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This report by the World Resources Institute examines Concentrating Solar Thermal power (CST) as a large-scale, zero-carbon alternative to coal-fired power generation. It highlights the role of thermal storage in providing baseload power and discusses the policy and economic barriers—such as high upfront capital costs and the need for carbon pricing—that must be addressed to accelerate global deployment, particularly in rapidly developing economies.

This testimony by Sarah Forbes of the World Resources Institute (WRI) to the U.S. House of Representatives emphasizes the urgent need for a global network of carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstrations to mitigate climate change, specifically highlighting the necessity of collaboration with China and the establishment of international funding and regulatory frameworks.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the disconnect between the national-level implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement (NDCs). Based on a survey of 90 countries and detailed case studies of 11 countries and the European Union, the paper argues that a 'siloed approach' to these agendas hinders progress. It proposes five core areas for integration: coordinating institutions, aligning targets, joint policy mainstreaming, optimizing financial resources, and creating mutually reinforcing monitoring frameworks. The study concludes that an integrated approach reduces transaction costs, enhances policy coherence, and fosters 'win-win solutions' for climate resilience and sustainable development.

This fact sheet from the World Resources Institute explains cost containment mechanisms used in cap-and-trade programs to increase economic efficiency, provide price certainty, and manage compliance costs without compromising environmental goals.

This report by the World Resources Institute evaluates Australia's policy framework for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction, focusing on the Clean Energy Future package and its ability to meet international commitments by 2020.

This testimony by Rob Bradley, Director of the International Climate Policy Initiative at the World Resources Institute, argues that the United States has a critical opportunity to resume international leadership on climate change. Bradley asserts that the global landscape has shifted since the Kyoto Protocol, with major developing nations now proposing their own mitigation plans and the Bali Action Plan providing a framework for inclusive, verifiable commitments from both developed and developing countries. He emphasizes the synergy between climate action and economic growth, highlighting 'green' stimulus packages as a means to create jobs and stimulate recovery following the financial crisis.

This research paper analyzes trade, human rights, and environmental regimes, including the Montreal Protocol, to identify lessons on equity that can inform the 2015 international climate agreement under the UNFCCC. It argues that equity is essential for achieving consensus and should be addressed through both the differentiation of commitments and the design of supporting institutions and procedures.

This research paper introduces a framework for Paris-aligned passive investing and evaluates 35 sustainable funds from the United States and the European Union, finding that none are fully aligned with the proposed criteria.

This World Resources Institute fact sheet explains cap-and-trade programs, which limit greenhouse gas emissions by creating a market for emission allowances. It details the difference between upstream and downstream regulation, contrasts cap-and-trade with carbon taxes, and highlights existing examples such as the EU-ETS and the U.S. Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The document notes that the U.S. EPA is the proposed administrator for most federal U.S. legislative proposals.

This executive summary outlines a global dialogue on ensuring that the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. It argues that the pandemic serves as a warning for the climate and biodiversity crises and advocates for a 'green and resilient recovery' that prioritizes people, nature-based solutions, and the phase-out of high-carbon industries.

This executive summary, authored by Alice Gerow and Frances Seymour for the World Resources Institute, outlines the material risks that non-carbon biophysical effects of tropical deforestation pose to the private sector. It argues that while many companies focus on carbon emissions and reputational risks, the loss of forests directly threatens agricultural productivity and worker health through changes in local temperature and regional precipitation, thereby destabilizing global supply chains.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines opportunities for bilateral cooperation between the United States and China to reduce methane emissions, specifically focusing on the agriculture and waste/wastewater sectors. It identifies specific technical areas for R&D, the potential for remote sensing collaboration, and the role of economic and regulatory incentives in driving mitigation.

This guide by the World Resources Institute provides a framework for civil society stakeholders to evaluate national long-term low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions development strategies. It outlines the importance of these strategies in linking short-term nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement's goals and details the essential elements, such as mitigation targets, adaptation plans, and monitoring processes, that should be present in a robust strategy.

This fact sheet by WWF South Africa explains the purpose, design, and potential impacts of the South African carbon tax announced in the 2018 budget speech. It outlines how the tax aims to shift costs from society to polluters to drive a transition toward a low-carbon economy, while expressing concern that current tax rates and allowances are too low to effectively incentivize emission reductions.