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In Q1 2026, U.S. clean energy investments were heavily influenced by executive branch implementation and policy certainty. While electric power investments increased—driven by a massive nuclear project in Texas—manufacturing investments declined for the sixth consecutive quarter. Federal support strongly favored critical minerals and battery storage, while sectors like hydrogen, solar, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) faced mixed outcomes due to fragile policy support and tightened tax credit eligibility windows.

The document responds to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero's proposal for the Seventh Carbon Budget, which aims for an 87% emissions reduction by 2038. While acknowledging the growth of the clean energy economy and public support for climate action, it warns that trust in politics is low and that the transition of sectors like transport and housing must not punish ordinary people. It advocates for linking the clean energy transition to everyday concerns such as bills and housing to maintain public backing.

This case study examines Michigan's clean community financing ecosystem, highlighting how a dense network of green banks, CDFIs, and state-level initiatives can be coordinated to scale clean energy investments. It identifies key institutional actors, such as Michigan Saves and the Michigan Climate Investment Hub, and discusses the necessity of segment-specific working groups and technical assistance to overcome barriers like high electricity rates and limited specialized labor.

Fossil fuel subsidies, which exceeded USD 1.2 trillion in public financial support in 2024, distort energy markets and lock countries into fossil fuel dependence. These subsidies take the form of consumer price supports, producer incentives, and general services. While subsidies declined to USD 921 billion in 2024 from a 2022 peak of USD 1.76 trillion, geopolitical tensions in 2026 are risking a new increase in support measures to shield consumers from price shocks.

The report outlines a five-step strategy for the European Union to achieve energy sovereignty by transitioning away from fossil fuel imports, which currently account for nearly 60% of its primary energy supply. It emphasizes that 89% of final energy demand can be met through electrification using existing technologies, which would significantly lower exposure to supply shocks since 81% of electricity production is domestic. The document proposes specific actions: accelerating electrification, interconnecting the European power grid, deploying energy storage to replace gas for balancing, decarbonizing heavy industry, and using the EU Methane Regulation to phase out high-risk imports from suppliers like Russia and the United States. Financially, the report notes that EU clean energy investments reached approximately 346 billion euros in 2025, but argues that 1,500 billion euros per year are needed until 2050 to complete the transition.

The report outlines a five-step strategy for the EU to transition from risky fossil fuel imports to domestic clean energy, emphasizing electrification, grid connectivity, flexibility, industrial decarbonization, and the use of the EU Methane Regulation to phase out high-emission imports.

The report identifies the EU's reliance on fossil fuel imports—nearly 60% of primary energy supplies—as a structural geopolitical risk. It proposes a five-step framework (Electrify, Connect, Flex, Decarbonise, and Shield) to enhance energy sovereignty. Key recommendations include increasing electrification, expanding the interconnected grid, deploying energy storage, decarbonising heavy industry, and using the EU Methane Emissions Reduction (MER) regulation to phase out high-risk suppliers like Russia and the USA. The document emphasizes that while clean energy investments reached approximately 346 billion EUR in 2025, they must scale to 1.5 trillion EUR annually by 2050 to achieve the transition.

RMI proposes five policies to accelerate heat pump adoption in Illinois: increasing incentives for heat pumps and weatherization while phasing out gas equipment subsidies, providing 0% financing, reforming electric and gas rate designs, implementing an AC-to-heat pump replacement policy, and adopting electric-friendly standards for new construction. The brief notes that while heat pumps can reduce energy bills for most Illinois households—particularly those using propane or electric resistance heat—high up-front costs remain a primary barrier.

The document outlines a structured approach to the global transition away from fossil fuels (TAFF), emphasizing that current production and consumption plans are misaligned with 1.5°C pathways. It proposes that effective TAFF roadmaps must be anchored in science, justice, and national ownership, while integrating elements such as subsidy reform, economic diversification, and decommissioning. The guide highlights the necessity of international coordination between producer and consumer countries to manage systemic risks, reform global finance, and ensure a just and orderly transition.

Pension funds, managing over USD 73 trillion globally, face systemic risks from climate change that could reduce returns by 33% by 2050. While 200 major funds have begun divesting from fossil fuels to fulfill fiduciary duties, third-party asset managers often maintain carbon-intensive investments. This misalignment has led pension funds to withdraw over USD 100 billion from managers including BlackRock and State Street.

The report details a shift in U.S. federal priorities that has narrowed incentives for clean energy, primarily through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and executive agency actions. It highlights significant tax credit repeals or restrictions, DOE funding cancellations, and EPA reporting rollbacks that have created deep uncertainty across the electric power, manufacturing, and energy and industry sectors. While some investments accelerated to meet new deadlines, others—particularly in hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, and carbon management—have declined or relocated abroad.

Viet Nam, Indonesia, and the Philippines collectively drive nearly 60% of ASEAN’s power demand and emissions, with a heavy historical reliance on coal. While coal still dominates their energy mixes, all three nations are pivoting toward clean energy, attracting $4.6 billion in investment in 2024. Each country aims for renewables to exceed 50% of their installed capacity mix by 2030–2034. Viet Nam has led the region in new wind and solar generation, the Philippines operates a fully liberalised electricity market to attract FDI, and Indonesia is leveraging its mineral industrialisation to build an electric vehicle ecosystem while planning significant solar expansions.

The report finds that while OECD pension funds have significantly increased their climate target-setting and risk management since 2020, their portfolios remain heavily exposed to fossil fuel expansion. Pension funds often outperform other financial institutions in areas like policy engagement and emissions disclosure once climate goals are embedded in their governance. The analysis highlights that robust regulatory frameworks in countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, and the UK drive higher adoption of targets, and suggests that the relationship between asset owners and asset managers is a critical lever for driving decarbonization.

The report finds that while OECD pension funds are increasing their climate target-setting and internal governance, their portfolios remain heavily exposed to expansionist fossil fuels. Progress is strongly linked to national regulatory environments, with the Netherlands, Denmark, and the UK leading. A critical lever for future impact is the governance of the asset owner–asset manager relationship, where leading funds are moving toward more active mandates, stricter stewardship oversight, and in some cases, the internalization of asset management to ensure alignment with net-zero goals.

RMI highlights the transition from climate commitments to action across several global regions. China is leading in renewable deployment and clean tech exports, while Brazil focuses on low-carbon shipping and ambitious NDCs as the COP30 host. India is pursuing energy independence by 2047 through clean mobility and cooling innovations. Southeast Asia is scaling clean infrastructure and battery storage, and the United States continues to see subnational progress in grid optimization and clean industrialization despite federal delegation concerns.

The report argues that the end of fossil fuel advertising is inevitable and that marketing agencies must proactively 'off-ramp' these clients to avoid financial and reputational damage. It estimates that the top 29 oil majors spent $6.97 billion on media, creative, and PR in 2024, with $3.03 billion going to major holding companies and $3.94 billion to independent agencies. The document highlights the risks of retention, citing Havas' loss of B Corp certification and Edelman's 5% revenue decline in 2024. It proposes a phased exit strategy ending in 2030, suggesting agencies pivot toward high-growth sectors including healthcare (projected $36.4 billion marketing value by 2030), renewables, and the circular economy (a $4.5 trillion global opportunity by 2030).

The Net Zero Finance Tracker (NZFT) Methodology 2025 describes a framework for assessing the Paris Agreement alignment of 1,500 global financial institutions, representing approximately USD 286 trillion in assets. The methodology employs a three-dimensional approach—Targets, Implementation, and Impact—using a mix of qualitative tiered scoring and quantitative metrics. Key updates for 2025 include expanded institutional coverage, the integration of new frameworks such as the TPT and OECD, and the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) for primary data extraction from corporate reports. The document details how the NZFT tracks mitigation targets, climate risk management, and financial flows to clean energy and fossil fuels, while introducing an ownership attribution approach to link financial holdings to real-economy emissions and physical risks.

RMI analysis indicates that clean energy portfolios—combining solar, storage, and energy efficiency—are lower cost and lower risk than JEA's proposed gas plant. While JEA's 2023 estimates suggested gas was the cheapest option, updated capital costs (which have risen by 139%) and fuel price projections suggest a gas plant could cost $4.8 billion in NPV. In contrast, CEPs are estimated to cost between $2.1 and $3.4 billion depending on energy efficiency levels. Additionally, the gas plant is projected to cause over $1 billion in negative health effects across Florida, whereas CEPs could generate up to $757 million in local economic benefits and thousands of jobs.

The global economy is undergoing an 'electrotech revolution' driven by drastic cost reductions in solar, wind, and battery technologies, with clean energy investments projected to top US$2 trillion in 2025. Canada is well-positioned due to its low-cost electricity and critical mineral reserves, but faces rising electricity demand in provinces like B.C., Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta that exceeds supply. To compete, the author recommends that Canadian governments strengthen clean electricity regulations and tax credits, support the electrification of heavy industries (such as steel and cement) through blended finance and carbon pricing, and create incentives to develop critical minerals value chains while sharing financial risks with investors.

The 2025 F-List identifies 1,217 fossil fuel contracts across 709 agencies in 74 countries, arguing that these ties facilitate climate disinformation and expose agencies to financial and reputational risks despite a global shift toward clean energy investment.