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This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of infrastructure banks in closing the global infrastructure financing gap. It analyzes best practices from various international institutions and provides eight strategic recommendations for countries establishing their own infrastructure banks to mobilize private capital and promote sustainable development.

This executive summary from the 2018 'Brown to Green' report analyzes the progress of G20 countries toward a low-carbon economy. It highlights a significant gap between current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the goals of the Paris Agreement, noting that G20 energy-related CO2 emissions began increasing again in 2017 and that 82% of the G20 energy supply remains dependent on fossil fuels.

This report summarizes progress toward Goal 9 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which focuses on rewarding countries and jurisdictions that reduce forest emissions through public policies, results-based payments, and private-sector commodity sourcing.

The 2018 Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) report provides a global inventory of policies and regulations supporting Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), focusing on electricity access, clean cooking, energy efficiency, and renewable energy across 133 economies from 2010 to 2017.

The 2018 Energy Progress Report, a joint publication by five custodian agencies, evaluates global progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). It concludes that the world is not on track to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030, as current progress falls short across all four SDG7 targets: electricity access, clean cooking, energy efficiency, and the share of renewable energy.

This briefing by WWF South Africa examines the urban and environmental impacts of parking infrastructure, specifically focusing on the transition from minimum to maximum parking requirements. It argues that oversupplying parking incentivizes private car use and increases greenhouse gas emissions, while providing case studies from the USA and UK to suggest policy reforms for developing countries like South Africa.

This report by Ember examines the use of biomass co-firing in several European countries, detailing the subsidies that support the practice and its impact on the transition away from fossil fuels.

This discussion paper examines the European Union's role in climate leadership following the United States' decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International calling for a global, people-led transition away from 'dirty energy'—including fossil fuels, nuclear power, and large-scale hydroelectric projects—to combat the planetary emergency of climate change.

A 2017 statement by Friends of the Earth International calling for a global, grassroots-led energy revolution to replace 'dirty energy'—including fossil fuels, nuclear, and large-scale hydro—with decentralized, community-centered energy systems to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International calling for a people-led energy transition to combat the climate emergency, arguing that the Paris Agreement is insufficient and that fossil fuels, nuclear power, and large hydroelectric dams must be replaced by community-centered energy systems.

This research paper examines the 'utility information problem'—the lack of data regarding the locational value of distributed energy resources (DERs)—which obscures the boundaries of the electric distribution utility's natural monopoly. The author proposes that integrated distribution planning (IDP) is necessary to reveal this information, enabling a transition toward a Distribution System Optimizer (DSO) role. The paper evaluates two pathways to this transition: an information-intensive approach compatible with cost-of-service regulation and an outcome-focused approach utilizing performance-based regulation (PBR).

The Center for International Environmental Law argues that the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation, and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters is at a critical existential moment. The organization calls on 47 European and Central Asian states meeting in Montenegro to reaffirm their commitment to environmental democracy against rising trends of judicial attacks on NGOs, the influence of industry lobbyists, and the emergence of illiberal democracies.

This research paper outlines a strategy for the United Kingdom to align its post-Brexit trade policy with climate and development goals. It identifies a potential global market of £1.0–1.8 trillion for low-carbon goods and services by 2030 and highlights UK strengths in offshore wind, green finance, and insurance. The authors propose a 'Trade and Climate Checklist' for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), focusing on 'triple wins' such as tariff elimination for environmental goods and increased market access for professional services, while cautioning against the use of contested carbon border adjustment mechanisms.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative argues that existing electricity market designs, based on short-term marginal costs, are ill-suited for a low-carbon transition dominated by variable renewable energy (VRE). The authors propose a bifurcated market model—separating a long-term 'energy market' for commodity production from a short-term 'delivery market' for flexibility—to lower financing costs for capital-intensive assets and provide clearer incentives for flexibility resources like batteries and demand response.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute provides an overview of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). It details the environmental and economic benefits of PEVs, the current state of the U.S. and global markets, charging infrastructure, battery technology trends, and government incentives.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative proposes the Clean Energy Investment Trust (CEIT) to overcome barriers—such as illiquidity and high due diligence costs—that prevent institutional investors from funding renewable energy. By designing the CEIT as a listed, low-fee vehicle focused on liability-hedging rather than high growth, the authors estimate that potential institutional investment could increase from $305 billion to nearly $4 trillion, significantly lowering the cost of capital for the energy transition.

This report by Dick Clark of Consult Hyperion for FSD Africa provides an analysis of biometric technologies and their application in retail payments and financial services, specifically within emerging economies. It distinguishes between biometric identification (1:N matching) and verification (1:1 matching), concluding that while identification is costly and complex, biometrics are increasingly valuable for strong authentication and customer verification in digital financial services.

This report examines the potential of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), including public blockchains like Bitcoin and private distributed ledgers, to improve funds transfers and financial inclusion in emerging markets. It analyzes how these technologies can reduce remittance costs, streamline inter-institutional clearing and settlement, and enhance regulatory oversight for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes.

This policy brief describes the India-UK partnership on energy efficiency and green growth, highlighting how UK expertise supported the deployment of energy-efficient solutions and the development of investment strategies in India.