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The report finds that an increasing number of Americans perceive global warming as a threat to public health, specifically identifying heat stroke, air pollution, and respiratory issues as growing risks. While 39% believe global warming harms the health of Americans generally, only 16% feel it harms their own health. There is growing recognition of disproportionate impacts on low-income people and people of color. Regarding energy, coal and nuclear power are viewed as the most harmful to health, though perceptions of wind and solar as harmful have slightly increased. Trust in first responders, primary care physicians, and climate scientists remains high as sources of health-related climate information.

The document asserts that the shift toward renewable energy is driven by falling costs and increasing reliability, making it resistant to political reversals. It highlights that solar, wind, and battery storage are rapidly replacing fossil fuels globally, with the International Energy Agency projecting solar will be the world's largest electricity source by 2033. While the Trump administration's policies may slow the transition and increase emissions, the guide emphasizes that the economic momentum of clean energy is already established in major economies like the EU, UK, China, and the US.

The report identifies that India requires USD 300 billion in total investment by 2032 to meet its National Electricity Plan-14 targets. It argues that managing project-specific risks is essential to keep the cost of capital low, as a 400 basis point increase in this cost could result in India falling short of its 2030 renewable energy target by 100 GW. Key risks analyzed include commissioning delays, the complexities of Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) projects, PV module performance and localization, and the financial instability of distribution companies (DISCOMs).

The document provides examples of global climate progress to counter pessimism, citing significant emissions drops in the EU and UK, China's rapid expansion of renewables and electric vehicles, and the resilience of subnational climate policies in the United States.

The document provides examples of climate progress to counter pessimism, noting that European Union emissions fell 8% in 2023 and the UK has reduced emissions by over half since 1990. It highlights China's rapid adoption of electric vehicles and its achievement of 2030 renewable targets six years early. In the United States, the text notes that carbon-pricing programs and renewable energy mandates persist at the state level despite federal policy shifts.

RMI outlines five key factors—facility suitability, electricity costs/net metering, energy efficiency, battery sizing, and available funding—to help US communities deploy solar-plus-battery microgrids that serve as resilience hubs during disasters.

The U.S. clean energy sector saw record solar and battery storage installations in 2024, with renewables accounting for approximately 90% of new capacity. However, progress is hindered by grid interconnection backlogs, rising local opposition, high interest rates, and supply chain shortages. The report also notes a slowdown in EV sales growth and warns that the Trump administration's policies may create further roadblocks to decarbonization.

RMI introduces the "Power Couples" model, which pairs large electricity consumers, such as AI data centers, with new-build wind, solar, and battery resources located near existing generators with approved grid interconnections. This approach aims to bypass long grid access wait times—which can reach five years for generation and eight years for transmission—while ensuring that the costs of new demand are borne by the users rather than general ratepayers. RMI's analysis indicates that this strategy could satisfy over 50 GW of new load at an average of 88% carbon-free energy, with significant opportunities concentrated in the PJM, ERCOT, and Southeast regions.

The document details the Trump administration's systematic dismantling of U.S. climate and environmental justice policies, highlighting the rescission of the Justice 40 initiative and the freezing of funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It reports on the administrative leave of 168 EPA employees dedicated to underserved communities and the suspension of Community Benefit Plans by the Department of Energy. The guide provides resources for journalists to track the impact of these cuts on specific programs like Solar for All and the efforts of activists and legal experts to resist these changes.

In 2024, China approved 66.7 GW of new coal power and saw 94.5 GW begin construction, the highest level since 2015, despite adding a record 356 GW of wind and solar capacity. This 'energy addition' strategy is driven by long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) that guarantee coal generation and the influence of coal mining companies, who financed over 75% of new approvals. These factors lead to the curtailment of renewables and a shift away from using coal plants as flexible regulating capacity. The report concludes that China's coal expansion contrasts sharply with global trends, as China accounted for 93% of global coal construction starts in 2024.

The document details the Trump administration's efforts to gut US climate policy, focusing on the rescission of the Justice 40 initiative and the freezing of related federal funds. It reports on the administrative leave of EPA employees, the suspension of Community Benefit Plans at the Department of Energy, and the removal of the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, while highlighting the intended goals of the original environmental justice programs.

The author contends that following the U.S. lead in abandoning the Paris climate accord would be 'economically perilous' for countries like Indonesia. He highlights the continued global acceleration of electric vehicle and solar energy growth, and cites specific policy actions in Japan and South Korea as examples of proactive decarbonization. The text argues that U.S. clean energy deployment is driven by economic sense and private sector investment, which will persist regardless of federal government policy.

The document outlines strategies for public development banks (PDBs) to enhance climate finance, focusing on Paris alignment, public-public collaborations, and private capital mobilization. It emphasizes the need for a bottom-up approach to ensure national ownership and the use of de-risking tools like guarantees to close investment gaps in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). Key recommendations include improving transparency in alignment assessments, expanding concessional funding for national development banks (NDBs), and supporting just energy transitions through the early retirement of coal plants.

The briefing examines the components of grid reliability—resource adequacy, operational reliability, and resilience—within the context of the U.S. transition to clean energy. It argues that while load growth and fossil fuel retirements create short-term risks, a diverse portfolio of wind, solar, batteries, and demand-side resources can maintain reliability. The document emphasizes the need for interconnection reform, updated market rules for inverter-based resources, and the scaling of demand-response programs to avoid unnecessary supply-side costs.

The United States has the world's second-largest pipeline of gas-fired power plants in development, totaling over 85 GW, largely fueled by speculation regarding AI energy needs. However, most of these projects are in early stages, and there is a significant risk that they could become stranded assets if AI power demand does not materialize. The report highlights that renewables and storage are currently cheaper and faster to deploy than new gas power, while specific regions like Texas and the PJM Interconnection area are seeing the highest concentration of these developments.

The document identifies significant obstacles to Colombia's thermal coal transition, including high fiscal dependence on coal exports, limited subnational institutional capacity, and insufficient environmental regulations for mine closures. It highlights the vulnerability of the Cesar and La Guajira regions, where coal represents a major share of departmental income and employment. The brief argues that a just transition requires strengthening local governance, establishing a permanent transition fund, and ensuring inclusive planning that protects marginalized groups and the civic space.

The document outlines recommendations for the EPA to integrate climate justice into environmental protections. It emphasizes the need for transparent, holistic decision-making, the acknowledgment of historic biased policies, and the strengthening of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) to better account for cumulative stressors and the specific needs of marginalized communities and non-mainland US territories.

The GCF Accreditation Panel recommends the accreditation of ArmSwissBank, a commercial bank in Armenia, as a national direct access entity for 'small' projects (up to USD 50 million) with a medium environmental and social risk category (B/I-2). The bank demonstrated strong capabilities in on-lending, blending, and project management, with a track record including USD 44.92 million for a KfW renewable energy programme. However, the panel identified gaps in public disclosure of procurement and whistleblower policies, the lack of anonymous complaint channels, and insufficient staff capacity to screen against IFC Performance Standards. Accreditation is recommended subject to conditions: the bank must publish its whistleblower and complaint procedures, establish anonymous reporting channels, provide evidence of staff training on IFC Performance Standards, and publicly disclose its procurement policy before submitting its first funding proposal.

Orange County Waste & Recycling (OCWR) is implementing a two-part strategy to reduce methane emissions: diverting organic waste into compost and utilizing the Smart Landfill Program (SLP). The SLP employs real-time data, drones, and robotic dogs to identify leaks and optimize gas collection, potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 15%. Additionally, OCWR is exploring the conversion of excess landfill gas into biomethane and the installation of solar energy on closed landfills to support California's clean energy goals.

Türkiye's solar capacity doubled between July 2022 and the end of 2024, reaching 19.6 GW and surpassing its 2025 target of 18 GW ahead of schedule. This growth was largely driven by unlicensed plants for self-consumption. Combined solar and wind generation avoided $15 billion in natural gas imports over two years. While solar is accelerating, wind energy growth has slowed, with 2024 capacity reaching 12.5 GW, missing its 13.3 GW target. The report highlights a significant pipeline of 33 GW in pre-licensed storage-integrated projects, far exceeding official targets, and suggests that Türkiye should update its NDC and National Energy Plan to reflect these trends and the revised 2035 targets.