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The South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM) outlines a framework to localise the wind, solar PV, and battery energy storage value chains. It argues that localising 70% of components and 90% of Balance of Plant (BoP) and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) could create 36,500 direct jobs and contribute R420 billion to GDP by 2030. The plan emphasizes the need for market certainty through consistent public procurement and the transition to a points-based local content scoring system to incentivize high-value manufacturing over simple CAPEX spend. It specifically targets 'Just Transition hotspots' like Mpumalanga to pivot coal-sector workers into the green economy.

The IEJ calls for the transition of the social relief of distress (SRD) grant into a permanent universal basic income guarantee (Ubig) set at the food poverty line of R624, funded by a R200bn commodity-driven revenue windfall. The organization criticizes the Employment Tax Incentive (ETI) as ineffective and proposes its cancellation to raise R4.9bn for the Ubig. Additionally, the IEJ argues against proposed 3.3% real-term cuts to government programs, citing deteriorating public services in areas such as healthcare and education infrastructure.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) critiques South Africa's Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP), a USD 8.5 billion deal with France, the UK, the US, and the EU. The analysis highlights that 81% of the financing consists of loans, with 89.4% targeted at infrastructure, leaving minimal funding for skills development (0.1%) and economic diversification (0.3%). The IEJ warns that the plan's reliance on 'de-risking' private investment through Independent Power Producers (IPPs) may lead to higher electricity tariffs, unsustainable sovereign debt from previous guarantee windows, and a failure to localize the renewable energy value chain. Furthermore, the document notes a lack of social security for workers in the Mpumalanga coal-belt, where up to 8,000 direct jobs could be lost. The IEJ advocates for a shift toward climate reparations, debt cancellation, and grant-based financing to ensure a truly just transition.

The IEJ criticizes the South African National Treasury's 'fiscal consolidation' approach, arguing that budget cuts during a recession are procyclical and retard economic recovery. The document asserts that there is significant fiscal space due to tax overruns and IMF funding, which should be used for a Universal Basic Income Grant (UBIG) and job creation initiatives. It warns that prioritizing debt reduction over public expenditure has led to real declines in spending for education and social grants, which undermines human capital and socio-economic rights.

The Institute for Economic Justice argues that current South African renewable energy procurement, primarily through the REIPPP, has led to privatisation and temporary employment. It critiques the initial SAREM research for lacking analysis on trade dynamics and public ownership. The brief recommends a 'Green New Deal' approach featuring import tariffs, state-backed cheap debt, a formal technology transfer system, and the establishment of a municipal-based solar PV recycling industry to ensure a 'Just Transition'.

The document argues that the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis share analytical similarities as global shocks that exacerbate existing inequalities. It identifies six key lessons for South Africa: the necessity of accessible social protection, the need to value care work, the requirement for a strong and proactive state, the importance of localising industrial processes, the necessity of international cooperation, and the need to center justice in responses to mitigate worsening inequalities.

The report analyzes the value chain of wind and solar projects to identify which components are suitable for local production versus global sourcing. It argues that while highly centralized components like solar modules and wind turbines are best imported to keep costs low, significant economic opportunities exist in localizing structures, towers, and electrical subsystems. Through case studies of countries like Mauritius, Namibia, Cambodia, and the Philippines, the report demonstrates how different tariff strategies—ranging from revenue generation to industry protection—impact renewable energy deployment and suggests that international cooperation to reduce trade barriers on environmental goods can accelerate the energy transition.

The Climate Friendly Materials Platform argues that the EU's proposed CBAM design needs refinements to create an effective investment framework for the green transition. They propose a combined package consisting of a climate contribution on basic material production and imports, free allowance allocations for firms with climate neutrality transition plans, and EU-scale carbon contracts for difference to cover incremental investment costs. The researchers contend that while free allowances are controversial, they can achieve both environmental and industrial policy objectives when integrated with the other two elements. They suggest the CBAM's transition period and use of default values provide a mechanism to incorporate these refinements until an international agreement on carbon pricing is reached.

The document contends that Africa's historical 'jobless growth' is due to a dependence on primary commodities and a lack of structural transformation. It proposes a shift from 'stabilization' to 'transformation' by coordinating fiscal and monetary policies with sectoral and labour market interventions. Key recommendations include increasing public investment in the care economy and infrastructure, implementing expenditure-switching methods to reduce import reliance, adopting progressive taxation, and establishing national minimum wages to boost domestic demand and productivity.

The report analyzes the Zona Franca de Manaus (ZFM), noting that while it is named a 'free trade zone', it functions more like an 'enterprise zone' by focusing on regional development and local employment rather than international trade. The authors argue that current tax incentives have not significantly improved productivity or wages, with 59% of employees earning up to two minimum wages in 2019. The document recommends redefining the ZFM's identity and linking tax benefits to local hiring quotas, education, infrastructure reinvestment, and sustainable activities that leverage the Amazon biome's comparative advantages.

The report concludes that Alberta's oil sector faces a bleak long-term outlook due to technological shifts, climate action, and market volatility. It argues that the sector will become a diminishing contributor to provincial prosperity, making economic diversification imperative. Modelling shows that price volatility has a more severe negative impact on GDP, employment, and royalties than consistently low prices. The authors recommend that oil for combustion should not be a target of industrial policy and that the transition for workers and communities must be managed immediately.

The report argues that while the oil sector has historically driven Alberta's economy, its long-term outlook is bleak due to the rise of electric vehicles, global climate action, and price volatility. It recommends that the government shift industrial policy support away from combustible hydrocarbons toward economic diversification and managed transitions for workers.

This executive summary outlines a strategic policy framework to accelerate the transition to clean, electrified transportation in the U.S. by 2035. It argues that achieving 100 percent EV sales by 2030-2035, paired with a 90 percent clean grid, would generate $2.7 trillion in consumer savings and avoid 150,000 premature deaths by 2050. The report prioritizes national fuel economy and tailpipe emissions standards, equity-focused programs for underserved communities, targeted consumer incentives, the expansion of charging infrastructure, and 'Made in America' policies to bolster domestic battery and EV manufacturing.

The report analyzes perspectives from 48 Canadian civil society organizations on the just transition. It finds a broad consensus on the need for employment security, 'good jobs', and equity for marginalized groups, particularly Indigenous Peoples. The document argues that while Canada has a high capacity for transition, there are significant political gaps, including a lack of institutionalized tripartite processes and the influence of corporate interests. It recommends the implementation of a Just Transition Act, the end of fossil fuel subsidies, and increased support for municipal and Indigenous-led projects. Civil society is positioned as a vital complement to official processes through research, capacity building, and public awareness campaigns.

The policy brief advocates for a resolute US national strategy to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption, proposing a target of 70 million EVs by 2030 and 100% new vehicle EV market share by 2035. It emphasizes that current fragmented efforts by states and private companies are insufficient to meet climate targets or compete with countries like China. The author recommends four key actions: establishing a national vision and government/industry commission, implementing an industrial strategy for manufacturing retooling, executing an aggressive public and private fleet electrification plan, and launching a nationwide education campaign.

The document advocates for a strategic US industrial policy to transition the energy economy from fossil fuels to low-carbon solutions. It suggests leveraging a green stimulus package and public-private partnerships, citing historical successes like Sematech and ARPA-E, to compete with China, Europe, and Japan in sectors such as solar, batteries, and offshore wind.

The SADC region possesses the raw minerals necessary for lithium-ion battery production but currently exports most as raw materials, missing value-addition opportunities. While South Africa has some R&D and assembly capabilities, the region lacks battery EV manufacturing plants due to policy gaps, infrastructure deficits, and a limited local market. The paper argues for regional collaboration, alignment with the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, and a 'just transition' to create jobs and economic growth.

The document argues that Brazil's air conditioning sector suffers from low energy efficiency compared to international standards, partly due to industrial policies in the Zona Franca de Manaus (ZFM) that create distortions. It finds that the Basic Productive Process (PPB) requirements, such as the use of outdated national compressors, hinder the adoption of inverter technology and overall efficiency. Despite significant tax exemptions, the sector's productive and energy efficiency deteriorated between 2003 and 2015, contrasting with the stability of the broader Brazilian manufacturing industry. The authors recommend aligning industrial and energy policies to promote competitiveness and higher efficiency standards.

The document argues that Brazil's air conditioning (AC) sector lags in energy efficiency compared to international peers and that the current industrial policy in the Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM) creates distortions that hinder efficiency gains. Despite significant tax exemptions, the Basic Production Process (PPB) requirements—such as the mandatory use of domestically produced, outdated non-inverter compressors—conflict with energy efficiency goals. The brief recommends aligning industrial policy with energy performance standards and labeling policies to foster a more competitive and efficient sector.

The report finds that the air-conditioning sector in Brazil suffers from low energy efficiency compared to international standards, with a deterioration in both productive and energy efficiency between 2003 and 2015. Despite significant tax exemptions provided by the Zona Franca de Manaus (ZFM), which accounted for approximately R$ 285 million in 2015 for the AC sector, these incentives have not translated into improved efficiency or higher wages for workers. The authors argue that the Basic Productive Process (PPB) requirements, particularly those mandating the use of outdated national compressors, create distortions that hinder the adoption of modern technologies like inverter compressors and suppress competition. Consequently, rising sales of inefficient AC units, driven by heatwaves and increased income, have led to a 237% increase in residential electricity consumption for ACs between 2005 and 2017.