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The case study examines the potential cascading effects of a successful attack on the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant (KHPP). It argues that the destruction of such infrastructure triggers a chain of risks: immediate power loss for up to 370,000 end users, a shift toward environmentally damaging backup energy sources like biomass, and the failure of critical environmental management systems. Furthermore, a dam breach would cause catastrophic flooding for over 5 million people along the Dnieper River and potentially release contaminants from industrial sites like the Prydniprovsky Chemical Plant into the water system.

Friends of the Earth, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Miami Waterkeeper successfully challenged the Florida Power & Light Company's request to double the license length of the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission eventually ordered a full environmental review before allowing the plant to operate for another 20 years, addressing concerns over sea level rise, groundwater impacts, and radioactive waste.

The document details the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission's (PUC) adoption of a performance-based regulation (PBR) framework featuring nearly 40 metrics and scorecards for Hawaiian Electric. It argues that PBR helps overcome traditional 'cost of service' regulatory incentives that hinder clean energy investments. The brief provides three primary lessons: the value of using non-financial scorecards for emergent outcomes like transportation electrification and customer equity, the necessity of using proxies and iterative analysis when precise data is unavailable (such as for LMI Energy Burden), and the importance of diverse stakeholder engagement to ensure a comprehensive portfolio of performance mechanisms.

The document highlights the dependency of the European wind industry on steel, noting that turbines consist of at least 70% steel. It argues that while wind energy is critical for the EU's energy transition, the steel production process remains highly carbon-intensive, emitting 1.85 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of steel in 2020. Using the example of Dirostahl in Remscheid, the brief illustrates the technical and financial barriers to switching from fossil gas to hydrogen or carbon capture and storage (CCS), specifically citing a potential price increase of 700 to 800 Euro per tonne of steel if switching to renewable hydrogen. It calls for the development of hydrogen and CO2 pipeline infrastructure and the implementation of policy tools like Carbon Contracts for Difference to maintain industrial competitiveness during the transition.

The report identifies land tenure insecurity, administrative complexity in establishment, and limited commercial rights as primary obstacles for Community Protected Areas (CPAs) in Cambodia. It argues that the current 15-year tenure is insufficient for long-term conservation and livelihood development, and highlights a jurisdictional conflict between the Ministry of Environment and the Forestry Administration regarding non-timber forest product permits. Recommendations include expanding exclusion rights, lengthening tenure to 30 years, simplifying management plans, and formalising the conversion process between Community Forests and CPAs.

The report evaluates the integration of small-format electric vehicles (EVs) with rural minigrids, finding that while EVs can be cost-competitive with petrol alternatives, their success depends on high vehicle utilization and business models tailored to local needs. A Nigeria pilot using a two-wheeler leasing model showed promise, whereas an India pilot using a battery leasing model for three-wheelers failed due to high operational costs and drivers charging via the subsidized grid. Technoeconomic modeling indicates that EV charging can lower minigrid tariffs, particularly when charging occurs during daytime solar production, though the impact is modest unless fleet utilization is significantly increased.

The document examines the World Bank Group's (WBG) role in expanding fossil gas infrastructure in Indonesia, asserting that this strategy locks the country into long-term greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on fossil fuels. It highlights contradictions between WBG strategies, such as the Country Partnership Framework 2021-24 and the Indonesia Economic Prospects Report, and global climate goals like the IEA's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 roadmap. The report specifically cites the WBG's support for the BP Tangguh project and warns against 'false solutions' like Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and coal gasification.

The document profiles Esther Mirembe and the Namungona Women Empowerment Initiative, a savings group in a Kampala informal settlement. It details how the group provides pro-poor loans to women, converts waste from blocked drains into charcoal, and diversified into soap and mask production during the COVID-19 pandemic. The case study highlights the role of the National Slum Dwellers Federation of Uganda and Slum Dwellers International in promoting locally-led adaptation and resilience against climate change and disasters.

The document analyzes how Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland created a highly integrated electricity market, notably through the Nord Pool exchange, to balance variable renewable energy with hydroelectric storage. It argues that Canada's 'balkanized' grid, characterized by provincial control and political resistance, could benefit from similar bilateral exchanges—specifically linking hydroelectric-rich provinces like Quebec, Manitoba, and British Columbia with those transitioning from fossil fuels—to lower costs and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The document analyzes the Nordic model of electricity co-operation—characterized by two-way trade, market harmonization via Nord Pool, and regional governance—as a blueprint for Canada. It argues that Canadian provinces could lower decarbonization costs by using hydro-rich provinces as 'batteries' to back up variable renewable energy in other regions, provided they overcome political resistance and regulatory misalignment.

The document examines India's engagement in global climate politics, specifically focusing on the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a mechanism for promoting sustainable energy in Africa. It argues that the ISA contributes to climate change mitigation while enhancing energy security and sustainable livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa by providing access to various forms of capital for poor communities. The text concludes by urging African policymakers to implement complementary initiatives to support the continent's population of over 1.33 billion people.

In late January 2022, a federal judge revoked a Biden administration oil and gas lease sale offering over 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico. The court ruled that the Department of Interior failed to adequately assess the climate impacts of the drilling. The sale was challenged by a coalition including Friends of the Earth and Earthjustice, who argued that the project would exacerbate systemic racism in frontline communities and threaten endangered species such as Bryde’s and Rice’s whales.

The research identifies the Europäisches Institut für Klima und Energie (EIKE) as a "denialist stronghold" in Germany, utilizing communication frames—specifically attacks on climate science—to foster a discourse of climate denial and delay. While EIKE attempts to obstruct climate action, the study concludes that its ideas have been "critically received by the press."

The document details a legal action where plaintiffs allege that Total failed to adequately assess human rights and environmental impacts of its Tilenga oil project, which involves oil extraction in Uganda and a pipeline to Tanzania. The case centers on whether Total's vigilance plan violated France's 2017 Duty of Vigilance Law, which requires companies to prevent environmental harm and human rights violations across their operations and subsidiaries. After the Nanterre Judicial Court and the Court of Appeal of Versailles declined jurisdiction, the applicants appealed to the Court of Cassation.

A case study on Leghari v. Federation of Pakistan, where a farmer sued the national government for failing to implement climate change adaptation policies.

A case study on the legal challenge 'Friends of the Earth v. Haaland', where plaintiffs alleged that the Biden administration violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) by reinstating a lease sale for oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico based on outdated environmental analysis.

Three separate lawsuits were filed in early 2022 against the Argentinian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to stop offshore seismic testing by Equinor. These cases focus on the protection of the Southern Right Whale, the incompatibility of fossil fuel exploration with Argentina's Paris Agreement commitments and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and violations of the Escazú Agreement regarding public participation and environmental information. The court combined these three lawsuits on January 14, 2022.

A case study regarding the 2019 legal action brought by Milieudefensie, six other organizations, and over 17,000 Dutch citizens against Royal Dutch Shell PLC to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions.

The document analyzes how end-user subsidies—direct or indirect payments to consumers—can bridge the affordability gap for basic electricity access. It evaluates two primary methodologies for calculating this gap (SEforALL's 'Taking the Pulse' and the World Bank's 'Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report') and identifies key design attributes such as financing structures, delivery modalities, and verification systems. Through case studies, it finds that Ghana's programme succeeded due to accurate targeting and pricing, while Uganda's faced challenges with high costs and payment delays. Togo's CIZO programme is highlighted for its innovative use of mobile money for subsidy delivery. The brief concludes that improving demographic and consumption data is essential to avoid market distortion and ensure subsidies reach the poorest households.

The report finds that most pandemic recovery plans in Brazil, France, India, and Uganda missed the opportunity to invest in natural capital, often prioritizing business-as-usual practices. In Brazil, 87.3% of the reviewed budget for the Legal Amazon region had a negative impact, primarily due to agricultural subsidies. France's recovery plan showed a mixed impact, with 27% positive and 25% negative, largely due to corporate tax reductions. India's package was similarly mixed, with 18% positive and 24% negative, including significant funding for coal mining infrastructure. Uganda showed the most positive trend, with 34% of its 2020/21 budget having a positive impact, though this declined in the 2021/22 budget. The report recommends that governments implement environmental conditionality for corporate support, strengthen natural capital accounting, and align national strategies to ensure long-term economic stability through nature-positive investments.