Search Climate Insights Directory

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that the EU must adopt a diversified, options-based climate strategy to reach its 2050 net-zero goal, as relying on a single pathway increases risk. The document emphasizes the necessity of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, noting that no operational CO2 storage sites currently exist in the EU. CATF recommends a portfolio of zero-carbon fuels, nuclear fission, fusion, and superhot rock energy to ensure energy security and a reliable 24/7 carbon-free electricity grid. It specifically proposes separate targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, nature-based removals, and industrial removals to ensure transparency and durability. Additionally, the document advises against including methane in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to avoid disincentivizing CO2 reductions, suggesting instead separate initiatives like an EU Import Standard for oil and gas.

The document asserts that Germany possesses the necessary technological innovations to combat climate change and reduce dependence on Russian energy, but lacks the scale for implementation. It highlights that climate tech startups, particularly those focused on hardware for heavy industry (steel and cement) and sustainable fuels, are key to this transition. To increase the number of these startups hundredfold, the author proposes six measures: implementing Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs), adopting Green Public Procurement (GPP) for building materials, focusing public funds like the Deep Tech Future Fund on climate tech, streamlining research-to-startup guidelines at universities, reducing bureaucracy, and expanding 'living labs' for scaling innovations.

The document examines the transition of traditional refineries to low-carbon facilities across four regions, utilizing archetype refineries to model emissions reductions under the IEA's Announced Pledges Scenario (APS) and Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE). It identifies key decarbonization levers including carbon capture and storage (CCS), green and blue hydrogen, energy efficiency, and the conversion of facilities into biorefineries or clean fuels plants. Regional analysis reveals that while the US and GCC benefit from vast CO2 storage and cheap natural gas, Europe and Singapore face greater storage constraints but have stronger regulatory drivers and higher financial incentives for energy efficiency. The study emphasizes that the viability of these transitions depends on carbon pricing, feedstock availability, and the development of carbon clusters to achieve economies of scale.

The Bioenergy Criteria Background document outlines the framework for certifying bioenergy projects as climate-aligned. It establishes a temporal declining trajectory for life-cycle GHG emissions, aiming for near-zero emissions by 2050. The document defines eligible biomass feedstocks—categorized into agricultural, forestry, processing waste, and aquatic biomass—and sets strict sustainability requirements to prevent negative impacts on biodiversity, food security, and carbon stocks. Special emphasis is placed on mitigating methane emissions in the biogas and biomethane value chain through the adoption of 'best-practice' scenarios and leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs. Additionally, it provides a framework for assessing the adaptation and resilience of bioenergy assets against climate-related hazards.

The document argues that the proposed 35% environmental and climate spending target is insufficient and should be increased to 50%, while removing exemptions for defence and security spending. It identifies significant 'greenwashing' risks in Annex I, specifically regarding targeted support to farmers' income, military mobility, and critical raw materials extraction. The briefing provides a detailed technical reference document proposing changes to over 100 intervention fields, including the deletion of activities that violate the 'Do no significant harm' (DNSH) principle, such as hydropower, nuclear fission, and airport capacity expansion.

The report identifies Atlantic Canada as a leader in decoupling GDP growth from greenhouse gas emissions, though it faces significant fiscal risks due to a reliance on oil, gas, and coal. While Nova Scotia is a hub for transition-related innovation in batteries, smart grids, and low-carbon shipping, regional companies generally remain small and undercapitalized. Vulnerabilities are concentrated in rural areas and specific provinces, notably Newfoundland and Labrador, where oil and gas sectors are critical to government revenue.

The Willis Transportation Outlook examines how transport infrastructure serves as a primary driver of global economic development and wealth creation. It highlights a shift in aviation and trade growth toward Asia and the Middle East, while developed nations like the UK struggle with political instability and aging infrastructure. The document emphasizes the transition toward 'intelligent mobility'—using smart data and connectivity to reduce congestion—and the urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure to withstand extreme weather. It also explores innovative funding models like Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and the role of China's investment in African transport networks.

The International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation (ICSA) evaluates the 'CORSIA Package,' which includes Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for the global aviation carbon offsetting scheme. While acknowledging the technical soundness of much of the package, ICSA argues that current provisions for reporting transparency, emissions unit eligibility, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) sustainability criteria are insufficient. The document recommends that ICAO expand sustainability criteria to include social and economic attributes, improve third-party access to emissions reports, and refine life cycle assessment (LCA) values for waste-based feedstocks to prevent environmental harm and double counting.

The document examines South Africa's nascent green hydrogen economy, positioning the country in the 'technological readiness' phase of market development. It argues that while some input manufacturing is emerging, there is a critical need for coordinated industrial and energy policies—including capital grants and electricity tax exemptions—to drive commercial production. A central focus is the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, where the author identifies a 'wide chasm' between graduates and employment. The paper advocates for a shift toward 'anticipatory governance' and 'skills foresight' to better align vocational training with the evolving demands of the green hydrogen value chain, ensuring a just transition for workers displaced from the coal industry.

The report outlines a pathway for Lao PDR to reach net zero emissions by 2050, utilizing LEAP and NEMO modelling to compare a Baseline Scenario with a transformative Net Zero Scenario. Key findings highlight the necessity of diversifying the energy mix beyond hydropower, electrifying transport and cooking, and implementing carbon removal technologies. The analysis emphasizes that while hydropower remains dominant, the country must scale up solar, wind, and biomass to ensure resilience against climate-induced droughts. Achieving the target requires significant infrastructure upgrades, including grid modernization and the deployment of direct air capture (DAC) to offset residual industrial and agricultural emissions. The report also addresses critical economic challenges, such as high public debt and currency depreciation, and recommends strengthening regional cooperation through the ASEAN Power Grid and the APAEC framework.

The document outlines a strategy for a just energy transition in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, a city where 70% of the economy is linked to the petroleum industry. It identifies key risks, such as employment loss and environmental preservation, and proposes diversifying the local economy through regenerative agriculture, nature tourism, renewable energy (solar and agrivoltaics), and the production of renewable fuels like green diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The document uses a departmental input-output model to project that Colombia could lose up to 448,000 jobs by 2035 due to decreased coal, oil, and gas production. It highlights a significant disparity in impact: 'Vulnerable' departments (Arauca, Casanare, Cesar, La Guajira, and Meta) face severe production drops (32%-38%) and job losses that cannot be offset by renewable energy projects alone. While 'Large Economies' and 'Limited Affectation' departments also face job losses due to interdepartmental linkages, they possess higher potential for compensation through structural changes in agro-industry and nature tourism. The brief argues that a 'just transition' requires a structural economic shift, specifically proposing the creation of food manufacturing clusters and local-content requirements for renewable energy imports to maximize domestic employment.

The document examines clean hydrogen as a complementary solution to electrification for decarbonizing US freight transport. While facing hurdles in cost, infrastructure, and storage, hydrogen is positioned as a leading solution for long-haul and heavy-duty transport by mid-century. The paper details specific applications across road, maritime, air, and rail sectors, while emphasizing that climate benefits depend on the use of low- and zero-carbon production feedstocks.

The policy brief warns that using soybeans and corn for aviation fuel increases food prices and causes deforestation, urging the US government and states like California to prioritize non-food feedstocks such as waste biomass and e-fuels.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of the climate and energy landscapes in China and the United States. For China, it highlights a 4.7% increase in CO2 emissions in 2023, the growth of non-fossil fuel power capacity to 53.9% of the total, and the implementation of the 'Carbon Peak' pilot program and the restart of the CCER market. For the United States, it notes a projected 1.9% decrease in emissions for 2023, the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and the focus on decarbonizing the power sector by 2035. The briefing also details the 'Sunnylands Statement' as a framework for bilateral cooperation on methane and energy transition, while noting tensions regarding trade policies and the potential impact of the 2024 US election.

The document outlines job creation potential for coal truckers transitioning to biomass supply chains in South Africa, highlighting that lignocellulosic biomass offers the highest employment potential, with 3,076 driver jobs possible in coal regions alone.