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This briefing by RMI's Center for Climate-Aligned Finance analyzes the increasing trend of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) within the financial sector, where large firms are acquiring smaller companies to gain expertise in climate risk and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) domains.

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 guide explains how local governments in the United States can use buyer-led aggregation to procure off-site, large-scale renewable energy, providing a seven-step process and case studies to facilitate the transition.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) filed a Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, reporting total revenue of $233,076,503 and total expenses of $134,311,980. The organization focuses on global challenges including climate, energy, food, forests, water, ocean, and cities, operating through regional hubs and specialized centers of excellence.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has released draft reports for the 29th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-29) and the 51st meeting of the Executive Council (EC-51) for review and comment.

The 51st meeting of the IAI Executive Council, held on June 22, 2021, resulted in the approval of a Gender Policy (to be expanded to include equity, diversity, and inclusion) and a new initiative for national climate assessment capacity building in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Council also approved the IAI's financial reports, the 2021-2022 budget, and a new Whistleblower Policy, while recommending these for final approval by the Conference of the Parties (CoP-29).

As of August 2021, fewer than 1% of U.S. school buses are electric, with 95% still relying on diesel. Adoption is led by California and Montgomery County, Maryland, though deployment is heavily skewed toward suburban areas (64% of committed buses). While some electric buses are in highly vulnerable communities, this is largely due to targeted funding in California. Federal initiatives like the American Jobs Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework provide scaling opportunities, though the report warns that funding 'clean' fossil-fuel alternatives like natural gas hinders decarbonization goals.

This report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) analyzes the adoption of electric school buses (ESBs) in the United States as of March 31, 2022. It tracks 'committed' buses—those awarded funding, ordered, delivered, or in operation—highlighting a significant increase in commitments driven by large-scale contracts and specific funding sources like the Volkswagen Settlement. The report also examines the distribution of these buses across different demographics and pollution levels to assess the equity of the transition.

RMI argues that continued high spending on US gas distribution infrastructure is counterproductive to climate goals and risks creating stranded assets. The document advocates for a shift toward electrification and energy efficiency for residential and commercial buildings, while limiting gas infrastructure spending to targeted safety needs and high-value industrial applications.

This guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in August 2021, provides a framework for establishing financial assurance for mine closure in Argentina. It aims to ensure that funds are available for environmental rehabilitation and physical stability if a mining company is unable to execute its closure plan. The document details best practices for calculating closure costs, selecting financial instruments, and managing these guarantees throughout a mine's life cycle, drawing on regional examples from Chile and Peru.

This research paper examines the international standardization landscape as it relates to plastics pollution. It analyzes the roles of major standards organizations like ISO, CEN, and ASTM International, identifies gaps in current standards across the plastics value chain, and proposes strategic re-orientations—such as variety reduction and digital materials passports—to support a circular economy and a potential global treaty on plastic pollution.

This policy brief examines the evolution of global hazardous waste regulation, from early marine pollution treaties to the Basel Convention and its Ban Amendment. It highlights the risks of 'toxic colonialism,' the challenges of managing rapidly growing e-waste streams, and the need for proactive governance to protect vulnerable populations during the energy transition.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute outlines current U.S. fossil fuel subsidies and the Biden-Harris Administration's proposals to reduce them through Executive Order 14008 and the FY2022 budget, including tax preference repeals and leasing reforms.

This briefing by RMI outlines a framework for 'climate intelligence' to accelerate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions, particularly in hard-to-abate industrial sectors. The strategy focuses on four pillars: emissions visibility, standardized accounting and attribution, digitized infrastructure using distributed ledger technology, and the scaling of these standards in markets.

This policy brief by RMI argues that federal incentives are necessary to help electric cooperatives (co-ops) retire aging coal plants and transition to renewable energy, which would drive significant economic development in rural US communities.

A coalition of international organizations argues that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an ineffective and dangerous 'distraction' that prolongs fossil fuel dependence, poses significant safety risks to marginalized communities, and lacks economic viability. The authors urge the Canadian and U.S. governments to end subsidies for CCS and enhanced oil recovery (EOR), instead investing in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure.

A statement from the Center for International Environmental Law and numerous supporting organizations urging the United States and Canadian governments to reject carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, arguing they are a 'dangerous distraction' that prolongs fossil fuel reliance and poses significant risks to marginalized communities.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) asserts that recent voter suppression laws in 17 U.S. states disproportionately harm people of color and undermine democracy. WRI links voting rights to environmental justice, noting that marginalized communities—who face higher exposure to pollution and climate risks—require political representation to influence environmental policy. The statement supports the 'John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act' and the 'For the People Act' as necessary measures to protect the franchise.

RMI argues that utility-scale energy production and local electricity production, such as rooftop solar, are complementary rather than competing solutions for the energy transition in the United States.

This report discusses the necessity and challenges of implementing a border carbon adjustment (BCA) mechanism in Canada to protect energy-intensive trade-exposed sectors as domestic carbon prices rise toward 2030.