive innovation and update procurement models to ensure grid reliability in a decarbonized future.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) provides research and policy recommendations to support the United States' transition to a low-carbon economy. Its work spans industrial modernization in sectors like cement and steel, the deployment of renewable and clean firm power, and the development of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies. WRI also focuses on systemic barriers such as permitting reform for energy transmission, the responsible sourcing of critical minerals, carbon pricing, and the electrification of transportation, including a specific initiative for electric school buses.