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This briefing transcript features a discussion between community advocate Ruth Santiago and Dr. Greg Guannel regarding energy transition, public health, and coastal resilience in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

This briefing by RMI argues for the immediate implementation of Puerto Rico's energy transformation, emphasizing the urgent need for solar energy, battery storage, and energy efficiency to address grid instability following hurricanes and earthquakes.

This report provides engineering and design best practices to improve the resilience of rooftop solar PV systems against hurricane-force winds, primarily in the Caribbean. Based on an analysis of failures from 2017-2019, it identifies top-down clip failure and joint loosening as primary root causes of system collapse. Key recommendations include using vibration-resistant fasteners, avoiding ballasted-only systems in favor of mechanical attachments, and ensuring modules are not installed over roof edges or in high-pressure 'Zone 3' areas. Implementing these measures is estimated to increase EPC costs by roughly 5%.

This report by RMI argues that the global climate should be viewed as a foundational infrastructure asset. It compares the high costs of climate inaction—categorized as direct physical losses, indirect economic growth reductions, and market uncertainty—against the relatively lower costs of preventive investments in energy efficiency, grid modernization, and carbon pricing.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) responds to President Trump's November 4, 2019, formal notice to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, highlighting the role of subnational entities and private companies in maintaining climate commitments.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of marine and coastal Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in enhancing climate resilience, particularly in Southern and East Africa. It advocates for the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services into national climate policies to protect vulnerable coastlines and livelihoods from sea-level rise and extreme weather events.

This synthesis report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the role of Marine and Coastal Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in enhancing climate resilience in Southern Africa, specifically focusing on Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and Tanzania. It advocates for the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services into national climate policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to protect vulnerable coastal populations and ecosystems.

The report highlights risks to Puerto Rico's energy transition, noting that expedited projects by PREPA and the P3 Authority may undermine the goals of Act 17 of 2019 and weaken trust in regulatory institutions.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines legislative progress made by the 115th Congress to improve the resilience of U.S. infrastructure against extreme weather and climate change. It details specific provisions in laws affecting disaster recovery, water systems, national defense, and natural infrastructure, while identifying remaining gaps for the 116th Congress, such as energy grid resilience and National Flood Insurance Program reform.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the role of energy storage in enhancing grid resilience, integrating intermittent renewable energy, and managing peak demand. It details various storage technologies—including pumped-storage hydropower, batteries, compressed air, thermal, hydrogen, and flywheels—comparing their technical specifications, costs, and current global applications.

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 fact sheet detailing a USD 255 million solar asset-backed security (ABS) issued by Helios, a subsidiary of Sunnova Energy Corporation, to support residential solar installations in the United States and its territories.

This RMI briefing argues that renewable energy and distributed energy resources (DERs) are cost-effective, resilient, and rapidly deployable solutions for rebuilding Puerto Rico's electrical grid following the damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

This briefing by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) assesses the potential for renewable and distributed energy technologies to support the rebuild of Puerto Rico's electrical grid following the destruction caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. The document argues that solar PV, wind, battery storage, and microgrids are now cost-competitive and can enhance the island's energy resilience and reliability compared to traditional fossil-fuel-based systems.

This fact sheet describes the formation and goals of the United States Climate Alliance and other subnational efforts to uphold the 2016 Paris Agreement following the Trump Administration's decision to withdraw the United States from the accord.

This policy brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) analyzes the Trump Administration's FY2018 'skinny budget' proposal. It details significant proposed funding cuts across multiple federal agencies, specifically targeting climate change programs, sustainable energy research, rural development, and public transportation infrastructure, while prioritizing national security and space exploration.

The 'Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground: A Declaration for the Health of Mother Earth' is a November 2015 statement signed by numerous international organizations and activists. It calls for an immediate end to fossil fuel extraction, exploration, and subsidization to address the climate crisis and protect the rights of nature and Indigenous peoples, advocating for a transition to 100% renewable energy.

The GSA Net Zero Renovation Challenge is an initiative by the General Services Administration (GSA), the Office of Federal High Performance Green Buildings (OFHPGB), and the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) to achieve deep energy savings in 30-35 federal buildings using Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs). A workshop held in October 2011 by RMI and GSA identified structural, contractual, and technical barriers to achieving net zero energy, proposing a shift toward integrative design, streamlined procurement, and shared risk to move beyond conventional shallow retrofits.

The Climate Impact Equity Lens (CIEL) is a tool developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute to calculate net climate impacts for individuals rather than regional averages. By comparing climate damages against the savings gained from not investing in emission reductions, CIEL demonstrates that while some individuals are currently 'net winners,' the vast majority of the global population will become 'net losers' by 2100 and 2150 as damages outpace savings.

The Caribbean Coastal Scenarios (CCS) project analyzes how inland activities and climate change affect coastal resources in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. Initial findings highlight water quality degradation from sewage and damming, specifically noting nitrate/phosphate contamination in Puerto Rico and flooding caused by deforestation and agriculture in the Dominican Republic's Haina River watershed. The project utilizes hydrological models across 84 watersheds to guide sustainable coastal protection.