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The 'Big Five' agricultural traders—ADM, Bunge, Cargill, COFCO, and LDC (collectively ABCCD)—dominate the global trade of staples like grains, corn, soy, and sugar, controlling 70% to 90% of the commercial grain trade. During the 2021-2022 food price surge, these companies saw net profits increase by 200% to 300% compared to the 2016-2020 average. The author contends that this was achieved through strategic market consolidation, vertical integration, and inter-company cooperation, often facilitated by the EU's restrictive competition policy, which focuses primarily on immediate consumer prices rather than cumulative social harm. The document highlights the recent approval of the $34 billion Bunge-Viterra merger as evidence of regulatory failure and advocates for a transition toward an economy based on degrowth and decarbonization to dismantle the incentives for market concentration.

The document outlines seven working principles for civil society engagement in national adaptation plan (NAP) processes, co-produced by government and civil society representatives from 11 countries in Africa and the Caribbean. These principles—structured engagement, representation, formalized CSO collaboration, inclusion, enabling environment, open access to information, and transparency—aim to ensure that adaptation decision-making is inclusive, equitable, and informed by the lived experiences of marginalized groups. The principles are intended to apply across all NAP stages, including risk assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL).

The document argues that the European Commission is increasingly abandoning impact assessments (IAs) and public consultations under the guise of 'political urgency', which ClientEarth claims increases legal risks and the likelihood of unintended environmental and social consequences. It recommends strictly limiting IA exemptions, increasing transparency by publishing assessments earlier in the legislative process, and ensuring balanced stakeholder representation to prevent corporate capture. Additionally, it criticizes the use of 'Omnibus' proposals for simplification, suggesting instead that the Commission focus on removing truly duplicative requirements and tying EU funding to law compliance.

The report highlights that 'next generation geothermal' technologies, such as Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), have expanded the geographic viability of geothermal power beyond volcanic regions. In the EU, approximately 43 GW of capacity could be developed at costs below 100 €/MWh, potentially generating 301 TWh of electricity annually. While Europe has a strong historical foundation in geothermal energy, the report warns that the EU risks losing its leadership to the US and Canada due to slow permitting and a lack of coordinated policy frameworks. It also notes geothermal's potential to meet the rising energy demands of AI data centres and its ability to provide firm, low-carbon power and mineral recovery, such as lithium.

The document advocates for the introduction of wealth taxes in South Africa to combat inequality and fund socioeconomic rights. It challenges the notion that wealth taxes harm growth, arguing instead that redirecting wealth toward public spending can stimulate demand and investment. The brief recommends a combination of Financial Transaction Taxes (FTTs), increased dividend taxes, and a progressive net wealth tax, citing successful international examples from countries like France, Argentina, and Colombia.

The report examines how the UAE and Saudi Arabia are emerging as primary financiers of clean energy in Africa, noting a shift toward multi-billion dollar renewable and hydrogen projects. While GCC investments are substantial, they are currently concentrated in a few low-risk markets like Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa. The authors argue that to maximize impact, the GCC should pivot toward funding transmission infrastructure, geothermal energy, methane abatement, and critical mineral refining across a broader range of African nations.

The report critiques proposed rollbacks of US vehicle fuel economy and emissions standards by the DOT and EPA. It argues that the agencies incorrectly assume fuel efficiency improvements necessarily sacrifice vehicle performance, leading to an overestimation of costs to consumers. The author contends that many compliance pathways, such as turbocharging and electrification, can improve both efficiency and performance, and that reducing horsepower can provide public benefits by decreasing accident rates and infrastructure wear.

The report argues that the AI industry uses a 'bait-and-switch' greenwashing tactic, where the proven climate benefits of 'traditional' AI (such as predictive models) are used to justify the massive energy and water consumption of 'consumer generative AI' (such as ChatGPT). An analysis of 154 climate benefit claims found that 97% related to traditional AI, while only 3% related to consumer generative AI, with no evidence found that the latter leads to substantial emissions reductions. Furthermore, the report finds that evidence for these benefits is generally weak, with 36% of claims citing no evidence and only 26% citing published academic research. This narrative masks the immediate climate impacts of data centre expansion, which the report states is boosting demand for fossil fuels and risking the ability of regions like Ireland and Australia to meet carbon targets.

The report argues that European security of supply planning and clean procurement policies have been uncoordinated, often resulting in capacity mechanisms that favor fossil fuels and contracts that distort short-term market signals. It proposes a shift toward 'market-aligned' contracting—such as index REC structures—and co-optimized multi-product markets that separately value energy, capacity, and clean attributes to attract clean investment without sacrificing operational efficiency.

The report examines various formulas for calculating methane intensity, evaluating trade-offs between simplicity, accuracy, and applicability. It specifically addresses the needs of the EU Methane Regulation, which requires a methodology for producer-level intensity by August 2027 to set maximum intensity thresholds for oil and gas placed on the Union market by 2030. The analysis covers key decisions such as using single versus separate formulas for oil and gas, the choice between produced and marketed product denominators, and the appropriate level of granularity for reporting.

The document outlines the complex regulatory and permitting landscape for transmission in Colorado, contrasting the processes for public utilities and independent developers. It highlights the role of the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority (CETA) in addressing transmission gaps identified in a 2024 study, specifically through its ability to issue revenue bonds, exercise eminent domain, and facilitate public-private partnerships to advance complex projects that traditional utility planning might overlook.

The document translates the ICJ's 2025 Advisory Opinion on climate change into practical legal tools for climate litigation. It details State obligations under international treaties (UNFCCC, Paris Agreement) and customary law, emphasizing a 'rigorous' due diligence standard to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The guide covers specific litigation areas including government framework cases, adaptation, reparations, the right to a healthy environment, corporate conduct, climate finance, speculative interventions (like geoengineering), and regulatory backsliding, providing key quotes and illustrative case examples for each.

The document analyzes the current state of negotiations for a global plastics treaty after INC-5.3, focusing on the 'start-and-strengthen' model. It argues that for such a model to succeed, a treaty must include clear global objectives, enforceable obligations, effectiveness evaluations, and a procedural path for normative evolution. The brief compares three Chair's drafts and various member state proposals, concluding that many current drafts risk becoming 'bottom-up' models based on voluntary national actions, which could lead to regulatory fragmentation and insufficient collective action to end plastic pollution.

The report details how industrial actors employ strategies such as suppressing harmful data, funding biased research, and using front groups to avoid regulation of toxic chemicals. It provides case studies on PFAS, Bisphenol A (BPA), benzene, and neonicotinoids to illustrate these patterns of disinformation. The document concludes that to protect public health and the environment, companies producing hazardous substances should be prohibited from influencing the formulation of the policies that regulate them.

The document outlines a 'playbook' of industry tactics used to block chemical regulations, including the suppression of harmful data, the funding of biased research, and the use of front groups. It provides detailed case studies on PFAS, Bisphenol A (BPA), benzene, and pesticides to illustrate these patterns. The authors argue that because of this history of manipulation, chemical manufacturers and their trade associations should be prohibited from participating in the regulatory processes that govern their products, similar to the WHO's approach to the tobacco industry.

The document outlines a 'playbook' of corporate strategies used to avoid regulation of hazardous substances, including withholding data, undermining independent science, and using front groups. It provides case studies on PFAS, Bisphenol A (BPA), benzene, and neonicotinoids to illustrate these tactics and recommends banning industry participation in regulatory policymaking to protect human health and the environment.

The report identifies China as the world's largest methane emitter and explores how sustainable finance can bridge the investment gap for abatement. It highlights the 2025 NDC update as a critical window for action and recommends the integration of quantitative methane targets, expanded green taxonomies, and the inclusion of methane in the national emissions trading system to mobilise the estimated USD 7.7 billion in annual investment needed.

The document positions renewable energy as a core pillar of Japan's national security, noting that the country's energy import dependency reached 87.4% in 2024. It argues that the current 7th Strategic Energy Plan is insufficient because it maintains high fossil fuel targets (30-40% by 2040) that conflict with 1.5°C climate goals. The author proposes a four-step policy framework—expanding grid capacity, accelerating permitting, expanding distributed energy, and utilizing long-term power purchase agreements—to achieve a clean energy ratio of 80% or more by 2040. This transition is estimated to potentially save up to 3.4 trillion yen in fossil fuel costs by 2035 and requires approximately 38 trillion yen in investment, which is roughly 25% of Japan's 150 trillion yen GX investment plan.

The report positions renewable energy expansion as a national security imperative for Japan, which had an energy import dependence of 87.4% in 2024. It argues that the current 7th Strategic Energy Plan is insufficient for the 1.5°C target and proposes a more ambitious pathway to reach 80-90% clean power by 2035-2040. Key recommendations include upscaling grid capacity, fast-tracking permitting, expanding distributed energy, and using long-term offtake agreements to lower capital costs. The document highlights Japan's potential in offshore wind, agrivoltaics, and perovskite solar cells as means to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and Chinese crystalline-silicon PV.

The briefing outlines strategies to mobilize domestic and international capital for Brazil's land-use sector, specifically focusing on the restoration of degraded pastures. It highlights the limitations of existing credit lines like ABC Recovery and proposes a combination of blended finance, risk-mitigation instruments (such as TCX and RCF), and technical assistance to achieve large-scale regenerative land use. The document details government targets, including the National Program for the Recovery of Degraded Pastures (PNCPD) and the Caminho Verde program, while emphasizing the need for stronger supply chains for native seedlings and better coordination between financial institutions and the real economy.