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This briefing by RMI argues for the establishment of a standardized near-zero emissions threshold for iron production to stimulate investment and trade in decarbonized steel. It proposes a threshold of 350 kgCO2e/t iron and suggests implementing a 'book and claim' market mechanism to connect corporate buyers with clean iron producers, overcoming the complexities of multi-tiered supply chains.

RMI proposes a 'whole-systems' approach to energy efficiency that combines electrification with 'energy end-use efficiency'—reducing the actual energy services required. By focusing on land-use, passive design, and material circularity, the report argues that overall energy demand can be reduced by 50-75% in some sectors, far exceeding the COP28 goal of a 4% annual improvement rate.

This report by RMI analyzes the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the US chemical industry, focusing on six primary chemicals: hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, ethylene, propylene, and benzene. It identifies 20 emissions reduction levers across four categories—alternative production methods, alternative heat sources, cleaner operations, and alternative feedstocks—and evaluates their current deployability and maximum potential to reach a net-zero sector by 2050.

This report by RMI uses polyester as a case study to analyze how product definitions and demand from retail sectors can accelerate the market for low-emissions chemicals. It identifies specific technological pathways to reduce the lifecycle emissions of polyester t-shirts and argues that setting emissions reduction thresholds at upstream stages (such as the PET resin step) is more effective at driving chemical industry decarbonization than setting them at the finished fabric stage.

The RMI report 'The State of Utility Planning, 2024 Q4' analyzes updates to Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) for US electric utilities. It finds that while load projections did not increase in Q4 2024, utilities increased planned gas capacity and reduced planned wind and solar capacity, leading to an 8 percent increase in projected emissions for those updating their plans.

This briefing by RMI analyzes the state of the global energy transition entering 2025, highlighting record growth in cleantech and falling costs despite ongoing challenges in methane reduction and energy efficiency.

This briefing by RMI outlines the challenges and potential solutions for the industrial permitting process in California, specifically for clean industrial projects like hydrogen production and carbon dioxide removal. It argues that while the current decentralized system provides necessary environmental and community safeguards, it also creates 'nonproductive friction' that delays or cancels critical decarbonization projects. The document provides strategic recommendations for both permit-seekers and state policymakers to streamline approvals without compromising safety or environmental justice.

This research paper examines the methods for emissions accounting, target setting, and disclosure within Canada's agricultural portfolios, highlighting the role of financial institutions in supporting the transition to net-zero emissions.

A roadmap developed by RMI and The Bezos Earth Fund outlining goals and requirements for scaling technological greenhouse gas removal (GHGR) by 2050.

This report by RMI outlines the economic and environmental advantages of adopting limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) as a strategy for decarbonizing the cement industry.

This report provides guidance on transitioning the construction industry from prescriptive concrete specifications—which dictate a specific 'recipe'—to Performance Standards and Specifications (PSS) that focus on desired properties. The author argues that PSS is essential for scaling low-carbon concrete and reducing sector emissions by 25% or more, as traditional standards are geared toward ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The document outlines stakeholder roles, suggests specific tests for workability, strength, and durability, and provides case studies from the US and international examples to demonstrate how PSS can be trialed on real-world projects.

RMI has released the Plastics Extrusion and Molding Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Guidance to improve emissions transparency across the plastics supply chain, enabling stakeholders to make better-informed decisions and drive demand for low-emissions plastics.

This policy brief by RMI argues that current electricity rate designs in the United States often overcharge heat pump users, creating a financial barrier to home electrification. The document explains that because many utility costs are driven by summer peak demand, customers who add electricity demand in the winter (via heat pumps) may pay more than the actual cost of service. RMI proposes several rate reform strategies—including seasonal heating rates, time-varying rates, and separate customer classes—to align electricity pricing with actual system costs and support decarbonization goals.

This case study by RMI evaluates the economic and environmental impact of an anaerobic digestion (AD) facility at the Oko Oba Abattoir in Lagos, Nigeria. The analysis compares a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario with scaling options to replace charcoal fuel and diversify biogas use, concluding that while the project is economically viable, high upfront capital costs remain a significant barrier to private investment.

This report by RMI analyzes the role of rural energy cooperatives as a collaborative model to accelerate the global transition to clean energy, focusing on overcoming barriers to energy access and affordability in rural areas.

This report by RMI examines the power procurement options and associated risks for green hydrogen projects, specifically focusing on the challenges of achieving hourly matching for the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act's 45V tax credit. It analyzes four procurement archetypes—Behind-the-Meter, Virtual PPAs, Physical PPAs, and Hybrid systems—and details how weather variability, logistic complexity, and grid volatility impact project bankability and economic viability.

The "Electrify Your Community" guide by RMI provides a five-step framework for local governments and community-based organizations to implement residential heat pump deployment programs. The guide focuses on scaling air-source and ground-source heat pumps and heat pump water heaters to reduce residential greenhouse gas emissions, leveraging federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

This fact sheet from RMI explains the role of supply-side policies in driving investment and production of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), including battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles, across eight key global markets.

This report examines the economic challenges of transitioning China's energy-intensive steel industry to near-zero-carbon production and proposes policy, demand-side, and financial mechanisms to accelerate the deployment of low-carbon technologies.

This executive summary outlines a strategy for Colorado to develop a mass timber industry using small-diameter trees from wildfire mitigation to address rural economic challenges, housing shortages, and construction-sector carbon emissions.