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The 'Cities in Transition' executive summary by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that energy and climate policy must integrate urban planning to reduce total energy demand. Using the city of Winnipeg as a primary case study, the research demonstrates that shifting from car-oriented sprawl to compact, walkable communities reduces emissions and lowers municipal infrastructure costs.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines a strategy for achieving net-zero passenger transportation in Canada. It advocates for a shift away from car-centric infrastructure toward active transport, electrified public transit, and zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), supported by high-density urban planning. The document highlights the economic potential of a clean transport sector, including job creation in ZEV manufacturing and reduced household costs, while emphasizing significant public health benefits from reduced air and noise pollution.

This research paper analyzes transportation investments under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), highlighting the tension between funding for public transit and the continued prioritization of personal vehicle infrastructure.

The report 'The Road to Sustainable Transport' examines the environmental and social impacts of global transportation, the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and case studies of sustainable urban mobility. It highlights the role of public transit, non-motorized transport, and electrification in reducing carbon emissions and improving public health, while noting the potential for post-COVID-19 recovery packages to accelerate these transitions.

This briefing by RMI argues that the electrification of public transit buses is a critical catalyst for achieving zero-tailpipe emissions in passenger and freight mobility. It emphasizes that buses are more adaptable and faster to deploy than light rail and suggests a phased approach to fleet electrification, supported by innovative financing and federal policy shifts to overcome high upfront costs.

This report by RMI argues that US cities require immediate federal aid to manage the impacts of COVID-19 and subsequent strategic stimulus investments to transition toward a green economy.

This briefing by RMI examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transit, arguing that the crisis provides a unique opportunity to modernize transit systems through data-driven redesign, the prioritization of bus lanes over single-occupancy vehicles, and the continued pursuit of bus electrification to improve health and climate outcomes.

This fact sheet, based on interviews with EESI staff, examines the transition from diesel to battery-powered electric buses (BEBs), highlighting their environmental and health benefits, economic trade-offs, and the current state of deployment in the United States and globally.

The Carbon-Free Regions Handbook: Mobility is a guide by RMI that outlines strategic actions for regional governments to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation, which currently accounts for 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The Carbon-Free City Handbook: Transportation and Mobility is a guide by RMI that outlines twelve strategic actions for cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, which accounts for 36 percent of emissions in large cities. The guide provides descriptions of these actions—ranging from fleet electrification and combustion vehicle reduction to the implementation of car-free zones and expanded public transit—and supports them with a curated list of action documents, recommended resources, and citations from various global cities.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute details the relationship between public transit and the growth of the knowledge economy, using Austin, Texas, as a primary case study to argue for the necessity of a new federal surface transportation authorization bill.

This 2013 issue brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the funding crisis of the U.S. Highway Trust Fund (HTF), noting that federal fuel taxes have not been adjusted in 20 years. The document analyzes the resulting infrastructure deterioration, the reliance on General Fund transfers to maintain solvency, and various policy options—including inflation indexing, fuel tax increases, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees—to close a $112 billion annual funding gap.

This research paper by Energy Innovation and the Paulson Institute argues that the scale and speed of urbanization in China will be a primary determinant of future global climate change. The authors propose six critical 'ingredients for success'—permeable urban form, transit-centered transportation, effective building codes, municipal finance reform, sustainability metrics for mayors, and a strengthened planning process—to prevent the proliferation of unlivable, auto-centric 'superblocks' and instead create sustainable, world-class cities.

This briefing by Energy Innovation argues that while fuel quality standards are a critical first step in reducing air pollution in China, long-term success depends on developing sustainable, dense, and walkable cities to avoid the car-reliant model of the 20th-century United States.

A fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute detailing the costs, benefits, and federal funding mechanisms for hybrid-electric buses in the United States as of 2007.

This fact sheet outlines greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation strategies for Pakistan's transport sector, which contributed approximately 11% of the country's emissions in 2012. It projects a significant rise in emissions by 2030 and evaluates several high-priority mitigation options, including efficiency norms for vehicles, shifting traffic from road to rail, implementing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and improving car maintenance.

This guide by Energy Innovation outlines eight quantifiable urban planning principles designed to help China develop prosperous, low-carbon cities. It argues that high-density cities cannot be designed around the car and must instead prioritize public transport, walking, and bicycling to avoid gridlock, pollution, and economic stagnation.

This report analyzes the impact of dockless bike-share systems across 12 Chinese cities, concluding that these systems serve as effective last-mile mobility solutions that improve public transit connectivity, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance public health.

This report by the World Resources Institute provides actionable guidance for transit agencies and bus operating entities to overcome barriers to electric bus adoption and meet global climate objectives.