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The briefing argues that the EU does not need new US LNG terminal approvals to replace Russian gas imports. US LNG capacity currently under construction (73 bcm) is over four times the volume of Russian LNG the EU imported in 2024 (17.1 bcm). Furthermore, two US projects that began operating in December 2024 alone provide 58% more capacity than those 2024 Russian imports. The document highlights a projected decline in EU gas demand—forecast to drop 29% by 2030 and 67% by 2040 relative to 2024 levels—warning that new long-term contracts beyond 2035 would create a gas supply glut.

The report identifies 140 organizations and institutions in the Central African Republic operating at the intersection of gender and climate change adaptation. It assesses their technical capacities, influence, and engagement levels, highlighting a systemic gap in 'nexus' expertise—the ability to integrate gender and climate adaptation systematically. While national civil society organizations possess high mobilization and influence capabilities, they lack specific technical expertise. Conversely, international agencies and government bodies have higher technical skills but limited political influence or resources. The report recommends strengthening the capacity of all stakeholders, establishing focal points across all ministries, and creating a multi-actor dialogue space involving high-level political decision-makers and technical and financial partners to implement the National Gender and Climate Change Strategy (SNGCC).

The report finds that in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) region, fossil fuel capacity under construction is more than three times that of wind and utility-scale solar. While non-fossil projects (including hydropower and nuclear) have a larger total pipeline, they suffer from long lead times and lower construction rates. Most CCA countries are failing to meet their renewable energy targets, with a 13 GW deficit in development across six countries. COP29 host Azerbaijan is highlighted for having a limited pipeline of renewables beyond 2027, calling into question its climate leadership.

The BRICS bloc is reaching a milestone where non-fossil power capacity is set to exceed fossil-fueled capacity for the first time in 2024. While the group hosts a significant portion of the world's coal fleet and continues to develop new fossil plants, there is a massive pipeline of wind and solar projects. The report finds that the BRICS countries have enough renewables in development to nearly triple their capacity by 2030, though the actual construction rate varies significantly by member, with China leading the transition.

The BRICS group is approaching a critical transition point where non-fossil power capacity is expected to eclipse fossil fuels by the end of 2024. While the bloc possesses a vast pipeline of wind and solar projects—enough to potentially triple renewable capacity by 2030—nearly all members continue to develop new coal, oil, or gas plants. China dominates the group's transition, leading in both renewable additions and the construction of new coal capacity. Other members show divergent paths: Brazil and Ethiopia are heavily hydropower-reliant, while the UAE, Iran, and Russia remain deeply dependent on oil and gas, though the UAE is rapidly diversifying via nuclear and solar power.

The world is on track to install 593 GW of solar power in 2024, a 29% increase over 2023. China remains the dominant market, projected to account for 56% of global additions. Growth is widespread, with significant surges in India and the US, and emerging markets like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia showing rapid increases in solar panel imports. This trajectory puts the goal of tripling renewable power capacity by 2030 within reach, provided grid and storage constraints are addressed.

The study finds that Estonia lacks the capacity to recycle textile waste, meaning even separately collected materials currently end up in landfills or incinerators. It estimates annual consumption of new clothing and home textiles at approximately 16,200 tonnes, noting that actual consumption may be 10–20% higher due to foreign purchases. To address these gaps, the report recommends establishing sorting capabilities, funding innovative recycling technologies, and implementing an extended producer responsibility system.

China is the world's largest coal producer and importer, with a significant shift toward large-scale and mega-scale mining operations. Despite climate goals, China is developing approximately 1,280 Mtpa of new coal capacity, nearly half of the global proposed pipeline. This expansion, concentrated in provinces like Inner Mongolia and Shanxi, drives massive methane emissions, with China's operating mines alone accounting for roughly 70% of global coal mine methane emissions from similar-sized operations. State-owned enterprises (SOEs) dominate the sector, controlling 40% of production capacity and contributing nearly 40% of the nation's coal mine methane emissions.

China is leading global renewable energy deployment with 339 GW of utility-scale solar and wind power under construction, nearly double the capacity of the rest of the world combined. By the first quarter of 2024, wind and solar accounted for 37% of China's total power capacity. While the country is on track to potentially reach 1,200 GW of installed capacity by the end of 2024, significant obstacles remain, including a reliance on coal to mitigate intermittency, insufficient Ultra High Voltage (UHV) transmission lines, and rising curtailment rates in several provinces.

The 2024 'Pedal to the Metal' report by Global Energy Monitor finds a significant shift toward lower-emissions electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking in new announcements, with 93% of newly announced capacity following this route. However, a substantial gap exists between announcements and construction, as less than 14% of potential EAF capacity is currently being built, and 46% of projects under construction remain based on basic oxygen furnaces (BOF). While direct reduced iron (DRI) now makes up 36% of developing ironmaking capacity, 308 mtpa of new coal-based blast furnace capacity is still under development globally, primarily driven by India and China, posing a risk of carbon lock-in.

The Western Balkans have over 23 GW of prospective utility-scale solar and wind projects, a 70% increase from the previous year. This capacity could render proposed gas-fired power plants obsolete, potentially averting 103 million tonnes of lifetime CO2 emissions and saving over €9 billion in energy costs and stranded assets. Currently, operating utility-scale solar and wind account for only 7% of the regional electricity mix (1.5 GW). Serbia leads the region in both operating (29%) and prospective (47%) capacity, though its construction rate is among the lowest. The report argues that the region should prioritize a just energy transition over gas-fired power, which is being promoted by EU, U.S., and Russian interests, to avoid carbon lock-in and import dependence.

The report identifies a capacity gap in the Canadian Prairies where the demand for natural infrastructure is growing, but the workforce remains primarily trained in 'grey' (human-made) infrastructure. It argues that scaling natural infrastructure requires a multidisciplinary approach involving engineers, planners, biologists, and skilled trades. The document proposes expanding professional development through industry associations, linking training to climate resilience and federal funding, and integrating Indigenous rights-based approaches to ensure sustainable and equitable project delivery.

The document outlines a 24-month readiness and preparatory support programme for Iran, implemented by the FAO. It aims to address barriers to climate finance by establishing a National Climate Change Knowledge Hub, updating Technology Need Assessments, and supporting the accreditation of national Direct Access Entities. The project focuses on creating a bankable project pipeline, improving inter-agency coordination through the National Climate Change Working Group, and developing a National Climate Change Mitigation Plan, with a specific emphasis on the energy sector and gender-responsive climate action.

The proposal seeks EUR 742,209 over 18 months to address four primary barriers to climate action in Guatemala: lack of integrated governance, an unfinished GCF Country Programme, the absence of an integrated monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for adaptation and finance, and a lack of a common sustainable finance taxonomy. Implemented by GIZ and led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MARN), the project will establish a national coordination mechanism, train public and private stakeholders, finalize a project pipeline aligned with the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and develop a sustainable finance taxonomy to attract private investment.

The proposal identifies critical gaps in Côte d'Ivoire's climate governance, including a lack of inter-ministerial coordination, insufficient local-level planning, and limited private sector capacity to engage with the Green Climate Fund (GCF). To address these, the project proposes training for the National Designated Authority (NDA), establishing a multi-stakeholder coordination committee, updating the national Country Programme to align with GCF USP-2 requirements, and developing 'green city' strategies in the Gbêkê region and Bocanda. The initiative also includes rural awareness campaigns and the production of educational materials to promote climate adaptation best practices.

The document outlines a 24-month readiness program (April 2024 to March 2026) implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) for Ethiopia. It focuses on four main areas: building the capacity of the Ministry of Planning and Development (the new NDA) and the Ministry of Finance; supporting the pre-accreditation of the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) to access the GCF Private Sector Facility; establishing essential coordination mechanisms including a No-Objection procedure and an operational manual; and developing a GCF Country Programming Document and two high-quality project concept notes based on pre-feasibility studies. The program also includes the creation of a knowledge management portal and international learning visits to countries such as Rwanda, South Africa, or Tanzania.

The report outlines a strategic collaboration between the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Guatemala's Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) to integrate WASH services with integrated watershed management. It identifies critical gaps in service coverage—estimated at 89% for drinking water and 63% for sanitation—and proposes the adaptation of SEI tools (WASH-Flows, EWI, and WEAP) to enhance data collection, gender equity, and decision-making. The document aligns these efforts with the National Development Plan K’atun 2032 and recommends increased inter-institutional coordination, investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, and the adoption of a gender-sensitive approach to water governance.

The 'Catalyzing Low-carbon Investment and Mobilizing Finance for Saint Lucia (CLIMB-SLU)' proposal requests USD 1,631,349 over 36 months to address critical gaps in Saint Lucia's climate finance ecosystem. The initiative focuses on three workstreams: strengthening government capacity to integrate climate and gender considerations into financial planning, enhancing the ability of local financial institutions to manage climate risks and offer green products, and developing a pipeline of bankable projects, specifically a Green Affordable Housing project and a conceptual Green-Blue National Bank. The project is implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in coordination with Saint Lucia's Department of Economic Development, Department of Finance, and Department of Sustainable Development.

The proposal seeks USD 446,345 over 24 months to address the gap between national-level climate finance and grassroots implementation in Cambodia. It aims to create a single-source sub-national climate fund (SCF) to replace fragmented financing pathways, providing a formalised structure for public and private investment. Key activities include a scoping study on institutional environments, the development of an operating manual, and a National Roadmap for fund management. The project also focuses on capacity building, targeting the training of 55 fund managers and 35 stakeholders, with a minimum 20% female participation rate. The initiative is led by the National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development Secretariat (NCDD-S) with technical support from the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and oversight from the Ministry of Environment.

Türkiye's total solar capacity reached 12.2 GW by early 2024, surpassing wind capacity once 510 MW of secondary solar capacity from hybrid power plants is included. These hybrid plants, which combine a primary and secondary energy source at one location, are predominantly wind-solar combinations. While 1.9 GW of hybrid solar capacity is currently in the pipeline, the report highlights a lack of transparent capacity planning and the untapped potential of floating solar on hydroelectric reservoirs, which could provide up to 17 GW of capacity across five major plants.