Search Climate Insights Directory

The Climate Bonds Initiative conducted a scoping exercise to identify the potential for US municipal issuers to scale up green bond issuance. The study identified USD 264 billion in outstanding bonds from 1,436 'pure-play' climate-aligned issuers—entities deriving more than 95% of their revenue from climate solutions—most of which are not currently labeled as green bonds.

A coalition of 19 organizations submitted a letter to U.S. Senate leadership on June 8, 2018, urging the inclusion of disaster recovery and resilience provisions from the House-passed FAA Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4) in the final legislation. The coalition specifically advocates for the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) and the PREPARE Act of 2018 to shift federal focus toward pre-disaster mitigation and resilient rebuilding.

The City of Tampa, Florida, issued a USD 84.6 million green bond on April 26, 2018, to finance stormwater management and pollution reduction projects.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority issued a USD 924 million green bond on October 3, 2017, to finance the construction of five new buildings and enabling works for the South Terminal Complex project at Orlando International Airport.

This research paper compares the electric vehicle (EV) policies of the United States and China, focusing on financial incentives, charging infrastructure, research and development, and fleet procurement. It highlights China's more aggressive approach to subsidies and mandates compared to the U.S. system of tax credits and state-level incentives.

Friends of the Earth opposes a draft 5-year oil and gas leasing plan by the Trump administration that would expand offshore drilling off the coast of California. The organization highlights the risks of environmental disaster and supports state-level legislation in California to block the necessary fossil fuel infrastructure for new leases.

This issue brief examines how climate change impacts United States national security, detailing the Department of Defense's (DOD) conceptualization of climate change as a 'threat multiplier' and the resulting operational, infrastructural, and geopolitical challenges. It outlines the adaptation and mitigation strategies adopted by the DOD and other security agencies, while analyzing the role of Congressional legislation and funding in shaping these efforts.

The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) decision to stop insuring new mortgages on homes with property assessed clean energy (PACE) loans is misguided. RMI contends that the FHA overstates the risks of PACE while ignoring the significant default risks associated with high energy costs in inefficient homes.

This insight brief by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that Residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (R-PACE) financing can accelerate the adoption of net-zero energy (NZE) new construction in the United States. By attaching financing to the property rather than the owner, R-PACE addresses key market barriers such as high up-front capital costs and the split incentive between builders and homebuyers.

This briefing by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes the landscape of home energy financing in the United States, identifying barriers to scaling both traditional and nontraditional lending products. It argues that the ease of origination and the timing of home improvements are more significant drivers of consumer choice than interest rates or loan terms.

This World Resources Institute fact sheet provides data on employment growth within the United States clean energy economy, focusing on solar, wind, energy efficiency, and alternative fuel vehicle sectors as of early 2016 and 2017.

A letter dated March 2, 2016, addressed to Florida Governor Richard Scott from a coalition of energy and environmental organizations, urging the state to maximize energy efficiency investments to meet Clean Power Plan goals cost-effectively.

This guide, prepared by Collaborative Efficiency and Michigan Saves with support from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), introduces on-bill financing (OBF) as a mechanism for municipal utilities and electric cooperatives to overcome financial barriers to energy efficiency and renewable energy investments.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes how the proposed Regulatory Cooperation chapter of the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement could undermine the authority of US states to implement public health and environmental protections. The author argues that the agreement's goals of regulatory convergence and compatibility would effectively create a regulatory ceiling, preventing states from adopting standards more protective than federal minimums, particularly regarding toxic chemicals and pesticides.

A statement by Friends of the Earth urging President Obama to implement a moratorium on all new offshore oil and gas leasing and drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf to prevent climate disruption and protect marine wildlife.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) issued a statement responding to President Obama's 2014 State of the Union address, supporting the administration's plan to enact new emissions standards for existing power plants and emphasizing the economic benefits of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute argues against reforming or repealing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), asserting that the policy has successfully reduced petroleum dependence and stimulated the rural economy. While acknowledging challenges such as land use change and the 'blend wall,' the author contends that these issues should be addressed through the Farm Bill and EPA flexibility rather than statutory changes, which could jeopardize billions in private investment in next-generation biofuels.

This research paper by Ellen Vaughan and Jim Turner argues that mandatory, minimum building codes are the most effective and least expensive method to protect public health, safety, and the environment. The authors advocate for the adoption and enforcement of current model codes—specifically those updated every three years—to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and vulnerability to natural disasters while stimulating economic innovation in the building sector.

This research paper describes the creation, calibration, and validation of a climate-driven water resource systems model designed to analyze the impact of electric power generation on water resources in three river basins in the southeastern United States.

This 2013 issue brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the funding crisis of the U.S. Highway Trust Fund (HTF), noting that federal fuel taxes have not been adjusted in 20 years. The document analyzes the resulting infrastructure deterioration, the reliance on General Fund transfers to maintain solvency, and various policy options—including inflation indexing, fuel tax increases, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees—to close a $112 billion annual funding gap.