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A survey of 58 European climate experts reveals skepticism about Europe's ability to meet its 2030 and 2050 climate goals, citing lagging investments and bureaucratic hurdles. While experts show varying confidence in technologies like CCS and hydrogen, there is a notable call for a more prominent role for nuclear energy and a shift toward 'technology optionality' and simplified, incentive-based policymaking.

The briefing proposes that the European Union leverage its position as a major oil and gas importer to drive global methane reductions by implementing a methane import standard. It suggests a combination of a 'prescriptive standard,' which mandates specific technologies and practices like Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR), and an 'intensity standard,' which sets a maximum limit on emissions per unit of gas produced. The document asserts that there are no 'insuperable legal obstacles' to these standards and suggests that fees from non-compliance could fund methane mitigation in lower-income countries. It highlights that such a move would align with the European Parliament's position and complement voluntary initiatives like CLEAN.

The Vogtle 3 and 4 projects in Georgia demonstrate the risks of the current nuclear industry model, characterized by massive cost overruns and delays. To meet 2050 net-zero targets, the author argues the industry must move toward standardized, commoditized designs and an overhauled regulatory ecosystem to reduce costs and delivery times.

The report concludes that while the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) remains the primary driver for industrial decarbonisation, current carbon prices alone are insufficient to trigger the massive investments required for deep decarbonisation in the steel and cement sectors. It argues that demand-side measures—specifically Green Public Procurement (GPP) and sustainable product regulations—can provide the necessary market signals to build technological capacity and avoid carbon lock-in. The study highlights that government-driven initiatives have significantly more potential than voluntary industry pledges, though the latter can serve as a short-term bridge. Key recommendations include harmonising low-carbon product definitions across EU Member States and exploring Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs) to bridge the 'green premium' cost gap.

The document outlines how community benefits programs—ranging from voluntary to mandatory agreements—can provide grants, workforce opportunities, and financial compensation to ensure a just clean energy transition and reduce community opposition to infrastructure projects.

The report identifies a 'planning gap' in Europe's trajectory toward 2050 climate neutrality and proposes that the updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) be transformed into comprehensive roadmaps. It recommends that Member States move beyond a narrow focus on renewables to include a diverse portfolio of clean firm energy (advanced nuclear, superhot rock geothermal), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and zero-carbon fuels. The authors emphasize the need for robust energy system modelling, cross-border infrastructure coordination, and the implementation of financial mechanisms like Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfD) to attract investment. Additionally, the report calls for a focused strategy to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas supply chain and the creation of a net-zero implementation tracker to ensure accountability.

The document is a joint letter from a coalition of NGOs calling for the adoption of amendment NC12 to the UK Energy Bill. The amendment seeks to ban the venting and flaring of methane by 2025 and implement stricter measures to prevent unintended emissions. The authors argue that current waste in the North Sea oil and gas sector is sufficient to supply at least 760,000 average UK homes and that delaying the ban until 2030 would jeopardize the UK's energy security and global climate leadership. They highlight that methane is over 80 times more dangerous than carbon dioxide and contributes 0.5°C to current global warming. The letter warns that insufficient climate action could cost the UK economy 1% of GDP, or at least £22 billion per year, by 2045.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has allocated $5 billion for the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) to help US states and municipalities implement greenhouse gas reduction strategies. Forty-six states have accepted $3 million each in planning grants, with $4.6 billion remaining for competitive implementation grants in 2024. The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) advises states to use these planning funds to develop broad, economy-wide strategies, tailor messaging to local political contexts, and engage the public early to avoid project delays. Additionally, the briefing suggests using funds to increase agency capacity, optimize the layering of various federal resources (such as the CHIPS and Science Act), and identify workforce needs for a low-carbon economy. To ensure success, states are encouraged to secure contractors early to avoid surges in demand and to communicate implementation barriers quickly to the EPA and the White House.

The document highlights the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act and other recent legislation on U.S. climate goals, while identifying specific bipartisan opportunities for further progress. It emphasizes the need for improved nuclear energy regulation via the ADVANCE Act, increased support for industrial decarbonization through the Department of Energy, and the necessity of updating clean energy programs before they expire in 2025.

The authors suggest that Europe can accelerate its energy transition by adopting four principles from U.S. policies like the Inflation Reduction Act: supporting a diverse technology mix, tailoring support to development stages, addressing non-cost barriers, and providing policy clarity. Specifically, the document recommends expanding support beyond wind and solar to include nuclear, carbon capture, and zero-carbon fuels, while reducing regulatory complexity and permitting delays that currently hinder project deployment.

The document is a joint letter from thirteen environmental and energy organisations urging President von der Leyen to prioritise the reduction of global methane emissions in her final State of the Union address. The authors argue that methane is a critical but overlooked climate threat, being over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period and responsible for nearly half of the current net global temperature increase. They specifically call for the adoption of an ambitious EU Methane Regulation by the end of the legislative term to address emissions from the oil, gas, and coal sectors, as well as accelerated progress toward the Global Methane Pledge.

The document argues that British Columbia's proposed methane regulations lag behind international best practices, particularly regarding timelines for existing facilities and the lack of a policy for compressor engine exhaust. The coalition recommends accelerating the target for near-zero methane emissions to 2030, implementing stricter standards for pneumatic devices, tanks, and compressor seals by 2025, and adopting a monthly instrument-based leak detection and repair (LDAR) regime.

The 2022 French nuclear outages were caused by a confluence of pipe corrosion, workforce shortages, and heat-related river curtailments, rather than inherent flaws in nuclear technology. The author argues that these issues can be mitigated through standardized reactor designs, consistent government policy to maintain a skilled workforce, and technical cooling upgrades. Despite the 2022 dip in availability, the document asserts that nuclear energy provides essential 'clean firm' power necessary for the cost-effective decarbonization of the European electricity grid.

The document argues that because a significant portion of the EU's methane footprint originates from imported energy, the European Commission should leverage new energy contracts to mandate methane mitigation. It suggests that EU-based companies in joint ventures abroad should be encouraged to adopt best practices for reducing emissions from production operations outside EU borders.

The Clean Air Task Force commissioned a national survey of residents in environmental justice communities—defined by race, ethnicity, and income—to assess their awareness of pollution impacts, interest in clean energy jobs, levels of civic engagement, and barriers to energy accessibility.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) supports the BLM's proposed Conservation and Landscape Health rule, arguing that conservation leases are a valid tool for implementing the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) mandates. CATF recommends that the rule be structured to avoid hindering the buildout of electric transmission and renewable energy, specifically suggesting a two-mile buffer around energy corridors where leases are restricted to permittees. The document also advocates for integrating carbon sequestration and climate resilience into the 'fundamentals of land health' and strongly advises against allowing conservation leases to generate marketable carbon offset credits due to a lack of permanence in the proposed 10-year lease terms.

The report assesses Europe's geological CO2 storage potential, estimating theoretical capacity between 262 and 1520 GtCO2. It compares 'Domestic' (widespread) and 'Export' (limited basins) storage scenarios against 'Prioritised' and 'Technical Potential' demand scenarios. While Europe has sufficient long-term theoretical capacity, current announced projects are insufficient for 2035 demand. The study highlights that widespread domestic storage significantly reduces transport CAPEX compared to export-heavy models, though some countries like Finland and Estonia lack suitable sedimentary basins.

The survey reveals high levels of concern regarding air and water quality, particularly among Hispanic and Black communities. While there is strong support for the clean energy transition and interest in related careers, significant barriers exist, including lack of education, financial insecurity, and low awareness of job opportunities. Trust in government is low, while trust in scientists and family is high.

The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has failed to meet Congressional goals for cellulosic biofuels, instead remaining dominated by land-intensive corn ethanol. The current structure lacks incentives for producers to reduce carbon intensity beyond fixed thresholds and fails to prioritize fuels for sectors like aviation that are difficult to electrify. The Clean Air Task Force recommends incorporating carbon intensity scores, limiting conventional biofuel volumes, and directing bioenergy toward hard-to-decarbonize sectors.

The paper analyzes 156 peer-reviewed research papers on energy transition modeling in Africa, finding that most studies focus on energy mix and emissions pathways while neglecting socio-economic development and advanced low-carbon technologies.