Scalable models for climate justice and equity

We're just starting to see the potential of #AI to address climate challenges, but it's crucial to integrate #climatejustice into these techniques to avoid perpetuating existing inequalities. Recently, a group of researchers did just that, by integrating #equity into an optimization model for city-scale residential heating #decarbonization. Utilizing real-world city data, the model determined which segments of the gas network to decommission, identified the optimal homes for #heatpumps, and pinpointed new transformer locations, all while aiming to maximize emissions reduction within budget limits. One optimization was "equity-aware"(d), while others did were not (b/c), resulting in different outcomes. Without considering equity, the model favored high-income households, who consume more energy and typically live at network peripheries. The "equity-aware" approach, however, split the budget evenly across income tracts. The result was that the "equity-aware" plan resulted in marginally less emissions reduction but benefitted 14% more households. This can be seen in the graphic below by comparing the dots (transitioned homes) between (c) and (d). Given the health and economic benefits of residential decarbonization, as well as historic responsibility, this minor trade-off seems worthwhile. Read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/giKYA8HF Researchers: Adam Lechowicz, Noman Bashir, John Wamburu, Mohammad Hajiesmaili, Prashant Shenoy

Last week, the #ResidentialRetrofitsforEnergyEquity(R2E2) initiative released an authoritative Playbook designed to navigate the complexities of energy upgrade financing models, economic inclusion, and community engagement. One of the most noteworthy elements of the Playbook is found in Section 2: Actions and Best Practices, particularly under the “Identify Program Focus Areas” header. This section underscores the significance of the 2021 High-Road Workforce Guide for City Climate Action. The #HighRoadWorkforceGuide, developed in collaboration with the Bloomberg Philanthropies' American Cities Climate Challenge, offers city staff, elected officials, and advocates a strategic framework for supporting high-road workforce development. This approach is aimed at creating a qualified local workforce to meet ambitious climate goals while advancing racial equity in workforce programs. With the infusion of billions of dollars from the #InflationReductionAct(IRA), the 2021 #BipartisanInfrastructureLaw(BIL), and other federal sources, there is an unprecedented opportunity to address the critical issue of energy inefficiency in low- and moderate-income homes while reimagining and focusing on equitable workforce development. Explore the Playbook to learn more about its recommendations for energy upgrade programs, actions for program administrators, and best practices aimed at improving health outcomes, lowering energy bills, and strengthening local economies. Overall, I found the user experience and methodologies to be straightforward, making it a comprehensive read filled with an abundance of case studies that reflect real-life applications of the suggestions offered. The hyperlinked report and site attachments are also highly valuable. At the intersection of climate action and economic recovery, the #R2E2 Playbook serves as an excellent tool that offers practical and digestible guidance. I encourage everyone to bookmark the link and share it with Environmental Justice and Community-Based Organizations in your networks! Congratulations to Annika Brindel, Ian Becker, and to the Playbook’s collaborative efforts as a whole, produced by The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Elevate , Emerald Cities Collaborative, and HR&A Advisors. This playbook is a good reminder to embrace a future where energy-efficient homes are a standard, not a luxury, and where every community, especially those historically divested, can thrive. #R2E2 #Workforce #EconomicInclusion  #EnergyEquity

💸 THE FUTURE OF CLIMATE FINANCE: 5 EMERGING MODELS THAT WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING We talk about trillions, yet many communities can’t access even millions. But I’ve seen a shift. After 18 years in this field — from UN negotiations to community projects — I’ve watched these models rise, often against the odds. ✅ Let’s talk about five that are changing how climate finance flows: 1️⃣ Debt-for-Nature Swaps 2.0 Not just restructuring debt. This is about creating real sovereignty. 🌿 Countries like Seychelles and Ecuador are combining debt relief with conservation and resilience, backed by private and philanthropic capital. 2️⃣ Blended Finance Platforms When markets hesitate, blended finance steps in. 💰 By mixing public, private, and philanthropic funds, these platforms unlock projects that traditional banks won’t touch — especially in adaptation. 3️⃣ Nature-Based Carbon Markets It’s no longer just about offsets. It’s about integrity. 🌱 Strong MRV systems and community benefit-sharing are now essential. Article 6 only works if trust is real. 4️⃣ Subnational Climate Bonds Cities are not waiting for national politics to catch up. 🏙️ Local governments are issuing green and blue bonds to fund resilience—faster, more directly, and with tangible local impact. 5️⃣ Loss & Damage Financing This isn’t charity. It’s justice. ⚖️ New funding mechanisms are emerging to compensate for irreversible harm. Equity, direct access, and transparent governance are now essential. 🌍 Where Do We Go From Here? These ideas are already shaping reality, 💬 Which of these do you see gaining traction in your work? #ClimateFinance  #BlendedFinance  #GreenBonds  #CarbonMarkets   #LossAndDamage  #NatureBasedSolutions  #ClimateLeadership   #FinanceForDevelopment  #ClimateAction

#ResearchReviews: Incorporating energy justice and equity objectives in power system models 🌟 This week, I’m diving into a fascinating paper titled Incorporating energy justice and equity objectives in power system models by Teagan Goforth, Todd Levin, and Destenie Nock, PhD.  This research tackles the intersection of energy justice and power system modeling and offers valuable insights into how to integrate equity considerations into energy system planning. 🔍 What’s the Big Idea? The paper explores how power system models (PSMs) can better incorporate energy justice and equity goals. The authors argue that current models often prioritize cost minimization over equitable outcomes, leaving marginalized communities underserved. 🧩 Methodology Matters The researchers used a comprehensive literature review of 99 papers, combined with a framework for integrating energy justice metrics into power system models. They identified ten core aspects of the power system that impact energy justice outcomes, such as distributional reliability, retail electricity rates, and community engagement. To address these aspects, the authors proposed novel modeling approaches like multi-objective optimization, agent-based modeling, and iterative model linkages. These methods allow for a more nuanced understanding of how energy policies and investments affect different demographic groups. 🌍 Why This Matters As we transition to cleaner energy systems, it’s critical to ensure that the benefits and burdens are distributed fairly. This paper provides a roadmap for integrating equity into energy planning, which is essential for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on energy access (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13). 📚 Read the Full Paper If you’re interested in the details, check out the full paper here:https://lnkd.in/dyYEHMtm Tell me your thoughts on integrating equity into energy system modeling in the comments! 👇 #EnergyJustice #PowerSystems #EquityInEnergy #ResearchReview #Sustainability #CleanEnergyTransition #technologyPolicy #EngineeringPolicy #EngineeringEducation

Here’s an enhanced, professional LinkedIn post you can use to share the L𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚 (𝐋𝐂𝟑) 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 visual with your network. It’s crafted to be informative, insightful, and strategy-focused — perfect for ESG leaders, urban planners, and sustainability professionals. How Cities Can Transition to Net Zero by 2050 – A Roadmap Rooted in Equity and Action - The journey to Net Zero is not just about carbon metrics — it's about transformation at every level: economic, social, and systemic. - This outstanding Theory of Change from Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) offers a comprehensive framework that connects vision with action. It demonstrates how cities can scale low-carbon solutions while delivering equitable community benefits. Here’s why it stands out as a model for urban sustainability planning: 🔹 2050 Vision: A clear target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 (or earlier), tied to a sustainable economy, inclusive governance, and community well-being. 🔹 2030 Impact: Focus on activating system-level change — a crucial mid-point milestone that ensures the long-term vision is not just aspirational but achievable. 🔹 Strategic Levers for Change: - Policy reform - Impact investing - Peer-to-peer collaboration - Strategic grants and programs These are all embedded in scale and equity principles, ensuring historically underserved communities are prioritized. 🔹 Short-Term Outcomes: - Equitable access to resources and skills - Strengthened local leadership - Increased awareness of pathways to scale 🔹 Long-Term Outcome: - Deep GHG reductions coupled with tangible, community-level benefits 🔹 LC3 Impact Indicators: - Carbon impact - Job creation - Capital mobilization - Community benefits - Positioning for scale - Strengthening equity This framework captures what a robust transition plan should look like — not just technical pathways to decarbonization, but a holistic transformation strategy rooted in collaboration, investment, and equity. 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥: sachin.sharma@sgs.com or 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞: Sachin Sharma 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚 F̳R̳E̳E̳ 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥: https://lnkd.in/g23UVEMb #SustainabilityStrategy #NetZero2050 #TransitionPlan #ClimateLeadership #LowCarbonEconomy #JustTransition #UrbanSustainability #GreenCities #CarbonReduction #ClimateEquity #GHGReduction #ImpactInvesting #CleanEnergyTransition #SystemChange #ResilientCities #ClimateActionPlan #GovernanceForClimate #SmartCities #ESGLeadership #CommunityWellbeing