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569 results
4 Recommendations to Electrify the US Federal Fleet
This briefing by the World Resources Institute (WRI) provides four strategic recommendations to guide the United States federal government in executing an executive order to transition its fleet of approximately 650,000 vehicles to zero-emission models.
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Document type: Briefing
Conservation Corps: Pairing Climate Action with Economic Opportunity
This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the history, economic and environmental benefits, funding mechanisms, and legislative landscape of conservation corps in the United States, highlighting their role in climate action and workforce development.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Consideration of Nature-Based Solutions as Offsets in Corporate Climate Change Mitigation Strategies
This working paper by the World Resources Institute examines the role of nature-based solutions (NBS) as carbon offsets within corporate climate mitigation strategies. It argues that while NBS are critical for achieving global net-zero goals by 2050, their use as offsets is controversial due to risks of 'greenwashing' and technical challenges regarding credit quality. The authors advocate for a 'both/and' approach where companies combine aggressive direct fossil fuel abatement with high-quality NBS investments, emphasizing the need for robust standards to ensure environmental and social integrity.
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Document type: Research paper
The United States Needs More Fast Chargers: China Can Show How
This report by RMI argues that the United States must rapidly expand its public direct current fast-charging (DCFC) infrastructure to meet decarbonization targets and ensure equitable EV access. It contrasts the current incremental growth in the US with China's aggressive, policy-driven scale-up, which has significantly lowered equipment costs and consumer prices through national priorities, utility tariff reforms, and concentrated charging stations.
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Document type: Report
How to Move America to Electric Vehicles
This policy brief by RMI argues that the United States requires a bold, coordinated national vision for transportation electrification by 2030 to meet climate goals and maintain global industrial competitiveness. It proposes specific targets for EV adoption and infrastructure, alongside a national industrial strategy to retool manufacturing and an aggressive fleet electrification plan.
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Document type: Policy brief
Pandemic as Campaign Stage: On Trump’s Handling of Covid-19 in the United States
This research paper analyzes US President Donald Trump's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, arguing that he treated the crisis as a campaign stage. The author contends that Trump pursued a laissez-faire 'herd immunity' strategy, not for epidemiological reasons, but to frame himself as a protector of the working class and small business owners against a perceived 'elite' scientific and political establishment.
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Document type: Research paper
Agua Sin Límites
The 'Agua Sin Límites' (Water Without Limits) initiative by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) proposes a new agenda for sustainable water management. It aims to address the limitations of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) by focusing on tele-connections beyond the basin, multi-scale participatory approaches to address social inequalities, and the early integration of ecosystem needs into planning.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Green Bond Fact Sheet
This fact sheet details a USD 272.6 million green bond issued by the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) on December 19, 2019, to finance the expansion of its headquarters in Sacramento, California.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Top 10 Priorities for President Biden to Tackle the Climate Crisis
This WRI commentary by Dan Lashof outlines 10 high-impact priority actions for the Biden administration to address the climate crisis, emphasizing a whole-of-government response that integrates economic recovery, racial justice, and aggressive emissions reductions.
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Document type: Briefing
Goal 9 assessment
The Goal 9 assessment evaluates progress toward rewarding countries and jurisdictions that reduce forest emissions through public policies, results-based finance, and private-sector sourcing. As of 2020, nearly USD 4.7 billion in results-based finance has been committed since 2010, with disbursements increasing to over USD 260 million annually in recent years. The report also highlights the role of carbon markets, which have channeled USD 2.5 billion to forest projects over 20 years, and the emergence of domestic compliance schemes that allow forest carbon credits.
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Document type: Report
The New (Ab)Normal
The briefing 'The New (Ab)Normal' describes the escalating frequency and severity of climate-driven catastrophes, using the 2020 wildfire season in Colorado and the western United States as a primary example. It argues that the world has entered a state of 'continuous escalation of catastrophe' and outlines five critical areas of impact: mass migration, health threats, financial instability, the need for resilient rebuilding, and the necessity of updating the electric grid. The author emphasizes that immediate global action to reduce emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 is required to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
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Document type: Briefing
Now Is the Time for US Leadership on Electric Vehicles
This RMI briefing argues that the United States must accelerate its leadership in electric vehicle (EV) adoption to address climate change, noting that transportation is the country's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. The document highlights rapid technological advancements in battery design, increasing demand from state governments and major corporations, and the necessity of scaling charging infrastructure to meet a zero-emissions mobility system by 2050.
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Document type: Briefing
Taking a Regional Approach to Electric Vehicle Readiness
This report by RMI analyzes the regional readiness of 60 prominent US cities for electric vehicle (EV) adoption, focusing on infrastructure beyond city centers to address 'range anxiety'. The analysis evaluates metropolitan area readiness, day-trip destination readiness, and airport readiness, highlighting that while some cities and regions (particularly in California) are well-prepared, significant gaps in DC fast-charger coverage persist along major highways in several states.
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Document type: Report
A RESILIENT FUTURE FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES
This report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides 30 federal policy recommendations to enhance the climate resilience of U.S. coastal communities. Based on a series of 16 Congressional briefings featuring 42 experts, the document outlines strategies across six themes: community engagement, land use and development, cultural heritage, climate data, disaster preparedness, and financing. It emphasizes the need for policies based on future climate projections, the integration of climate justice, and the prioritization of nature-based solutions over traditional gray infrastructure.
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Document type: Report
California’s Ban on Gas Vehicles is Also Good News for the Grid and the Auto Sector
RMI supports California Governor Gavin Newsom's September 23, 2020, executive order to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035, arguing that the move will accelerate the transition to a clean energy system and benefit both the automotive industry and the electric grid.
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Document type: Statement
Stockholm and the Birth of Environmental Diplomacy
This policy brief examines the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, detailing its origins, the diplomatic tensions between developed and developing nations, and its lasting impact on international environmental law and the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
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Document type: Policy brief
INCREASING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING ACCESS AT MULTI-UNIT DWELLINGS: WORKSHOP SUMMARY REPORT
This report summarizes a 2020 workshop on the barriers to electric vehicle (EV) charging access in California's multi-unit dwellings (MUDs). It identifies key obstacles such as outdated electrical infrastructure, split incentives between landlords and tenants, and restrictive parking zoning. Proposed solutions include 'make-ready' utility investments, updated building codes, and the adoption of lower-cost Level 1 charging to ensure equitable access for low- and moderate-income residents.
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Document type: Report
The Wonders of Weatherization: Improving Equity through Stimulus Funding
This briefing argues that increasing stimulus funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) can address systemic racial and income inequities in the United States by improving energy affordability, creating domestic jobs, and enhancing public health for low-income households.
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Document type: Briefing
How to Stay Cool while Saving Energy
This guide by RMI provides strategies for maintaining cool indoor temperatures while reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, particularly during heat waves. It outlines passive cooling methods, natural ventilation techniques, and efficient cooling technologies, supported by two case studies of net-zero and super-insulated homes in Colorado.
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Document type: Guide
Blackouts and California’s Clean Energy Transition
This policy brief examines the rolling blackouts in California during a historic heat wave in August 2020, arguing that the outages were caused by a combination of extreme weather and insufficient resource capacity rather than the state's clean energy goals. The author contends that a diverse portfolio of flexible, clean resources—including battery storage and green hydrogen—is essential for 21st-century grid resilience against climate-driven extreme weather.
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Document type: Policy brief