Search Climate Insights Directory

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the role of energy storage in enhancing grid resilience, integrating intermittent renewable energy, and managing peak demand. It details various storage technologies—including pumped-storage hydropower, batteries, compressed air, thermal, hydrogen, and flywheels—comparing their technical specifications, costs, and current global applications.

The Climate Bonds Initiative conducted a scoping exercise to identify the potential for US municipal issuers to scale up green bond issuance. The study identified USD 264 billion in outstanding bonds from 1,436 'pure-play' climate-aligned issuers—entities deriving more than 95% of their revenue from climate solutions—most of which are not currently labeled as green bonds.

This fact sheet describes the formation and goals of the United States Climate Alliance and other subnational efforts to uphold the 2016 Paris Agreement following the Trump Administration's decision to withdraw the United States from the accord.

This policy brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) analyzes the Trump Administration's FY2018 'skinny budget' proposal. It details significant proposed funding cuts across multiple federal agencies, specifically targeting climate change programs, sustainable energy research, rural development, and public transportation infrastructure, while prioritizing national security and space exploration.

The 'Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground: A Declaration for the Health of Mother Earth' is a November 2015 statement signed by numerous international organizations and activists. It calls for an immediate end to fossil fuel extraction, exploration, and subsidization to address the climate crisis and protect the rights of nature and Indigenous peoples, advocating for a transition to 100% renewable energy.

The GSA Net Zero Renovation Challenge is an initiative by the General Services Administration (GSA), the Office of Federal High Performance Green Buildings (OFHPGB), and the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) to achieve deep energy savings in 30-35 federal buildings using Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs). A workshop held in October 2011 by RMI and GSA identified structural, contractual, and technical barriers to achieving net zero energy, proposing a shift toward integrative design, streamlined procurement, and shared risk to move beyond conventional shallow retrofits.

The Climate Impact Equity Lens (CIEL) is a tool developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute to calculate net climate impacts for individuals rather than regional averages. By comparing climate damages against the savings gained from not investing in emission reductions, CIEL demonstrates that while some individuals are currently 'net winners,' the vast majority of the global population will become 'net losers' by 2100 and 2150 as damages outpace savings.

This report analyzes flood risk and the economic impact of meteorological events in Jamaica, highlighting a recurring pattern of damage to public infrastructure and the systemic failure to enforce land-use policies in hazard-prone areas.

This submission by Amnesty International and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that climate change causes widespread human rights violations and that affected individuals and communities are entitled to effective remedies and reparations under international law. The document critiques current UNFCCC mechanisms for being voluntary and excluding compensation, while proposing human rights- and equity-based frameworks for addressing loss and damage.

This director's report from June 1998 analyzes the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) between July 1997 and May 1998. It details institutional growth in membership, the administration of scientific projects such as the Initial Scientific Program (ISP) and the Climate Research Network (CRN), and strategic collaborations with international organizations like NOAA, NASA, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

This briefing examines how climate change is currently altering seasonality in the Americas, leading to increased soil erosion in Cuba, year-round dengue risks in tropical regions, and challenges for hydroelectric dam management in Argentina due to changing snowmelt and precipitation patterns.

This report from the Implementation Committee (IAI/IC) provides recommendations to the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) for the operationalization of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). It outlines the institute's history, its proposed distributed research network structure, a seven-theme science agenda, and the administrative and financial frameworks required to manage regional global change research in the Americas.

This report details the development, reach, and future certification plans for the 'Impacts of Climate Change and Global Change in Latin America' Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), created by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and Dr. Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa.

This document is a rebuttal by Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to an article and subsequent response by Charles C. Mann in The Atlantic. Lovins argues that Mann ignores the role of efficiency and technological innovation in reducing oil demand and misrepresents the reliability and economic viability of renewable energy, specifically in Germany.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) developed a dataset of U.S. school bus fleets by requesting records from state governments between March and November 2022. Covering 46 states and the District of Columbia, the data includes fuel types, model years, and seating capacities to help plan for electrification and grid upgrades. The dataset excludes four states (Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, and New Hampshire) and all U.S. territories.

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.