Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing by RMI outlines a four-step framework for utilities and regulators to integrate physical and transition climate risks into long-term planning to ensure grid reliability and affordability. It argues that current utility planning often silos climate risk or ignores transition risks, leading to higher costs for ratepayers, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

This report by RMI argues that US state departments of transportation (DOTs) must shift their focus from roadway expansion and vehicle electrification toward reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by investing in pedestrian infrastructure, transit, and micro-mobility to meet climate targets and improve public safety.

This guide by the World Resources Institute outlines five strategies for U.S. local governments to equitably expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, aiming to prevent 'charging deserts' in historically disadvantaged, rural, and low-income communities.

This report by RMI analyzes the economic and technical feasibility of electrifying mid-sized office buildings (approximately 50,000 square feet) that utilize packaged rooftop units (RTUs). The study demonstrates that cost-effective electrification retrofits exist across diverse US cities when tailored to regional climate conditions and gas utility rates, often requiring a combination of heat pumps, efficiency upgrades, and on-site solar.

This policy brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines how U.S. ports are addressing climate change through mitigation strategies to reduce emissions and adaptation measures to increase resilience against sea level rise and extreme weather.

This briefing by RMI argues that reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the United States is essential for meeting climate goals, as transportation is the country's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. The document outlines how systemic changes in land use, transportation pricing, and roadway design can reduce reliance on personal vehicles and mitigate the societal harms of urban sprawl.

This fact sheet explains how revolving loan funds (RLFs) can be used to finance coastal resilience and environmental improvements. It details the mechanics of RLFs, discusses federal legislative priorities like the STORM Act, and provides a detailed case study of the Maryland Shore Erosion Control Revolving Loan Fund alongside a feasibility study for a similar program in Puget Sound, Washington.

This fact sheet details a USD 198 million green municipal bond issuance by the City of Seattle on August 5, 2020, intended for capital improvements and conservation programs for its municipal light and power plant and system.

This briefing transcript features experts from Washington Sea Grant discussing the development and implementation of localized sea level rise projections for coastal managers and decision-makers in Washington State. The presentation details the transition from broad regional assessments to a probabilistic, localized framework that accounts for vertical land movement, and describes how this data is being integrated into urban planning, habitat restoration, and community-led resilience strategies.

This briefing by RMI argues that the electric vehicle (EV) sector represents a massive untapped opportunity to drive global demand for renewable energy. It proposes that EV charge point operators (CPOs), mobility service providers (eMSPs), and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) should implement 100% renewable energy charging solutions, starting with large fleets, to stimulate new renewable energy capacity and reduce operational costs compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.

This guide, published by RMI and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), provides a comprehensive framework for improving urban freight efficiency. It identifies key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor logistics performance, details best practices for reducing congestion and emissions, and offers a policy workbook for municipal authorities to implement data-driven planning and stakeholder engagement.

Kilroy Realty LP issued a USD 400 million senior secured green bond on November 29, 2018, to finance the development or refurbishment of properties achieving LEED Gold certification or higher, as well as energy and water efficiency improvements. The company, a REIT operating Class A properties along the US West Coast, committed to annual reporting on proceed allocations verified by an independent assurance company.

This fact sheet, based on interviews with EESI staff, examines the transition from diesel to battery-powered electric buses (BEBs), highlighting their environmental and health benefits, economic trade-offs, and the current state of deployment in the United States and globally.

This 2018 EESI Congressional Briefing by Susan Jones of AtelierJones advocates for the use of mass timber to reduce CO2 emissions in construction. It compares timber composite construction (7,467 tons CO2) favorably against steel (13,179 tons) and concrete (14,444 tons) per square foot of floor assembly. The presentation showcases various CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) projects in Washington and Oregon and calls for national action to update building codes (specifically types 4A and 4C) based on real-life fire testing.

The Carbon-Free Regions Handbook: Mobility is a guide by RMI that outlines strategic actions for regional governments to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation, which currently accounts for 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The Carbon-Free Regions Handbook: Industry provides a set of five strategic actions (Actions 15-19) designed to reduce the industrial sector's contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, which currently account for 28% of the total.

The IAI Directorate reports on fundraising efforts including consultations with the Del Rio Family Foundation, the pursuit of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in the US, and the development of a crowdfunding platform. Strategic engagements were held with the Inter-American Development Bank and CAF, and the IAI was selected to host the Belmont Forum Secretariat in Brazil to enhance its capacity to reach donors and funding agencies.

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.

The Carbon-Free City Handbook: Transportation and Mobility is a guide by RMI that outlines twelve strategic actions for cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, which accounts for 36 percent of emissions in large cities. The guide provides descriptions of these actions—ranging from fleet electrification and combustion vehicle reduction to the implementation of car-free zones and expanded public transit—and supports them with a curated list of action documents, recommended resources, and citations from various global cities.

This briefing by RMI analyzes China's 'energy quota' for buildings—the Standard for Energy Consumption of Civil Buildings (GB/T51161-2016)—and identifies three primary lessons for U.S. cities and companies: the importance of meter-based peer assessment, the challenges of aligning operational targets with design codes, and the benefits of localizing performance targets to account for regional market dynamics.