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The report argues that China's industrial sector, which accounted for 65 percent of total electricity consumption in 2022, offers significant potential for demand-side flexibility (DSF). Developing this flexibility across seven major industries could reduce annual peak load by 3-10 percent and avoid 40–130 GW of new coal power investment.

China's anthropogenic methane emissions were approximately 56 Mt in 2022, with the energy sector contributing 46 percent of this total. RMI proposes mitigating these emissions by accelerating the energy transition, utilizing market mechanisms to improve the viability of mitigation technologies, and increasing transparency through international cooperation and information disclosure.

The document introduces the China Low-Carbon and Clean Technologies Outlook series, which analyzes 50 promising technologies to support China's carbon neutrality goal. It specifically highlights the need for significant investment in emerging technologies like energy storage and hydrogen, estimating a requirement of 100 trillion Yuan. This particular report presents the first four insight briefs focusing on power batteries, heat pumps, iron ore electrolysis, and flow battery energy storage.

The briefing outlines how state energy offices can maximize the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act by enabling the 'stacking' of federal, state, and utility incentives for whole-home retrofits. It identifies key barriers to this process—such as a lack of public guidance, inconsistent program requirements, and excessive application processes—and suggests solutions like standardized eligibility and consolidated applications. Additionally, it encourages states to use flexible funding sources to cover gaps not fully addressed by the IRA, specifically health and safety repairs, cold climate heat pumps, and electrical upgrades.

The EU aims to import 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen by 2030 to decarbonize heavy industry and transport, as domestic production is expected to fall short of demand. The report identifies the US Gulf Coast, Australia, and other regions with low renewable energy costs as key potential suppliers. To activate this trade, the EU needs to invest in port infrastructure (ammonia terminals and crackers), clarify certification schemes, and provide €15 billion to €20 billion in public support to offset green premiums over blue hydrogen. While Northwest Europe will rely heavily on imports, Southern Europe (Spain and Portugal) is expected to become more self-sufficient by the mid-2030s.

The RMI Aluminum GHG Emissions Reporting Guidance establishes a framework for product-level emissions reporting in the aluminum sector. It defines fixed system boundaries—benchmarking and full—to ensure comparability regardless of a producer's vertical integration. The guidance emphasizes the use of primary data, provides specific calculation procedures for primary and recycled aluminum, and outlines a hierarchy for sourcing renewable energy to drive sectoral decarbonization.

The report identifies significant barriers to 'stacking' (combining) multiple financial incentives for US residential energy retrofits, including complex application processes, inconsistent performance standards, and funding gaps for health and safety repairs. It analyzes the interaction between Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits and rebates, noting that while clean energy retrofits can be more affordable than fossil fuel alternatives after incentives, low-income households often lack the 'tax appetite' to benefit from tax credits. RMI recommends that state program administrators prioritize funding for pre-electrification upgrades, consolidate application processes, and increase allocations for underserved communities and multi-family housing.

The report examines decarbonization efforts in heavy industry, noting that as of May 2023, companies with carbon neutrality targets cover between 18% and 31% of emissions in the steel, cement, petrochemicals, and aluminum sectors globally. It introduces the PTAM framework to evaluate performance and targets, and recommends six specific actions for Chinese state-owned enterprises to accelerate their transition to zero-carbon operations.

RMI's guide outlines a framework for US state governments to reduce embodied carbon—emissions from the extraction, manufacturing, transport, construction, and disposal of materials—in state-owned building projects. The guide proposes four core strategies, including the implementation of Buy Clean policies targeting high-emitting materials like steel and cement, to send demand signals to the market and accelerate decarbonization across the building industry's value chain.

The document defines carbon-neutral demonstration zones as tools for exploring transition models and best practices for China's carbon-neutral transformation. It argues that these zones should be driven by a new economic path that promotes zero-carbon industrial innovation and reduces CO2 emissions per unit of GDP, with the goal of scaling green transformation beyond the zone's boundaries. The report uses the Meishan Carbon-Neutral Demonstration Zone as a case study to provide reference practices for other development zones.

The document argues that transitioning the global economy to limit warming to 1.5°C requires between $200 trillion and $275 trillion by 2050. It proposes a common vision for transition finance based on credible decarbonization strategies, annual monitoring, and the avoidance of carbon lock-in. The letter outlines specific calls to action for the financial sector, governments, and issuers to overcome barriers such as greenwashing fears and high capital costs to mobilize capital for high-emitting sectors.

Methane is a potent climate pollutant responsible for 30 percent of the earth's temperature rise since the Industrial era. In the oil and gas sector, methane leakage can make natural gas as damaging as coal in the near term, with some US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms showing leakage rates up to 66 percent. Despite the fact that many leaks can be repaired cost-effectively, the document notes that companies are not moving quickly enough, particularly in the US Permian Basin. The author advocates for mandatory requirements and the expanded use of aerial and satellite detection to increase transparency and enforce standards.

The report analyzes the environmental consequences of synthetic fibers in textiles and outlines the need for a transition from a linear "take-make-waste" model to circular systems. It identifies barriers to adopting bio-based and recycled fibers and suggests digital, regulatory, and financial interventions across the supply chain to reduce petrochemical demand.

Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (CDC) is implementing deep energy retrofits (DER) at three residential properties in Boston to reduce energy consumption by an average of 55 percent across 103 units. By conducting portfolio-wide Capital Needs Assessments and leveraging a diverse stack of local and federal funding—including an expected $8 million in support—the CDC aims to eliminate on-site fossil fuel combustion and improve tenant well-being. The project utilizes guidance from RMI’s REALIZE-MA initiative and LISC’s 1000 Apartment Challenge to navigate the complex predevelopment phase and align with Massachusetts' climate goals and Boston's Building Energy Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO).

Financial institutions (FIs) can leverage tools like RMI's Oil Climate Index plus Gas (OCI+) and satellite data to pinpoint methane 'hot spots' in oil and gas portfolios. Methane accounts for approximately half of the industry's Scope 1 and 2 emissions, yet emissions intensities vary by a factor of 10 or more between equivalent assets. The report highlights that 40% of needed methane reductions could be achieved through cost-neutral or net-profitable investments, such as leak detection and repair. With new regulations like the US Inflation Reduction Act's methane fee, FIs are encouraged to use this data to manage transition risks, set accurate disclosure targets, and steer client engagement toward immediate decarbonization opportunities.

The report advocates for low-carbon procurement in China's heavy industry to reduce transition costs via economies of scale and shared green premiums. It outlines a five-part implementation framework and identifies five priority value chains: steel-automotive, steel-construction, cement-construction, aluminum-automotive, and plastics-consumer goods.

The policy brief highlights a systemic gap between self-reported methane emissions in the US oil and gas sector and actual emissions measured via remote sensing. It argues that current EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) guidelines rely on simplistic assumptions that miss 'super-emitting' events, leading to underestimations of emissions by factors of two to four. This data gap threatens the efficacy of the Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) Waste Emissions Charge, potentially resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in lost fees. The author calls for the integration of empirical data and updated reporting categories to improve transparency, incentivize mitigation, and ensure accurate pricing of methane emissions.

Lodha is implementing a systems-leadership approach to decarbonize India's rapidly growing built environment, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2035. Central to this strategy is the Palava project near Mumbai, which serves as a 'smart city learning lab' to test sustainable urban design and energy-efficient construction. Through the Lodha Net Zero Urban Accelerator, the company seeks to scale these learnings and influence industry standards and government policy.

RMI highlights that the perceived climate benefit of substituting coal with natural gas is undermined by methane leakage. The briefing notes that leakage rates as low as 0.2% can make gas emissions equal to coal, depending on the specific resources involved. To address this, RMI has developed a calculator for site-specific emissions parity analysis. The document advocates for immediate methane mitigation through technology and policy, noting that wind and solar are already more economically attractive and avoid the methane risks associated with gas.

The report highlights a critical gap in US public health policy: the lack of comprehensive, science-based indoor air quality (IAQ) guidelines. While the US regulates outdoor air via the Clean Air Act, indoor environments—where people spend approximately 90% of their time—remain largely unregulated. The document details how pollutants like nitrogen dioxide from gas stoves and wildfire smoke exacerbate health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. It reviews existing international models from the WHO and Health Canada, and limited US efforts in states like California and Texas. RMI recommends that the EPA use its authority under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) to develop federal guidelines, which could then inform building codes, product safety standards, and electrification efforts to reduce combustion pollution.