The Climate Policy Lab recently updated an expansive dataset that reports global public expenditures on the research, development and demonstration of energy efficiency, fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, nuclear, hydrogen and fuel cells, power and storage technologies, other cross-cutting technologies and research and unallocated budgets from 2000 to 2022. Kate Chi examines the data’s patterns.
Read MoreThe International Energy Agency’s recent Clean Energy Innovation assessment is that more than 50% of the technologies needed for the attainment of net zero greenhouse gas emissions targets by 2050 are not yet commercialized and need rapid acceleration. Considering the global climate crisis, research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) spending on clean energy needs to be higher and more effective. Bipartisan support for spending on clean energy innovation has been a fixture of the US Congress over the past decade. Now as Congress debates the path forward for this investment, more attention should be given to how to improve outcomes from new appropriations.
Read MoreShould we be optimistic about our clean energy innovation efforts against climate change? Our new research shows that global government energy RD&D investments between 2000-2018 are decarbonizing. Nuclear has held steady, fossil fuels have decreased, and clean energy has increased. China and India have now joined the United States and Japan in the ranks of the top four countries overall. Energy RD&D by state-owned enterprises remain skewed toward fossil fuels and nuclear.
Read MoreSince the onset of the COVID crisis, economic stimulus has been re-framed as roadmaps to ‘green recovery’ or ‘building back better’. The question is whether these ideas are useful for India, especially when it is facing a longer road out of the pandemic than previously thought. Evidence supports that they are relevant, for three reasons.
Read MoreIn celebration of the 51st Earth Day, Amy Myers Jaffe discusses the US’ history with nature and its impact on the Biden Administration’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan.
Read MoreWhen leaders of the G20 met this weekend, they appeared to focus heavily on the major challenge to the global economy: a second wave of the global pandemic and the possibility of breakthrough vaccine. But always in the wings of any global economic discussion is the longer-term challenge of tackling the climate crisis. As G-20 countries consider additional economic stimulus to tackle both crises, our research shows that energy efficiency of buildings (BEE) is a comprehensive solution that can both create new, green jobs while providing a major step towards decarbonizing economies. Both the United States and China have targeted BEE in past stimulus spending. With the G-20 countries pledging to enhance their commitments under the Paris Agreement, including BEE would offer countries multiple benefits.
Read MoreIt’s been over ten years since the 2009 financial crisis economic stimulus packages targeted clean energy companies and today’s headlines highlight the payoff. Clean energy companies outperformed the S&P 500 in 2019 and looks poised to payout even more to investors in 2020. Tesla received a $465 million federal loan during the U.S. 2009 stimulus to design electric vehicles and begin manufacturing and its market capitalization surpassed that of ExxonMobil earlier this year. Tesla is not the exception to the rule. A comprehensive study of the US Department of Energy’s SBIR grant program found that the awards led to positive impacts on patenting and revenue innovative companies.
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