Search Climate Insights Directory
371 results
Barriers to Adopting Electric Buses
The report analyzes 16 global case studies to map the hazards of electric bus adoption, highlighting critical gaps in operational knowledge, procurement flexibility, and institutional authority.
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Document type: Report
The Role of Driving in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Oil Consumption
The report concludes that the United States cannot meet its oil and GHG targets through vehicle technology alone and must also reduce per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT). It highlights a lack of evaluation for existing federal transportation programs and recommends that the U.S. Department of Transportation and Congress prioritize funding and planning for strategies that reduce VMT, such as public transit and pricing, to eliminate oil imports by 2030.
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Document type: Report
Access to Climate Finance in Low and Middle-Income Countries: 14 Case Studies in the Transport Sector
The paper analyzes 839 transport projects and 14 case studies to identify challenges in securing climate finance for low- and middle-income countries. It finds that road construction dominates funded projects, while resilience and electric mobility are underfunded. Key barriers include inadequate policy frameworks and limited project preparation capacity, with recommendations focusing on de-risking instruments and improved monitoring.
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Document type: Research paper
Private Investment in Public Transport
The document examines how to attract private investment into Brazil's public transport sector by addressing market and institutional barriers. It argues that while federal policy is important, local government flexibility and the alignment of performance incentives are critical for success. The paper utilizes a framework focusing on market-level enabling conditions and project-level de-risking instruments, illustrated through case studies of the São Paulo Metrô's Linha 4 and the Estação Barreiro bus terminal in Belo Horizonte.
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Document type: Research paper
Global Dialogue on Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Crisis: Building Back Better Aligned to the SDGs and the Paris Agreement
The document argues that the COVID-19 crisis is a critical window to shift from 'snapshot to transition thinking,' urging governments to use stimulus packages to accelerate future technologies like renewable energy while phasing out fossil fuels. It highlights a concerning trend where approximately 30% of global fiscal stimulus is directed toward high-environmental-impact sectors, often without sustainability conditions. The report advocates for a 'One Health' approach to prevent future zoonotic pandemics by protecting biodiversity, and calls for the integration of informal workers and urban poor into city-level recovery planning. Key recommendations include the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, the implementation of 'do no harm' standards for bailouts, and increased financial support and debt restructuring for developing countries to facilitate a just transition.
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Document type: Executive summary
Recommended Actions by Actor to Achieve More Equitable and Sustainable Cities
The report outlines seven key transformations—infrastructure design, service provision, data collection, urban employment, financing, land management, and governance—to close the urban services divide. It assigns specific roles to city governments, national governments, civil society, the private sector, and the international community to ensure that urban growth is inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable.
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Document type: Report
THE PROMISE OF AN URBAN WORLD
The WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities employs an integrated approach combining data-driven research and long-term city partnerships to address urban challenges in land use, mobility, and energy efficiency. The organization focuses on the global south, implementing projects such as low-emission zones in Beijing, sustainable housing standards in Brazil, and last-mile mobility solutions in Bengaluru. Its strategy emphasizes scaling road-tested solutions through national policy guidance and global coalitions to help cities decarbonize and improve equitable access to core services.
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Document type: Report
The Effective Impact of Behavioral Shifts in Energy, Transport, and Food
The paper introduces 'effective impact' to measure the gap between the theoretical emissions reductions possible through behavioral change and the actual results of individual-level interventions. While sustainable shifts could theoretically offset an average person's annual emissions, real-world interventions typically achieve only 10% of this potential. The research identifies four 'Priority Shifts'—sustainable ground travel, air travel alternatives, residential solar/energy efficiency, and plant-rich meals—noting that car-free living is 78 times more impactful than composting. It concludes that systemic support is essential, as individual interventions alone are insufficient to meet climate demands.
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Document type: Research paper
Our planet is warming. Here’s what’s at stake if we don’t act now.
The document argues that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is critical to avoid severe impacts, noting that the world is already 1.1°C warmer than pre-industrial levels. It compares the risks of 1.5°C versus 2°C warming across several metrics: sea level rise (1.5 feet vs 1.8 feet by 2100), coral reef degradation (70% vs virtually all), and human exposure to extreme heat waves (1 billion vs 2.7 billion people every 5 years). It also highlights increased flood risks and habitat loss for insects, plants, and vertebrates. To combat this, the text advocates for a transition to 100% clean energy in buildings, the electrification of transport, and sustainable agricultural practices.
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Document type: Fact sheet
LOW-CARBON MOBILITY CHALLENGE TOOLKIT
The Low-Carbon Mobility Challenge is a competitive event where teams navigate a city using low-carbon transport modes, with the winner determined by the lowest carbon footprint rather than speed. The toolkit outlines the conceptual framework, stakeholder engagement, team composition, and a detailed operational plan for organising the event. It emphasizes shifting users from private vehicles to public, shared, or non-motorised transport to meet South Africa's climate goals. The guide includes a ten-week work plan, safety protocols, and monitoring tools such as carbon calculators and experience logs to evaluate changes in participant behaviour.
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Document type: Guide
TOWARDS AN EQUITABLE TRANSITION TO A LOW-CARBON, CLIMATE-RESILIENT ECONOMY
The Illustrative People’s Energy Plan (IPEP), coordinated by WWF South Africa and modelled by the University of Cape Town, proposes an 'Ideal Energy Scenario' for South Africa to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. This scenario prioritises a rapid shift from fossil fuels to wind and solar PV, significant electrification of transport and industry, and expanded energy access for low-income households. The report argues that such a transition can nearly double employment by 2050 and maintain manageable costs through energy efficiency and localised clean energy manufacturing. It recommends that the government's official Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) be a transparent, living document that aligns fragmented policies and integrates social and environmental objectives as core planning outcomes.
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Document type: Report