Search Climate Insights Directory

This World Resources Institute issue brief provides guidance for nonexperts on how to evaluate computer-based climate mitigation modeling studies, emphasizing that no single model can answer all policy questions.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute evaluates the transparency of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets in the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) of eight major emitting economies. Using the 'Open Book' framework, the paper identifies transparency gaps that hinder the assessment of national and global ambition, particularly regarding land-sector accounting and market mechanisms. It provides estimated emissions trajectories through 2030 to quantify uncertainties resulting from these gaps and offers recommendations for governments and UNFCCC negotiators to improve reporting clarity.

This research paper examines the trends and drivers of China's overseas investments in the wind and solar industries, analyzing at least 124 investments across 33 countries over a ten-year period.

This briefing argues that scaling PAYG energy access in Kenya and Tanzania requires approximately one billion dollars and a shift toward local currency financing. It recommends that international DFIs and donors use credit guarantees and 'fund of funds' to encourage local commercial banks to lend to the sector, thereby reducing the current dominance of foreign-owned companies and lowering barriers for local entrepreneurs.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute and Climate Finance Advisors, produced for the Global Commission on Adaptation, assesses the landscape of public international funding—specifically climate finance and Official Development Assistance (ODA)—for nature-based solutions for climate adaptation (NbSA) in developing countries.

This issue brief by the World Resources Institute and Cardno ENTRIX argues that the $40 billion US landscape management industry fails to capture the full economic, social, and environmental value of ecosystem services. It identifies seven key services—including carbon sequestration and water retention—and proposes a conceptual framework to standardize the quantification and valuation of these services in urban and suburban landscapes.

This guide by the World Resources Institute provides a framework for community engagement in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects, targeting project developers, regulators, and local communities to foster two-way communication and respect for local values during the deployment of climate mitigation technologies.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute (WRI) provides recommendations for developing accounting guidance for the mitigation components of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, intended to fill the gap in comprehensive guidance from the UNFCCC.

This research paper analyzes the current state of measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) for novel carbon dioxide removal (CDR) within U.S. federal policy, arguing that existing requirements are inconsistent and recommending the establishment of a centralized federal MRV function based on seven guiding principles.

This technical note outlines the methodology used by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Data for Progress to create the Database of Community Benefits Frameworks Across the US, detailing the database's motivations and selection criteria for included frameworks.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute analyzes the environmental impacts of harvesting corn stover for cellulosic ethanol production in the United States, highlighting risks to soil carbon, nutrient pollution, and erosion, while evaluating the effectiveness of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) to mitigate these effects.

This working paper, produced by the World Resources Institute in partnership with Ørsted, examines the barriers preventing private sector investment in renewable energy and proposes policy solutions for governments to accelerate the energy transition.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) developed a dataset of U.S. school bus fleets by requesting records from state governments between March and November 2022. Covering 46 states and the District of Columbia, the data includes fuel types, model years, and seating capacities to help plan for electrification and grid upgrades. The dataset excludes four states (Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, and New Hampshire) and all U.S. territories.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the role and evolution of sovereign parametric insurance pools—specifically CCRIF, ARC, and PCRIC—in helping developing countries manage the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters.

This fact sheet by the World Resources Institute outlines how Missouri can utilize existing policies, infrastructure, and expanded clean energy goals to reduce power sector carbon dioxide emissions and meet EPA targets.

This research paper examines how land compensation and resettlement frameworks in Tanzania and Mozambique marginalize rural women. It finds that women are often excluded from decision-making and compensation payments due to subordinate household roles and legal gaps that ignore subsistence farming and communal resource use. The paper recommends mandatory joint compensation, gender quotas in governance, and legally binding commitments for infrastructure and employment to ensure gender equity.

The Guide to Purchasing Green Power is a joint publication by the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, World Resources Institute, and Center for Resource Solutions. It provides an overview of green power markets and outlines the steps for organizations to purchase green power.

This report examines the biophysical effects of deforestation on climate stability beyond carbon sequestration, arguing that current policies undervalue forest services and fail to account for impacts on local temperatures, rainfall, and human health.

This report, a collaboration between the World Resources Institute and the Goldman Sachs Center for Environmental Markets, analyzes the policy and market structures necessary to deploy low-carbon technologies to mitigate climate change. It utilizes a "wedges" framework to examine the interaction between technology, investment, and policy to stabilize global emissions.

This report by the World Resources Institute identifies technological, financial, and institutional barriers to the adoption of electric buses, drawing on 16 case studies to provide a guide for planning officials, particularly in the global south.