Search Climate Insights Directory
252 results
HOW FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, AND NATIONAL LABS CAN ENSURE PLUMMETING SOLAR, WIND, AND BATTERY COSTS ACCELERATE OUR CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
The policy brief outlines a pathway for the United States to reach 90 percent zero carbon electricity by 2035, noting that this transition could support 530,000 annual energy sector jobs and reduce economy-wide emissions by 27 percent without increasing electricity bills. It warns that without policy intervention, zero carbon sources would only reach 53 percent by 2035. The authors propose a series of actions for federal entities, including the EPA requiring state decarbonization plans, the DOE expanding low-cost capital for domestic manufacturing, and the DOL creating a Just Transitions Office to support fossil fuel-dependent communities.
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Document type: Policy brief
HOW GOVERNORS, STATE LEGISLATURES, AND PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONS CAN ENSURE PLUMMETING SOLAR, WIND, AND BATTERY COSTS ACCELERATE OUR CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
The brief outlines a pathway for the U.S. to reach 90 percent zero carbon electricity by 2035, leveraging falling costs of solar, wind, and batteries. It projects that this transition could support 530,000 net new energy jobs annually and reduce economy-wide emissions by 27 percent without increasing customer bills. The document provides a set of policy recommendations for state-level officials, including the adoption of Clean Energy Standards, prohibitions on new natural gas investment, and the creation of ratepayer-backed bonds to securitize uneconomic fossil fuel assets.
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Document type: Policy brief
MODELING THE CLIMATE CRISIS ACTION PLAN
Energy Innovation modeled a subset of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis's recommendations, finding that these policies could reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 and 89% by 2050. The analysis projects that net carbon dioxide emissions would reach zero by 2048, avoiding 62,000 premature deaths annually by 2050 and generating approximately $8 trillion in monetized health and climate benefits (at a 3% discount rate). The modeling covers sectors including electricity, transportation, buildings, industry, oil and gas, agriculture, and natural climate solutions, assuming a transition to 100% clean electricity by 2040 and 100% zero-emission vehicle sales for light-duty vehicles by 2035.
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Document type: Report
REWIRING THE U.S. FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY
The policy brief argues that the U.S. can achieve 90 percent zero-carbon electricity by 2035 through a federal clean energy standard and complementary reforms in tax credits, manufacturing, transmission planning, and wholesale market design. This transition would require significant scaling of solar, wind, and battery storage, while retiring the coal fleet and utilizing existing gas plants only for flexibility. The authors emphasize the need for a 'just transition' for coal-dependent communities and the modernization of utility regulation through performance-based models and all-source procurement to ensure the transition is affordable and equitable.
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Document type: Policy brief
Prefabricated Zero Energy Retrofit Technologies
The report examines the potential of semi-industrialized, prefabricated retrofit packages to reduce the complexity, risk, and cost of zero-energy building upgrades. It specifically analyzes the Dutch model pioneered by Energiesprong, which has applied net-zero retrofit packages to approximately 5,000 multifamily units, and evaluates the availability of similar facade panel and mechanical system innovations in the US market to catalyze large-scale industrialized retrofits.
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Document type: Report
Message from the CEO: Coronavirus Update
RMI has closed all its offices and suspended work travel and major events to implement social distancing in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The organization is transitioning to virtual and digital platforms, such as webinars, to maintain progress toward its mission of a low-carbon energy future.
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Document type: Statement
Assessing the gender and social equity dimensions of energy transitions
The report finds that low-carbon energy transitions do not automatically improve social equity and can replicate existing structural inequalities if power asymmetries are not addressed. While some technologies like household solar provide benefits, others—particularly large-scale hydropower and biofuel plantations—often lead to land loss, displacement, and precarious employment. The authors argue that institutional frameworks and participatory processes, rather than the technology itself, determine whether a transition is just.
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Document type: Report
Clean Future Act: A Cross-Sectoral Plan to Combat Climate Change
The CLEAN Future Act proposes a national goal of a 100 percent clean economy by 2050, targeting the power, building, and transportation sectors. Key mechanisms include a national Clean Electricity Standard, zero energy ready building codes by 2030, and the establishment of a National Climate Bank. The act emphasizes environmental justice, state-level climate planning, and workforce development through renewable energy job training.
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Document type: Briefing
Hours of Safety in Cold Weather
The document proposes the 'hours of safety' metric to measure building resilience during power outages in extreme cold weather, comparing various housing standards from 1950s builds to Passive House standards.
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Document type: Briefing
SEforALL AND THE DECADE OF ACTION 100 DAYS REPORT
SEforALL's 100 Days Report details the organization's efforts to integrate sustainable energy into COVID-19 recovery plans through 'Recover Better' guides for Africa, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. The report highlights the pandemic's severe impact on the off-grid sector, where surveyed companies expect revenue losses between 27% and 40%. It also outlines the launch of the 'Powering Healthcare' resource hub and the 'Chilling Prospects 2020' report, which identifies that 1.02 billion people lack cooling access. Strategically, SEforALL has approved a new Three-Year Business Plan (2021-2023) focusing on high-level advocacy and country-specific implementation across four thematic areas: Energy Diplomacy and Advocacy, Energy Access and Closing the Gap, Energy Transitions and Climate, and Intersection with other SDGs.
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Document type: Report
Private Equity Investing for Pension Funds in East Africa
The report identifies a significant gap between the regulatory allowance for private equity investments (up to 20% in some countries) and the actual muted allocation by East African pension funds. Key barriers include a lack of technical knowledge among trustees, a strong bias toward high-yielding government bonds, and a perceived risk associated with the asset class. The study recommends tailored capacity building for trustees and regulators, the development of specialist investment policy statements, and the use of multi-manager models to mitigate risk and governance burdens.
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Document type: Report
Designing the City of the Future and The Pursuit of Happiness
RMI collaborated with the Lodha Group to implement a net-zero energy (NZE) district framework for Palava City, a greenfield development near Mumbai. The approach integrates energy, mobility, and water management to reduce carbon emissions and improve quality of life. Key strategies include improving building envelopes, maximizing on-site solar generation, prioritizing non-motorized transport, and treating 100% of wastewater for on-site reuse. The project serves as a model for sustainable urban development in emerging markets.
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Document type: Case study
CATF Statement on Introduction of Smith and Luján CES Bills in Senate and House
The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) supports the Clean Energy Standard Act of 2019, which aims for the decarbonization of the U.S. electric power sector by mid-century. The legislation is described as technology-inclusive, supporting carbon capture and storage, nuclear energy, hydroelectric generation, and renewables. It proposes incentives for always-available zero-carbon electricity via a credit multiplier and a new Department of Energy RDD&D program. CATF notes that this federal effort aligns with existing state-level legislation in California, New Mexico, Nevada, and Washington, as well as targets set by major utilities covering 37.9% of US electricity sales.
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Document type: Statement
Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2018
The audit concludes that SEforALL's financial statements for 2018 present fairly its financial position and performance in accordance with voluntarily applied Austrian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The organization reported total revenue of $9,564,445.90 and total expenses of $9,448,366.78 for the period. The auditors found the accounting system compliant with the organization's statutes and noted no material weaknesses in internal controls or doubts regarding the organization's ability to continue as a going concern.
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Document type: Report
COOLING FOR ALL NEEDS ASSESSMENT SCORECARD
The Cooling for All Needs Assessment Scorecard is a tool designed to measure access to cooling through specific guiding questions and indicators. It focuses on three key areas: human comfort and safety (addressing heat stress and productivity), food and nutrition security (focusing on agricultural incomes, diet, and cold chain food loss), and health services (evaluating vaccine programs and the security of medical cold chains). The scorecard allows users to track baseline and latest values to determine trends and ratings.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Draft IAI Strategic Plan
The Draft IAI Strategic Plan (2019–2044) establishes a 25-year roadmap to support sustainable policies in the Americas through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research. The plan is organized into three themes: meeting the needs of member Parties, advancing a science agenda for regional sustainability, and ensuring the organizational sustainability of the IAI. Key priorities include climate action, water and food security, biodiversity conservation, and the promotion of open science and data. The IAI aims to act as a bridge between scientific research and policy-making, targeting the co-creation of knowledge and the enhancement of institutional capacities across the region.
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Document type: Report
The SA-EU Strategic Partnership Summit: Correcting the Compass Needle
The briefing examines the first EU-South Africa summit since 2013, highlighting the importance of attracting foreign direct investment and leveraging the EU's External Investment Plan. It notes that while the EU is South Africa's largest investment partner and a primary destination for manufactured exports, the partnership has struggled due to internal crises in both regions. The agenda includes economic cooperation, sustainable energy, multilateralism, and climate change.
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Document type: Briefing
NOTIFICATION
The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has released a draft outline for its Strategic Plan, designed as a 25-year roadmap to support science-informed policies and sustainable development in the Americas. The plan is structured around three themes: meeting the needs of member Parties, advancing a science agenda for regional sustainability, and ensuring the organizational sustainability of the IAI. Key priorities include food, water, and energy security, as well as the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services to mitigate climate change. The document also emphasizes cross-cutting goals such as open data, capacity building, and the inclusion of women, girls, and Indigenous Peoples.
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Document type: Briefing
Mänguraamat Valikutega seiklus säästva energia valdkonnas
The guide uses a series of realistic, simulated scenarios to explore the complexities of involving citizens in sustainable energy projects, such as wind farm siting and energy efficiency upgrades. It focuses on three primary dimensions of success: social legitimacy, institutional sustainability, and political effectiveness. Through 39 different sections, the document analyzes the trade-offs between different engagement models—participatory, deliberative, and hybrid—and provides strategies for managing conflicts, handling technical constraints, and navigating the influence of higher-level government bodies and political election cycles.
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Document type: Guide
Jordan Integrated Landscape Management Initiative (Jilmi)
The Jordan Integrated Landscape Management Initiative (JILMI) seeks to address climate-driven water scarcity and ecosystem degradation in Jordan. The project proposes a cross-sectoral approach to build climate resilience in the Jordan Rift Valley, Zarqa River Basin, and the Gulf of Aqaba. Key strategies include restoring degraded forests, reviving traditional 'Hima' herding practices, implementing small-scale sustainable energy technologies, and mainstreaming integrated landscape management (ILM) into national policy. The request seeks US$ 278,946.28 from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to conduct baseline assessments, gender analyses, and feasibility studies to inform a full funding proposal estimated at US$ 40 million.
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Document type: Report