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The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) provides recommendations for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) $10.75 million funding opportunity for Innovative Research and Training for Subsurface Energy Production. CATF argues that to move beyond regions with shallow heat, funding must target the primary hurdles of drilling deeper than 7km and completing wells in temperatures exceeding 400°C. The document highlights the need for advanced digital twin capabilities and system-wide modeling to reduce development risk, noting that current data for extreme environments is insufficient. It emphasizes that public-private partnerships are essential to share the high cost and risk of exploratory drilling and to develop a skilled workforce. Specifically, CATF recommends that the DOE award projects focusing on either well field development at temperatures >400°C in shallow heat regions or drilling to 200°C at depths >7km.

The report argues that AI-enhanced ISR creates "precarious transparency," where sensing advances are unevenly distributed across different tasks and scenarios. While these tools improve the detection of static objects and peacetime verification, they remain fragile when applied to tracking mobile missiles or operating under wartime countermeasures. The authors conclude that these capabilities asymmetrically favor the United States, which may provoke China to expand its nuclear forces or employ counterspace capabilities more aggressively, thereby increasing the risk of instability.

The document provides a detailed scoring framework and analysis of how AI enhances the ability to search, localize, classify, and track ballistic missile submarines. It evaluates platforms ranging from fixed acoustic arrays (IUSS) and nuclear attack submarines (Virginia SSN) to unmanned systems like the Orca XLUUV and Slocum Gliders, as well as satellite-based SAR constellations. The analysis highlights that AI's impact is most significant in shallow waters for multi-modal platforms and in deep water for acoustic-heavy systems, while physical constraints of the ocean environment continue to limit AI's effectiveness at extreme depths.

The policy brief emphasizes that cutting methane emissions can slow the rate of warming within current lifetimes because methane has a shorter atmospheric lifespan than carbon dioxide. It highlights the use of optical gas imaging to identify invisible leaks and argues that the fossil fuel industry wastes 200 billion cubic meters of gas annually through leaks and flaring. The document advocates for the EU Methane Regulation's application to imports to potentially cut global oil and gas methane emissions by 30 per cent. Additionally, it promotes the Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP), which assists low- and middle-income countries in establishing emissions rules, with Egypt, Brazil, and Bosnia and Herzegovina recently joining the initiative.

The Clean Air Task Force recommends that the EU increase its 2029 public procurement mandates for low-carbon steel to 50% and low-carbon concrete and mortar to 10%. It argues that the current IAA proposal is insufficient to drive investment and suggests expanding mandates to 100% by 2040. The report also proposes extending these requirements to private construction projects over 1000 m2 and private automotive fleets by 2032, while broadening the scope to include low-carbon plastics and fertilisers.

The report outlines technical and operational measures to mitigate methane emissions from landfills in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), where waste management emissions accounted for 10,258 kt in 2023. It categorizes disposal sites into dumpsites, controlled landfills, and sanitary landfills, emphasizing that daily operational practices—such as waste compaction, daily cover application, and leachate management—significantly impact emissions even without advanced gas capture infrastructure. The document details specific equipment requirements, slope stability guidelines, and gas collection system designs, noting that while optimal capture efficiencies can exceed 80%, many regional facilities operate between 20% and 60%. Additionally, it advocates for organic waste diversion through composting and anaerobic digestion, drawing on European precedents, and stresses the necessity of multi-level capacity building for operators and policymakers to ensure sustainable mitigation.

The document analyzes methane abatement in Nigeria's oil and gas sector, focusing on four technologies: leak detection and repair (LDAR), vapor recovery units (VRU), replacement of natural gas-driven pneumatic equipment, and improved flaring practices. It finds that 30% of estimated emissions (53.5 Mt CO2e) are technically abatable using these technologies, with 28% falling below a low-cost threshold of 596 USD/t CH4. The analysis highlights that the economics of abatement depend heavily on the ability to monetize recovered gas, with some measures showing negative costs. While Nigeria has a regulatory framework targeting zero routine flaring by 2030, implementation is uneven, particularly between onshore and offshore assets. The report recommends strengthening enforcement, developing measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, and utilizing targeted financial instruments like concessional loans to overcome barriers such as high import costs and infrastructure gaps.

The report evaluates methane abatement in Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Ghana, Libya, Mexico, and Nigeria, focusing on leak detection and repair (LDAR), vapor recovery units (VRUs), improved flaring practices, and replacing gas-driven pneumatic equipment. Using a bottom-up marginal abatement cost curve (MACC) approach, the study finds that most mitigation measures fall below a low-cost threshold of 596 USD/tCH4 (20 USD/tCO2e). The economic viability of these measures is heavily dependent on the ability to monetize recovered gas, with LDAR and pneumatic equipment replacement often yielding negative marginal costs (net savings) when gas prices are sufficiently high. The report identifies significant structural barriers, including infrastructure gaps and limited local technical capacity, and recommends a combination of regulatory frameworks, targeted financial incentives, and infrastructure investment to accelerate deployment.

The report analyzes the impact of Brazilian livestock on methane emissions, specifically enteric fermentation, and proposes a multi-axis strategy to increase productivity while reducing emissions. It highlights the potential of pasture recovery, genetic improvement, dietary additives, and integrated systems to decouple livestock growth from deforestation and climate impact.

Bosnia and Herzegovina faces a significant investment gap of 3.5 billion euros to meet EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) requirements, with only 20 operational treatment plants currently in place. The report suggests that BiH can leverage Sweden's experience in sectoral knowledge sharing, inter-municipal cooperation, and the use of both centralized and decentralized systems to improve sustainability. Key recommendations include adopting the 2024 Master Plan for Agglomerations, developing entity-level sludge management plans, and bypassing traditional linear models in favor of circular resource recovery for water, nutrients, and energy.

Bosnia and Herzegovina faces a significant investment gap of EUR 3.5 billion to meet EU wastewater standards, with only 20 operating treatment plants. The report compares the fragmented institutional landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Sweden's more integrated approach, highlighting the role of trade organizations like Svenskt Vatten and inter-municipal collaborations like NSVA. It suggests that Bosnia and Herzegovina can 'leapfrog' traditional centralized systems by adopting circular resource recovery principles for water, nutrients, and energy, and by tailoring solutions to the specific scale of urban and rural agglomerations.

The roadmap advocates for a phased exit from fossil fuels in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing a transition that integrates climate justice, economic diversification, and the recognition of nature's rights. It categorizes countries by their hydrocarbon profile—booming production, mature production, or importing with refining capacity—to tailor phase-out strategies. Key goals include achieving a net-zero electricity system by 2050, decarbonizing industrial and transport demand, and reforming financial systems to reduce debt-based climate finance. The document also calls for the criminalization of ecocide and the exclusion of climate policies from investor-state arbitration mechanisms.

The report examines how wastewater treatment plants can be transformed into carbon removal hubs by managing alkalinity and repurposing biosolids. It identifies two primary intervention categories: alkalinity management (including Wastewater Alkalinity Enhancement and Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement) and biosolids management (including biomass burial, biochar, supercritical water oxidation, and incineration with CCS). The document highlights synergies such as the safe destruction of PFAS and the use of existing pumping infrastructure to reduce capital and energy costs. Globally, the biogenic carbon in municipal wastewater represents a theoretical removal potential of 120–460 MtCO2 per year, though current treatment rates limit this to 70–260 MtCO2. Key barriers to scale include feedstock supply chain development, quantification challenges for carbon credits, and ecological risks.

The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing rapid renewable energy growth and rising electricity demand, which increases grid variability. Simultaneously, escalating climate extremes—such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods—create operational disruptions. The report argues that traditional reactive repairs and infrastructure hardening are insufficient, advocating for 'systemic adaptation' that accounts for cross-sector interdependencies. AI is presented as a critical tool to scale this adaptation by fusing fragmented datasets, orchestrating siloed analytical models, and augmenting decision-making under complexity.

Coal mine methane (CMM) emissions remained steady at approximately 34.7 million tonnes in 2023 despite rising coal production, indicating a failure to align with the Global Methane Pledge. The report highlights a critical data gap, estimating that 89% of emissions were unreported to the UNFCCC in 2023 and that 87% of global production relies on generic emission factors rather than direct measurement. While satellite monitoring is increasing, it currently captures only 10% of hard coal production. Technically, 54-63% of CMM emissions could be mitigated by 2030 using proven technologies, with drainage station capture offering significant potential at negative net cost and ventilation air methane (VAM) oxidation capable of cutting nearly a quarter of emissions.

Ember recommends that governments mandate direct measurement and reporting for all coal mines, integrating satellite and independent data to identify super-emitters. The report advocates for banning venting from drainage systems, implementing binding reduction requirements for large emitters, and creating incentive mechanisms for ventilation air methane (VAM) mitigation. It further emphasizes the necessity of phasing down coal use and requiring comprehensive mine-closure plans to prevent ongoing emissions from decommissioned sites.

The Genesis Mission, supported by a $293 million initial funding opportunity, aims to use AI and supercomputing via a National Discovery Platform to accelerate breakthroughs in fusion, fission, and geothermal energy. However, the author contends that AI models will be limited by data gaps regarding novel physical phenomena, such as high-energy neutron bombardment on structural materials. To resolve this, the document calls for Congress to fund the construction of small- to medium-scale test stands, a Fusion Prototypic Neutron Source, and an Integrated Blanket and Fuel Cycle Test Stand, as well as the Fusion BRIDGE program for co-investment with private and philanthropic stakeholders.

The document examines water use in next-generation geothermal systems, including enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), closed-loop geothermal systems (CLGS), and Superhot Rock (SHR) geothermal. It distinguishes between water withdrawal and consumption, noting that while water is essential, innovations can minimize its use. Key findings indicate that approximately 90% of next-generation geothermal can use non-freshwater sources and that air-cooled binary systems significantly reduce water consumption compared to wet-cooled steam systems. The document highlights a trade-off where the most water-efficient systems are often the most capital-intensive. Recommendations include increasing the use of alternative water sources, deploying CLGS and air-cooled technologies, and improving transparency in water usage reporting.

The policy brief advocates for a farmer-centric approach to reducing livestock methane emissions within the EU, emphasizing that productivity improvements can create synergies between climate goals and rural development. It highlights that livestock account for approximately 66% of EU agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, with enteric fermentation being the primary source. The author proposes a combination of technical solutions—such as improved feed, genetic selection, and smarter manure management—and policy levers, including the revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive and the optimization of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to reward methane performance.

The report advocates for reconductoring as a primary solution to the U.S. energy grid's capacity crisis, which currently stalls 2,500 GW of clean energy projects. By replacing traditional steel-core cables with advanced composite conductors, the grid can double its transfer capacity at less than half the cost of building new lines, with installation times of 18-36 months compared to 10-15 years for new construction. The document highlights the potential for $180 billion in system savings by 2050 and a 3-4% reduction in wholesale electricity costs. It details technical improvements, such as trapezoidal wires and carbon-fiber cores, and cites successful implementations in Texas, Nevada, California, and Minnesota, as well as international adoption in Europe and Asia. The report concludes by urging policymakers to support legislation like the High-Capacity Grid Act and the REWIRE Act to incentivize the adoption of these technologies.