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The document argues that claiming climate credits for LNG exports is likely impossible and environmentally unsound. It highlights the difficulty of proving 'additionality'—that exports actually cause a switch from coal to gas—and warns that such a mechanism could lead to overstated emissions reductions. The author concludes that any feasible route to these credits would require costly subsidies that would violate Canada's own policies and lock in fossil fuel infrastructure.

Reclaim Finance analyzes 243 sectoral targets from 30 global banks, concluding that most are ineffective due to flawed methodologies, partial coverage, and a lack of transparency. The report specifically criticizes the use of PCAF attribution factors, which can make emissions appear to drop even if real-world emissions remain flat. It recommends shifting toward targets based on financing volumes for fossil fuels, absolute sectoral portfolio emissions, and physical intensity for industrial sectors to drive genuine decarbonization.

The Clean Air Task Force asserts that the 40BSAF-GREET model used by the US Treasury fails to meet statutory requirements for section 45Z because its indirect land use change (ILUC) values are significantly lower than those in the CORSIA and EPA RFS frameworks. The author calls for updated ILUC numbers to comply with the Clean Air Act.

Ember argues that the Boggabri coal mine's fugitive emissions are severely under-reported, using a self-led estimate that is 95 times lower than NSW state guidance. The submission warns that the proposed Modification 10, which involves mining deeper coal seams between 2033 and 2040, could result in Scope 1 emissions being 9 million tonnes higher than reported if state-recommended factors were used. Ember highlights a lack of assessment regarding how increased mining depth affects methane release and calls for a peer-reviewed assessment of pre-mine drainage mitigation before approval.

The document contends that carbon offsetting provides a 'social license' for high-emitting activities to continue and fails to address the root cause of climate change. It highlights systemic quality issues in carbon crediting, such as lack of additionality and non-permanent removals, and argues that the limited supply of high-quality credits cannot meet demand. The authors call for voluntary and regulatory frameworks to exclude offsetting from interim emission reduction targets, citing the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and UN HLEG recommendations as models for maintaining ambition.

The report analyzes the economic exposure of Brazil to the EU's CBAM, noting that while current impacts are limited to specific sectors like iron and steel, the diffusion of BCAs to other major markets like the US and Japan poses a significant risk. It details the responses of the Brazilian government and the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), highlighting concerns over non-discrimination, administrative burdens, and the need for developed countries to finance technological adaptation in developing nations. The document also notes a general lack of broad public and financial sector engagement with the BCA debate in Brazil.

The report examines the paradox of the mining sector, which is essential for supplying critical minerals for energy transition technologies but is itself a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. It analyzes the sector's impact on NDCs, with a focus on coal mining and critical minerals, and provides case studies from Chile, Indonesia, and South Africa to highlight the challenges of achieving a just transition. The document concludes with policy recommendations for improving data quality, creating sector-specific mitigation packages, and fostering shared responsibility between producing and destination countries.

The briefing examines the discrepancy between methane emissions reported by the oil and gas industry and those found through independent measurements. It highlights that industry-led estimation methodologies, such as the API Compendium, often fail to account for 'super-emitter' events, leading to reports that may be 94% lower than independent estimates. The author calls for regulators to mandate measured rather than estimated data to verify climate claims and ensure the effectiveness of the Global Methane Pledge.

The document argues that relying on soil carbon sequestration to offset livestock emissions is risky due to finite storage capacity, the reversibility of carbon storage, and the significant warming potential of methane and nitrous oxide, which can outweigh sequestration gains.

The report highlights that the EU is a net importer of CO2 emissions, with consumption-based emissions (CBEs) significantly exceeding territorial emissions. While the EU has focused on territorial targets, the authors argue that addressing CBEs is essential for global climate goals. Through case studies of Sweden, Denmark, and France, the report identifies a lack of standardized monitoring and binding targets as primary barriers. It recommends that the EU establish binding CBE targets, standardize carbon accounting, and expand policies like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the EcoDesign Regulation to drive sustainable consumption and production globally.

The document argues that the EU's territorial emission reductions mask a growing carbon footprint driven by the import of emissions-intensive goods. It identifies food, housing, and mobility as primary consumption hotspots and recommends binding EU-level targets, mandatory reporting for member states, and enhanced trade transparency to address these emissions.

The document examines the limitations of current GHG accounting, particularly the Scope 2 Market-Based method, which allows companies to claim zero emissions through annual matching of renewable energy certificates (RECs) without necessarily reducing actual grid emissions. The authors propose a dual approach: improving attributional accounting to require hourly and locational matching of carbon-free electricity (CFE) to consumption, and implementing consequential accounting to measure the actual marginal impact of company actions on the atmosphere. This framework aims to incentivize a diverse portfolio of CFE, including firm and dispatchable resources, rather than just low-cost variable renewables.

The document highlights how current life-cycle assessments (LCAs) for building materials in Canada may misdirect decarbonization efforts due to data gaps and a lack of transparency. It specifically notes that LCAs often ignore biogenic carbon emissions from wood products, which can account for up to 72% of their total lifecycle emissions, potentially overstating the carbon advantage of wood over materials like concrete and steel. The briefing recommends that the federal government invest in regionalized national life-cycle inventories and that policymakers prioritize energy efficiency, building durability, and material efficiency over a narrow focus on embodied emissions.

Ember reports that Germany's official coal mine methane (CMM) emissions are likely underestimated by 28 to 220 times. The current reporting relies on a single emission factor from a 1989 study that does not account for depth, geological variability, or surrounding strata. Independent estimates suggest annual emissions could be as high as 307,000 tonnes, compared to the 1.39 thousand tonnes officially reported for 2022. Ember recommends that Germany implement deposit-specific emission factors, direct measurements for active and closed mines, and pre-mine drainage to mitigate emissions.

The document argues that biomass power in South Korea is a 'false solution' to climate change that causes significant carbon emissions and deforestation. It highlights that biomass has become the second-largest renewable electricity source in Korea due to high REC weightings, despite being more expensive than solar and wind. The authors call for the immediate removal of REC weightings for new utility-scale biomass facilities and a phased sunset of weightings for existing plants by 2025 and 2028.

The report finds that while the VCM is viewed as a strategic tool for achieving net zero and incentivizing internal decarbonization, its growth is stymied by a lack of recognition from climate goal standard-setters and perceived reputational risks. Survey data suggests that if standard-setters like the SBTi recognized carbon credits and regulatory claims codes were adopted, corporate spending and the setting of ambitious emissions targets would increase significantly.

The report identifies methane emissions from the oil and gas sector as a critical near-term climate risk and opportunity. It proposes a strategic framework based on emissions visibility, policy action, market activation, and accountability to drive the industry toward 'near-zero' leakage. Key recommendations include the adoption of low-methane procurement standards by governments and utilities, the use of third-party certifications like MiQ, and the implementation of policies to plug marginal wells. The document highlights recent regulatory moves in the U.S. and EU, and international initiatives like the MMRV and CLEAN frameworks, as essential steps to tip global gas markets toward low-emissions supplies.

The April 2024 China-US High-Level Dialogue in Beijing served as a venue for experts to discuss decarbonization strategies and identify collaboration opportunities despite challenging national-level relations. Key discussions focused on the differing sources of methane emissions, the scaling of CCUS and renewable energy, and the need for interoperable standards in trade and corporate disclosure. Both nations emphasized the importance of subnational cooperation and the role of the Sunnylands Statement in guiding joint efforts toward COP 29 and COP 30.

The document critiques the current state of financial sector decarbonization targets, arguing that reliance on 'financed emissions' metrics—specifically those using Enterprise Value Including Cash (EVIC)—allows banks to report emissions reductions based on stock market volatility rather than actual decarbonization. It highlights how banks like Deutsche Bank and Crédit Agricole met targets early due to soaring energy stock prices in 2022. The author warns against 'gaming' metrics through concepts like 'energy mix' targets or 'Expected Emission Reduction' (EER) and calls for a comprehensive dashboard of absolute targets, facilitated emissions tracking, and strict exclusion policies for fossil fuel expansion.

The EPA is launching an EPD Assistance Program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act to support the development and standardization of Environmental Product Declarations for construction materials. The program offers grants between $250,000 and $10 million to U.S.-based manufacturers and supporting organizations to facilitate the use of low-embodied carbon materials in government procurement initiatives like Buy Clean.