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The report details climate finance in Germany across five key sectors. In 2010, the energy sector saw EUR 10.3 billion in climate-specific investment, dominated by private funding (98%) and renewable energy. The buildings sector received at least EUR 16.3 billion, primarily from households. The agriculture sector saw EUR 5.4 billion, almost entirely in renewables. Industry climate-specific investment was EUR 579 million in 2009, mostly for energy efficiency. Transport climate-specific investment averaged EUR 559 million, focused on energy-efficient vehicles. The report highlights the critical role of the public bank KfW in providing concessionary loans and the influence of the Feed-in Tariff on private investment.

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.

The report argues that transitioning to a green economy can serve as an insurance policy for Sweden against future global shocks. Using a scenario-based 'wind-tunnel' approach, it tests the robustness of various policy options across four plausible global futures: Glocal Citizenship, Global Governance, Return of Geopolitics, and Big Business. The authors conclude that while Sweden possesses strong preconditions—such as renewable resources and high social capital—it must proactively integrate environmental considerations into the heart of economic decision-making, specifically through the Ministry of Finance, to ensure long-term stability and competitiveness.

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 report examines Viet Nam's investment incentive framework for renewable energy, analyzing financial, fiscal, and market-based supports. While the government has established a policy framework including tax exemptions and price subsidies, stakeholder interviews suggest these incentives have a limited effect on investment decisions due to low electricity off-take prices, regulatory opacity, and a lack of trust in government guarantees. The study highlights a contrast between the modest success of small hydropower and the struggles of wind and biogas projects to achieve financial viability.

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.

China has become a global leader in renewable energy investment and wind capacity, though it remains heavily dependent on coal for electricity and heat. While the 12th Five Year Plan sets targets for increasing non-fossil fuel use and reducing carbon emissions intensity, the country faces challenges such as grid connectivity for wind power and water shortages in arid provinces due to coal base construction. The government is also piloting emissions trading schemes in several cities and provinces as a precursor to a national system by 2015.

The document examines China's energy landscape as of 2012, highlighting its position as a global leader in renewable energy investment and wind capacity despite a heavy reliance on coal for electricity. It details the growth of the solar and wind sectors, the environmental and water-related costs of coal combustion, and the climate goals established under the 12th Five Year Plan, including targets for non-fossil fuel use and the implementation of carbon pricing mechanisms.

The solar water heater (SWH) industry in Barbados has achieved significant market penetration through a combination of early entrepreneurial leadership, consistent government fiscal incentives, and strategies to ensure consumer confidence. Since the 1970s, over 50,000 installations have saved consumers approximately US$137 million. Key drivers included the Fiscal Incentives Act of 1974, the Homeowner Tax Benefit, and government mandates for SWHs in public housing. The document argues that this success provides a foundation for broader acceptance of other renewable energy technologies and can be replicated in other sun-rich, oil-dependent countries if implemented as a coordinated system.

The document argues that low-carbon innovation is a systemic process involving networks of actors and institutional environments, rather than just technical hardware. It highlights that developing countries have a unique opportunity to bypass high-carbon 'lock-in' due to less established energy infrastructures. The authors recommend a 'socio-technical' approach that considers local cultural practices and 'fit-stretch dynamics' to ensure technology adoption. Strengthening indigenous capabilities and aligning international initiatives, such as the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism, with national policies are presented as essential for sustainable transition.

The report finds that federal incentives were critical for the viability of U.S. wind and solar projects in 2010, bridging roughly half the gap between generation costs and market prices. While cost reductions have made wind nearly viable with federal support alone by 2013, the report argues that current tax-based incentives are inefficient because project developers often lack the tax liabilities to fully utilize them, necessitating costly tax-equity financing. The authors propose replacing the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind with a Taxable Cash for Production (TCP) incentive and offering solar PV projects a 20% 1603 Cash Grant instead of a 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to maintain support while significantly reducing costs to federal and state governments.

The document identifies five key realms for renewable energy policy: direct purchase mandates, improving the business case through financial incentives, removing non-price barriers, supporting research and development, and addressing grid intermittency. It recommends that Japan maintain its generous feed-in tariffs, expand demand response, and unbundle transmission from generation to increase competition. The report provides detailed international case studies from the US, Germany, and other nations to illustrate effective mechanisms such as Green Banks, loan guarantees, and carbon taxes.

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 report analyzes how California's 10 largest publicly owned utilities (POUs) met the 2010 RPS goal of 20 percent renewables. While collective RPS-eligible investments rose from 4.1 percent in 2003 to 18.8 percent in 2010, the quality of these investments varied. The authors emphasize that long-term contracts for new facilities are the most effective way to drive new clean energy development and stabilize rates. The report categorizes POUs into three groups: those 'sprinting ahead' (e.g., Silicon Valley Power), those 'on the right track' (e.g., LADWP), and those with a 'false start' (e.g., Imperial Irrigation District). It concludes with recommendations for the California Energy Commission (CEC) and POUs to prioritize long-term investments and improve reporting to meet the 33 percent RPS by 2020.

The study finds that CCS deployment in Germany would lower spot market electricity prices and reduce imports from France, Belgium, and Poland, while increasing producer and consumer surpluses.