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1,869 documents from World Resources Institute
Transport Emissions & Social Cost Assessment: Methodology Guide
The Transport Emissions & Social Cost Assessment (TESCA) guide establishes a macro-level framework to quantify emissions and monetize social costs for 18 transport modes. It targets developing regions where statistical systems are weak, providing a process that includes data quality analysis, emissions inventory estimation, and the calculation of eco-efficiency indicators. The methodology was tested in Chengdu, China, and aims to support more cost-efficient policy-making by highlighting the uncertainties inherent in social cost and health cost data.
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Document type: Guide
Integration of an Energy Modeling Tool in a State’s Power Sector Planning Process—A Tamil Nadu Case Study
The document examines the application of the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) in Tamil Nadu to help state planners design low-carbon energy pathways. It highlights Tamil Nadu's significant renewable energy potential and current capacity, while warning that continuing current trends without intervention will lead to a sharp increase in emissions due to thermal energy generation. The study argues for an integrated planning approach that includes phasing down inefficient thermal plants, managing capacity additions to avoid surpluses, and implementing demand-side energy-efficiency measures.
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Document type: Case study
Moving the Green Belt and Road Initiative: From Words to Actions
The analysis finds that despite high-level green objectives, the vast majority of Chinese BRI investments in energy and transportation from 2014 to 2017 were tied to fossil fuels and traditional infrastructure. While private Chinese enterprises showed a higher preference for renewables, state-owned enterprises and major banks remained focused on carbon-intensive sectors. The report argues that aligning BRI special funds with NDCs could catalyze significant low-carbon development, provided that BRI countries improve the quantitative granularity of their NDCs to better signal investment needs to market actors.
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Document type: Executive summary
Critical Minerals for India's Clean Energy Transition
The document analyzes the factors contributing to the 'criticality' of minerals in India, emphasizing that supply vulnerabilities arise from domestic scarcity and extreme import dependence. It highlights that India's net zero goals will drive significant demand for mineral-intensive technologies, specifically electric vehicle (EV) batteries and battery energy storage systems (BESS). The paper argues that mineral criticality is shaped by economic, social, and technical factors, and that India's specific vulnerabilities fall under the pillars of security, resilience, and sustainable supplies.
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Document type: Research paper
Independent Forest Monitoring in the Congo Basin: Taking Stock and Thinking Ahead
The paper analyzes 20 years of independent forest monitoring (IFM) in the Congo Basin, noting that while IFM has led to the withdrawal of illegal forest titles and improved governance, its activity levels have declined since its early years. It suggests that the IFM model should be expanded to agricultural commodities and REDD+ projects, supported by institutionalized policy reform and long-term funding.
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Document type: Research paper
Guide for Designing Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Programs
The guide outlines a four-step process for establishing mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting programs: determining objectives, creating an enabling environment, determining structure and requirements, and conducting reviews. It identifies six key design elements—coverage, calculation methodologies, reporting requirements, platforms/disclosure, verification, and enforcement—to ensure data reliability and transparency. While focused on mandatory programs, the guidance is also applicable to voluntary reporting frameworks.
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Document type: Guide
Foundational Questions on Carbon Removal in the United States
The document argues that carbon removal is necessary to meet Paris Agreement temperature targets, as emissions reductions alone are insufficient. It advocates for a portfolio-based approach to carbon removal technologies to manage uncertainty and risks, emphasizing the need for effective governance and safeguards to prevent the displacement of food production or ecosystem loss.
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Document type: Research paper
Calculating Indicators From Global Geospatial Data Sets for Benchmarking and Tracking Change in the Urban Environment
The document outlines a methodology for calculating urban indicators using open-source geospatial data and zonal statistics, enabling cities to benchmark their performance against global goals like the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Document type: Briefing
Drylands, People, and Ecosystem Goods and Services
The report provides a global, map-based analysis of dryland ecosystems, examining their capacity to provide essential goods and services such as food, water, and carbon storage to support human livelihoods.
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Document type: Report
Improving Productivity and Environmental Performance of Aquaculture
To meet projected global demand, aquaculture production must increase from 67 million tons in 2012 to approximately 140 million tons by 2050. While this growth could provide 14 percent of the additional animal protein needed by 2050, it poses significant environmental challenges. The report finds that 'business as usual' growth would likely double most environmental impacts, though specific scenarios involving renewable energy and improved efficiency could mitigate these effects. The authors recommend a combination of technological innovation in breeding and feeds, spatial planning, shifted incentives, advanced information technology for monitoring, and a dietary shift toward low-trophic species like tilapia and carp to ensure sustainable intensification.
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Document type: Report
Unlocking the Potential for Transformative Climate Adaptation in Cities
The document examines the transition from incremental urban adaptation to transformative climate adaptation, which focuses on systemic changes to address equity and climate justice challenges to ensure inclusive and resilient urban futures.
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Document type: Research paper
Changing the Demand Preference for Electric Vehicles in Ho Chi Minh City: Costs and Benefits From Incentives in the Early Stages of Adoption
The analysis finds that financial incentives and charging station deployment would yield net-positive benefits in Ho Chi Minh City during early EV adoption, with a benefit-cost ratio between 1.69 and 1.86 over eight years.
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Document type: Research paper
Land Emissions and Removals Navigator (LEARN) Tool: Data Sources and Calculation Methods, Version 1.1
The Land Emissions and Removals Navigator (LEARN) is a free, interactive web tool designed to help U.S. cities, counties, and municipalities analyze the greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of forests and trees at a community scale. Developed by the World Resources Institute, ICLEI, and partners, the tool provides automated spatial analysis to support data-driven planning and monitoring of nature-based solutions. It utilizes national datasets from the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Geological Survey to estimate carbon emissions and removals resulting from land cover change, forest disturbances, and changes to tree canopy on non-forest lands. The tool is intended to complement ICLEI's U.S. Community Protocol’s Appendix J: Forests and Trees to assist local leaders in aligning their actions with state and national mitigation targets.
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Document type: Guide
The Impacts of Wholesale Market Rules and Policies on Clean Energy Goals: A Primer for Local Governments
The document outlines the challenges local governments face within Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) and Independent System Operator (ISO) territories, specifically regarding transmission access, interconnection queues, and outdated market rules. It argues that strategic engagement at the RTO or Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) level, including leveraging FERC Order No. 2222 for distributed generation, can help local governments overcome these barriers to accelerate clean energy deployment.
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Document type: Research paper
Questions and Answers for Investors on Climate Risk
The document serves as a resource for investors worldwide, offering explanations and resources on the reality of human-caused climate change, the nature of climate-related financial risks, and strategies for portfolio management such as screening and rebalancing.
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Document type: Report
Power Sector Opportunities Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions Arkansas
WRI analysis indicates that Arkansas could reduce power sector CO2 emissions by 39 percent below 2011 levels by 2020 through a combination of infrastructure optimization and clean energy strategies. Key opportunities include increasing the utilization of natural gas plants to 75 percent, expanding combined heat and power (CHP) systems, improving coal plant efficiency, meeting energy efficiency targets, and increasing renewable energy sources to 15 percent of the state's electricity.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Monitoring Implementation and Effects of GHG Mitigation Policies: Steps to Develop Performance Indicators
The document outlines a three-step process for developing performance indicators to track GHG mitigation policies: formulating a list of possible indicators, selecting a feasible subset based on six guiding principles, and establishing a data collection and monitoring plan. It categorizes indicators into five primary types—input, activity, intermediate effect, GHG effects, and non-GHG effects—to assess both the delivery of resources and the resulting environmental, social, and economic changes.
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Document type: Research paper
Identifying Priority Behavior Change Solutions to Key Drivers of Household Food Waste in the United States
The report identifies key behavioral drivers of household food waste in the US, including forgetting food, lack of knowledge on food use, over-preparation, and time constraints. It argues that these drivers stem from gaps in consumer opportunity and ability, calling for retailers, policymakers, and civil society to implement targeted interventions to reduce waste and emissions.
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Document type: Report
Evaluating the Energy Security Implications of a Carbon-Constrained U.S. Economy
The document evaluates eight 2035 energy scenarios for the U.S. under a 450 ppm CO2 constraint, analyzing eleven energy security factors. It concludes that while some insecurity is inevitable during the transition, the costs and risks of meeting greenhouse gas goals can be minimized through the sustained development and global deployment of advanced low-carbon technologies, provided that policymakers balance aggressive action with the stability of existing fuel systems.
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Document type: Research paper
Building Blocks for a Low-Carbon Economy: Catalytic Policy and Infrastructure for Decarbonizing the United States by 2050
The paper evaluates policy packages and infrastructure investments needed to meet the Biden administration's goals of reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 50–52% by 2030 and reaching net-zero by 2050. It concludes that while tax credits and infrastructure investments accelerate technology adoption, they must be paired with performance standards and negative emissions technologies to achieve midcentury goals. The analysis finds that decarbonizing the U.S. economy is economically feasible, with projected net savings of 0.3 percent of U.S. GDP by 2050 relative to a reference scenario.
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Document type: Research paper