Search Climate Insights Directory

The report finds that while a majority of US registered voters believe global warming is happening and support various clean energy policies, significant ideological divides persist. Democrats and liberal/moderate Republicans generally align with the mainstream public in supporting climate action, whereas conservative Republicans remain the most skeptical group, though they have shown the largest increase in belief that global warming is occurring over a two-year period. Public awareness of the scientific consensus on human-caused warming remains very low across all political groups.

The document examines how Kenya's devolution of energy planning to the county level can empower citizens, specifically focusing on Migori County. It highlights a significant gap between the desire for participation and current practice, while detailing the heavy reliance of rural households on biomass and kerosene. The brief argues that for county energy master plans to be effective, they must move beyond elite-controlled processes and leverage existing community groups, such as women's and youth organizations, to ensure the needs of marginalized populations are met.

The document reports that decarbonization in the power and transport sectors is exceeding previous predictions. It highlights a faster-than-expected shift away from coal in the EU, US, and China, as well as wind and solar capacity growth that has surpassed forecasts. In transport, passenger vehicle fleets in key economies are less carbon-intense than in 2005, and the market penetration of electric drive vehicles is exceeding predictions.

The guide suggests that while direct arguments about global warming are often counterproductive, common ground can be found by discussing shared environmental values, concerns about air pollution and biodiversity, and support for renewable energy and energy-efficiency behaviors.

The document argues that the Arecibo Waste-to-Energy and Resource Recovery Project is unnecessary, economically unviable, and environmentally hazardous. It claims the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) fails to meet National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) standards by ignoring reasonable alternatives, underestimating public health risks—particularly lead exposure in a non-attainment area—and omitting cumulative impacts on human health and biological resources. The authors contend that the project violates the Rural Electrification Act's mandate to serve rural areas and would cause irreversible damage to the Caño Tiburones Natural Reserve.

The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a green bank for Michigan, estimating that an initial public investment of $105 million could leverage $3.3 billion in total clean energy investments by 2030. This financial mechanism would support the deployment of 685 MW of solar capacity and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 3.9 million tons, contributing 13% of the emissions reductions required for the state to meet Clean Power Plan targets. The document outlines various financial products the bank could offer, such as credit enhancements and warehousing, and identifies existing Michigan programs that could be integrated into this structure.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzes how a hypothetical Virginia green bank with $90 million in initial capitalization could leverage $2.8 billion in total investment by 2030, significantly reducing carbon emissions and supporting the deployment of 575 MW of wind and solar capacity.

The 'Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline for Renewable Energy Projects' outlines the regulatory framework and procedural requirements for deploying renewable energy technologies in South Africa. It details the environmental impacts of various technologies—including wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower—and maps these to the specific national legislation and authorisations required under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and other sectoral laws. The guide provides a structured approach to the Basic Assessment (BA) and Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) processes, including timeframes, stakeholder roles, and mitigation strategies to ensure sustainable development.

The document outlines the economic and environmental benefits of transitioning Oregon's transportation sector from petroleum to clean fuels, specifically electricity and biofuels. It highlights the cost-effectiveness of electric vehicles (EVs) and the state's potential to produce advanced biofuels from waste, residues, and energy crops. Central to this transition is the Clean Fuels Program, which aims for a 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions per unit of fuel by 2025 and aligns with regional policies in California and British Columbia to create a larger market for low-carbon alternatives.

The report finds that significant portions of the U.S. East and Gulf Coast electricity grids are currently exposed to storm surge, with risks increasing as sea levels rise. In southeastern Virginia, 43 percent of major substations and four power plants are at risk today. The authors advocate for a shift from centralized grids to decentralized, resilient power systems—including microgrids and renewable energy with storage—to maintain critical services during outages and reduce the carbon emissions driving climate change.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis finds that two-thirds of U.S. states may be exposing electricity consumers to financial risks due to overreliance on natural gas. These risks include price volatility, potential carbon pricing costs, and the possibility of stranded assets such as underused plants and pipelines. The report rates states across five categories, identifying Florida as the only state with a "High" risk rating in all five. To mitigate these risks, the report advocates for prioritizing renewable energy and energy efficiency over natural gas as a primary solution for carbon reduction under the federal Clean Power Plan.

The paper examines the role of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) in bridging the gap between political ambition and the goal of limiting global temperature rise to below 2°C. It describes INDCs as voluntary, bottom-up climate planning tools that allow countries to define their own mitigation and adaptation targets based on domestic capabilities. The author emphasizes that INDCs should be integrated with broader sustainable development goals, particularly for African nations, and calls for a 'virtuous cycle of rising ambition' supported by predictable international finance to ensure global emissions peak by 2030.

The report posits that Iran's nuclear power program is economically unviable and creates security ambiguities that could be resolved by shifting toward energy efficiency and renewables. It suggests that international cooperation in these sectors would align with Iran's economic interests, reduce the domestic case for nuclear power, and potentially halt a regional nuclear arms race. The author highlights Iran's significant wind and solar potential and compares this transition to experiences in Argentina and Brazil.

Research indicates that Pope Francis is generally viewed as a trusted source of information on global warming among Americans, with a majority (55%) believing it is appropriate for him to take a public position on the issue. Among American Christians, Catholics show higher levels of belief in human-caused global warming (57%) and higher levels of worry (57%) compared to other major Christian groups. While awareness of the papal encyclical on climate change remains low (31%), there is strong cross-denominational support for climate policies, including renewable energy research and carbon dioxide regulation.

The paper analyzes reference and alternative scenarios for China's CO2 emissions, finding that while reference paths project emissions to double by 2050, alternative paths suggest a peak around 2030. It identifies GDP growth, energy intensity, and the energy mix as primary drivers, arguing that deep decarbonization through industrial restructuring and non-fossil fuel expansion is necessary to meet climate goals.

The analysis finds that California can reach a 50 percent renewable electricity mix by 2024 using existing technology. While increasing the Renewables Portfolio Standard to 50 percent would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22 percent without further grid investment, implementing advanced grid management tools like storage and demand response could increase that reduction to 27 percent and significantly decrease renewable energy curtailment.

The report details the application of the Smart Energy Path methodology in Benin, Mali, and Togo, emphasizing a multi-sectoral, participatory approach to energy planning. It highlights the vulnerability of these countries' energy systems to climate change and argues for prioritizing collective energy services—such as those for health and education—over individual household electrification. The project utilized the TIPEE multidimensional assessment tool to identify gaps in energy policy and data, concluding that inclusive governance involving non-energy sectors is essential for creating resilient and sustainable energy frameworks.

Botswana faces a critical need to diversify its economy due to expected declines in diamond revenues. The report evaluates the viability of exporting coal via the proposed Trans-Kalahari Railway (TKR) and extracting iron ore near the Okavango Delta. It concludes that raw coal exports are risky due to high infrastructure costs and a narrowing global demand window. Instead, it recommends using coal and iron ore for domestic beneficiation to create a regional steel industry in Selebi-Phikwe and prioritising eco-tourism as a sustainable primary revenue generator.

The report argues that high currency hedging costs in India make foreign debt nearly as expensive as domestic debt, hindering renewable energy targets. It proposes a government-sponsored FX hedging facility that could reduce hedging costs by nearly 50% and government support costs by up to 54%. The analysis suggests that while the expected cost of such a facility is 3.5 percentage points per year, the government would need a capital buffer of approximately INR 14.26 million/MW over 10 years to maintain a BBB- sovereign rating.

This briefing by RMI argues that decentralized solar energy is the most viable path to providing electricity access to the 1.3 billion people currently without it, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa and India, while avoiding a projected 141-percent increase in carbon emissions by 2040 that would result from coal-fired power plants.