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The document warns that post-pandemic recovery efforts risk entrenching carbon-intensive pathways through technological, political, and societal lock-in if governments prioritize a return to the pre-pandemic status quo. It identifies a narrow window of opportunity in 2020 to align economic stimulus with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. To achieve a sustainable transition, the authors propose five policy levers: conditional bailouts, environmental tax reform, green public procurement and finance, expanded social welfare, and just transition measures to support workers. The briefing highlights that while some regions like South Korea and the EU are pursuing green recovery plans, others, such as the US and China, are implementing measures that may reinforce fossil fuel dependency.

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.

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 argues that the steel sector can be almost fully decarbonised by 2050 through a combination of hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (HDRI), carbon capture and storage (CCS), increased steel recycling, and material efficiency. It warns that to avoid stranded assets and catastrophic climate impacts, new blast furnaces without CCS must not be added and existing ones must not be relined after 2025. Policy interventions are required to provide clean electricity and green hydrogen, create lead markets, and implement carbon pricing, with a suggested price of around US$70 to avoid 1.3 Gt CO2 of emissions by 2030. International cooperation, such as the Glasgow Breakthrough on Steel, is highlighted as essential because demand growth is primarily driven by developing economies in Asia.

The report argues that environmental improvements can enhance competitiveness and proposes a strategy for a European eco-efficient economy based on resource efficiency, new technology markets, and stable global carbon pricing. It emphasizes the need for integrated governance, support for SMEs, and international cooperation to prevent carbon leakage and drive global climate action.

The document assesses how constraints on biomass, specific metals, and water resources may impact the transition to a low-carbon economy. It evaluates various scenarios for biomass production, predicts cumulative deficits for metals like indium and tellurium, and examines the water-energy nexus, using a California case study to demonstrate how technology choices can mitigate water stress while reducing emissions.

The fact sheet outlines three scenarios: a Baseline scenario (BAS) where business-as-usual leads to a 98% likelihood of temperatures increasing by more than 2°C; a Basic Energy Access scenario (BEA) that provides basic energy for all while limiting global GHG emissions to 1,300 Gt CO2; and a Shared Development Agenda scenario (SDA) which aims for a more balanced global income distribution with per capita incomes of at least $10,000 for all nations by 2050.

The report argues that transitioning from national energy self-sufficiency to an integrated regional power system in Central Asia would enhance energy security, lower electricity production costs, and accelerate decarbonization. Modelling indicates that 'Unlimited transmission' could reduce electricity production emissions intensity by approximately 3% and save 1.4 billion USD in annual costs by 2050 compared to self-sufficiency. The document highlights the potential for Kazakhstan to become a hydrogen hub (primarily via 'blue' hydrogen) and for Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to provide baseload hydropower. To achieve this, the report proposes a roadmap integrating technical, political, financial, and organizational considerations.

Nigeria's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) establishes a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2060. The strategy analyzes four decarbonization scenarios—Business As Usual (BAU), Current Policy Scenario (CPS), Gas Economy Scenario (GES), and Renewable Energy Scenario (RES)—concluding that the RES, supported by international aid (RES+), offers the most promising balance of low emissions and economic growth. The report details sectoral mitigation measures for power, AFOLU, industry, transport, and waste, alongside a comprehensive adaptation framework to protect the economy, particularly the agriculture sector, from climate-induced GDP losses. Implementation relies on policy, financial, and technological innovations, including carbon pricing and the establishment of a National Climate Change Fund.

Ethiopia's Long-Term Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development Strategy (2020-2050) establishes a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050. The strategy analyzes four scenarios: Business-as-Usual (BAU), NDC-aligned, Maximum Ambition, and Late Action. It prioritizes decarbonization in energy, transport, agriculture, forestry, waste, and industrial processes (IPPU). Key pillars include expanding renewable energy, electrifying transport, enhancing carbon sinks through reforestation, and modernizing agriculture. The document emphasizes a 'just transition' through a Women and Youth in Green Jobs Program and identifies a significant financing gap, estimating a total investment requirement of USD 154 billion for the NDC-aligned scenario.

The report analyzes the feasibility of decarbonizing Estonia's electricity production, which was 86.39% dependent on oil shale in 2013. Using the LEAP model and multi-criteria analysis, it compares several scenarios, finding that a 'LowCO2' path could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels by 2050. Achieving this requires phasing out oil shale subsidies, investing in grid interconnections with Latvia and Sweden, and significantly increasing support for energy efficiency and distributed renewable generation.

The report analyzes the 'technological innovation system' (TIS) for solar PV and CCS, contrasting the EU's market-pull approach with the US's R&D-push focus. While solar PV has seen rapid growth and falling costs, it faces risks from fluctuating European subsidies. CCS is stalled in the 'valley of death' due to high capital requirements for large-scale demonstration and a lack of long-term climate policy, particularly in the US.

The document argues that agroforestry provides a viable alternative to monoculture reforestation and intensified agriculture by creating multi-functional land-use systems. It highlights that 'land-sharing' through agroforestry can actually support 'land-sparing' by reducing the pressure to deforest for agricultural expansion. Using case studies from Sri Lanka and Vietnam, the brief demonstrates how home gardens and forest gardens increase tree cover and improve rural resilience. It also notes the success of nitrogen-fixing species in Africa and the use of rubber and cocoa agroforests in Indonesia and globally. The authors conclude that successful implementation requires secure land tenure, local context-specific choices, and inter-agency collaboration.

The document argues that multi-layered home gardens incorporating trees, shrubs, and crops enhance food security, nutrition, and climate resilience. It identifies key barriers to their development, such as insecure land tenure and water scarcity, and suggests that integrating home gardens into climate finance mechanisms like REDD+ could provide new opportunities for expansion.

The report by Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) examines the American Chemical Society's (ACS) alignment between its public sustainability policies and its financial practices. While the ACS expresses concern for climate change and provides educational toolkits, SGR highlights a lack of transparency regarding $1.22bn in securities and continuing financial links to the fossil fuel industry, specifically through the Petroleum Research Fund and sponsorship from ExxonMobil. SGR argues that these ties and the absence of carbon emission targets undermine the ACS's role as a scientific leader in the energy transition.

The report by Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) examines the American Meteorological Society's (AMS) financial transparency and ethical alignment. While the AMS acknowledges the scientific consensus on climate change and has implemented some green office measures, SGR identifies indirect fossil fuel investments through mutual funds and significant sponsorship from arms manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. SGR argues that these financial links contradict the AMS's stated position on the urgency of the climate crisis.

The report by Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) examines the American Physical Society's (APS) financial practices, noting a lack of transparency regarding $181.9 million in securities and the absence of a formal ethical investment or environmental policy. While the APS has no known fossil fuel sponsors and has committed to tackling the climate crisis, SGR expresses concern over donations from the arms trade and the inability to verify if APS investments contradict its public climate statements.

The report examines the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), finding that while the organization promotes sustainable engineering in its ethics code and conferences, it lacks transparency regarding its $2.55 million investment portfolio. Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) highlights that ASEE accepts significant funding from fossil fuel company Chevron as a "Champion Partner" and arms company Boeing as a "Contributing Partner." SGR argues that these ties contradict the goals of the Paris Agreement and pose financial and reputational risks, urging a transition toward renewable energy investments and the divestment of fossil fuel patrons.

The report examines the American Statistical Association's (ASA) financial ties to the fossil fuel industry and its public stance on climate change. While the ASA has endorsed the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change and lacks evidence of direct corporate sponsorship from fossil fuel companies, it holds $21.9 million in publicly traded securities without a public ethical investment policy or disclosure of where these funds are held. Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) argues that this lack of transparency makes it impossible to rule out investments in fossil fuels, which would contradict the ASA's own ethical guidelines and the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The report by Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) examines the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), highlighting a lack of transparency regarding its CA$3.77m in investments and the absence of an ethical investment policy. SGR identifies financial links between CIM and fossil fuel firms Syncrude and Teck Resources, noting that Teck served as a 'Gold sponsor' for CIM's 2021 Convention with a donation of CA$20,000-30,000. While CIM partners with the Mining Association of Canada on the 'Towards Sustainable Mining' standard, SGR argues that CIM's ties to companies not aligned with 1.5C warming limits undermine its stated goal of 'Collaborating towards a sustainable future'.