Search Climate Insights Directory
65 results
Local Government Communications
The report argues that communication is a critical climate solution that must be integrated into the budgeting and design of all local government programs. It outlines six key strategies for effective communication: investing in dedicated funding, conducting audience research, prioritizing climate justice and equity, leveraging social norms and storytelling to reduce psychological distance, utilizing trusted community messengers, and employing diverse communication channels. The document emphasizes that local governments are uniquely positioned to drive action because a majority of Americans want their local officials to address climate change.
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Document type: Report
The Multi-Family Housing Tracker
The Multi-Family Housing Tracker documents the significant increase in private equity ownership of U.S. apartment complexes, noting that 228 identified firms own nearly 3 million units, or approximately 13% of the national total. The report highlights a heavy concentration in Sunbelt states and metropolitan areas, correlating these regions with sharp increases in 'cost-burdened' renters. It details a business model focused on rapid value increases through rent hikes and additional fees, while documenting widespread tenant complaints regarding poor maintenance, aggressive evictions, and the use of algorithmic pricing software like RealPage. The document concludes with recommendations for landlords, public officials, and institutional investors to implement rent caps, just-cause eviction protections, and responsible investment standards.
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Document type: Report
Venture Capital and Private Equity Dominate LAUSD Contracts
The report argues that LAUSD has significantly increased its reliance on private vendors under Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, with a high concentration of contracts going to venture capital and private equity-backed firms. It highlights risks including lack of oversight, potential data privacy violations, and the prioritization of profit over student outcomes, citing specific examples like the failed AllHere AI chatbot and the consolidation of edtech by Veritas Capital.
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Document type: Report
Meat vs Eat: The Dynamics of an Industry-Orchestrated Online Backlash
The Changing Markets Foundation identifies a coordinated network of 'mis-influencers'—including scientists, doctors, and journalists—who amplified industry-led hashtags like #Yes2Meat to discredit the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet. The report reveals that a small group of 100 accounts drove nearly 50% of the backlash posts and over 90% of engagement, with some individuals receiving direct industry funding or using the campaign to fundraise. Evidence from leaked documents suggests PR agencies and industry-funded centers, such as the UC Davis CLEAR Center, played key roles in this effort. The report warns that the meat industry is preparing a new communications drive to maintain its 'social licence' and derail action on climate and health science before the launch of EAT-Lancet 2.0.
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Document type: Executive summary
Airports and the Advancement of Net-Zero Aviation Innovation
Based on workshops in Utah and Colorado, RMI identifies sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as the primary near-term solution for decarbonizing aviation, while hydrogen and electric propulsion require long-term infrastructure planning. The report highlights that airports are structurally limited in leading this transition because they do not control fuel demand or aircraft certification. Key recommendations include investing in pilot programs, developing long-term master plans for new propulsion technologies, and forming regional airport coalitions to share risks. A preliminary analysis suggests that regional routes under 1,000 nautical miles with aircraft under 90 seats are the most viable early candidates for hydrogen transition.
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Document type: Report
Meat vs EAT-Lancet: The dynamics of an industry-orchestrated online backlash
The report exposes a tightly coordinated network of scientists, doctors, and journalists who used hashtags like #Yes2Meat and #ClimateFoodFacts to discredit the EAT-Lancet report. It details the role of the PR agency Red Flag and industry-funded entities like the UC Davis CLEAR Center in orchestrating these campaigns. The document also analyzes subsequent industry gatherings, such as the Dublin Declaration and the Denver Summit, as efforts to maintain the meat industry's 'social license to operate' through biased scientific narratives and identity-driven influencer campaigns ahead of the EAT-Lancet 2.0 update.
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Document type: Report
Climate Shift Index Alert
A heat event in the Western U.S. from July 8-11, 2025, is forecast to bring temperatures 5-12°F above normal, with human-caused climate change making the event at least three to five times more likely for tens of millions of people.
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Document type: Fact sheet
The E-Bike Rebate Program Guidebook
The E-Bike Rebate Program Guidebook by RMI outlines a five-step process for establishing e-bike incentive programs: identifying goals, designing funding and incentive structures, partnering with bike shops, conducting community outreach, and managing program launch and evaluation. It emphasizes equity through income-tiered rebates and point-of-sale models, while highlighting the importance of supportive infrastructure and diverse funding sources such as general funds, grants, and utility partnerships.
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Document type: Guide
REVENUE OVER REFUGE: Private Equity in Immigrant Detention
The report details how private equity firms profit from the detention and sheltering of immigrants in the United States through contracts for facility management, healthcare, telecommunications, and biometrics. It highlights specific instances of fiscal mismanagement and poor conditions in facilities managed by private equity-backed companies, such as DocGo and GardaWorld. The document also examines the expansion of surveillance through biometric systems like HART and the role of private equity in border militarization and deportation logistics.
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Document type: Report
Esta semana: ‘Asombroso’ aumento del registro de votantes
The document reports a significant increase in voter registration among young people and people of color in the U.S. following Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 race. It highlights that while economic issues are a primary priority for Generation Z, climate change is a critical driver, particularly for women of color and voters in swing states. The briefing provides guidance for reporters to explore how climate justice and environmental concerns are influencing the electoral behavior of this demographic.
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Document type: Briefing
Reportando sobre el clima y las elecciones estadounidenses de 2024
The document argues that climate change is a critical electoral issue in the 2024 US elections and urges journalists to move beyond 'red-blue' political binaries to report on the scientific consensus and local impacts. It provides specific questioning frameworks for candidates, methods for debunking common climate myths, and suggestions for localizing climate stories across sectors like infrastructure, housing, and energy. The guide emphasizes that reporting on the climate crisis is a matter of professional journalism rather than activism, citing the role of the press in holding power accountable during historical crises.
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Document type: Guide
How to Unlock IRA CPRG Funding for the Drivers and Cyclists Most in Need
The guide outlines how to leverage the $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program, specifically the $4.6 billion in competitive implementation grants. It recommends two high-impact strategies to improve EPA scoring metrics: e-bike programs and targeted EV incentives for 'superusers'—high-mileage drivers who often have lower incomes. The author argues these approaches offer clear equity advantages, straightforward emissions calculations, and address gaps in existing federal legislation.
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Document type: Guide
An Opportunity to Make Home Retrofits More Affordable
The briefing outlines how state energy offices can maximize the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act by enabling the 'stacking' of federal, state, and utility incentives for whole-home retrofits. It identifies key barriers to this process—such as a lack of public guidance, inconsistent program requirements, and excessive application processes—and suggests solutions like standardized eligibility and consolidated applications. Additionally, it encourages states to use flexible funding sources to cover gaps not fully addressed by the IRA, specifically health and safety repairs, cold climate heat pumps, and electrical upgrades.
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Document type: Briefing
Gaps and Barriers to Stacking Federal, State, and Local Incentives
The report identifies significant barriers to 'stacking' (combining) multiple financial incentives for US residential energy retrofits, including complex application processes, inconsistent performance standards, and funding gaps for health and safety repairs. It analyzes the interaction between Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits and rebates, noting that while clean energy retrofits can be more affordable than fossil fuel alternatives after incentives, low-income households often lack the 'tax appetite' to benefit from tax credits. RMI recommends that state program administrators prioritize funding for pre-electrification upgrades, consolidate application processes, and increase allocations for underserved communities and multi-family housing.
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Document type: Report
THE CIM GROUP: In the Headlines
The report details a pattern of negative publicity surrounding CIM Group, focusing on tenant mistreatment in Virginia, DC, and Colorado; the gentrification of minority neighborhoods in Los Angeles and New York City; construction defects in luxury towers; and ethically questioned business ties to Donald Trump and Jared Kushner. It further highlights the resulting pressure on public pension funds, such as CalPERS, to divest from the firm due to these controversies and past allegations of bribery involving placement agents.
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Document type: Report
Many US Communities Face EV ‘Charging Deserts.’ 5 Strategies Can Help
The document argues that the U.S. transition to electric vehicles risks leaving behind low-income, rural, and minority communities due to 'charging deserts' and financial barriers. It outlines five strategies for local governments to ensure equitable access: utilizing community input for siting, prioritizing multifamily housing and charging deserts, expanding urban curbside charging, increasing pricing transparency, and supporting diverse e-mobility modes. The guide emphasizes that overcoming disparities in homeownership and energy burdens is essential for a just energy transition.
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Document type: Guide
Solving Colorado’s Housing and Climate Crisis
Colorado faces a housing shortage requiring approximately 325,000 units to stabilize prices, which currently drives suburban sprawl and increases greenhouse gas emissions. The document proposes transit-oriented development (TOD) and 'missing middle housing' as solutions to reduce vehicle miles traveled and land consumption. Specifically, RMI estimates that upzoning and infilling along transit corridors in the Denver metro could reduce per-capita vehicle miles traveled by 13% and greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 2040.
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Document type: Policy brief
Urban Land Use Reform
The report argues that discriminatory, car-centric land use policies in the United States have created housing shortages and increased transportation emissions. By implementing reforms such as upzoning, urban infill, and transit-oriented development in Austin, Charlotte, and Denver, RMI finds that vehicle miles traveled can be reduced by up to 13%, building energy use by up to 16%, and local greenhouse gas emissions by up to 14% compared to business-as-usual development.
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Document type: Report
How Local Governments Can Advance Community Solar for Low- and Moderate-Income Households
The document outlines how U.S. local governments can leverage federal incentives, such as those in the Inflation Reduction Act, to advance community solar for low- and moderate-income (LMI) residents. It details specific actions including proactive community engagement, advocacy for state-level enabling legislation, providing direct financial subsidies, and reducing developer risks by acting as anchor subscribers or providing public land. The guide highlights various municipal examples from cities like Denver, Pueblo, and Anaheim to demonstrate how to integrate job training, bill discounts, and loan funds into solar initiatives.
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Document type: Guide
The Rebirth: Tunisia’s potential development pathways to 2040
The provided text is the acknowledgements and author information section of a report titled 'The Rebirth: Tunisia’s potential development pathways to 2040'. It identifies the contributors, including UNICEF staff in Tunis and academic experts, and describes the African Futures & Innovation (AFI) program's role in using scenarios and forecasting to address wellbeing gaps in Africa.
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Document type: Report