The global finance sector occupies a unique position in the net-zero transition, sitting above the real economy and shaping capital flows that will determine the pace and scale of decarbonization. To stay on track for a 1.5-degree-C pathway, investment must increase nearly fivefold to $7.4 trillion annually by 2030, according to the Climate Policy Initiative. […]
As communities face increasing disruptions from extreme weather and other emergencies, residents need safe and accessible places to go. Resilience hubs—enhanced community centers or spaces that support the community daily, as well as before, during, and after emergencies—are one solution. Many organizations and local governments already operate resilience hubs or hub-like facilities. Increasing climate impacts […]
The context for reaching agreement on the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) at the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) was challenging. The coming year will be no easier—the high cost of capital combined with significant upfront capital requirements for renewable energy technologies and regulatory barriers are among the main challenges to scaling up climate finance […]
Compared to command-and-control regulations, carbon pricing is a market-based mechanism that creates financial incentives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Thirteen states that are home to over a 30 percent of the U.S. population and account for more than 36 percent of U.S. gross domestic product have active carbon-pricing programs and are successfully reducing emissions. […]
There is introspection in the aftermath of every Conference of Parties (COP) as to whether the Paris Agreement (PA), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) climate regime more widely, are working. COP29 is no exception, and has resulted in more commentary than usual on the functioning of the Paris Agreement. There […]
The latest report from the Alliance for a Sustainable Future – a joint effort of C2ES and The U.S. Conference of Mayors to help cities and businesses collaborate on sustainable development— highlights city-oriented case studies that advance climate resilience. One of the goals of the Alliance is to inform mayors, local officials, and business leaders […]
In 2022, Congress passed legislation that included nearly two dozen tax provisions focused on accelerating the transition to a clean economy. These tax credits provide generational economy-wide benefits, which include incentivizing private sector investment, revitalizing U.S. manufacturing, creating good-paying jobs, and securing energy independence. This factsheet explains those tax credits and their impact on clean […]
Dubbed the “finance COP” for the milestone adoption of a New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance (NCQG), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, achieved some success but left a number of important issues open. More specifically, COP29 delivered on its two main […]
This map and related materials pertaining to all types of extreme weather can be found here. Last updated January 2025.
There are various market-based approaches to pricing carbon (e.g., carbon tax, cap and trade, clean energy standard). All of these approaches can reduce emissions cost-effectively while driving clean energy innovation. This factsheet compares three carbon tax proposals and two cap-and-invest proposal introduced in the 118th Congress (2023–2024). Carbon pricing offers a cost-effective way to reduce […]
