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The World Resources Institute describes the COP28 agreement to transition away from fossil fuels as a historic outcome but warns that the transition requires a massive scale-up in climate finance for developing countries. While praising the activation of the Loss and Damage Fund and the Global Goal on Adaptation framework, the statement criticizes the deal's failure to limit the role of carbon capture technology and the lack of quantified targets for adaptation.

The document asserts that the United States lacks a centralized plan to manage the reliable transition of its electricity sector, noting that current decarbonization targets are set without sufficient coordination to ensure grid reliability. It argues that market-based mechanisms, such as Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Energy Imbalance Markets (EIMs), are insufficient on their own to incentivize the specific generation resources needed for both resource adequacy and operating reliability. The author highlights that while New York and California are beginning to explore reliability-informed planning, a broader alignment between state policymakers, regulators, and grid operators is necessary to prevent reliability risks as fossil-fuel resources are retired.

The briefing analyzes four 2023 U.S. Congressional bills: the PROVE IT Act, which focuses on emissions intensity data; the Foreign Pollution Fee Act, which proposes fees on imports exceeding U.S. emissions averages; the Clean Competition Act, which suggests charges for both domestic and imported goods exceeding benchmarks; and the MARKET CHOICE Act, which proposes a broad carbon tax with border adjustments.

The report evaluates the alignment between international climate commitments and national transport policies in China, India, and Vietnam, highlighting the need for better cross-sectoral coordination and financing to achieve decarbonization.

The EPA is launching an EPD Assistance Program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act to support the development and standardization of Environmental Product Declarations for construction materials. The program offers grants between $250,000 and $10 million to U.S.-based manufacturers and supporting organizations to facilitate the use of low-embodied carbon materials in government procurement initiatives like Buy Clean.

The briefing identifies four critical areas for COP28 success: adopting a transformational response to the Global Stocktake, accelerating systems transformation in energy, food, and cities, responding to severe climate impacts through the Loss and Damage Fund and adaptation frameworks, and delivering scaled climate finance to vulnerable nations.

Jennifer Layke, Global Director for Energy at the World Resources Institute, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on October 22, 2023. Her testimony addressed international energy efficiency policies, programs, and partnerships, exploring how these global best practices could inform and advance energy efficiency within the United States through federal action.

The document argues that energy transition planning in Africa is hindered by polarized debates, a gap between science and policy, and the use of simplistic myths about the continent's resources. It calls for a shift toward granular, country-specific evidence to inform decisions on energy systems and the role of fossil fuels.

The briefing examines carbon mineralization as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategy, highlighting its potential to remove up to 10 gigatons of CO2 annually by 2050. It argues that while some federal funding exists, mineralization lacks the dedicated support given to direct air capture. The author calls for expanded R&D funding, demonstration projects, and updated tax credits (specifically 45Q) to scale the technology. Additionally, the document emphasizes the need for robust measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) standards and regulations to manage hazardous materials in feedstocks to ensure responsible deployment.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) reported total assets of $533,266,191 as of September 30, 2023, an increase from $384,549,025 in 2022. The organization's operating revenues for the 2023 fiscal year totaled $250,310,049, with $235,185,176 in operating expenses. An independent audit by Grant Thornton LLP issued an unmodified opinion on the financial statements and compliance for major federal programs, although a significant deficiency was identified regarding the preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). WRI's programmatic work is organized across seven critical issues, including climate, energy, and forests, with a global presence including subsidiaries and offices in India, Europe, Colombia, Kenya, China, and Ethiopia.

The World Resources Institute emphasizes that the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S. presents an opportunity for net job creation and improved wages, provided that robust policies and unionization are utilized to protect workers during the transition.

The document argues that the U.S. transition to electric vehicles risks leaving behind low-income, rural, and minority communities due to 'charging deserts' and financial barriers. It outlines five strategies for local governments to ensure equitable access: utilizing community input for siting, prioritizing multifamily housing and charging deserts, expanding urban curbside charging, increasing pricing transparency, and supporting diverse e-mobility modes. The guide emphasizes that overcoming disparities in homeownership and energy burdens is essential for a just energy transition.

As of June 2023, there are 5,982 committed electric school buses across 914 U.S. school districts or private fleet operators. Adoption is heavily driven by the EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program, which funded 39% of all committed buses. While California leads in total numbers, adoption is becoming more geographically distributed, with 49 states now having commitments. The report finds that adoption is occurring equitably, with a majority of buses located in low-income districts and areas with high air pollution. Type C buses are the most common, making up 62.5% of commitments.

The document argues that city officials face challenges in building decarbonization due to inconsistent definitions of Net Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEBs) and Zero-Carbon Buildings (ZCBs). It highlights that NZEBs often neglect embodied emissions—those released during material extraction, construction, and demolition—and advocates for the use of carbon-based life-cycle assessments (LCA) to achieve true zero carbon emissions. The guide recommends specific LCA tools such as openLCA, One Click LCA, Tally, and the EC3/Embodied Carbon Calculator, while noting that technical expertise and data quality remain barriers. Additionally, it lists several global resources and policy toolkits, including the Global Roadmap for Buildings and Construction 2020-2050 and the Carbon Leadership Forum Policy Toolkit, to help cities implement regulatory, economic, and fiscal instruments for decarbonization.

The document outlines key recommendations for the first Global Stocktake (GST) at COP28, arguing that the outcome should serve as a 'global accelerator' for climate action. It emphasizes the need for enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with ambitious 2030 and 2035 targets, supported by increased climate finance. Specific high-impact areas for acceleration include shifting away from fossil fuels, transforming food and land-use systems, decarbonizing transport, and increasing funding for adaptation and loss and damage.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is leading an initiative to replace the U.S. diesel school bus fleet with electric alternatives to improve student health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative focuses on supporting low-income communities and communities of color, collaborating with manufacturers and utilities, and engaging policymakers to remove barriers to electrification. Full fleet electrification by 2030 could reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 9 million metric tons.

The U.S. electric school bus (ESB) market is expanding, driven by the EPA's Clean School Bus Program and state-level mandates. As of December 2022, 895 districts had committed to 5,612 ESBs. While upfront costs remain three to four times higher than diesel buses, ESBs offer lower operational costs, zero tailpipe emissions, and potential grid resilience through bidirectional charging. The market currently features 24 models across Type A, C, and D buses, with a growing emphasis on repowering existing fleets to reduce costs and waste. Successful deployment requires coordinated planning between districts, utilities, and manufacturers to manage charging infrastructure and specialized maintenance training.

WRI researchers argue that global wood harvests significantly increase atmospheric carbon, with annual emissions estimated between 3.5 and 4.2 billion tons of CO2e. The document critiques 'netting' approaches that incorrectly label harvests as carbon neutral by offsetting them against unrelated forest growth. It projects a 54% increase in global wood consumption by 2050 and suggests that reducing fuelwood use and increasing plantation growth rates could mitigate these emissions.

Carbon mineralization is a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) process that accelerates the reaction between CO2 and alkaline minerals in mafic or ultramafic rocks to create solid carbonates. The document outlines in-situ (subsurface) and ex-situ (surface) approaches, noting that while the process can permanently sequester CO2 and offer co-benefits like strengthening concrete or reducing ocean acidification, it faces challenges including high energy requirements for mining and grinding, potential heavy metal contamination, and a lack of standardized measurement and monitoring protocols.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) and Earthjustice oppose the U.S. EPA's finalized Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2023-2025, which increases the required volume of biofuels in transportation fuel. WRI argues that crop-based biofuels, such as corn ethanol and soy biodiesel, are inefficient compared to electrification, threaten food security by occupying 60 million acres of U.S. farmland, and increase emissions. The organization advocates for a shift toward electric vehicles and climate-smart agriculture rather than incentivizing fuel production from crops.