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This research paper examines the potential of using publicly accessible property data, street-level imagery, and machine learning to overcome data fragmentation and gaps that hinder systematic social housing retrofit planning in the UK.

This guide by RMI outlines ten strategies for United States cities to advance inclusive electric mobility, focusing on affordability and accessibility for residents without private vehicles or home charging. It provides specific examples of municipal policies, from building code mandates for EV-readiness in Arizona to zero-emission delivery zones in California, to help cities navigate budget constraints and reduced federal funding.

This perspective from the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that climate mitigation and adaptation have been artificially fragmented into separate agendas, which wastes resources and undermines sustainable development. The author advocates for a systemic approach where climate considerations are integrated by default into all policies, budgets, and planning decisions across all scales of governance, particularly in Asia.

This chapter of the 'Same same but different' series by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the disparities in mobility and spatial justice in Tallinn and Bangkok, contrasting the experiences of different urban users and the impact of infrastructure and technology on accessibility.

A case study by the World Resources Institute (WRI) detailing the development and impact of Beijing's 'Mobility-as-a-Service' (MaaS) digital platform, which integratesC integratesCSSS integrates public transit and shared mobility to reduce carbon emissions.

This case study by the Stockholm Environment Institute uses Pärnu City and County in Estonia to illustrate the development and impact of urban heat islands (UHI). It employs satellite-derived land surface temperature data and social vulnerability mapping to demonstrate how heat risk is an interaction between physical hazards, population exposure, and social sensitivity.

The 'Cities in Transition' executive summary by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that energy and climate policy must integrate urban planning to reduce total energy demand. Using the city of Winnipeg as a primary case study, the research demonstrates that shifting from car-oriented sprawl to compact, walkable communities reduces emissions and lowers municipal infrastructure costs.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines a strategy for achieving net-zero passenger transportation in Canada. It advocates for a shift away from car-centric infrastructure toward active transport, electrified public transit, and zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), supported by high-density urban planning. The document highlights the economic potential of a clean transport sector, including job creation in ZEV manufacturing and reduced household costs, while emphasizing significant public health benefits from reduced air and noise pollution.

This briefingS briefing from the World Resources Institute explains five different heat metrics—land surface temperature, air temperature, heat index, wet bulb globe temperature, and thermal comfort indices—and how they serve different purposes for urban planning and public health. It argues that while traditional metrics provide regional or surface-level data, thermal comfort indices are necessary forSSS to understand the local, human-scale experience of heat and to design effective interventions like shade and green space.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) partnered with the Shenzhen city government and local institutions to implement 113 near-zero carbon demonstration projects. These initiatives, which include rooftop solar and building retrofits, aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and electricity demand while lowering energy costs for the city's 18 million residents.

RMI proposes a 'whole-systems' approach to energy efficiency that combines electrification with 'energy end-use efficiency'—reducing the actual energy services required. By focusing on land-use, passive design, and material circularity, the report argues that overall energy demand can be reduced by 50-75% in some sectors, far exceeding the COP28 goal of a 4% annual improvement rate.

This research paper outlines the critical role of the water-energy nexus in urban planning, highlighting how urbanization, climate change, and economic globalization create pressures that require resilience-based management and further research into waste and resource recovery.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the challenges of achieving equitable access to urban green spaces in low- and middle-income countries, with a focus on informal settlements. It argues that top-down planning often fails to meet the specific needs of marginalized populations and advocates for community-led, inclusive governance to improve public health and environmental resilience.

These conference proceedings, compiled by the World Resources Institute, document the 50th anniversary of Bogota's Ciclovía and its influence on open-streets initiatives globally. The document details how Bogota's model of closing arterial roads to cars on Sundays has inspired similar programs in Los Angeles, Lima, and Cape Town, while analyzing the social, economic, and policy-driven impacts of these initiatives.

This research paper analyzes transportation investments under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), highlighting the tension between funding for public transit and the continued prioritization of personal vehicle infrastructure.

A case study by RMI detailing how the City of Ithaca used digital building modeling tools, developed by Cornell University’s Environmental System Lab and RMI, to plan the electrification of 5,468 buildings to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

The Lagos State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (LCARP), published in June 2024 by FSD Africa and the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, is a strategic roadmap to protect Lagos from climate-driven risks. The plan identifies sea-level rise, extreme rainfall, and extreme heat as the primary climate impact drivers, with a projected cost of inaction reaching nearly $40 billion by 2050. To mitigate these risks, LCARP proposes a $9 billion project portfolio consisting of 33 adaptation projects, aiming to mobilize between $700 million and $1.3 billion in annual climate finance by 2035. The plan emphasizes a shift from an overreliance on concessional debt toward a balanced mix of blended finance, grants, and nature-based solutions, supported by new governance structures and sector-specific policy reforms.

RMI analysis indicates that Illinois could achieve significant household cost savings, pollution reduction, and public health improvements by adopting three clean transportation strategies: vehicle electrification standards, climate-driven agency planning, and renewed investments in state transit systems.

This report by RMI argues that US state departments of transportation (DOTs) must shift their focus from roadway expansion and vehicle electrification toward reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by investing in pedestrian infrastructure, transit, and micro-mobility to meet climate targets and improve public safety.

This insights brief by the Southern African Resilience Academy (SARA) examines the role of urban informality in building equitable resilience in cities across southern Africa and the Global South. It argues that while informality is often invisible or viewed as a challenge, it provides critical services, livelihoods, and innovation that can enhance urban resilience if harnessed through inclusive governance and partnerships.