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The report finds that while international public finance for fossil fuels from CETP signatories has decreased significantly, there has not been a corresponding increase in clean energy finance. Many signatories lack quantitative targets or comprehensive policies to prioritize clean energy, and some high-income countries continue to violate the pledge by financing fossil fuel projects.

The report examines the strategic importance of critical raw materials (CRMs) for OACPS member states, highlighting their significant global production shares in minerals like cobalt, platinum-group metals, and manganese. It identifies a critical gap in local beneficiation capacities, noting that most CRMs are exported as raw ores, which results in lost economic value. The document analyzes the impact of new industrial policies from the US, EU, and China—such as the US Inflation Reduction Act and the EU Critical Raw Materials Act—which emphasize reshoring and 'friendshoring' and may conflict with OACPS industrialization goals. It concludes that OACPS countries must move beyond extractive 'pit-to-port' models through regional cooperation, strategic partnerships, and robust regulatory frameworks to maximize socio-economic benefits while managing environmental and social risks.

In the first half of 2024, wind and solar power generated 30% of the EU's electricity, surpassing fossil fuels (27%) for the first time. This transition occurred despite a 0.7% increase in electricity demand. Fossil fuel generation fell by 17%, with coal dropping by 24% and gas by 14%. Renewables overall provided 50% of the EU's electricity, aided by a 21% rebound in hydro generation. Power sector emissions decreased by 17% compared to the same period in 2023, and are 31% lower than in the first half of 2022. While capacity additions are high, the report notes a gap between national ambitions and the EU's 2030 targets under the REPowerEU plan, particularly for wind energy.

The report analyzes the UK's proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as a tool to prevent carbon leakage. It highlights key divergences from the EU CBAM, specifically the inclusion of glass and ceramics and the exclusion of electricity, as well as the absence of a transitional period. The document emphasizes the potential administrative and economic burdens on developing countries and LDCs and recommends aligning the UK system with the EU CBAM to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for trading partners.

China has positioned itself as a leader in green technology transfer to the Global South, utilizing the Belt and Road Initiative and the South–South Climate Cooperation Fund to deploy renewable energy, green agriculture, and electric vehicle technologies. While achieving significant scale—including exporting photovoltaic modules to over 100 countries—the brief identifies critical challenges: a gap between environmental commitments and actual impacts, deficiencies in ESG disclosure, geopolitical tensions, and limited local operational capacity. To improve sustainability, the document recommends enhancing transparency, aligning with global ESG standards, and fostering locally led innovation ecosystems through active partner ownership and capacity building.

The UK faces a capacity shortfall of approximately 22 GW to meet its 2030 offshore wind targets. While a pipeline of 93 GW exists, the report argues that the current Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction parameters and budgets are insufficient. It recommends a 25% increase in the AR6 auction budget to secure an additional 1 GW of capacity and suggests shifting the CfD focus from price competition to delivery scale to protect the UK from volatile gas markets.

The document analyzes the relationship between human emotions and climate action, highlighting that while different emotions trigger different policy preferences, negative emotions like fear and distress can be powerful motivators when paired with a sense of personal threat and collective efficacy. Key findings include the link between guilt and support for personally costly policies in the US, the role of identity-linked threats to the Great Barrier Reef in driving personal energy reduction in Australia, and the influence of personal threat perception on electric vehicle adoption in India.

The report argues that for China's power sector to meet its 2030 peak emissions and 2060 carbon neutrality targets, electrical utilities must develop credible, science-based transition plans. These plans serve as the foundation for transition finance instruments, such as Use of Proceeds (UoP) bonds and sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs). While China is a major global issuer of SLBs, the report notes a lack of alignment with rigorous standards, as many domestic issuers focus on renewable energy capacity rather than comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. The document provides a framework for utilities to develop transition plans and select appropriate financial tools to support low-carbon development, including the retirement of coal assets and grid optimisation.

The briefing analyzes the European Commission's 'essential use' criteria for most harmful substances (MHS), which define a use as essential if it is necessary for health, safety, or critical for society and lacks acceptable alternatives. ClientEarth argues that while the Communication fulfills Chemical Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) commitments, it lacks direct legal effect and may be undermined by existing technical and economic feasibility assessments. The document proposes a three-stage approach to implement essential use in REACH: immediate adoption in restriction and authorisation procedures, the creation of implementing legislation for legal clarity, and a full REACH reform where essential use replaces socio-economic analysis (SEA).

The report examines how the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) uses financial regulation to curb deforestation, particularly in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. It details the BCB's 'Agenda BC# Sustainability', which integrates social, environmental, and climate risks into the national financial system. A central pillar of this strategy is the reform of rural credit, where the BCB has implemented restrictions on financing for properties with illegal deforestation, lack of environmental registration (CAR), or those located in protected areas. The document also highlights the role of the 'Bureau de Crédito Rural' and the 'Sicor' system in monitoring compliance in real-time.

The United Kingdom plans to introduce a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in 2027 to prevent carbon leakage as free allowances under its Emissions Trading System (ETS) are phased out. While similar to the EU CBAM, the UK version will cover ceramics and glass but exclude electricity, and it will lack a transition period. The report highlights risks including potential trade diversion, administrative burdens for exporters, and diplomatic tensions with developing nations who view such measures as 'environmental colonialism'. It suggests that the UK would benefit from mirroring the EU's reporting systems and exploring the linkage of their respective ETSs to reduce bureaucratic friction and economic risk.

The report argues that battery minerals are not like oil because their demand can be managed through six key solutions: changing chemistries, increasing energy density, recycling, extending battery lifetimes, improving vehicle efficiency, and enhancing mobility efficiency. Under a 'continued trend' scenario, virgin demand for lithium, nickel, and cobalt is projected to peak in the mid-2030s. Under an 'accelerated trend' scenario, net-zero mineral demand is achievable by 2050, turning mining into a one-off effort. The report highlights China's leadership in recycling and suggests that the Global South can leverage used vehicle imports to build its own recycling industries. Ultimately, the transition to a circular battery loop offers a path from oil dependence to circular energy independence.

China has positioned itself as a leader in green technology innovation, utilizing aid, trade, and investment to support the energy transition in the Global South. Through mechanisms like the Belt and Road Initiative and the South–South Climate Cooperation Fund, China has deployed renewable energy, electric vehicles, and sustainable agricultural technologies across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. However, the effectiveness of these partnerships is hindered by gaps between environmental commitments and actual impacts, limited local operational capacity, geopolitical tensions with Western nations, and difficulties in meeting global ESG standards.

Africa possesses vast untapped renewable energy resources and critical minerals but faces significant barriers in financing, technology ownership, and value chain integration. While some progress has been made in solar, wind, and hydropower, the continent remains heavily reliant on imports for technology and patents. The document argues for strengthened partnerships, increased climate finance from the Global North, and the development of local manufacturing to ensure a just energy transition.

The report concludes that no single technology can achieve California's 2045 net-zero goal, requiring a diversified portfolio of electrification, carbon capture and storage (CCS), biofuels, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Key findings highlight a massive required grid expansion of 130–460 GW and the critical role of Direct Air Capture (DAC) to offset hard-to-abate emissions. The analysis suggests that while a 100% carbon-free grid is the current goal, a slightly lower constraint (e.g., 99%) could significantly reduce costs and overbuilding by allowing the use of clean dispatchable power like NGCCS.

In May 2024, the USDA and HUD updated minimum energy standards for new construction, requiring buildings under four stories to meet the 2021 IECC and taller buildings to meet ASHRAE/ANSI Standard 90.1-2019. The report argues that these standards, combined with 45L tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act, make high-performance certifications like ENERGY STAR and Zero-Energy Ready Home (ZERH) financially attractive, particularly for all-electric construction in specific climate zones.

The report highlights that while the EU has reduced territorial emissions, it has become a net importer of CO2 emissions since 2015, with a significant portion of its carbon footprint originating outside its borders, particularly from China, Russia, the United States, and India.

The ElectrifyNY coalition expresses disappointment that the New York State Assembly failed to pass the Green Transit, Green Jobs bill and the Clean Deliveries Act, despite the latter passing the Senate. The coalition argues these failures hinder the state's ability to meet climate mandates and protect disadvantaged communities from air pollution. Additionally, the coalition raises concerns regarding bill S9292A/A9238A, which reduces the amortization period for zero-emission school buses from 12 to 8 years, suggesting the change may not account for the varying needs of school districts.

Between 2021 and 2023, commercial banks in G7 countries provided US$101 billion to the coal industry, with American and Japanese banks contributing over US$73 billion. The report highlights that this financing exceeds the G7-led pledges for Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) and calls for stricter capital requirements and prohibitions to ensure a phase-out aligned with 1.5°C goals.

The document outlines the gTech-IESD modeling framework used to assess Canadian carbon pricing. It details ten policy scenarios ranging from 'No policy' to 'Announced policies with binding LETS systems', alongside sensitivity analyses for oil prices and technology costs. The report specifies macroeconomic inputs from the PBO and CER, and provides a comprehensive inventory of legislated and announced federal and provincial climate policies, including fuel charges, Large Emitter Trading Systems (LETS), and various investment tax credits.