Search Climate Insights Directory

This executive summary describes a May 2012 joint report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP). The report synthesizes findings from a November 2011 workshop funded by NOAA, which brought together climate scientists and transportation planners to identify the information and assistance needed to adapt surface transportation infrastructure to climate change and extreme weather events.

This research paper proposes a flexible framework for electricity policy in a hypothetical "51st State," focusing on system optimization across affordability, reliability, and environmental performance. It outlines modernized principles for rate design and market structure that accommodate the rise of distributed energy resources (DERs) and smart-grid technologies, arguing that these innovations challenge the traditional view of utilities as natural monopolies.

This fact sheet by Energy Innovation analyzes the potential impacts of the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule, which mandates increasing sales of new zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) starting in 2026 to reach 100 percent by 2035. Using the Energy Policy Simulator model, the document evaluates the benefits for the 16 '177 States' that can adopt this California-led standard under the U.S. Clean Air Act.

This briefing from Energy Innovation provides a blueprint for U.S. state policymakers to maintain energy efficiency and electrification progress in buildings and industry following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which the author projects will negatively impact the U.S. economy.

This guide from Energy Innovation provides a blueprint for U.S. state policymakers to stimulate investments in clean industries, particularly in response to the negative economic impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). It outlines strategies to attract clean industrial projects, overcome regulatory and commercial barriers, and leverage technologies like industrial thermal batteries and low-carbon hydrogen to decarbonize manufacturing.

This technical supplement describes the methodology used by RMI to analyze how state-level land use reform in the United States could reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2033. The analysis compares a 'business as usual' scenario against a 'low VMT' scenario where new housing is concentrated in dense, walkable, and transit-oriented areas.

This research paper by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes the gap in industrial electric productivity across the United States. It argues that while exogenous factors like electricity prices and state incentives play a role, the primary constraints are internal business barriers. By addressing these barriers through holistic design and policy support, the U.S. industrial sector could save 300,000 GWh annually.

This report outlines the risks and needs of low-income (LI) and fixed-income (FI) electricity customers during the transition to a distributed energy resource (DER) and renewable electricity system. It identifies financial and social concerns, maps existing and unmet needs, and examines case studies to determine how these segments can be equitably integrated into a high-DER future.

This technical appendix from RMI provides a detailed overview of thirteen services that battery energy storage can provide to customers, Independent System Operators (ISOs), Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), and utilities. It categorizes these services by stakeholder benefit and time scale, providing definitions, technical backgrounds, and estimated value ranges for each. The document also details the valuation and dispatch methodologies used in four specific use cases across the U.S. and includes a meta-study of six influential energy storage valuation publications from the past decade.

This policy brief by the Brookings Institution, published via the South African Institute of International Affairs, argues for strengthening the G20 Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) to address unsustainable debt in the Global South. The authors propose reforming the Common Framework for Debt Treatments (CF), integrating climate financing into debt management, and addressing the systemic drivers of high debt service costs, particularly for African nations.

This technical note details the creation of a first-of-its-kind dataset of school bus depot locations in the United States using remote sensing and aerial imagery. The dataset is intended to support environmental justice analysis regarding air pollution hotspots in underserved communities and to assist in electricity grid planning for school bus electrification.

The 2012 fact sheet reports that the United States had its hottest year on record and that 2011 and 2012 saw the highest number of billion-dollar extreme weather events in history. It highlights the impact of Hurricane Sandy on New York and New Jersey, noting nearly $80 billion in losses, and notes a century-long 8-inch rise in global sea levels.

This guide by the World Resources Institute outlines five public-private financing mechanisms designed to overcome capital barriers for energy efficiency investments: on-bill financing, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) models, loan guarantees, and loan loss reserve funds (LLRFs).

This briefing by the World Resources Institute provides a detailed status report on the climate policies, energy trends, and international cooperation of China and the United States as of early 2024. It outlines China's progress toward its 2030 and 2060 goals, the United States' implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and the diplomatic efforts to maintain bilateral climate cooperation despite broader geopolitical tensions.

This briefing paper provides a detailed status update as of April 10, 2024, on the climate policies, energy trends, and bilateral engagement between China and the United States. It outlines China's progress toward its 2030 and 2060 carbon goals, the U.S. implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and the diplomatic efforts to maintain climate cooperation despite broader geopolitical tensions.

This report by the World Resources Institute provides a comprehensive guide for U.S. businesses on the deployment and financing of on-site renewable energy systems, including solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind, and geothermal heat pumps. It details the economic and financial benefits, various ownership and financing models, and the associated risks and objectives for corporate energy management.

This report by the World Resources Institute (WRI), updated April 26, 2023, tracks the adoption of electric school buses (ESBs) in the United States. Based on data through December 31, 2022, it highlights a rapid increase in 'committed' buses—those awarded, ordered, delivered, or operating—driven largely by the EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program. The report analyzes the geographic distribution of these buses, the impact of funding sources, the types of buses being adopted, and the equity of distribution across low-income and minority communities.

As of October 2024, the U.S. has 12,241 electric school bus commitments, with nearly 5,000 already in operation. Adoption is heavily driven by the EPA's Clean School Bus Program, which has prioritized high-poverty, rural, and tribal districts. While California remains the leader in total buses, adoption is increasing across the Midwest and New England. The report highlights that 62% of committed buses are in districts with the highest shares of low-income households and 85% are in districts with the highest percentages of people of color.