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Civil society organizations Traction Energy Asia, Trend Asia, and Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) warn that current bioenergy policies in Indonesia, specifically biofuel and biomass co-firing, drive deforestation and increase carbon emissions. They report that 13 Energy Plantation Forest (HTE) companies caused 55,000 hectares of deforestation between 2017-2021, with projections suggesting up to 4.65 million hectares of natural forest could be lost if current co-firing governance persists across 52 power plants. The document recommends freezing biodiesel blends at 35%, halting new permits, and diversifying feedstocks to include used cooking oil (UCO). It also calls for a comprehensive evaluation of the social and environmental impacts of co-firing, noting that burning 1 million tons of biomass in 43 power plants in 2023 resulted in 1.7 million tons of carbon emissions. The brief includes responses from the national campaign teams of the 2024 candidates regarding their visions for energy transition and forest protection.

The report argues that PLN's plan to use biomass co-firing to reduce emissions is contradictory and potentially destructive. To achieve a 10% co-firing rate across 107 coal power plants, Trend Asia estimates a need for 10.23 million tons of wood pellets annually, requiring energy plantation forests (HTE) of at least 2.33 million hectares. Based on historical data showing 38% of industrial plantation forests originated from deforestation, the report projects that HTE development could lead to the loss of 630,000 to 2.1 million hectares of natural forest, depending on the tree species used.

The report argues that Indonesia's biomass co-firing policy, led by PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), threatens natural forests. To achieve 10% co-firing across 107 coal power plants, Trend Asia estimates a need for at least 2.33 million hectares of energy wood plantations. Based on historical data showing 38% of industrial timber plantations were established via deforestation, the report warns that this policy could increase annual deforestation rates from 630 thousand to 2.1 million hectares. It further highlights contradictions between the government's Enhanced NDC emission targets and its increasing deforestation quotas, while noting that biomass burning creates a 'carbon debt' rather than being carbon neutral.

Trend Asia challenges PT PLN's claim that biomass co-firing facilitates an energy transition and reduces emissions. The report argues that the massive land requirements for energy plantation forests (HTE) to supply wood pellets would lead to significant deforestation, resulting in net carbon emissions rather than reductions. It finds that biomass has become a complement to, rather than a substitute for, coal, with total coal consumption continuing to rise.

Trend Asia argues that PT PLN's biomass co-firing strategy does not reduce coal utilization and instead increases overall emissions due to deforestation and the carbon-intensive production of wood pellets. The report calculates that implementing 10% co-firing across 107 power plants could generate between 7.9 and 26.5 million tonnes of CO2e annually, depending on the tree species used, while potentially requiring millions of hectares of land for energy timber plantations (HTE).

The report examines why China's coal power capacity continued to grow between 2016 and 2020 despite decarbonization goals, citing both surface-level needs (supply security, heating) and deep-seated drivers (local government enthusiasm, rigid dispatch mechanisms). It argues that coal power must transition into a 'supportive role' providing flexibility and backup for wind and solar. To achieve this, the authors suggest four policy entry points: breaking path dependency by curbing local government enthusiasm, reforming electricity markets to incentivize flexibility, coordinating coal and electricity policies to ensure supply security, and adopting a reflexive, inclusive governance model.

The global coal fleet grew by 18.2 GW in 2021, primarily driven by China, which commissioned 25.2 GW of new capacity. While COP26 led to an increase in the number of plants with phase-out dates to 750 (550 GW), a significant gap remains to meet the 1.5C pathway, which would require retiring an additional 1,100 GW. Public financing for new international coal projects has largely ceased following pledges from G20 countries, including China, Japan, and South Korea. However, some nations continue to rely on unproven 'clean coal' technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) to extend plant lifetimes.

The report finds that while many countries are committing to 'No New Coal' and accelerating closures, China continues to expand its coal capacity, largely offsetting global reductions. As of 2021, 750 coal plants (550 GW) have determined closure dates, but a significant gap remains to meet IPCC 1.5°C targets, which would require an additional 1,100 GW of capacity to be cancelled or closed by 2030.

The report analyzes the global state of coal power, noting that while many OECD and non-OECD countries are canceling new projects and setting closure dates, China continues to expand its capacity. It highlights that 750 coal plants (550GW) now have effective closure dates following COP26, but global capacity increased by 18.2GW in 2021 due to Chinese additions. The document argues that 'clean coal' technologies like CCS are expensive and unreliable distractions from a full transition to renewables. Specifically for South Korea, it criticizes the 2050 phase-out goal as lagging behind international standards and notes the continued construction of new plants despite public commitments.

In 2021, EU-27 electricity demand nearly returned to 2019 levels, with renewables reaching a record 1068 TWh and accounting for 37% of production. A critical shift occurred in the second half of 2021 when soaring gas prices made fossil gas more expensive than coal, leading new renewable output to predominantly replace gas rather than coal. While wind and solar output hit record highs (547 TWh), overall power sector emissions fell by an average of 2.5% per year since 2019, which is less than half the 6% annual decline required to align with a 1.5C pathway. Nuclear power continued a long-term structural decline, accounting for 26% of production in 2021.

The document analyzes Indonesia's energy landscape, highlighting a projected increase in LPG subsidies to IDR 66.3 trillion in 2022 and a decline in diesel subsidies. It examines the National Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) 2021–2030, noting that while it targets a 24.8% renewable energy share by 2030, coal remains dominant. The briefing also discusses the challenges of coal phase-out, the introduction of a carbon tax, and the gap between Indonesia's COP 26 commitments and its actual NDC targets.

The report examines how World Bank Development Policy Finance (DPF) in Indonesia and Pakistan has facilitated the expansion of fossil fuels. In Indonesia, a $500 million loan specifically promoted natural gas infrastructure, while the Bank's private sector arm, the IFC, has been linked to coal projects. In Pakistan, the $400 million PACE program's 'prior actions' led to the fast-tracking of an energy plan (IGCEP) that slashed renewable energy targets from 30-33% to 17% and increased reliance on coal, gas, and large-scale hydropower. The authors conclude that DPF often supports fossil fuels by default through sector stabilisation and recommend that all fossil fuels be added to the World Bank's Excluded Expenditures list.

The report analyzes Polish state aid for the power sector, concluding that subsidies for conventional power (mostly coal) were twice as high as those for renewables between 2013 and 2018. It highlights systemic inefficiencies in the EU ETS derogations, capacity markets, and the Energy Prices Act, while identifying RES auctions and EU funds as positive drivers of transition. A case study of the Bełchatów Power Plant illustrates how subsidies often support owners rather than environmental goals. The document compares Poland's cost-ineffective model with the more successful transitions in Germany and Great Britain.

The Climate Solutions Partnership (CSP) report details the results of a five-year philanthropic commitment to scale climate innovation and nature-based solutions. Key achievements include unlocking US$635.4 million in finance, avoiding 7.81 million tonnes of GHG emissions, and managing 13 million hectares for biodiversity. The program implemented diverse projects, such as renewable energy aggregation for SMEs in China, solar-powered dairy cooling in India, and the development of environmental compensation laws in Mexico and El Salvador. It also focused on supply chain transparency in the palm oil sector and the creation of financial toolkits to combat environmental crimes.

The report criticizes Sumitomo Corporation for its continued investment in coal-fired power plants and its role as a leading importer of wood pellets for biomass energy. It argues that these activities drive deforestation in the US, Canada, and Vietnam, and cause severe air pollution and human rights violations in Southeast Asia. The document calls for Sumitomo to commit to a full exit from coal by 2030 and adopt a 'zero deforestation' policy for its biomass supply chain.

The document warns that without a 550gCO2/kWh limit on capacity payments, Europe's 256 operational coal plants could be 'supercharged', potentially extending their design life from 40 to 60 years. It identifies multiple EU policy gaps—including low carbon prices, biomass co-firing, and mining cross-subsidies—that already favour coal. The author contends that poorly designed capacity markets risk crowding out flexible, low-carbon alternatives like batteries and demand-side response, arguing that clean capacity is already cheaper than extending old coal plants.

The report examines biomass co-firing across Europe, noting that in Finland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, biomass is often used alongside fossil fuels. It argues that subsidies for co-firing can hinder the phase-out of coal and peat, specifically citing cases in Finland and the Netherlands where financial support may extend the lifetimes of fossil-fuel plants.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) argues that augmenting the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) with a higher renewable electricity standard (RES) of 25% by 2025 and a 10% energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) by 2020 would reduce consumer energy costs, lower carbon allowance prices, and diversify the U.S. electric power mix. Using the National Energy Modeling System, the analysis finds that this 'RES/EERS Case' would save consumers $113 billion in electricity and natural gas expenditures through 2030 compared to the ACES Basic Case, while avoiding the need for nearly 50 new nuclear power reactors. The report concludes that these complementary policies, combined with a national carbon cap, accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy without significantly impacting GDP.

The report analyzes how global warming affects Pennsylvania's environment and economy, projecting severe risks under a higher-emissions scenario, such as the disappearance of snowmobiling, declines in dairy and fruit yields, and increased urban heat stress. It advocates for a transition to clean energy, citing Pennsylvania's role as the third-highest fossil fuel emitter in the U.S., and suggests specific adaptation strategies for infrastructure and natural resources.

The report identifies 67 planned coal-to-biomass projects in the EU that could increase biomass consumption by 607 PJ per year, potentially tripling the current levels of biomass burnt in coal power plants. This expansion would require approximately 36 million tonnes of wood pellets annually, which is similar to current global production. The authors argue that these projects are expensive, rely on public subsidies, and risk accelerating climate change because the CO2 emitted during combustion is not reabsorbed quickly enough to meet Paris Agreement targets. The report highlights that five countries—Finland, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands—are responsible for most of this potential growth, with the Netherlands accounting for 25%.