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This document is a response to the USTR's July 2017 objectives for NAFTA renegotiation, arguing that the process provides an opportunity to integrate sustainable development, improved governance, and environmental standards into the trade relationship between the US, Canada, and Mexico.

This fact sheet describes the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) program for implementing minimum energy and water efficiency standards for appliances and equipment under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. It details the economic, environmental, and technological benefits of these standards, the role of voluntary programs like ENERGY STAR, and the impact of regional standards on heating and cooling products.

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 the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) proposes a new financial vehicle called the Clean Energy Investment Trust (CEIT) to reduce the cost of renewable energy by better aligning project cashflows with the risk profiles of different investors. By unbundling the cashflows of wind and solar projects and targeting long-term, liability-hedging institutional investors, the authors argue that the cost of wind-generated electricity could be reduced by 15-17% compared to traditional utility financing.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) proposes a risk-based framework for selecting ownership models and finance instruments for clean power investments. The authors argue that minimizing the overall cost of the low-carbon energy transition requires allocating specific investment risks—such as construction, price, and curtailment—to the party (private investors, public entities, or consumers) best placed to manage, understand, and bear them.

This fact sheet describes the role of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in implementing and enforcing minimum energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. It details the economic and environmental benefits of these standards, the distinction between mandatory federal standards and voluntary programs like ENERGY STAR, and the impact of regional standards on heating and cooling equipment.

A briefing by Energy Innovation detailing the potential climate impact of a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that vacated an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard for regulating hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) through the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program.

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.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) criticizes the 2017 U.S. NAFTA negotiating objectives for prioritizing corporate interests over public health, labor rights, and the environment. CIEL highlights the failure to address Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), the promotion of fossil fuel investment in Mexico, and the lack of binding environmental enforcement and transparency.

This research paper analyzes the German G20 presidency in 2017, focusing on Germany's strategic initiatives for Africa and the challenges posed by the United States' shift toward protectionism under President Donald Trump.

A statement by the World Resources Institute urging the United States government to endorse the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations at the 2017 G20 Summit to protect investors and maintain U.S. business competitiveness.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the proposed Multilateral Investment Court (MIC), championed by the European Union and Canada, fails to address the fundamental flaws of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) and instead prioritizes corporate rights over public interest, human rights, and environmental protections.

The China Green Bond Market Mid Year Report 2017 details the growth and diversification of China's green bond market in the first half of 2017, highlighting a total issuance of USD 11.52bn and a shift toward non-bank issuers. The report outlines various policy updates, the emergence of green municipal bonds, and the alignment of Chinese bonds with international standards.

This briefing by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that the mining industry represents a significant, untapped opportunity for gigaton-scale carbon emissions reductions. It highlights that while mining is inherently energy-intensive, the transition to renewable energy is now economically viable due to falling costs of solar PV and wind, which can replace expensive diesel generation at remote sites and reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-dominated grids.

This report explores innovative funding mechanisms for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at U.S. airports, using Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) as a primary case study. It argues that while airports cannot legally fund fuel as a commodity, they can fund 'co-benefits' such as carbon reduction and air quality improvements. The report recommends several funding streams, including corporate support and non-aeronautical revenue, to catalyze regional SAF supply chains and reduce the industry's carbon footprint.

This case study describes a milestone renewable energy deal where Goldman Sachs became the first U.S. bank to sign a large-scale, off-site renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) to enable the development of a 68 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Pennsylvania.

The Allianz Climate and Energy Monitor 2017 ranks G20 member states on their attractiveness for low-carbon electricity infrastructure investments and assesses their investment needs to meet Paris Agreement temperature limits. While OECD countries like Germany, the UK, and France remain the most attractive destinations due to stable policy frameworks, emerging markets such as China, India, and South Africa show significant growth in renewable installations but face high investment needs to create climate-resilient power infrastructure.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative analyzes post-issuance reporting practices for green bonds issued before April 1, 2016. It evaluates the availability, frequency, and quality of reporting on the use of proceeds and environmental impact, comparing practices against market guidelines like the Green Bond Principles and the Climate Bonds Standard.

A formal Notice of Objection filed by a coalition of environmental and health organizations, including the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, challenging the Pest Management Regulatory Agency's (PMRA) re-evaluation decision (RVD2017-01) on glyphosate. The objectors argue that the PMRA dismissed critical evidence regarding glyphosate's impact on monarch butterflies, human and soil microbiomes, carcinogenic potential, and the inefficiency of current risk mitigation strategies like buffer zones and labeling.