Search Climate Insights Directory

The Government of Tonga developed its long-term strategy for a low-emission and resilient future using a consensus-based stakeholder engagement process supported by Relative Creative, Climateworks, and the Global Green Growth Institute. Due to limited emissions data, the process relied on qualitative 'divergent' and 'convergent' thinking workshops conducted primarily in Tongan with local facilitators. This cross-sectoral approach, involving government, industry, and civil society, is now regarded by the Tongan government as a 'gold standard' for future policy development.

Canada has established a legal framework centered on the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act (2021), which mandates a binding process for setting emission targets and reporting progress. This system is supported by the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, carbon pricing via the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, and the creation of an independent Net Zero Advisory Body that integrates scientific and Indigenous knowledge.

Uruguay transitioned its power sector by implementing the Uruguay Wind Energy Program in 2007, which combined a $1 million Global Environment Facility grant with $6 million in national funding. The program utilized reverse-auctions, feed-in tariffs, and workforce training to reduce reliance on oil imports, which had previously comprised 30%-40% of the power mix during drought years. Consequently, wind energy now generates approximately 40% of the country's electricity, with generation near 5,000 gigawatt hours. The government is now applying similar strategies to solar power and exploring offshore wind for green hydrogen production to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

Sweden adopted a net-zero target in 2017 with a broad scope, limited offsets, and interim targets for 2020, 2030, and 2040. To ensure durability, the country passed the Climate Act, which mandates a climate action plan every four years, annual budget alignment, and oversight by an independent Climate Policy Council. While emissions have generally declined since the 1990s and the 2020 interim target was met, recent political changes—including the removal of a dedicated Ministry for Climate and Environment and a reduction in biofuels requirements—have led to concerns about the deprioritization of near-term action in the December 2023 Climate Action Plan.

The Rodrigo Bueno neighborhood in Buenos Aires transitioned from an informal settlement facing high climatic risks and eviction threats to a resilient community through a collaborative strategy initiated in 2016. The Buenos Aires Housing Institute utilized a 'Territorial Team' to build trust with residents over eight years, leading to the formal recognition of land ownership in 2017 and the construction of 611 energy-efficient housing units with solar-powered water heating. Climate resilience efforts included canal remediation with a stormwater control system and a retaining wall to mitigate flooding. Additionally, the project fostered economic opportunities, such as the La Vivera Organica plant nursery founded in 2019, which provides local produce and connects the community to the broader city.

The US electric school bus (ESB) market is expanding rapidly, with 12,167 commitments across 1,514 districts as of June 2024. While upfront costs remain three to four times higher than diesel buses, federal programs like the EPA's Clean School Bus Program and the Inflation Reduction Act provide significant subsidies. The market now offers 26 models across Types A, C, and D, with nameplate ranges between 100 and 300 miles. The transition involves complex integration of high-voltage vehicle systems, charging hardware (Level 2 and Level 3 DCFC), and charge management software to optimize costs and grid impact. Emerging solutions like repowering existing diesel buses offer a lower-cost alternative, typically ranging from $110,000 to $180,000.

The August 2024 RAMP Roundup details the initiative's efforts to enhance climate resilience through strategic engagements with government ministries and universities in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. Key activities include the launch of a 'Foundations Course' in Uganda, the use of the IMF's DIGNAD model for macro-climate modelling, and the establishment of a University Network Seminar Series. The newsletter also highlights research grants on disaster risk management and adaptation finance in Tanzania, Bangladesh, and sub-Saharan Africa, while noting that every dollar invested in adaptation can yield a return of $2 to $10.

The Kham River Restoration Initiative in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India, has transformed a polluted seasonal river into a community asset. Through a coalition of municipal leadership and community groups, the project implemented an Urban River Management Plan, restored 54 acres of riparian zone, and integrated informal waste pickers into formal municipal employment. These efforts have reduced flood risk, improved public health, and restored the city's cultural connection to the waterway.

The testimony by Dr. Karl Hausker of the World Resources Institute outlines decarbonization strategies for the United States, including energy efficiency, electrification, clean electricity generation, and carbon capture and storage, to align with the 1.5°C warming limit established by the 2018 IPCC report.

The World Resources Institute calls on the new UK government to accelerate national climate policies, rebuild trust with the Global South through increased climate finance, and lead international efforts on biodiversity and energy transitions.

As of June 2024, the U.S. has 12,164 committed electric school buses, with 67% funded by the EPA's Clean School Bus Program. Adoption is widespread across 49 states, with California leading in total numbers, while the Southeast has seen significant recent growth. The report finds that deployment is increasingly equitable, with a majority of buses now located in high-poverty districts and areas with high air pollution, though adult asthma rates show a more even distribution.

The paper identifies systemic barriers in US school transportation, such as unreliable wheelchair lifts and the segregation of disabled students into separate buses. It argues that the transition to electric school buses (ESBs) presents an opportunity to improve health and equity, particularly for students of color in underresourced areas, provided that disabled youth are included in decision-making and universal design is adopted. The authors highlight the 'early adopter tax' and the risk of 'echo exposure'—where old diesel buses are transferred to other vulnerable community settings—and recommend that policymakers prioritize funding for accessible ESBs and enforce compliance with the ADA and IDEA.

The paper examines the barriers faced by students with disabilities during the transition to electric school buses in the US. It highlights systemic failures in current transportation, such as broken wheelchair lifts and the segregation of disabled students onto separate buses. The authors argue for the application of Disability Justice and Environmental Justice frameworks to ensure that the transition prioritizes marginalized communities and incorporates Universal Design. Key recommendations include involving disabled youth in decision-making, improving infrastructure like sidewalks, and ensuring that electric buses are more accessible than the gas-powered vehicles they replace.

The transition to electric vehicles in the U.S. is expected to significantly disrupt auto manufacturing jobs, particularly those tied to internal combustion engine components. While battery manufacturing and software-related roles are poised for growth, the shift requires a transition from mechanical to electrochemical production processes, necessitating new digital and chemical skills. The document also highlights risks to job quality, noting a trend of EV investment in non-union Southern states and the impact of AI and vertical integration on the supply chain.

The briefing examines the ongoing negotiations for the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, focusing on seven critical areas of contention: the financial target amount, the identity of contributing countries, the applicable time frame, the inclusion of loss and damage, alignment with Article 2.1(c) of the Paris Agreement, the quality of finance (concessionality, accessibility, predictability, and effectiveness), and the mechanisms for transparently tracking progress.

The document addresses the humanitarian and environmental crisis caused by record-breaking rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, affecting nearly 1.5 million people. It attributes the severity of the disaster to both global greenhouse gas emissions from wealthy nations and domestic failures, including the dismantling of environmental legislation and a lack of integrated disaster management. The author advocates for a transition from 20th-century concrete infrastructure to 21st-century nature-based solutions and integrated urban land use management to enhance climate resilience.

The U.S. cement industry is more emissions-intensive than global peers due to a higher clinker-to-cement ratio. The document advocates for the use of blended cements—which replace clinker with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)—as a primary near-term decarbonization lever. While the adoption of Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) has increased, the author argues that more aggressive substitution standards, such as those for limestone calcined clay (LC3), and demand-side procurement policies are necessary to reach net-zero goals.

The document provides a detailed update on the climate trajectories of China and the U.S., highlighting China's rapid expansion of non-fossil energy capacity and the U.S.'s implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It details specific national policies, such as China's '1+N' system and the U.S.'s EPA rules on power plants and vehicles, while analyzing the diplomatic dynamics following the Sunnylands Statement and the transition of key climate envoys.

Chile has transitioned from a centralized climate policy model, where the Ministry of the Environment held sole responsibility, to a decentralized system under the 2022 Climate Change Framework Law. This law assigns net-zero responsibilities to 17 government ministries, regional authorities, and municipal governments, supported by new national bodies including the Council of Ministers for Sustainability and Climate Change and a Scientific Advisory Committee. The governance shift has enabled the rapid development of policy instruments, such as greenhouse gas emissions standards, and the creation of sectoral carbon budgets with associated budgetary sanctions for non-compliance.

France has integrated climate considerations into its annual budgetary process through a 'Green Budget' published in 2021, which rates all State expenditures on their environmental impact. This system uses a five-category scale and six environmental goals to ensure government agencies consider net-zero progress in their spending. A notable application was the 2021 COVID-19 recovery plan, which mandated that 30% of its funds be allocated to favorably rated green investments.