Search Climate Insights Directory

The document outlines a SAVi assessment for a proposed MRT system in Pampanga, Philippines, consisting of four bus rapid transit (BRT) lines and one light rail transit (LRT) line. It employs system dynamics modelling and causal loop diagrams to compare a 'no action' scenario against the MRT implementation, identifying potential co-benefits such as reduced CO2 emissions, decreased traffic congestion, and increased regional connectivity. The assessment provides a detailed set of assumptions and data sources for calculating capital costs, operational revenues, and avoided costs related to health, accidents, and fuel use.

The document argues that decisive action on climate change, specifically regulating the oil and gas industry and its financial backers, is necessary to prevent the worsening of wildfires, heat domes, and floods in Canada. It highlights the disproportionate impact of these events on Indigenous peoples and criticizes the Canadian government for prioritizing fossil fuel infrastructure, such as the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, over emissions reductions.

In the first half of 2024, wind and solar power generated 30% of the EU's electricity, surpassing fossil fuels (27%) for the first time. This transition occurred despite a 0.7% increase in electricity demand. Fossil fuel generation fell by 17%, with coal dropping by 24% and gas by 14%. Renewables overall provided 50% of the EU's electricity, aided by a 21% rebound in hydro generation. Power sector emissions decreased by 17% compared to the same period in 2023, and are 31% lower than in the first half of 2022. While capacity additions are high, the report notes a gap between national ambitions and the EU's 2030 targets under the REPowerEU plan, particularly for wind energy.

The report identifies six distinct climate audiences—Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive—across a global survey of 139,136 Facebook users. It finds that the 'Alarmed' group is the largest in approximately 77% of the surveyed areas, with the highest concentrations in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries. Conversely, the 'Doubtful' and 'Dismissive' groups are most prevalent in the Netherlands, Norway, and Libya. The analysis highlights a correlation between lower per-capita emissions and income and higher levels of climate alarm, while noting that the United States has a lower proportion of 'Alarmed' respondents compared to other top carbon-emitting nations.

RMI conducted a pre-feasibility analysis on a high-capacity coal plant in Indonesia, finding that replacing the plant with solar and storage is the preferred solution for maximizing CO2 abatement and investor cash flow, provided sufficient land is available. The analysis highlights the necessity of blended financing to maintain affordable electricity costs during early retirement and notes that biomass co-firing is generally less profitable than other repurposing options. The study emphasizes that land characteristics and regulatory frameworks are critical determinants of a site's repurposing potential.

The briefing establishes that fossil fuels are responsible for approximately 70% of carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution, with a small number of companies contributing a disproportionate share. It highlights the role of attribution science in linking specific extreme weather events to climate change and details the growing trend of using the 'polluter pays' principle in litigation and legislation to hold these companies financially accountable. The document further argues that to meet the 1.5C target, global fossil fuel production must decrease significantly by 2030, supported by a transition to renewable energy and electric vehicles.

The letter, sent by ClientEarth, Fossielvrij NL, and Reclame Fossielvrij to airlines at Amsterdam Schiphol, details the legal boundaries for climate-related advertising following a court ruling that KLM's claims about 'sustainable' flying and CO2 compensation were misleading. It argues that aviation growth is incompatible with the Paris Agreement and warns that the industry's 'licence to grow' communication strategy likely violates the EU Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD).

The Western Balkans have over 23 GW of prospective utility-scale solar and wind projects, a 70% increase from the previous year. This capacity could render proposed gas-fired power plants obsolete, potentially averting 103 million tonnes of lifetime CO2 emissions and saving over €9 billion in energy costs and stranded assets. Currently, operating utility-scale solar and wind account for only 7% of the regional electricity mix (1.5 GW). Serbia leads the region in both operating (29%) and prospective (47%) capacity, though its construction rate is among the lowest. The report argues that the region should prioritize a just energy transition over gas-fired power, which is being promoted by EU, U.S., and Russian interests, to avoid carbon lock-in and import dependence.

A panel of over 30 experts analyzed claims from the June 27, 2024, France 2 legislative debate, focusing on immigration, security, economy, and environment. The analysis identifies several inaccuracies, including claims about France's global CO2 emissions, the efficiency of wind turbines, and the relationship between immigration and insecurity.

Between June 16 and 24, 2024, approximately 4.97 billion people—over 60% of the global population—were exposed to extreme heat that was at least three times more likely to occur due to climate change. The analysis, using the Climate Shift Index (CSI), highlights severe impacts across India, China, Indonesia, Nigeria, Brazil, and the United States, as well as lethal heat waves in Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Egypt.

India's heavy industries emit 920 million tonnes of CO2 annually, with steel and cement contributing 18% of total national emissions. The report argues that green electrification is a critical lever for decarbonisation, starting with the transition of current electricity demand to renewable energy sources (RES) by 2030 and moving toward deep electrification and power-to-fuel technologies by 2050. By 2030, meeting the projected 253 TWh industrial electricity demand with RES would require 120 GW of capacity and could avoid 180 Mt of CO2. In the long term, a 'Potential Electrification Case' suggests that electricity's share of industrial energy consumption could triple to 34.5% by 2050, requiring 699 GW of RES capacity and potentially reducing CO2 emissions by 37% (737 Mt) compared to business-as-usual.

In 2021, IDB Invest and Engie Energia Chile (EECL) implemented a blended finance package to retire two coal units at the Tocopilla plant early and finance the 151 MW Calama wind farm. The deal utilized a results-based concessional loan where interest payments at maturity are reduced based on verified carbon emissions abated through early retirement, using a pre-agreed carbon price of $3/ton. This transaction was enabled by Chile's top-down coal phaseout policy, the lower cost of renewable energy compared to legacy coal Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and the involvement of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).

The report argues that utility-enabled distributed energy resources (DERs) can address Nigeria's power sector bottlenecks, such as high ATC&C losses and supply deficits. It identifies a market opportunity exceeding 20 GW over the next decade, which could reduce carbon pollution by 33 million tons per year and lower customer energy costs by up to 25%.

A survey of 896 registered U.S. voters conducted in Spring 2024 reveals that while 62% prefer candidates who support action on global warming, it remains a lower-ranked priority for the 2024 election, with only 39% considering it 'very important'. There is broad cross-partisan support for climate justice initiatives, such as green spaces in low-income communities (86%), and corporate climate disclosure (79%). However, significant political polarization persists regarding the economic impact of clean energy and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, with strong support from Democrats and substantial opposition or skepticism from conservative Republicans. Despite these views, actual political engagement remains low, though a minority of voters express willingness to participate in campaigns or non-violent civil disobedience.

The briefing proposes "clean repowering" as a strategy to overcome the US grid interconnection backlog, which currently sees over 2 TW of clean energy projects delayed. By utilizing existing interconnection points through surplus interconnection or generator replacement processes, the time to reach commercial operation can be reduced from an average of five years to less than one year. RMI analysis suggests this could deploy 250 GW of new clean energy, saving regulated utilities $46 billion over 30 years and reducing US carbon emissions by 25 percent relative to business as usual through 2035. The document highlights Xcel Energy's Sherco project in Minnesota as a model for this transition, combining solar, storage, and workforce retention.

The author contends that the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline would undermine China's energy security by increasing dependence on Russia, create unnecessary capital expenditure in an oversaturated market, and conflict with China's goal to peak carbon emissions by 2030.

Ministers from 13 nations met on 26 May 2024 in Antigua and Barbuda to reaffirm their commitment to a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. The group expressed concern that planned fossil fuel production by 2030 exceeds Paris Agreement limits and highlighted how debt burdens hinder the transition for small island nations. They agreed to establish an expert working group on financing a just transition and to seek legal advice on the most effective pathway to develop the treaty over the next 12 months.

The report compares a 'base case' trajectory for the Democratic Republic of Congo with several sectoral scenarios and a combined 'Agenda 2063' scenario. It finds that while the combined scenario significantly boosts GDP and reduces extreme poverty and inequality, it also leads to higher carbon emissions. Industrialization and manufacturing are identified as the most impactful drivers for long-term GDP per capita growth, while agriculture provides the strongest short-to-medium term gains. The report emphasizes the need for a green energy transition to mitigate the environmental costs of this economic growth.

The report analyzes the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) socio-economic status, highlighting a stark contrast between its vast natural resources—including 50% of global cobalt reserves—and its high levels of extreme poverty. It projects that under a 'base scenario' of current policies, the DRC will remain one of the world's poorest countries by 2043. However, the report simulates an 'Agenda 2063' combined scenario where strategic interventions in agriculture, industrialization, governance, and infrastructure could significantly increase GDP, reduce extreme poverty from 26.1% to 6.6%, and diversify the economy away from raw material exports.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and other health professionals are calling on the government of New Brunswick to ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) due to significant risks to human health. Citing a range of scientific studies, the authors link fracking to adverse birth outcomes, increased mortality, and higher rates of cancer and respiratory diseases. They also warn that LNG infrastructure releases dangerous pollutants and contributes to climate change, which they identify as the leading global threat to human health.