Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy brief by GreenCape examines how virtual platforms and international networks can help green small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) overcome trade barriers exacerbated by COVID-19. It highlights the methodologies of the International Cleantech Network (ICN) in using a virtual collaboration platform and a structured 'maturing process' to connect SMEs with global cleantech opportunities, illustrated through case studies in Helsinki and New York.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the state of 'climate jobs'—employment focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation—within the United States, detailing sector-specific employment numbers for 2020 and the potential for future growth through policy and investment.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the state of 'climate jobs'—employment focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation—in the United States. It details employment figures across energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, and resilience sectors for 2020, noting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and projecting future growth opportunities linked to federal investment and policy changes.

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.

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 RMI fact sheet argues that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should use its authority under the Clean Air Act to establish nitrogen oxides (NOX) standards that phase in requirements for electric appliances. The document highlights the significant health, environmental, and climate impacts of fossil-fuel burning appliances, particularly gas appliances, and positions electrification as a cost-effective solution to reduce premature deaths and pollution.

This briefing by the Decommissioning Working Group argues that U.S. nuclear energy policy is not evidence-based and that the NRC is captured by industry interests. It highlights critical gaps in the management of decommissioning trust funds, the safety of spent fuel storage canisters, and the lack of safety standards for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), recommending a shift toward science-based standards and increased Congressional oversight.

This document provides biographical sketches of five speakers participating in a briefing titled "TOWARD AN EVIDENCE-BASED NUCLEAR ENERGY POLICY," which focuses on nuclear decommissioning, radioactive waste, and nuclear energy's role in climate strategy.

This briefing paper outlines findings from CDP's forest module of the States and Regions questionnaire regarding the role of regional governments in addressing forest loss driven by mining and infrastructure, as part of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) Goal 3 assessment.

This briefing by Energy Innovation examines the role of offshore wind in achieving zero-emissions climate goals, focusing on cost reductions, technological advancements like floating turbines, and policy recommendations for the United States to scale its capacity.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provides a comprehensive regulatory framework for decarbonizing the US building sector, primarily through electrification. It outlines ten key strategies for public utilities commissions (PUCs) and government agencies to transition away from fossil fuel infrastructure, emphasizing equity, market transformation, and the management of stranded asset risks.

The 'US Stimulus Strategy' report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provides four primary policy recommendations for a zero-carbon economic recovery in the United States following the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy focuses on decarbonizing buildings and transportation, implementing debt forgiveness tied to emissions reductions, and establishing a federal Economic Recovery Facility to finance clean energy projects.

This policy brief argues that U.S. economic recovery efforts following COVID-19 must prioritize low-carbon investments and a 'fair transition' for fossil fuel workers to avoid locking in polluting infrastructure and to mitigate the economic disruption caused by decarbonization and automation.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) emphasizes the necessity of localized climate data for policymakers and highlights two free online tools provided by the NGO Climate Central to map sea-level rise and coastal flood risks across the United States and globally.

A report by RMI's REALIZE initiative, funded by the US Department of Energy, assessing prefabricated, high-performance retrofit technologies in the United States and the Netherlands to enable standardized zero-energy retrofits for multifamily housing.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) outlines various United States federal funding and technical assistance programs available to implement nature-based solutions for climate resilience. It details programs from agencies including the EPA, FEMA, HUD, NOAA, USDA, and USFWS, highlighting how these resources support green and natural infrastructure to mitigate hazards like flooding and extreme heat.

This insight brief introduces 'hours of safety' as a metric to quantify how long a building envelope can maintain safe indoor temperatures during power outages in extreme cold. Using simulations of five building types in Duluth, Minnesota, the research demonstrates that high-performance envelopes, such as those meeting Passive House standards, significantly extend the time residents can safely shelter in place compared to older or code-compliant homes.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) responds to President Trump's November 4, 2019, formal notice to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, highlighting the role of subnational entities and private companies in maintaining climate commitments.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) analyzes employment trends in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate resilience, focusing on the United States and global leaders. It utilizes data from the 2019 U.S. Energy Employment Report (USEER) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to quantify jobs across various green technology sectors.

This fact sheet provides a comprehensive overview of employment statistics in the renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate resilience sectors, focusing primarily on the United States while providing global comparisons. It utilizes data from various sources, including the U.S. Energy Employment Report (USEER) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), to detail job growth, sectoral distributions, and the challenges of quantifying emerging fields like climate adaptation.