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The paper identifies five key drivers for CCD: national adaptation needs, energy security and resource efficiency, new economic opportunities, access to climate finance, and strong government leadership. It also outlines seven primary challenges, including high implementation and opportunity costs, opposition from vested interest groups, lack of trusted data, short-term political thinking, limited state capacity, institutional constraints, and technological uncertainties. The authors argue that managing the political economy of CCD is essential for overcoming these barriers.

The report assesses Thailand's renewable energy incentives, highlighting the success of the ENCON fund and the 'adder' (feed-in premium) scheme, while identifying persistent barriers such as transmission constraints and high import duties on technology.

The report evaluates 14 U.S. trade and business associations across three metrics: acceptance of climate science, support for climate action, and endorsement of specific policy proposals. The findings categorize these groups into three tiers: those that misrepresent science and offer limited policy support, those that accept science but offer limited support, and those that accept science and provide significant policy support. The authors argue that some associations use scientific misinformation and vague qualifiers to block meaningful climate policy, and they urge member companies to pressure their associations to adopt science-based positions.

The report analyzes R&D management through interviews with 17 leaders from innovative companies. It finds that while centralized R&D structures promote long-term breakthroughs, a lack of STEM talent and inconsistent tax policies hinder U.S. innovation. It highlights the effectiveness of direct government grants and technology-neutral regulations in stimulating private research, while noting that restrictive immigration and IP licensing disputes with universities drive R&D overseas.

A 2013 survey of Maryland residents reveals high levels of concern about climate change, with 86% believing it is happening and a majority supporting state-level sustainability policies. While residents prefer renewable energy sources like solar and wind, there is significant uncertainty regarding the state's actual energy mix. The report also highlights a gap between public support for climate action and individual behaviors, noting that home energy conservation is more common than transportation-related reductions.

A survey of Maryland residents in 2013 found that air pollution is viewed as the top personal health risk and that a majority of residents believe climate change is already harming people in the United States. The study highlights a strong public preference for renewable energy sources over fossil fuels and nuclear power due to health concerns. It also reveals that residents with multiple pre-existing medical conditions are more likely to perceive themselves as vulnerable to climate-related health impacts. Additionally, the report notes high public support for government prioritisation of protecting public water supplies and human health from environmental threats.

The document presents a collection of declarations from major world religions and interfaith organizations, framing climate change as a moral, spiritual, and justice-related crisis. These organizations advocate for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and the protection of vulnerable populations who are disproportionately affected by global warming.

The document analyzes Zambia's energy sector and the incentives provided by the government to attract private investment in renewable energy. It details a framework of fiscal incentives (tax exemptions on dividends, import duties, and corporate tax), financial incentives (grants from the Rural Electrification Fund and government-backed loan guarantees for ZESCO), and other support services provided by the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and the Office for Promoting Private Power Investment (OPPPI). While stakeholders report a generally positive trend and increased interest in projects, the report notes a lack of transparency regarding the actual costs of these incentives and a need for greater legal clarity regarding which renewable energy technologies qualify for support.

The document applies the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) 'quick screen' methodology to identify potential NAMA concepts for Bangladesh. It reviews national socioeconomic data, GHG emission profiles, and government priorities to propose 18 specific mitigation opportunities across six UNFCCC sectors: agriculture, energy, forestry, industry, transport, and waste. The brief emphasizes that mitigation efforts must not compromise economic growth or poverty alleviation, particularly as Bangladesh faces high vulnerability to sea-level rise and extreme weather.

In 2010, Germany invested at least 37 billion euros (1.5% of GDP) in climate mitigation, with over 95% of funding originating from the private sector. Renewable energy dominated investments at 26.6 billion euros, largely driven by small-scale projects and supported by feed-in tariffs and low-interest loans from state banks. However, the report identifies significant gaps in data transparency, a lack of systematic effectiveness assessments for public funding, and a potential imbalance between small-scale installations and large-scale infrastructure and grid expansion.

The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies a significant number of U.S. coal-fired power plants that are economically uncompetitive compared to natural gas and wind power. The report argues that retiring these plants, along with those already scheduled for closure, would improve public health and reduce carbon emissions without jeopardizing grid reliability.

The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies a range of 16 to 32 coal-fired generating units in Michigan as economically uncompetitive compared to natural gas and renewable energy. The report highlights that 87 percent of the state's coal capacity exceeds its 30-year design lifetime, and many of these plants lack modern pollution controls, contributing significantly to public health issues and carbon emissions. The document advocates for retiring these plants in favor of wind, solar, and energy efficiency to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 18.7 million tons annually and stimulate the state's clean energy economy.

A September 2012 survey of 1,061 American adults indicates that undecided likely voters share more similarities with likely Obama voters than likely Romney voters regarding climate change. While 80% of undecideds believe global warming is happening and 65% attribute it to human causes, only 45% of likely Romney voters believe it is occurring and 27% see it as human-caused. A majority of undecideds (61%) consider global warming one of several important factors in their voting decision. There is broad agreement across all groups that the U.S. should increase renewable energy use, though views on reducing fossil fuels diverge. Approximately 40% of undecideds and 36% of likely Romney voters report they could "easily change their mind" about global warming.

The document argues that local stakeholder consultations for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in India and Mexico are frequently inadequate or falsified due to a lack of clear guidelines and oversight. In India, project proponents often omit meeting details from public notices, provide documents in English that are inaccessible to impoverished villagers, and produce reports that omit unfavorable comments. The author provides case studies from Gujarat involving a solar project and a biogas project to illustrate how villagers were excluded or ignored. To improve transparency and sustainable development, the document recommends mandatory videography of consultations, publishing notices in local languages and multiple newspapers, and ensuring the public is informed about their 2% share of carbon credit sales.

The Union of Concerned Scientists evaluated the ten largest publicly owned utilities (POUs) in California based on their 2010 compliance with the state's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS). While these utilities collectively increased their RPS-eligible investments from 4.1% of retail sales in 2003 to 18.8% in 2010, the report finds significant disparity in how this was achieved. Some utilities, such as Silicon Valley Power and Modesto Irrigation District, are categorized as "running ahead," while others, like Roseville Electric and Imperial Irrigation District, are labeled as having a "false start" due to a reliance on short-term contracts that do not promote new clean energy development. The report emphasizes that long-term contracts and ownership of facilities are essential to meet the increased 33% RPS requirement for 2020 and to reduce the state's continued heavy reliance on fossil fuels.

The research paper evaluates four types of cost limits—alternative compliance payments, contract price caps, retail rate/revenue impact caps, and renewable energy fund caps—across several U.S. states. It finds that while cost limits can insure against unacceptably high costs, they often create market uncertainty, may act as price floors rather than ceilings, and can conflict with renewable energy targets if not aligned with expected costs. For California, the author recommends avoiding public contract-level benchmarks, ensuring the limit is consistent with expected RPS costs, and implementing a simple, clearly defined mechanism with a predictable review process.

The Barbados Declaration, issued by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) in May 2012, emphasizes the urgent need for SIDS to transition to renewable energy to mitigate economic vulnerabilities caused by high dependency on imported fossil fuels. The document identifies wind, solar, geothermal, and ocean energy as commercially feasible options and calls for increased financial support, technology transfer, and capacity building from developed nations and international organizations. It reaffirms the importance of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) and the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (MSI) as blueprints for sustainable development.

The document argues that Spain's adherence to EU-mandated austerity—termed the 'Euro Dogma'—has deepened its recession by contracting aggregate demand and undermining public services. It criticizes the Popular Party's labour reforms for reducing worker protections and wages without addressing the root causes of the crisis, such as the property bubble and lack of technological investment. The author highlights significant cuts to R&D, education, and health, while noting that military spending and grants to the Catholic Church remained relatively protected. The text suggests that Spain could instead leverage its human capital and renewable energy potential, and increase revenues by tackling tax evasion and taxing the wealthy, to achieve a sustainable recovery.

The report analyzes the social, environmental, and business performance of 1,337 SMMEs in developing countries, with a focus on the 2011 applicant cohort. It identifies a strong trend toward the adoption of new technologies and a shift in organizational identity from strictly non-profit to hybrid or for-profit models. Key barriers include a lack of financial resources, limited access to technical research partners, and a deficiency in local-level environmental monitoring and enforcement. The study also highlights gender disparities, noting that women-led enterprises often face greater challenges in accessing business management skills and markets.

Tanzania has implemented the Small Power Projects (SPP) programme to scale up decentralized renewable energy and reduce dependence on drought-prone hydropower and expensive fossil fuels. The programme uses an avoided-cost-based feed-in tariff (FIT) to attract private investment without increasing costs for the national utility, TANESCO. While five plants (28.3 MW) are operational and ten more are planned, growth is hindered by low tariffs, high financing costs, and technical skepticism. The brief highlights the importance of South-South exchanges with Thailand and Sri Lanka in developing the regulatory framework and suggests that transitioning to technology-based tariffs, supported by international climate finance, is necessary for broader deployment of solar and wind energy.