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The document details the response to the 2017 closure of the 1.6 GW coal-fired Hazelwood Power Station, which resulted in a net loss of approximately 500 jobs. It highlights a multi-sectoral approach involving federal and state funding, the creation of the Latrobe Valley Authority, and the innovative Latrobe Valley Worker Transfer Partnership Scheme, which redeployed younger workers to other power plants by offering early retirement to older employees. By November 2019, 74% of former Hazelwood employees were re-employed or retired.

The Ethiopia Electric Utility (EEU) is working to increase women's representation in the electricity sector, targeting 30% female employment by 2023. These efforts include STEM scholarships, internships, the establishment of childcare centers, and the creation of policies to combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence. The program is supported by a $4.5 million allocation within the Ethiopia Electrification Program (ELEAP), funded by the World Bank and other grants.

The briefing proposes a federal low-carbon product standard for the U.S. cement and steel sectors to drive decarbonization. It suggests setting declining emissions intensity benchmarks and allowing the trading of emissions credits among producers and importers. For cement, the author recommends regulating the cement itself rather than concrete for administrative ease. For steel, the focus is placed on intermediate fabricated products. The document emphasizes that such a standard should include both direct and indirect emissions and be supported by price ceilings and floors to manage credit costs. Implementation via new legislation is preferred over the Clean Air Act to ensure coverage of imports and upstream emissions. Potential abatement technologies highlighted include fuel switching, carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS), energy efficiency, and hydrogen-based steel production.

The CLEAN Future Act of 2021 proposes a national goal of a 100% clean economy by 2050, with an interim target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030 from 2005 levels. The legislation emphasizes 'climate federalism' by requiring states to develop emissions-reduction plans, and it integrates environmental justice through grants and increased air quality monitoring in burdened communities. Key sector-specific proposals include a Clean Electricity Standard requiring 100% zero-emissions power by 2035, over $100 billion for transportation electrification, and significant investments in building energy efficiency and industrial decarbonization. However, the document notes the bill lacks a national emissions cap for non-electricity sources and a mandate to phase out the sale of polluting vehicles.

The World Resources Institute notes that China's 14th Five-Year Plan confirms pledges to peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, while setting specific 2025 targets for carbon intensity and non-fossil energy consumption. However, the statement argues that the plan lacks critical details on how these goals will be achieved and suggests that additional actions beyond the plan are necessary to reach net zero by 2060.

The paper proposes a tradable performance standard for the U.S. cement industry that sets an emissions intensity benchmark. Producers exceeding the benchmark must surrender credits, while those below it generate tradable credits, creating a financial incentive for decarbonization. The authors recommend a standard covering Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions per unit of clinker and mineral additives, with stringency increasing annually. To prevent carbon leakage, the standard would apply to both domestic production and imports. The paper emphasizes that this standard must be part of a broader policy suite, including innovation funding and market-demand policies, to address the high costs and technical barriers of deep decarbonization technologies like carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS).

The paper argues that a low-carbon product standard—a market-based regulation establishing emissions intensity benchmarks with tradable credits—can incentivize the U.S. steel industry to adopt abatement technologies. It recommends regulating finished steel products (sheets, plates, bars, beams, pipes, and tubes) at the point of first sale, covering Scope 1, Scope 2, and significant upstream Scope 3 emissions (coke, lime, and direct-reduced iron). To prevent carbon leakage and maintain competitiveness, the authors suggest applying the standard to all steel products sold or imported into the U.S., including indirect steel products above a certain value threshold. The paper emphasizes that while such a standard is a powerful tool, it must be complemented by R&D funding, government procurement, and other policies to achieve full decarbonization.

The World Resources Institute recommends that the US target a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. This target is presented as achievable through an "All-in" strategy combining federal and local action, with the power sector providing over 60% of the necessary reductions. The briefing asserts that this transition would create millions of jobs, with renewable energy investments generating more than twice the jobs of fossil fuel spending. Furthermore, it argues that such a target is essential for the US to regain international credibility and inspire other major emitters ahead of COP26.

The document argues that the U.S. energy system is characterized by major inequities where low-income households and communities of color spend a disproportionate share of their income on energy. It asserts that without strategic intervention, federal clean energy investments will not be distributed equitably. The author recommends that the federal government use targeted spending—such as grants, loans, and technical assistance—paired with data-driven programming, community-led design, and high-quality job requirements to ensure a just transition.

The briefing outlines the challenges and solutions for electrifying the US federal fleet, which includes 225,000 postal, 173,000 military, and 245,000 civilian vehicles. It recommends creating a national EV roadmap, resolving grid constraints through microgrids and storage, leveraging bidirectional charging for grid co-benefits, and permanently retiring old vehicles to prevent emissions leakage via exports. The author emphasizes that the federal government's procurement power can reduce supply chain costs and provide a model for other fleets globally.

Developing countries are increasingly facing 'compound shocks'—simultaneous or sequential disruptive events like pandemics, economic crises, and climate-driven disasters—which deplete budgets and cause cascading system failures. The authors argue that the current disaster risk finance architecture over-incentivizes ex post relief over ex ante preparedness. To address this, they propose that the World Bank's IDA offer softer financing terms (higher grant components) to countries that commit to specific resilience investments in data collection, regulatory reform, budgetary frameworks, and early warning systems. Additionally, they recommend introducing automatic 'disaster clauses' in IDA debt to defer payments following major shocks, similar to models used by Grenada and Barbados. Finally, the document proposes transforming the Global Risk Financing Facility (GRiF) into a Financial Intermediary Fund (FIF) to increase its operational independence, broaden its donor base beyond Germany and the United Kingdom, and better support regional risk pools and risk measurement capacity.

The document examines the role of nature-based solutions (NBS) in corporate net-zero strategies, emphasizing that while NBS can provide critical finance for conservation and significant co-benefits for biodiversity, they must not substitute for direct fossil fuel abatement. It details 'demand-side' risks, such as the potential for offsets to dilute corporate ambition, and 'supply-side' risks, including leakage, permanence, and additionality. The authors advocate for a 'both/and' approach combining aggressive internal decarbonization with high-quality NBS credits, preferably shifting from project-based to jurisdictional-scale crediting to improve integrity.

The paper examines the GCF's 'direct access' modality, which allows developing country institutions to receive funding without international intermediaries. While 62 such entities were accredited by November 2020, 42 (67%) had not yet received project approval. The authors analyze four support mechanisms—the Readiness Programme, Project Preparation Facility (PPF), Simplified Approval Process (SAP), and Enhancing Direct Access pilot—finding that high costs, complex application processes, and restrictive funding rules create significant bottlenecks. The paper recommends automating 'kick-off' funding upon accreditation, streamlining the SAP, and allowing preparatory funds to cover internal staff time.

The paper evaluates physical climate risk guidance from six major disclosure initiatives (CDP, CDSB, NFRD, GRI, SASB, and TCFD) against IPCC standards. It finds significant gaps in terminology, hazard coverage, and the availability of quantitative metrics, suggesting that private sector entities may be overlooking critical risks. The authors propose the development of open-source scientific translations, peer-reviewed datasets, and a standardized science-based risk assessment framework to improve corporate resilience and financial decision-making.

The briefing outlines a strategic framework for the Biden Administration to reengage in global climate action through four priorities: fulfilling and doubling the U.S. pledge to the Green Climate Fund, contributing to other multilateral institutions like the Adaptation Fund, integrating climate considerations across all development funding, and pushing multilateral development banks to align with the Paris Agreement.

The document serves as a guide for state policymakers to assess the viability of renewable natural gas (RNG)—also called biomethane or upgraded biogas—in meeting climate and waste management goals. It specifically addresses the ease of project deployment, the potential for RNG to contribute to environmental targets, and the trade-offs involved when comparing RNG to other decarbonization strategies.

The briefing outlines a strategy for the U.S. federal government to support fossil fuel workers facing displacement due to the energy transition and the economic impact of COVID-19. It proposes three immediate federal interventions: employing workers to rehabilitate abandoned coal mines and plug orphan oil and gas wells, expanding funding for existing economic development programs like the POWER Initiative and the EDA ACC program, and utilizing innovative financial mechanisms such as securitization to lower costs for ratepayers and fund community support. For long-term stability, the author advocates for a comprehensive federal energy transition adjustment assistance program modeled after the Department of Labor's Trade Adjustment Assistance, providing retraining, relocation allowances, and wage insurance.

The guide argues that water and food security decisions must be accompanied by social analyses to identify and protect vulnerable groups based on sex, ethnicity, income, and race. It outlines the core objectives of social analysis, such as ensuring inclusivity in decision-making and protecting customary rights to land and water. The text illustrates potential negative impacts through scenarios, including the increased burden on women in Malawi and the marginalization of pastoralists in the Sahel. It further warns that irrigation projects in Bangladesh and Pakistan can divert domestic water to farms, and that large-scale infrastructure, such as India's UKP dam, can cause mass displacement. To support these analyses, the document lists resources from organizations like the World Bank, FAO, and UNDP, and provides a framework of critical questions regarding who benefits from and who is adversely impacted by development projects.

The document discusses the United States' re-entry into the Paris Agreement under President Biden and emphasizes the need for ambitious 2030 climate targets and increased climate finance to restore credibility and drive a green recovery.

Andrew Steer, President & CEO of the World Resources Institute, argues that the Biden-Harris administration must prioritize climate action by reentering the Paris Agreement, reversing previous environmental rollbacks, and investing in clean energy to stimulate the economy and restore U.S. global standing.