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Technical Note for a Dataset Modeling the Societal Health and Climate Benefits Associated With Transitioning the US School Bus Fleet From Diesel to Electric
This technical note describes the methodology and dataset used to quantify the societal health and climate benefits of transitioning the United States school bus fleet from diesel to electric, providing monetized impact estimates at the US county level.
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Document type: Research paper
Carbon Removal in Forests and Farms in the United States
This working paper, part of the World Resources Institute's CarbonShot series, examines the potential for carbon removal through forests and farms in the United States. It identifies the technical and financial barriers to large-scale deployment and discusses land-use trade-offs associated with different carbon-beneficial practices.
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Document type: Research paper
Thirst for Corn
A research paper by the World Resources Institute that examines the environmental impacts of the rapid expansion of the U.S. corn ethanol industry following the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and proposes specific farm policy recommendations to mitigate these effects.
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Document type: Research paper
Framing Climate Change Risk in Portfolio Management
This report from the World Resources Institute introduces a multidimensional framework designed to help investors identify and evaluate the impact of climate change risk on their portfolios, specifically focusing on the competitive dynamics created by greenhouse gas regulation policies.
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Document type: Report
Weight of Nations
The 'Weight of Nations' report by the World Resources Institute examines the material cycles of five developed economies, arguing that economic growth and consumer lifestyles have offset efficiency gains in material use, leading to an increase in waste flowing into the environment.
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Document type: Report
The Production and Use of Waste-Derived Renewable Natural Gas as a Climate Strategy in the United States
This working paper examines the use of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) produced from organic waste as a vehicle fuel in the United States to reduce the carbon footprint of vehicle fleets and achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions compared to fossil fuels.
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Document type: Research paper
Can the U.S. Get There from Here?
This report by the World Resources Institute analyzes how the United States can reduce greenhouse gas emissions using existing federal laws and state actions without requiring new legislation from the U.S. Congress.
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Document type: Report
Bottom Line on Public-Private Finance Tools for Energy Efficiency
This guide by the World Resources Institute outlines five public-private financing mechanisms designed to overcome capital barriers for energy efficiency investments: on-bill financing, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) models, loan guarantees, and loan loss reserve funds (LLRFs).
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Document type: Guide
American Energy Security and Innovation: An Assessment of North America's Energy Resources
This testimony by Jennifer Morgan, Director of WRI's Climate and Energy program, outlines the risks and opportunities associated with climate change and clean energy in the United States, providing specific policy recommendations for Congress to mitigate global warming and enhance energy security.
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Document type: Briefing
Extreme Wildfires: A Growing Threat—and a Call to Support Indigenous and Community Leadership
This research paper analyzes tree cover loss from 2001 to 2024 in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the United States, finding that while Indigenous- and community-held lands have lower overall deforestation rates, they are increasingly vulnerable to extreme wildfires. The study highlights a fifteenfold increase in fire-driven loss in Brazil and significant losses in Australia during the 2019–20 season, attributing these trends to climate change and land-clearing fires. It recommends securing land rights, reviving cultural burning traditions, and supporting Indigenous-led fire management to protect biodiversity and climate stability.
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Document type: Research paper
The Economic Benefits of the New Climate Economy in Rural America
This research paper analyzes the potential rural economic impacts of federal investments in the new climate economy, focusing on clean energy, fossil fuel site remediation, reforestation, and wildfire risk reduction.
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Document type: Research paper
Electrifying Communities: How Clean Cities and Communities Coalitions Bridge Policy and Practice in the Electric School Bus Transition
This working paper analyzes the role of 29 Clean Cities and Communities (CC&C) coalitions in supporting the transition to electric school buses (ESBs) across the United States, focusing on their technical assistance, regional barriers, and strategies for equitable implementation.
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Document type: Research paper
New Climate Federalism: Defining Federal, State, and Local Roles in a U.S. Policy Framework to Achieve Decarbonization
This research paper by the World Resources Institute presents a 'New Climate Federalism' framework developed through dialogues with U.S. government officials. It outlines a collaborative model where federal, state, and local governments leverage their respective strengths to achieve decarbonization, emphasizing that federal standards should act as a floor rather than a ceiling to allow for more ambitious subnational action.
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Document type: Research paper
What's Blocking the Sun? Solar Photovoltaics for the U.S. Commercial Market
This working paper analyzes the investment environment for solar photovoltaic (PV) in the U.S. commercial sector, identifying economic and regulatory barriers that hinder widespread adoption despite the sector's significant electricity consumption and available roof space.
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Document type: Research paper
Designing the Next Generation of Federal Tax Credits for Low-Carbon Technologies
This research paper by the World Resources Institute outlines six design considerations for the next generation of U.S. federal tax credits to accelerate the deployment of low-carbon technologies across the power, transportation, industrial, and buildings sectors to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
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Document type: Research paper
Methodology & Data: Atlas of Forest Landscape Restoration Opportunity
This guide details the methodology and data sources used by the World Resources Institute (WRI) to create the Atlas of Forest Landscape Restoration Opportunity. The atlas identifies global areas of forest loss and evaluates the feasibility of restoration by contrasting potential forest coverage with current coverage and human pressure.
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Document type: Guide
Technological Carbon Removal in the United States
This working paper by the World Resources Institute explores the potential for technological carbon removal in the United States, focusing on bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), direct air capture with storage (DACS), and frontier technologies. It identifies the infrastructure, policy, and research needs required to scale these technologies to help meet Paris Agreement temperature targets.
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Document type: Research paper
Clean Hydrogen: Outlook for Freight Transport in the United States
This research paper examines the potential for clean hydrogen to decarbonize the United States freight transport sector, including road, air, water, and rail. It positions hydrogen as a complementary solution to electrification and other clean fuels, noting that while significant cost, infrastructure, and technological barriers exist, hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels could provide mature, low-carbon alternatives by 2050.
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Document type: Research paper
The Power of Collaboration: How U.S. Cities and Corporations Can Work Together to Advance Renewable Energy
This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines how collaborations between U.S. cities and corporations can overcome technical, policy, and market barriers to advance the procurement and deployment of renewable electricity.
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Document type: Research paper
Reducing Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Development: Strategies for State-level Policymakers
This working paper provides a guide for US state policymakers to regulate methane emissions from natural gas development, focusing on cost-effective technologies and model rules to reduce leaks across the supply chain.
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Document type: Research paper