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The text examines the forced relocation of villages near the Garzweiler lignite mine in Germany's Rhine Valley. It highlights the emotional and social trauma of residents, the inadequacy of financial compensation for non-material losses, and the perceived failure of the German government to accelerate the energy transition (Energiewende) while protecting local communities. The authors describe the emergence of activist movements like 'Alle Dörfer Bleiben' as a response to the lack of democratic influence and the prioritization of mining interests under the Federal Mining Act.

The report finds that while most informal sector workers and traditional leaders in Ghana observe clear climate change signals, they are largely excluded from the development of national climate policies and have minimal knowledge of 'just transition' strategies. It highlights that COVID-19 restrictions severely impacted informal businesses, with many unable to access government stimulus packages due to lack of documentation or political patronage. The study recommends formalizing the role of Traditional Councils and worker associations in climate policy to ensure a more inclusive and sustainable transition.

The briefing examines the gap between South Africa's policy goals for affordable energy and the reality for low-income households. It identifies two primary failures: the lack of a clear definition for "affordable energy" and the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) program. The document reveals that in 2019, while national grants covered 9.8 million households for basic services, only 2 million actually received free electricity, leaving approximately 5.4 million eligible poor households without the benefit and resulting in a loss of R6 billion in 2019 alone.

The document examines the tension between the need for electricity tariff reforms to save insolvent distribution companies (DISCOMs) and the decreased ability of low-income Indian households to pay for energy following the COVID-19 lockdown. It proposes shifting subsidies away from better-off households, implementing direct cash transfers (DBT-P), and improving data collection on consumer willingness to pay. The briefing highlights that while technical solutions like simplifying tariff slabs exist, political hurdles at the state level remain a primary barrier to reform.

The African Union (AU) and Africa CDC reacted quickly to COVID-19, coordinating health responses and establishing an anti-COVID-19 fund. However, the pandemic has exacerbated security threats in West and Central Africa, where fighting against terrorism and internal conflicts continues despite global ceasefire calls. In the Horn of Africa, the virus has disrupted peace processes and created new instabilities, including the politicisation of response measures and the release of thousands of inmates. The report also highlights the extreme vulnerability of Africa's 25.2 million refugees and internally displaced persons, warning that border closures may increase irregular migration and transmission risks.

The report examines the Mongolian electricity sector's transition toward the Paris Agreement goals and the public health costs of coal power. It highlights that planned coal capacity expansions, particularly the Shivee Ovoo plant, would significantly increase premature deaths and years of life lost by 2050, while noting that Mongolia requires international financial and technical support to implement renewable energy and decouple heat and electricity supply.

The authors examine the experiences of villagers near the Garzweiler mine in the Rhineland, where lignite extraction continues to displace communities. They argue that the resettlement process is characterized by procedural injustice, as German federal mining law prioritizes resource extraction over residents' interests. The document highlights the failure of the 'joint resettlement' model to address non-material losses, such as the loss of 'Heimat' (homeland) and the erosion of social structures. It further links these local struggles to Germany's broader failure to accelerate its energy transition (Energiewende), noting that the country remains Europe's largest carbon emitter. The text describes the emergence of activist movements like Alle Dörfer Bleiben and Ende Gelände as responses to political inaction and the perceived entanglement between the government and the mining industry.

The report evaluates the energy transition in Argentina's power sector, highlighting the need to align long-term Paris Agreement temperature goals with NDC processes to avoid carbon lock-in. It identifies opportunities for leadership in renewables-based hydrogen and synthetic fuels, while noting that grid limitations are the primary short-term barrier to increasing renewable energy participation.

The report finds that kerosene subsidies in Nigeria were largely ineffective, as most low-income households paid significantly above the official price and women faced long queues and safety risks from adulterated fuel. The 2016 removal of these subsidies further strained women's budgets, pushing many in rural areas back toward biomass for cooking, which increases exposure to indoor air pollution and time spent collecting wood. While women often control daily energy choices, men typically own the electronic appliances. The report recommends against returning to kerosene or LPG subsidies, suggesting instead a shift toward technology-neutral clean cooking support and social protection programs targeted at female heads of households.

The report assesses how India's LPG subsidy schemes, specifically PAHAL (DBTL) and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), affect poor women. It finds that while PMUY has increased LPG access and reduced drudgery—saving women an average of one hour per day—significant inefficiencies remain. Many poor households are still left behind due to affordability and distribution barriers, while a large share of consumption subsidies benefit wealthier households. The report recommends improving targeting, reviewing the PMUY loan system to ensure affordability for the poorest, and adopting a more holistic clean cooking strategy.

The report argues that renewable energy mini-grids are often the most cost-effective solution for rural electrification in Kenya compared to national grid extension. While Kenya's current strategy focuses on grid extension, the report suggests that integrating mini-grids into national planning could accelerate electrification, create local jobs, improve energy security, and reduce CO2 emissions by 0.14-0.48 MtCO2e per year.

Reaching climate neutrality in Estonia by 2050 is technically possible and potentially profitable in the long term, requiring an estimated total investment of 17.3 billion EUR between 2021 and 2050. The strategy emphasizes accelerating energy efficiency in buildings, transport, and industry, alongside a transition to renewable energy and carbon sequestration in the LULUCF sector. While the first decade (2021-2030) will be investment-heavy, resulting in higher costs than revenues, subsequent decades are expected to see revenues outweigh costs. The transition will likely cause a modest negative impact on GDP (approximately 10%) and long-term employment in fossil-fuel sectors, particularly oil shale in Ida-Virumaa, but will create short-term construction and technology jobs.

The report examines the risks associated with the potential significant decline of South Africa's coal production over the next five to ten years. It highlights the high concentration of coal assets in Mpumalanga province and the resulting vulnerability of local employment and municipal revenues. The authors argue that a 'just transition' requires moving beyond technical energy models to address local-level impacts, including labor redeployment, economic diversification, and the remediation of environmental legacies. It identifies gaps in current governance, such as the conflict of interest within the Department of Mineral Resources, and suggests that existing mechanisms like Social and Labour Plans need systemic improvement to be effective.

The document examines the risks Colombia faces as a major coal exporter amid falling global demand and the rise of renewables. It highlights the extreme vulnerability of the Cesar and La Guajira departments, where coal is a dominant driver of regional GDP and employment. The brief argues that Colombia currently lacks a formal national or regional plan for a post-coal transition, leaving it susceptible to economic instability, unemployment, and social unrest. It recommends long-term planning led by the DNP and UPME, diversification into agriculture and tourism, and the implementation of a 'just transition' framework to protect workers and the environment.

The report analyzes the systemic gender inequalities in Bangladesh and how they exacerbate women's vulnerability to climate change, specifically salinity intrusion in coastal regions. It proposes a gender-transformative project to provide safe drinking water via Rain Water Harvesting and support climate-resilient livelihoods, such as crab farming and homestead gardening, while addressing structural barriers like land tenure and social norms.

The report examines the growing global need for cooling, driven by urbanization and rising incomes, particularly in developing countries. It warns that a surge in air conditioning (AC) use could lead to massive increases in electricity demand and urban heat island effects. The document also details the critical role of cold chains in reducing food loss and ensuring vaccine viability, while emphasizing the need to 'leapfrog' high-emission cooling technologies to avoid severe environmental impacts.

The report argues that South Africa's coal sector is in a state of crisis due to rising costs, energy insecurity, and the increasing competitiveness of renewable energy. It models three pathways: a least-cost NDC-based scenario, a 2°C-consistent scenario, and a sensitivity analysis regarding Sasol's Secunda plant. The findings indicate that meeting a 2°C target requires the rapid retirement of coal-fired power plants, including Medupi and Kusile, and a shift toward wind and solar PV. While the transition offers benefits like cheaper electricity and improved air quality, it poses significant risks to employment in coal-mining regions, particularly Mpumalanga, necessitating a planned 'just transition' to support workers and diversify local economies.

The document outlines a phased carbon tax for South Africa starting at R120 per ton of CO2 equivalent, designed to internalise the cost of GHG emissions while protecting industrial competitiveness through allowances. Economic modelling suggests the tax could reduce emissions by 26% to 33% by 2035 compared to business-as-usual, with significant growth in renewable energy sectors and relative declines in coal and heavy industry. The policy includes revenue recycling mechanisms to protect poor households and ensure electricity price neutrality during the first phase.

The report analyses historical coal transitions in the UK, US, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands, concluding that proactive anticipation and comprehensive regional strategies are essential to avoid long-term socio-economic decline. It argues that the cost of failing to invest in a managed transition often exceeds the cost of the transition itself, as evidenced by high long-term social security costs and regional stagnation. Key recommendations include moving away from simple cash redundancy payments toward on-the-job retraining, diversifying regional economies through industrial clusters, and addressing the specific vulnerabilities of workers aged 35-45.

The UK has nearly completed its transition from coal, a process driven initially by market forces and later by a carbon tax, rather than a single planned strategy. While the 'dash for gas' in the 1990s and the 2013 carbon tax significantly reduced coal-fired power, the socio-economic recovery of mining communities remains incomplete. Despite regeneration efforts, former coalfields experience persistent 'economic inactivity' and high rates of incapacity benefit claims, indicating a long-term job shortfall that transcends the retirement of the original mining workforce.