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The document analyzes the 'digital divide' in the U.S., where millions of people—particularly in rural and tribal areas—lack high-speed internet. It details various broadband technologies, the economic and social impacts of this gap, and the critical link between broadband and smart energy technologies. The brief also reviews federal funding mechanisms, the role of municipal and electric cooperative networks, and recent legislative efforts to expand access.

The Center for Climate Integrity presents evidence that Chevron and its predecessors were aware of the catastrophic effects of fossil fuels as early as 1980 but funded campaigns to discredit climate science and sow public uncertainty. The document highlights a contradiction between Chevron's public claims of leadership in clean energy and its actual investment patterns, noting that only 0.2 percent of annual capital expenditure was spent on low-carbon energy between 2010 and 2018. Additionally, it points to patents filed by Chevron and Texaco in 1974 for drilling equipment designed for warming Arctic conditions, suggesting the company prepared for the physical impacts of climate change while publicly denying them.

Following the 2021 federal election, all major Canadian political parties have committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and carbon reductions by 2030. The document highlights the importance of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, which mandates five-year milestones and established the Net-Zero Advisory Body. It emphasizes that achieving the 2030 target requires scaling 'safe bet' solutions—such as energy-efficient buildings and clean electricity—while calling for a comprehensive emissions reduction plan that addresses carbon pricing, emerging technologies, and a just transition for workers.

The document highlights a significant discrepancy between the UK advertising industry's operational carbon footprint and the emissions of its fossil fuel clients, urging the industry to include client impact in its net zero accounting.

The document examines the 'digital divide' in the U.S., where rural and tribal areas lack high-speed internet access due to high deployment costs, limited competition, and affordability issues. It highlights how broadband is a prerequisite for smart home devices, precision agriculture, and smart grids, which can reduce energy use by 12–22%. The brief details various deployment initiatives by municipalities, tribal governments, and electric cooperatives, while reviewing federal funding programs and recent legislation aimed at achieving universal broadband access.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute explores how digital health and social care tools, such as Virtual Health Rooms (VHRs), can reduce carbon emissions and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using a case study of Storuman municipality in Sweden, the report estimates that VHRs can save approximately 31 tons of CO2 annually by reducing patient travel. It also details a co-production workshop that identified synergies between distance health solutions and SDGs related to health, climate action, responsible consumption, and public-private partnerships, advocating for a systemic, evidence-based approach to policy implementation to maximize benefits and mitigate trade-offs.

The sustainable debt market saw record-breaking growth in H1 2021, with combined labelled issuance reaching USD 496.1 billion. Green bonds led the growth, particularly in developed markets, while sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) emerged as a rapid growth segment for corporates. The report also highlights the nascent state of transition bonds and the need for standardized, ambitious definitions to avoid 'transition-washing'.

ClientEarth responds to the FCA's CP21/17 consultation, arguing that while the proposed expansion of climate-related disclosures is welcome, the FCA must broaden the scope of regulated firms, mandate Paris-aligned transition plans, and ensure robust enforcement to meet the UK's net-zero targets.

The report finds broad support among U.S. registered voters for clean energy policies and government action on global warming, though views on economic impacts and specific political actions remain divided along party lines.

A September 2021 survey of 898 registered U.S. voters reveals broad support for clean energy policies and the prioritization of global warming by the federal government, though significant ideological divides persist regarding economic impacts and the use of national emergency declarations.

A September 2021 survey of 898 registered U.S. voters shows broad support for international climate action. A majority of voters believe the U.S. should reduce greenhouse gas emissions regardless of other countries' actions (66%) and support the government's pledge to reduce carbon pollution by 50% by 2030 (73%). There is also significant support for pressuring other nations to reduce pollution (78%) and providing financial and technical aid to developing countries for both mitigation (66%) and adaptation (61%). While there is cross-partisan agreement that developing and other industrialized nations should do more to address global warming, support for U.S.-led action varies significantly by political ideology, with the lowest support found among conservative Republicans.

The report by ClientEarth, WWF Italy, and ECCO think tank opposes Enel's plan to convert the Federico II plant in Brindisi from coal to gas. It argues that the project is not needed for security of supply, risks creating stranded assets and overcapacity in Southern Italy, and causes adverse climate impacts through CO2 and methane emissions. The authors contend that the project contradicts EU and national decarbonisation goals and should be rejected by the Ministry for Ecological Transition.

The Hague District Court ruled on May 26, 2021, that Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS) must reduce the CO2 emissions of the Shell group's activities by a net 45% by the end of 2030 relative to 2019 levels. This obligation includes a "best-efforts" requirement to reduce emissions from business relations and end-users. The court based its decision on the unwritten standard of care in the Dutch Civil Code, human rights (specifically the right to life and respect for private and family life), and soft law such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the UN Global Compact, and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. While RDS has stated its intention to appeal, the judgment is provisionally enforceable. The ruling suggests that companies whose emissions affect the legal rights of present and future Dutch citizens may be liable for reductions regardless of where the emissions source is located.

The report outlines SEforALL's efforts to leverage the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy and COP26 to accelerate the energy transition. Key initiatives include the 'Be Bold' campaign for SDG7 and the Universal Energy Facility, which aims to provide 2 million new energy connections and displace 1 million fossil-fuel generators by 2023. Additionally, it notes a USD 1 billion fund established by the IKEA Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation for distributed renewable energy.

The report argues that the RM4P procurement process was designed for gas projects, imposing restrictions that increased renewable energy bid tariffs by over 50% and made gas-dominated projects appear erroneously cost-competitive. Modelling suggests that a technology-agnostic, system-integrated approach could halve tariffs, saving Eskom R8 billion annually (R160 billion over the PPA term) while eliminating the 4 million tonnes of annual CO2 emissions produced by the current preferred bidders, 90% of which come from three Karpowership projects.

Climate Central's analysis of weather station data from 225 locations across 17 U.S. states reveals a significant increase in fire weather days since the 1970s, driven primarily by warming and decreasing relative humidity. The report highlights that interior regions have seen higher increases than coastal areas, with some parts of New Mexico experiencing two additional months of fire weather compared to nearly 50 years ago. Beyond increasing wildfire risk, these conditions have led utilities like PG&E to implement public safety power shutoffs (PSPSs) to prevent equipment-related ignitions, resulting in significant economic impacts and health risks. The document argues that while land management and localized grids can mitigate risk, long-term stabilization requires reducing carbon pollution to net zero by 2050.

The document traces the history of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the adoption of SDG 12, highlighting a shift in UN discourse from inter-generational equity and consumption limits toward a more business-friendly focus on innovation and decoupling. It notes that despite multilateral commitments, the global material footprint grew by 17.4% between 2010 and 2017. The brief advocates for a 'systems approach' and a transition from linear to circular material flows, while suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic and climate emergency necessitate a new economic paradigm that prioritizes social well-being and the common good over GDP growth.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) supports a brief filed by sixteen organizations opposing Supreme Court review of the D.C. Circuit's decision to vacate the 2019 Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule. The ACE Rule was found to have unlawfully restricted federal authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal- and gas-fired power plants. The opposition argues that because the ACE rule is defunct and the Biden Administration has not yet issued a replacement, there is no active dispute or existing rule for the Court to review, making requests for review by coal states and mining companies premature.

NGOs report a 17% increase in Amazon deforestation in the first half of 2021 and warn that the Brazilian Amazon may now emit more carbon than it sequesters. The statement criticizes France's passive approach and calls for binding legislation to prevent the import of soy and beef linked to deforestation, as well as the blocking of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.

SEforALL reports on its leadership in organizing Ministerial Thematic Forums to secure Energy Compacts, its advocacy for eradicating energy poverty within the G20, and its technical support for national energy transitions in countries such as Nigeria and Rwanda. The organization also highlights the launch of practitioner tools for mini-grid emissions and sustainable cooling, alongside diplomatic engagements with the UAE and the US to accelerate the global energy transition toward SDG7.