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The document argues that the current US electricity grid is inherently fragile due to its linear dependencies and one-way flow of services, meaning disruptions in any single component can lead to customer outages.

The document describes a workshop convened by RMI India, Rocky Mountain Institute, and NITI Aayog on 11 June 2020, which brought together 16 civil society organizations to coordinate support for India's financially struggling electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs). It introduces the Discom Transformation Platform, a hub designed to organize decarbonization efforts and address institutional and regulatory barriers in the sector.

The document discusses the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Advanced Clean Trucks regulation, which mandates that 50% of trucks in the state be zero-emission by 2035 and 100% by 2045. It suggests prioritizing battery electric vehicles (BEV) for short-haul and regional routes, while utilizing hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (HFCEV) for long-haul trucking due to range and fueling speed requirements. The author emphasizes that the transition requires massive infrastructure investment, specifically DC fast charging up to 1 MW, which can cost $100,000 per vehicle. The text advocates for collaboration between government, utilities, and industry, highlighting California's 'make ready' infrastructure support as a model for other states.

The Mokoloki project, launched in February 2020, serves as a proof-of-concept for an 'undergrid' model in Nigeria, where a solar hybrid minigrid replaces a weak grid connection through a tripartite agreement between a utility, a developer, and the community. The project has demonstrated technical reliability of 99.9% and provided economic benefits, including reduced electricity costs for customers and lower technical and commercial losses for the utility. It utilizes an operator-led business model where the developer manages generation and operations while paying a fixed monthly distribution usage fee to the utility.

The report argues that current utility regulation is incompatible with an all-electric future and proposes ten strategies to decarbonize US buildings. It emphasizes electrification via heat pumps as the primary solution, warning that alternative fuels like biomethane are costly and limited in scale. Key recommendations include reforming electricity rate designs, updating energy efficiency standards to account for total emissions, and proactively managing the retirement of gas infrastructure to avoid stranded asset risks and inequitable cost burdens on low-income customers.

The report addresses the vulnerability of energy infrastructure in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to extreme weather, arguing that while solar PV is a cost-effective alternative to imported fossil fuels, it requires specific engineering and policy standards to survive Category 5 hurricanes. Based on field analyses of failures from 2017–2019, the authors recommend moving away from shared top-down clips toward through-bolting and dual post piers for ground systems, and prohibiting ballasted-only rooftop systems. Implementing these resilience measures is estimated to increase engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) costs by approximately 5%, a cost offset by avoiding total system rebuilds. The report emphasizes multi-stakeholder collaboration and the integration of high-wind standards into local building codes to ensure long-term energy security.

The report identifies five major barriers to climate-aligned finance: structural challenges to influencing the real economy, competitive disadvantage, varying alignment methodologies, multiple decarbonization pathways, and inadequate data. It argues that while divestment alone is insufficient, financial institutions can use levers such as sustainability-linked loans, transition finance, and collective action initiatives (e.g., Climate Action 100+, Poseidon Principles) to drive decarbonization. The document emphasizes the need for harmonized assessment methodologies, industry-informed decarbonization pathways, and standardized reporting to move the financial sector from a reactive to a proactive role in the low-carbon transition.

The report identifies immediate opportunities to electrify agricultural processing in Nigeria, categorizing activities into three tiers of readiness. Tier 1 activities—cassava grating, rice milling, and flour milling—are deemed immediately viable, capable of reducing mini-grid tariffs by up to 26% if all three are implemented. The study proposes the 'Facilitator Model' for Tier 1 and the 'Processing Center Model' for Tier 2 to address barriers such as lack of credit and reliable electricity. A deployment strategy is recommended to unlock commercial finance through credit guarantees and grants, with an estimated national investment of under $30 million required for Tier 1 activities.

RMI's statement emphasizes that LGBTQ+ communities are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change due to systemic marginalization, including higher rates of homelessness and unemployment. The document highlights the work of four LGBTQ+ leaders in the United States—Rachel Kyte, Joseph Toolan, Christine Hallquist, and Paul Gestos—and identifies organizations working at the intersection of queer identity and ecological justice.

The briefing examines how advancements in battery longevity, specifically reducing degradation and increasing cycle life, can unlock new economic opportunities and technical capabilities. It highlights that while energy density and price are common focuses, cycle life is the primary barrier to the widespread adoption of fast charging, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration, and the use of second-life batteries for long-duration grid storage. The author suggests that standardized chemistries and better monitoring are necessary to build a viable second-life battery ecosystem.

RMI proposes four strategic programs to guide US economic recovery toward a zero-carbon future: a large-scale building retrofit program, investments in electrified and sustainable mobility, debt forgiveness tied to emissions reductions, and the creation of a federal facility to finance clean energy and infrastructure.

Industrial supply chains account for over 40 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, making their abatement essential for limiting global warming to 1.5°C. To achieve this, the document calls for the standardization of carbon accounting across various protocols and platforms to meet the transparency demands of investors, policymakers, and consumers.

The document describes the outcomes of the Bangalore Urban Mobility Lab, a collaborative effort by RMI, RMI India, Micelio, and the Government of Karnataka. During a workshop on 19–20 February 2020, over 150 stakeholders from government, the private sector, and civil society identified and prioritized more than ten actionable solutions to address the city's mobility challenges. The report intends to share these insights to accelerate the scaling of sustainable, clean, and citizen-centric transportation in Bangalore, while noting that the COVID-19 pandemic may require adaptations to the implementation process.

The report proposes a 'green stimulus' for the Caribbean focusing on distributed energy resources (DERs) to combat pandemic-related job losses and long-term economic vulnerability. It identifies solar PV, wind, electric vehicles (EVs), and energy efficiency as high-impact sectors for immediate employment. Beyond jobs, the document highlights how DERs improve resilience against hurricanes and economic shocks, while enabling economic diversification in sectors like agro-industry by lowering energy costs.

RMI proposes a green stimulus strategy for the United States focused on four pillars: a national building retrofit program, the electrification and diversification of mobility, debt forgiveness linked to emissions reductions, and the creation of a federal Economic Recovery Facility to finance clean projects.

The report argues that coal is no longer the cheapest power source and that a significant portion of the global coal fleet is now uncompetitive compared to new renewables with storage. It proposes a three-part approach—refinancing, reinvesting in clean energy, and providing transition financing—to overcome the barrier of legacy contracts and noncompetitive tariffs. The authors suggest that by 2025, 78% of the global coal fleet will be uncompetitive, creating an opportunity for net financial savings of over $107 billion. The report details specific financial instruments, such as ratepayer-backed securitization and carbon bonuses, and provides regional analyses for the US, EU, China, and India.

Green banks are public or quasi-public entities designed to leverage public funds to attract private capital for low-carbon, climate-resilient investments. They address market gaps by reducing perceived risks for private investors through innovative financial tools, helping countries implement their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Examples include the UK Green Investment Bank, which leveraged £4 of private investment for every £1 of public funds, and Australia's Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which has invested in over 110 transactions to avoid an estimated 190 million tons of CO2.

The construction and operation of buildings contribute nearly 40% of global CO2 emissions, yet most regulations focus only on operational carbon. This case study highlights the Meishan Near-Zero Carbon Zone in Ningbo, China, which integrates a life-cycle assessment (LCA) standard and a whole-process management mechanism to target emissions across five phases: materials production, construction, operation, demolition, and waste recycling. The document also notes international efforts, such as France's E+C- scheme and California's Buy Clean California Act, as part of a global shift toward accounting for embodied carbon in the built environment.

The guide advises utility regulators to avoid postponing key climate and energy proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic by adopting virtual engagement tools and prioritizing high-impact projects. It emphasizes that maintaining momentum on emissions reductions and utility business model reforms is critical to limiting global warming to 1.5°C and stimulating economic recovery through the clean energy sector.

The paper argues that recovery investments from the COVID-19 crisis should be strategically aligned to build a more resilient, low-carbon economy. It outlines four guiding principles: prioritizing job creation and economic growth, supporting public health and air pollution reduction, enhancing economic and climate resilience, and prioritizing decarbonization to meet Paris Agreement temperature goals.