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The briefing highlights three key pieces of US federal legislation—the Coronavirus and Climate Relief omnibus bill, the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act, and the American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act—as evidence of bipartisan and ambitious climate momentum. It further argues that President-Elect Biden's cabinet appointments, including the creation of the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and the National Climate Advisor, signal that climate change will be a cross-agency priority integrated with economic and public health policies.

The document proposes a federal, state, and local coordinated infrastructure strategy focused on six sectors—mobility, buildings, power, broadband, water, and natural systems—to create a more resilient and equitable America. It emphasizes that cities are essential for the design and delivery of these projects due to their capacity for innovation and understanding of local needs.

The briefing describes a 'new abnormal' characterized by continuous climate escalation, citing extreme wildfires in Colorado and the US West, as well as hurricanes on the East and Gulf Coasts. It identifies five primary challenges: mass migration, health threats from air pollution and 'threat multipliers', financial instability due to asset loss and insurance costs, the need for resilient urban rebuilding, and the requirement to update the electric grid with localized resources and microgrids. The author calls for a 50 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050 to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The report proposes that sub-Saharan African countries utilize COVID-19 recovery stimulus to invest in clean energy technologies. By focusing on short-term, scalable interventions, the region can reduce its dependence on oil imports, stabilize national budgets, and create jobs while moving toward carbon neutrality.

The briefing highlights a rapid acceleration in US electric vehicle (EV) adoption driven by battery technology breakthroughs, state-level internal combustion engine (ICE) phase-out mandates in California and New Jersey, and large-scale corporate fleet electrification commitments from companies like Amazon and Walmart. It emphasizes the need for scaled charging infrastructure and ambitious policy goals to ensure the US remains competitive against China and the EU in the transition to decarbonized mobility.

The report analyzes EV infrastructure readiness around 60 US cities, finding that while some cities like San Jose exhibit high regional preparedness, significant gaps in DC fast-charger coverage persist across several states, contributing to consumer range anxiety. It emphasizes that regional collaboration between cities, utilities, and state agencies is essential for scaling infrastructure beyond urban centers to support intercity travel.

The document supports Governor Gavin Newsom's September 23, 2020, executive order to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in California by 2035. It contends that this move signals a market shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), ensuring the US remains competitive with China and the EU. The author asserts that EVs, acting as mobile batteries, can enhance grid reliability and resilience through a "transactive grid" enabled by digital technologies and FERC order 2222, provided that grid capacity is expanded to accommodate new loads.

RMI commemorates Ted Halstead, the founder of the Climate Leadership Council, noting his efforts to build a broad coalition of business and environmental leaders to advocate for a carbon tax and dividend framework as a cost-effective and equitable climate solution in the US.

The report asserts that 'business as usual' is an unsustainable strategy for industrial sectors, as over 40 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions originate from energy-intensive industries. It warns that failure to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 threatens the global economy with supply chain disruptions and value destruction for major commodities. The author argues that achieving a 1.5°C pathway requires not only technological shifts—such as the adoption of hydrogen and carbon capture—but also a reduction in the demand for materials like steel, cement, and plastic. The text emphasizes that an orderly transition is preferable to disruptive 'black swan' events and notes a shifting balance of market power away from fossil fuel industries toward climate-aligned corporations.

The briefing advocates for increased stimulus funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to combat energy insecurity and racial disparities in the US. It highlights that low-income and non-White households face disproportionately high energy burdens and insecurity. Drawing on the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the document suggests that expanding WAP to include electrification, investing in workforce diversity, and improving administrative coordination can maximize public health and economic benefits.

The guide outlines three primary passive strategies for maintaining cool indoor temperatures: preventing heat gain through shading and reflective materials, utilizing natural ventilation like 'night flushes', and improving interior comfort with air movement and thermal mass. For active cooling, it recommends high-efficiency options such as ductless heat pumps and heat recovery ventilators (HRVs). The document illustrates these principles through two case studies in Colorado, demonstrating how super insulation, solar PV, and passive design can maintain comfortable indoor temperatures without traditional air conditioning during extreme heat.

The policy brief addresses the 2020 California blackouts, refuting claims that renewable energy caused the outages. It identifies climate-driven extreme heat and the failure of gas generators as contributing factors. The author argues that a diverse mix of resources, including battery storage and green hydrogen, is necessary to ensure 21st-century grid reliability.

Following the rejection of the Northeast Supply Enhancement gas pipeline, New York faces a projected gas supply gap in its downstate region. While National Grid proposes a combination of LNG vaporization and gas compression upgrades, the document argues that these infrastructure investments are incompatible with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). It asserts that the state must slash gas demand by approximately 25 percent by 2030 and that investing in electrification, demand response, and energy efficiency is the most cost-effective path to ensure reliability and meet decarbonization goals.

RMI and several major oil and gas companies, including BP, Equinor, Exxon, and Shell, have condemned the US EPA's decision to stop methane emissions monitoring. RMI argues that monitoring and abatement are essential for natural gas to have any future role in the energy system, as methane is a powerful greenhouse gas with 28-36x the warming potential of carbon dioxide over 100 years. The document asserts that affordable detection technologies, such as optical gas imaging cameras, are available and that regulation is necessary to ensure all operators meet performance standards.

The policy brief examines a pilot project in Mokoloki, Nigeria, where a privately owned solar minigrid shares existing distribution infrastructure with a utility to provide reliable power to 'undergrid' customers. It proposes that India, which faces similar challenges with high technical and commercial losses (up to 40%) and unreliable rural supply, could adopt this model to enhance last-mile service and financial viability for distribution companies.

The report examines the evolving role of private financial institutions in the low-carbon transition, focusing on the alignment of portfolios with the Paris Agreement, the implementation of sustainable taxonomies, and the regulatory pressure to price climate risks effectively.

RMI urges the California Energy Commission (CEC) to implement a statewide all-electric new building code in the 2022 cycle. The document asserts that delaying this requirement until the 2025 cycle would result in 3 million additional metric tons of carbon emissions by 2030 and over $1 billion in unnecessary spending on gas infrastructure. It highlights that buildings are the primary source of premature deaths from air pollution in California, causing over 6,000 deaths annually, and that an all-electric code would support public health, especially in disadvantaged communities.

The briefing highlights the role of Energy Management Information Systems (EMIS) in decarbonizing New York City's large buildings. It notes that while many buildings have basic monitoring, they lack the analytics to optimize energy use, particularly in tenant spaces. The document asserts that EMIS can lead to a median energy consumption reduction of 8% and is essential for meeting the requirements of Local Law 97, which mandates significant greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2050.

The Mokoloki project demonstrates a new 'undergrid' business model where a private developer, Nayo Tropical Technologies, provides reliable electricity to a community within the territory of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). The pilot has achieved 99.9 percent reliability, reduced energy costs for customers by ₦20/kWh, and decreased utility losses in the area by over 90 percent. The project supports local healthcare through 24/7 power for clinics and stimulates economic growth by powering small businesses and attracting new enterprises.

The document argues that US cities require immediate federal aid to manage COVID-19 impacts, followed by strategic green stimulus investments. It proposes five specific areas for federal funding: streamlining cleantech permitting, building electric and affordable housing, supporting public transit and active transportation, enhancing infrastructure resilience, and greening urban spaces to create jobs and reduce pollution.