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Engie sort du charbon : une annonce sans impact
Reclaim Finance argues that Engie's plan to exit coal is a 'non-annonce' because it prioritizes selling assets or converting them to gas and biomass instead of ensuring full closures. The organization warns that converting to gas or biomass fails to align with climate science and risks creating stranded assets. Furthermore, the document claims that selling plants does not reduce global CO2e emissions and that Engie's current 2°C target is insufficient to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
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Document type: Statement
Engie’s coal exit non-announcement
Reclaim Finance argues that Engie's coal exit plan is insufficient because it allows for the conversion of plants to gas or biomass and the sale of assets to other companies, which does not guarantee actual emission reductions or protect workers.
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Document type: Statement
Climate Change FAQs
The document explains that human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, are the main drivers of global warming, which has seen average global temperatures rise by about one degree Celsius since 1880. It details the resulting environmental impacts, such as rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and increased frequency of extreme weather events, while highlighting the specific vulnerability of the United States to billion-dollar disasters. The text outlines mitigation and adaptation strategies, including the transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency, and discusses the role of international agreements like the Paris Agreement and the influence of climate finance in supporting these transitions.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Bioeconomy Africa: Croton megalocarpus Hutch Kenya
The report analyzes the value chain of Croton megalocarpus Hutch in Kenya, specifically focusing on the business model of the company EFK. It positions the use of this oil-producing plant within the broader context of the sub-Saharan African bioeconomy, which emphasizes adding value to bioresources and biowaste to support rural development and socio-economic needs, contrasting this with European bioeconomy goals that prioritize high-value molecules and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
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Document type: Report
Utilities beyond fossil fuels CASE STUDY: ENGIE
The report argues that ENGIE's transition strategy is not aligned with the Paris Agreement due to the lack of confirmed shutdown dates for 70% of its remaining coal fleet and a reliance on converting coal plants to fossil gas and biomass. While ENGIE aims for renewables to provide 58% of its power by 2030, the document identifies significant financial and regulatory risks associated with its gas and biomass assets, including the potential for stranded assets and high methane emissions from shale gas procurement.
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Document type: Case study
Greenhouse Gas Removal Technologies study: Call for evidence
Ember challenges the assumption that biomass is carbon neutral, noting that current practices may actually contribute to climate change. The organization argues that the scale of land required for energy crops to support BECCS would cause significant environmental and food security issues. Furthermore, Ember highlights the high public cost of subsidizing bioenergy, suggesting that funds would be more effectively spent on wind, solar, or forest restoration.
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Document type: Statement
Revision of the State Aid Guidelines for Environmental Protection and Energy and exemption rules
ClientEarth argues that EU State aid rules must be transformed into sustainability instruments that prohibit support for fossil fuels and harmful biomass, while prioritizing energy efficiency and renewable energy. The document calls for the strict application of the 'Energy Efficiency First' principle, the exclusion of low-carbon (fossil gas-based) hydrogen from subsidies, and the removal of aid for high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) plants. It further recommends increasing support for energy communities, zero-emission vehicles, and energy efficiency in buildings, while introducing a 'greenwashing test' to ensure the environmental integrity of aid beneficiaries.
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Document type: Statement
Africa in Fact
The report highlights that 600 million Africans lack electricity, with sub-Saharan Africa being the most affected. It argues that while legacy megaprojects like the Inga 3 dam and Stiegler's Gorge are financially and environmentally risky, decentralized renewable energy (DREs) and public-private partnerships offer more sustainable paths to electrification. The text also examines the geopolitical influence of Russia's nuclear diplomacy and China's investment in coal-fired plants, while noting the severe health impacts of biomass reliance among the rural poor.
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Document type: Report
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MANAGING INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS
The guide details the ecological threats posed by invasive alien plants in the Cape Floral Region, including water depletion and biodiversity loss. It outlines legal obligations under the Biodiversity Act and CARA, provides a structured four-step planning process, and describes four primary control methods: manual, mechanical, chemical, and biological. The document also emphasizes health and safety protocols for herbicide use and the importance of long-term ecological rehabilitation.
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Document type: Guide
Greenhouse gas removals: call for evidence
Ember argues that the viability of BECCS as a negative emissions mechanism is undermined by the fact that burning biomass may be net carbon emitting rather than carbon neutral. The document highlights the lack of UK policy measures to ensure carbon-saving biomass production and warns that the land requirements for energy crops could lead to significant food, water, and biodiversity impacts. Furthermore, Ember contends that public subsidies for BECCS are expensive and potentially less effective than investing in rapid decarbonisation or natural forest restoration.
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Document type: Report
THE 2020-2030 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND LOW EMISSION DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
The strategy outlines a comprehensive plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina to transition to a green economy by 2030 and achieve significant emission reductions by 2050. It identifies high vulnerability in agriculture, water management, and forestry due to increasing temperature extremes and erratic precipitation. The document proposes a low-carbon development path focusing on replacing inefficient coal-fired power plants with renewables, improving building energy efficiency, and modernising transport. A total investment of approximately BAM 16.7 billion is estimated for mitigation and BAM 170 million for adaptation by 2030.
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Document type: Report
Gambling with Biomass: Reliance on BECCS undermines National Grid’s net-zero scenarios
Ember argues that National Grid ESO's FES 2020 scenarios for achieving net-zero by 2050 are undermined by an over-reliance on BECCS to offset residual emissions. The briefing highlights that the required scale of BECCS would necessitate converting 1Mha of UK agricultural land to energy crops and potentially 200Mha globally, posing significant risks to biodiversity and food security. Ember contends that the assumption of 'instant' negative emissions is flawed and that relying on BECCS creates a moral hazard, potentially discouraging more ambitious decarbonisation efforts in difficult sectors like aviation and agriculture.
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Document type: Briefing
SCÉNARIOS CLIMATIQUES : 5 pièges à éviter pour contenir le réchauffement à 1,5°C
The report critiques common climate scenarios, such as the IEA's Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS), for underestimating emissions and overestimating carbon capture to justify continued fossil fuel use. It argues that these scenarios often lead to warming above 2°C despite claims of alignment with the Paris Agreement. The author calls for a rapid phase-out of fossil fuel financing by 2040 in Europe and 2050 globally.
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Document type: Report
CLIMATE SCENARIOS: 5 traps to avoid to keep global warming under 1.5°C
The document identifies five 'traps' in climate scenarios—including the omission of non-combustion emissions, reliance on unproven negative emissions technologies, and underestimation of renewable energy—that lead to warming above 2°C. It specifically criticizes the IEA's Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS) and NGFS 'representative' scenarios for facilitating continued fossil fuel expansion. The author calls for financial actors to phase out fossil fuel financing by 2040 in Europe and 2050 globally.
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Document type: Briefing
The German coal exit law: grounds of incompatibility of the compensations for hard coal plants with State aid law
ClientEarth submits that the German Coal Exit Law (KAG) provides incompatible State aid through the Steinkohlezuschlag (hard coal closure compensations) and CHP conversion bonuses. The document argues that older hard coal plants (over 25 years) lack residual value, meaning compensations would result in overcompensation and lack an incentive effect. Furthermore, it claims that CHP funding—specifically the Coal Substitute and South Bonuses—may discourage rapid coal phase-out by offering more attractive financial terms than closure auctions and by promoting unsustainable fuels like natural gas and biomass. ClientEarth calls for a formal Commission investigation into these measures, citing potential violations of Articles 7, 9, and 11 TFEU regarding environmental protection and sustainable development.
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Document type: Statement
Back to the Future: Kenya
The document describes a participatory research project in Kitulu, Kenya, where community members used backcasting to imagine a 2030 scenario of universal electric cooking. Participants linked electric cooking to broader development gains, such as improved infrastructure and food security, while emphasizing a stepwise transition through 'stacking' different cooking technologies. The study highlights the importance of building community social capacity and civic engagement to demand public services and manage the transition.
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Document type: Case study
No going back to normal: Imagining a Just Recovery in South Africa
The report contends that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep structural faults in South Africa's economy, including extreme inequality and a dependence on fossil fuels. It advocates for a 'Just Recovery' based on five principles: prioritizing health, providing direct economic relief, supporting workers over corporations, creating resilience for future crises, and building international solidarity. The authors propose a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050, the implementation of a 'purple economy' to value care work, and a shift toward democratic public ownership to replace market-centric neoliberal policies.
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Document type: Report
Low-carbon transitions in West Sumatra, Indonesia: gender and equity dimensions
The document examines how renewable energy transitions in West Sumatra, Indonesia, can either entrench or challenge existing social inequities. Through case studies of geothermal, micro-hydro, and biofuel projects, it highlights how patriarchal land management and closed decision-making processes exclude women and marginalized groups from benefits. It also analyzes the limitations of national LPG subsidies and grid electrification in reaching the rural poor, concluding that a gender-sensitive approach is essential to ensure just transitions.
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Document type: Policy brief
BIOGENIC CARBON FOOTPRINT CALCULATOR FOR HARVESTED WOOD PRODUCTS USER MANUAL
The manual describes a tool for calculating the biogenic carbon footprint of wood-based products, measured in kg CO2eq. It explains two usage levels: a 'BASIC' mode for quick checks and an 'ADVANCED' mode for detailed analysis of up to 10 products. The calculator incorporates dynamic methods to assess the 'forest carbon gap' (the time until harvested biomass is regrown) and 'storage time benefits' (delayed emissions). It provides reference values for various forest species and climate zones based on IPCC 2006 classifications, as well as default lifespans for product categories ranging from energy combustion (0 years) to building materials (50 years). The tool also allows for the customization of wood processing efficiency, allocation methods, and end-of-life scenarios such as incineration, recycling, and landfill.
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Document type: Guide
Resilient Housing and Communities
The document features a discussion on the critical need for resilient housing and community-based energy solutions in island territories following disasters like Hurricane Maria. Panelists emphasize that resilience is achieved through 'community strength' and self-sufficiency rather than dependency on centralized government systems. Key strategies include the deployment of distributed solar energy to create 'energy oases' for critical infrastructure and the use of the 'Keep Safe' guide to implement multi-risk mitigation in housing design. The discussion highlights the intersection of climate risk, housing insecurity, and the necessity of local workforce development to maintain resilient infrastructure.
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Document type: Briefing