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This report argues that delaying climate protection policies increases long-term costs by locking in carbon-intensive infrastructure and hindering the development of renewable energy technologies, while also discouraging action from other nations.

This WRI policy brief advocates for the implementation of a national renewable electricity standard (RES) in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs, and position the U.S. as a global leader in renewable energy technologies.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute analyzes global trends in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions peaking, tracking the number of countries that have peaked or committed to peaking between 1990 and 2030.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute evaluates the transparency of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets in the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) of eight major emitting economies. Using the 'Open Book' framework, the paper identifies transparency gaps that hinder the assessment of national and global ambition, particularly regarding land-sector accounting and market mechanisms. It provides estimated emissions trajectories through 2030 to quantify uncertainties resulting from these gaps and offers recommendations for governments and UNFCCC negotiators to improve reporting clarity.

This research paper examines the trends and drivers of China's overseas investments in the wind and solar industries, analyzing at least 124 investments across 33 countries over a ten-year period.

This guide by the World Resources Institute provides a framework for community engagement in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects, targeting project developers, regulators, and local communities to foster two-way communication and respect for local values during the deployment of climate mitigation technologies.

This research paper analyzes the current state of measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) for novel carbon dioxide removal (CDR) within U.S. federal policy, arguing that existing requirements are inconsistent and recommending the establishment of a centralized federal MRV function based on seven guiding principles.

This technical note outlines the methodology used by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Data for Progress to create the Database of Community Benefits Frameworks Across the US, detailing the database's motivations and selection criteria for included frameworks.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute analyzes the environmental impacts of harvesting corn stover for cellulosic ethanol production in the United States, highlighting risks to soil carbon, nutrient pollution, and erosion, while evaluating the effectiveness of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) to mitigate these effects.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) developed a dataset of U.S. school bus fleets by requesting records from state governments between March and November 2022. Covering 46 states and the District of Columbia, the data includes fuel types, model years, and seating capacities to help plan for electrification and grid upgrades. The dataset excludes four states (Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, and New Hampshire) and all U.S. territories.

This report finds that the United States cannot rely on technology alone to meet GHG emissions and oil consumption targets; it must also reduce per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT), which are projected to increase by 40% by 2050 under business-as-usual scenarios. The report advocates for a shift in federal transportation policy toward performance-based funding and increased investment in strategies that provide alternatives to driving to eliminate oil imports by 2030.

This WRI policy brief outlines the state of the wind power industry in the United States, detailing procurement options for corporate buyers, the economic and technical challenges facing the sector, and the potential for wind power to enhance energy security and mitigate climate change.

This policy note describes the use of reverse auctions as a cost-effective mechanism for allocating funding within agricultural conservation or environmental trading programs, specifically highlighting the Conestoga Reverse Auction Project in Pennsylvania.

This report by the World Resources Institute examines the role of energy efficiency in the economic and environmental performance of pulp and paper mills in the U.S. Midwest, analyzing facility-level data to identify cost-effective energy and emissions reductions.

This report by the World Resources Institute examines how state-level climate policy innovation in the United States can influence federal regulation, a process termed "vertical diffusion." By analyzing thirteen cases of policy diffusion and specific initiatives like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and California vehicle emissions standards, the report identifies key drivers that encourage the federal government to adopt state-led climate policies.

This implementation guide by the World Resources Institute outlines how traditional, regulated utilities can use green tariffs to meet the renewable energy demands of large commercial and industrial (C&I) customers. It synthesizes existing green tariff designs and provides strategic considerations for utilities to create attractive, pragmatic offerings that avoid unfair cost-shifting to other customers.

A policy brief by the World Resources Institute arguing that the United States should shift its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) strategy away from food and feed crops to avoid increasing food prices and environmental degradation, focusing instead on waste biomass, captured carbon, and clean hydrogen.

This World Resources Institute fact sheet explains the mechanics of carbon taxes, comparing them to cap-and-trade programs and discussing their economic impacts, implementation in various countries, and political status in the United States.

This research paper examines technical pathways for decarbonizing petroleum refineries in the United States to support the national goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. It analyzes the use of fuel switching, electrification, and carbon capture to reduce facility emissions and suggests a long-term transition toward processing renewable feedstocks for hard-to-abate transportation sectors.

This research paper, the first in a series by the World Resources Institute, analyzes 10 international case studies from Europe, Asia, and the United States to identify effective public communication and consultation strategies for Low Emission Zones (LEZ) and Congestion Charging (CC) schemes. The paper emphasizes that public communication must be integrated into the policy design process from the earliest feasibility stages to secure public acceptance and ensure sustainable implementation.