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The Lobito Corridor is a 1,300 km railway project in Angola designed to transport critical raw materials (CRMs) and electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain products from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to the EU and US. While supported by various MoUs and a consortium including Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis, the project faces significant competition from established Chinese supply chains and alternative transport routes to the Indian Ocean.

This research paper by Energy Innovation estimates that approving pending liquified natural gas (LNG) export projects would increase domestic natural gas prices in the United States by 9 to 14 percent, leading to higher energy costs for households and businesses.

This report analyzes how a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allowing the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to be applied to interconnection costs could improve the financial viability of onshore wind and solar projects in the United States. By examining data from five regional grids, the authors find that a 30 percent ITC could have bridged the cost gap for approximately 22 GW of withdrawn projects and 15 GW of active projects, potentially enabling a volume of deployment exceeding the 2023 record of 31 GW.

This February 2024 briefing by Global Energy Monitor examines the Russian steel industry's continued reliance on coal-based blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) technology despite international pressure to decarbonize. The report highlights the potential for a transition to hydrogen-based direct reduced iron-electric arc furnace (DRI-EAF) production to meet EU carbon tariffs and corporate sustainability requirements, while noting that Russia currently prioritizes refurbishing old blast furnaces and pursuing unproven carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), a USD 27 billion grant program established by the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act 2022. The document outlines how the GGRF can mobilize private capital to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote climate justice in low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDACs), while identifying implementation challenges and proposing five strategic actions to maximize its impact.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute details the scale of fossil fuel subsidies in the United States and examines legislative and administrative efforts to reduce or modify them, including the Biden-Harris Administration's FY 2024 budget and the Inflation Reduction Act.

This report by RMI provides guidance and best practices for developers participating in the US Department of Energy's (DOE) $7 billion Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) program. It focuses on the necessity of meaningful, two-way community engagement and the implementation of Community Benefits Plans (CBPs) to ensure an equitable energy transition, particularly for disadvantaged communities.

The RMI report 'Clean Repowering: A Near-Term, IRA-Powered Energy Transition Accelerant' identifies a strategy called 'clean repowering'—siting new clean electricity generation and storage at the same point of interconnection as existing or retiring fossil generators—to bypass interconnection delays and leverage Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives in the United States.

This research paper by Facundo Calvo analyzes the agriculture negotiations for the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), arguing that success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments. The author focuses on the potential for an exemption from export restrictions for least developed countries (LDCs) and the deep divisions among WTO members regarding domestic support and public stockholding.

This research paper examines the implications of the expired 123 Agreement between the US and South Africa, the operational status of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant, and South Africa's broader nuclear energy strategy, including a new plan to procure 2500 MW of additional nuclear power.

The WTO faces critical reform challenges ahead of MC13, primarily the restoration of its dispute settlement system, which has been paralyzed since 2019 due to US blocks on Appellate Body appointments. Key tensions include the shift toward plurilateral agreements (JSIs) versus multilateral consensus, the integration of environmental and industrial policies into the trade agenda, and disputes over which countries qualify for Special and Differential Treatment (SDT). While some members advocate for 'reform-by-doing' through informal initiatives, others insist on formal, inclusive consensus to maintain legitimacy.

This research paper by Rashmi Jose analyzes the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA), a proposed treaty aimed at increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs). The author examines the agreement's core commitments, its special and differential treatment for developing nations, and the significant legal and political challenges associated with integrating the IFDA as a plurilateral agreement into the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework.

This guide by RMI describes how the City of San Antonio is utilizing the Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) direct pay mechanism to scale on-site solar energy. By aggregating multiple small projects across city-owned facilities, San Antonio aims to offset a portion of its electricity consumption and achieve long-term financial savings while pursuing net-zero energy goals.

This guide by RMI outlines how local and state decision makers can utilize the Inflation Reduction Act's Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) to fund clean transportation. It specifically recommends incorporating e-bike subsidies and targeted electric vehicle (EV) incentives for 'superusers' into Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs) to maximize competitiveness for EPA funding based on equity and emissions reduction metrics.

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 case study profiles OK Produce, a family-owned produce delivery business in California's San Joaquin Valley, and its transition toward a zero-emissions fleet. The company has integrated solar energy production with the adoption of electric vehicles and participated in the Run on Less – Electric Depot event to share electrification knowledge with the broader trucking industry.

This fact sheet from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) BC Committee outlines the environmental and health risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and natural gas production, specifically focusing on the expansion of the industry in British Columbia.

This research paper by the Climate Bonds Initiative analyzes the European Union Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), evaluating its potential to combat commodity-driven deforestation and providing recommendations to strengthen its implementation and scope.

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) provides USD 27 billion in grants to reduce GHG emissions in disadvantaged U.S. communities. While transformative, the fund is small compared to the estimated USD 2.8 trillion needed by these communities by 2035. To succeed, the report argues the GGRF must catalyze private capital, standardize underwriting, coordinate technical assistance via a hub-and-spoke model, align government incentives, and foster a collaborative 'sandbox' culture for learning and accountability.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute details the scale of fossil fuel subsidies in the United States, the discrepancy between domestic pledges and international funding, and specific legislative and budgetary proposals to reduce these subsidies.