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This briefing outlines an 8-point plan to mobilize the $75 trillion held by institutional investors toward the low-carbon transition via the bond market. It argues that while climate-resilient infrastructure provides the long-term, secure assets pension funds and insurers seek, current deal flow is too small and fragmented. The plan proposes aggregating small projects into investment-grade offerings, utilizing public sector risk-sharing and regulatory leverage, greening development banks, and implementing standardized climate bond certifications to bridge the annual investment gap of $1 trillion to $1.3 trillion.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) maps the investment landscape of South Africa as of January 2012. It examines the impact of the global economic crisis on foreign direct investment (FDI), analyzes the government's industrial policies such as the New Growth Path (NGP), and provides a detailed catalogue of financial and fiscal incentives designed to attract investment and create jobs. The document also includes survey results from provincial investment promotion agencies (IPAs) regarding the effectiveness and awareness of these incentive schemes.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) is a South and North-led alliance that provides research, advisory services, and knowledge sharing to help developing countries implement climate compatible development. The network focuses on bridging climate change and development policy to achieve low-carbon, climate-resilient futures while reducing poverty.

This report, produced as part of the 'From Waste to Traffic Fuel' (W-Fuel) project, evaluates the potential for biogas production and its use as motor fuel in Lääne-Viru County, Estonia. It analyzes biomass resources, proposes a pilot biogas plant in Rakvere, and compares the environmental and economic impacts of using biogas for combined heat and power (CHP) versus upgrading it to biomethane for transport.

This policy brief describes the integration of the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) and Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) systems to analyze the water-energy-climate nexus. Using a case study in California, the document demonstrates how integrated modeling can quantify the tradeoffs between reducing water imports through desalination and the resulting increases in electricity demand and greenhouse gas emissions.

This discussion brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues for a 'nexus' approach to climate change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, emphasizing the critical interdependence of water and energy planning for effective mitigation and adaptation.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) discusses the challenges of providing sustainable energy access to the global poor while meeting climate goals. It presents three scenarios—Baseline, Basic Energy Access (BEA), and Shared Development Agenda (SDA)—to explore the energy systems required to enable long-term economic development. The document argues that market-based instruments alone are insufficient and calls for a transformative global governance framework, increased state-led investment in innovation, and the integration of energy targets into Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The RMI guide 'Top 10 Ways To Get RetroFit On Energy Efficiency In 2012' provides a list of ten practical strategies for improving energy efficiency in commercial and residential buildings, emphasizing deep retrofits, behavioral changes, and the use of emerging financing models.

The GSA Net Zero Renovation Challenge is an initiative by the General Services Administration (GSA), the Office of Federal High Performance Green Buildings (OFHPGB), and the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) to achieve deep energy savings in 30-35 federal buildings using Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs). A workshop held in October 2011 by RMI and GSA identified structural, contractual, and technical barriers to achieving net zero energy, proposing a shift toward integrative design, streamlined procurement, and shared risk to move beyond conventional shallow retrofits.

This 2011 report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the impact of energy tax exemptions and levy reductions on the German industrial sector. It examines how various policy instruments—including the Ecological Tax Reform, the Renewable Energy Act (EEG), the Combined Heat and Power Act (KWKG), and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS)—create a 'politically determined component' of energy prices that varies significantly based on company size and industry sector.

This report, produced by leading research institutes to support political preparations for Rio2012 and the UN year of Sustainable Energy for All, proposes a set of strategic principles to enable a global energy transition and avoid large-scale crises.

This briefing provides updates on the status of U.S. legislative and budgetary actions affecting bioenergy, including farm bill programs, EPA boiler regulations, and Department of Energy funding for 2012.

A statement by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) arguing against the continued subsidization of fossil fuels and the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, advocating instead for a transition to competitive renewable energy technologies to ensure long-term energy security and economic competitiveness.

This policy brief examines the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, launched in 2009 to establish India as a global leader in solar energy and make solar power affordable by 2022. It analyzes the Mission's three-phase implementation strategy, focusing on grid-connected projects, off-grid applications for rural populations, and the development of domestic manufacturing and R&D. The document highlights the tension between using competitive bidding to lower tariffs and the risk of attracting inexperienced developers, while also critiquing the Mission's limited focus on the most energy-poor citizens and the lack of mandatory environmental impact assessments.

A vision statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlining the goal to achieve sustainable energy for all by 2030 through universal energy access, improved energy efficiency, and an increased share of renewable energy.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute explains the mechanics, energy sources, and benefits of district energy systems, which provide centralized heating and cooling to multiple buildings via underground pipe networks.

A fact sheet by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) outlining the current state of the United States energy landscape and the potential economic and efficiency gains achievable by 2050 through the 'Reinventing Fire' approach, which emphasizes efficiency and renewables over fossil fuels and nuclear power.

This 2011 fact sheet explains district energy systems, which use central plants and underground pipes to provide efficient heating and cooling to clusters of buildings. It highlights the role of combined heat and power (CHP) and renewable energy in these systems, noting that while over 700 such systems exist in the U.S., high upfront costs and policy gaps remain barriers to further expansion.

This research paper evaluates the biofuels components and sustainability criteria of the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive, analyzing how they align regional energy-economic goals with global environment, climate, and development policies.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) calling on President Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline and urging a global transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.