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This policy brief, produced to inform the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, outlines a long-term vision for transforming global energy systems to achieve sustainability. It argues that a fundamental shift is necessary to address simultaneous challenges of energy access, climate change, air pollution, and energy security, emphasizing that such a transition is technologically and economically achievable but requires integrated policy frameworks and scaled-up investments.

The document outlines the consultation process for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) program of Estonia's Transport and Mobility Development Plan 2021–2030. It details specific requests from the Environmental Board, Ministry of the Environment, and other bodies to include assessments of climate change impacts (floods and storms), air pollution (PM10 and PM2.5), and the cumulative effects of transport projects. The program was updated to include the Estonian Maritime Strategy, Natura 2000 assessment procedures, and the 'blue network' in its scope, while clarifying that the development plan remains a high-level strategic document rather than a detailed action plan.

The document argues for prioritizing public transport in South African cities to reduce carbon emissions, which currently account for 25% of city emissions, and energy consumption, which accounts for 50%. It identifies barriers such as fragmented management, safety concerns, and apartheid-era urban planning. Proposed solutions include the creation of Transport Authorities, the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and travel demand management strategies like congestion charging and high-occupancy vehicle lanes. A case study of Cape Town suggests that a 10% shift in commuters from private to public transport by 2020 could save 148 million gigajoules of energy and 9 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2024.

The document examines Estonia's agro-environmental targets set within the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013, the Water Act, and the Nitrate Vulnerable Area programme. While chemical loads have decreased since 1990, challenges remain regarding fertiliser efficiency, manure management, and institutional coordination. The brief recommends integrating policies on the marine environment and water courses, establishing a permanent commission for water policy between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment, and improving advisory services for small and medium producers.

The SEI strategy 2025–29 focuses on three impact areas: climate transitions, nature and resources, and health and wellbeing. It introduces 'accelerating implementation' as a new strategic outcome to move faster on global goals. The institute aims to pursue innovative research on emerging topics such as critical raw materials, the sustainability of AI, and the intersection of climate transitions and international security, while strengthening its global integration as 'One SEI'.

Thailand is promoting a bioeconomy to escape the middle-income trap and reduce social inequality, focusing heavily on the industrial processing of sugarcane and cassava into high-value products and biofuels. While integrated into national strategies like Thailand 4.0 and the 20-year National Strategy, the transition faces significant hurdles, including land and water scarcity, low wages for sugarcane workers, and environmental pollution from field burning.

The report analyzes the relationship between urban transportation, energy consumption, and emissions in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It finds that while CO2 emissions are relatively low globally, local PM10 levels frequently exceed national standards. The study proposes a 'PACKAGE' scenario—combining travel demand management, modal shifts to high-occupancy public transport, and stricter emission standards—as the most effective way to simultaneously reduce congestion, energy use, and pollutants.

The Strategic Collaborative Fund Phase 2 (SCF2), implemented by SEI Asia and funded by Sida, operated from 2018 to 2023 to advance the 2030 Agenda in Asia. The programme focused on four components: inter-regional cooperation (ASEAN, China, and Europe), regional cooperation in Asia on transboundary issues, learning and capacity development via MOOCs, and programme management. Key achievements include the support of the China-ASEAN Environment Cooperation Forum and the Asia-Europe Environment Forum, the development of courses on human rights and gender equality, and the promotion of inclusive climate finance and nature-based solutions in South and Southeast Asian cities.

The document discusses the launch and objectives of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC), based on UNEP and WMO assessments. It highlights 16 existing technological measures to reduce methane and black carbon that could lower global warming by 0.5C by 2050 and prevent millions of premature deaths. The text emphasizes that SLCP reduction is a development issue that complements long-term CO2 targets and focuses on practical implementation through national action planning and international collaboration.

The document critiques a transport development plan for lacking substantive analysis, failing to properly address transboundary environmental impacts, and omitting key climate-related metrics such as fuel and emissions. It argues that the plan relies too heavily on referencing other strategies without providing concrete evaluations of impact or proportionality.

The document defends the findings of an SGR/CIEH report on shale gas, arguing that unconventional gas extraction is more invasive than conventional gas and risks exceeding global carbon budgets. It highlights regulatory resource shortages in the UK, the potential for fracking to trigger seismic events that damage wellbore integrity, and the risk of air and water contamination. The authors argue that shale gas is not a 'key component' of IPCC mitigation strategies and suggest that the UK could reduce its dependence on natural gas through energy conservation, biogas, and a transition to electric heating.

The document critiques Indonesia's energy policies for prioritizing coal-fired power plants (PLTU) despite escalating climate disasters and socio-economic losses. It highlights the filing of two lawsuits at the Jakarta Administrative Court (PTUN Jakarta) by environmental organizations and affected citizens to challenge the RUKN 2025-2060 and RUPTL 2025-2034, arguing that these plans extend the life of fossil fuel infrastructure and ignore the health and economic impacts on local communities.

The document details a legal challenge by LBH Padang against the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) for failing to enforce sanctions against the PLTU Ombilin power plant. It highlights severe health issues among local children, high rates of acute respiratory infections (ISPA) in the Talawi district, and repeated pollution incidents involving fly ash and bottom ash (FABA). The briefing asserts that the plant's continued operation hinders Indonesia's emission reduction goals and violates the health rights of the local population.

This report by Trend Asia, CELIOS, and CREA identifies the 20 most toxic coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in Indonesia, termed the "Toxic Twenty." It analyzes the severe public health, economic, and environmental costs associated with these facilities, arguing that current government retirement roadmaps are insufficient and often delayed by a reliance on unproven technologies like co-firing and CCS/CCUS. The report provides detailed case studies for several plants, documenting widespread respiratory illnesses, loss of traditional livelihoods in fisheries and agriculture, and significant negative impacts on regional GDP.

The report examines the Jawa 9 and 10 coal-fired power plant projects in Cilegon, Banten, highlighting severe risks to public health and the environment. It argues that the projects are economically flawed, citing a Korean Development Institute (KDI) study that predicted a negative Net Present Value (NPV) for KEPCO. The document details the prevalence of acute respiratory infections (ISPA) among children in Cilegon and the broader ecological damage caused by coal transport and mining. It specifically calls for South Korean financiers, such as K-Exim and KDB, to withdraw funding to align with the 'Green New Deal' and global climate goals, noting that Indonesia's emission standards are significantly lower than those in South Korea.

The report examines the Java 9 and 10 Coal Power Plant (CPP) projects in Cilegon, Banten, funded by South Korean institutions including K-Exim, KDB, and K-Sure. It argues the investment is 'forced' and 'unprofitable,' citing a KDI pre-feasibility study showing a negative NPV for KEPCO. The document highlights severe health impacts in Banten, where Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is prevalent, and notes that the projects exacerbate air pollution and increase vulnerability to pandemics like Covid-19. It further criticizes the use of Ultra Super Critical (USC) technology as insufficient for carbon reduction and points to the risk of natural disasters, such as tsunamis, given the plants' coastal locations. The report concludes that the investment violates South Korea's 'Green New Deal' and calls for the Indonesian government to cancel the projects in favor of renewable energy.

The report identifies the 'Toxic Twenty' coal-fired power plants in Indonesia, estimating that between 2026 and 2050, they will cause 156,000 premature deaths and USD 109 billion in health-related economic losses. It argues that these plants create a net economic drain, reducing regional GDP and destroying livelihoods in agriculture and fisheries, while criticizing the government's reliance on 'false solutions' like biomass co-firing to extend the life of fossil fuel infrastructure.

The document examines the expansion of captive coal power on Obi Island, Indonesia, used to fuel nickel refineries for the electric vehicle battery supply chain. It highlights how the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is indirectly linked to these projects through financial intermediaries like Hana Bank Indonesia and OCBC NISP. The author argues that the IFC's 'Green Equity Approach' contains a loophole that explicitly excludes 'captive coal-fired power plants' from its definition of coal-related projects, allowing continued funding. The report details severe environmental and social impacts on Obi Island, including toxic waste from High-Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) refineries, respiratory illnesses, and increased structural poverty for women, while calling for the World Bank Group to close these policy gaps.

The report 'Jakarta Bukan untuk Semua Orang' critiques the current state of mobility in Jakarta, where traffic congestion and inadequate public transport create significant financial and health burdens for citizens. It argues that the classification of transportation as a 'non-basic mandatory affair' under Law No. 23 of 2014 leads to budget cuts and a lack of political will. The document advocates for a shift toward integrated, affordable public transport and electric buses, noting that electric bus operational costs in 2024 were approximately 9% lower than diesel buses.

The complaint argues that the Jawa 9 and 10 coal power plant project, with a combined capacity of 2,000 MW, causes severe environmental and social harm to the local community in Cilegon, Banten. It alleges that the project is unnecessary due to electricity overcapacity in the Java-Bali grid and that its Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) is fatally flawed, failing to adequately address cumulative pollution, climate impacts, and forced displacements. The complainants assert that the IFC failed in its due diligence and oversight of Bank KEB Hana Indonesia, which provided $56 million in funding to the project developer, PT Indo Raya Tenaga, despite being a pilot client for the IFC's 'Green Equity Approach'. The document details reports of community intimidation, loss of livelihoods for farmers and fishers, and significant health risks, including respiratory infections. The complainants request a full compliance investigation, fair compensation for losses, and a systemic change in IFC policy to eliminate indirect support for coal projects.