Search Climate Insights Directory

The document evaluates the feasibility of fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs) and hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks in India. It finds that while FCETs could be more cost-competitive than diesel trucks in long-haul, heavy-duty applications by 2040, they currently struggle to reach cost parity with battery electric trucks (BETs) due to high hydrogen fuel costs. These costs are driven by production, refueling infrastructure, and an 18% GST. The brief argues that hydrogen trucks are a critical complement to BETs for use cases requiring high payload and minimal downtime. It recommends a coordinated pathway involving capital subsidies, tax rationalization (reducing GST to 5%), and the development of public hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) to unlock the market.

The report estimates that US farmers apply 30% to 50% more synthetic nitrogen fertilizer than crops can absorb, contributing to significant greenhouse gas emissions. It calculates total US fertilizer-related emissions at approximately 120 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent, with direct nitrous oxide emissions accounting for nearly 40% of this total. The document also analyzes the impact of USDA's Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), specifically Nutrient Management Practice 590, arguing that increased funding for these programs can reduce fertilizer dependency and generate economic benefits for farmers and the broader economy.

Between May and December 2025, India's system operator curtailed an estimated 2.3 TWh of solar energy, resulting in approximately 2.11 million tonnes of missed CO2 emission reductions. While generators are compensated for this loss, the costs are passed to consumers, and the practice wastes the value of clean energy assets. With solar capacity reaching 135.8 GW in 2025 and growing faster than demand, the report warns that curtailment could become routine unless system flexibility—such as battery storage—is accelerated to keep pace with capacity additions.

The document details the impact of rising temperatures on winter sports, noting that all cities hosting the Winter Olympics since 1950 have warmed. It highlights that the 2026 host cities, Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, have seen significant temperature increases and a decrease in freezing days. Projections indicate a sharp decline in climate-reliable host sites by the 2050s, particularly for the Paralympic Games held in March.

January 2026 was the fifth-warmest January on record globally, characterized by significant temperature anomalies in the U.S. West and record-low snowpacks in several states. The document highlights the transition of NOAA to the Relative Oceanic Niño Index (RONI) to better account for climate change in ENSO tracking. Attribution analysis using the Climate Shift Index (CSI) indicates that extreme warmth in the northern U.S. and specific cities like San Juan and Honolulu was strongly driven by carbon pollution.

The Global Coal Plant Tracker (GCPT) monitors coal-fired electrical generating plants of 30 MW or larger, including operating units, those proposed since 2010, and those retired since 2000. The methodology employs a two-level system consisting of a database for unit-level tracking and detailed wiki pages for project histories. Data is validated through government records, company reports, NGO tracking, and on-the-ground contacts, with updates occurring bi-annually in January and July. The tracker categorizes plant status into nine stages, ranging from 'Announced' to 'Retired', and calculates carbon dioxide emissions based on unit capacity, emission factors for coal types, heat rates for combustion technology, and global average utilization rates.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds that Michigan's electricity demand could nearly double by 2050, driven significantly by AI-related data centers. While current policies may lead to increased fossil gas capacity and emissions due to an energy export loophole, a proposed CO2 reduction policy could enable Michigan to meet 95% of its 2050 demand with renewables and low-carbon sources, avoiding $3.5 billion in local health costs and $408 billion in global climate damages.

The report finds that data centers are the primary driver of near-term electricity demand growth in Wisconsin, which risks increasing reliance on fossil fuels under current policies. By implementing a Clean Electricity Standard and CO2 reduction policies, Wisconsin could generate 83% of its electricity from clean energy by 2050 and reach net-zero CO2 emissions. Such policies would avoid significant health-related costs and mortalities compared to current trajectories. The report recommends reintroducing Integrated Resource Planning and establishing a clean electricity standard to protect ratepayers and the climate.

The document argues that electric micro-mobility is commercially viable for South African last-mile delivery, particularly on high-frequency urban routes. While higher upfront costs (CAPEX) are a barrier, they can be mitigated through leasing, Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), and Electric Vehicle-as-a-Service (EVaaS) models. The brief highlights that E2Ws can achieve break-even within 7 to 24 months and reduce operating expenses by 30-50% per kilometre compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycles. To achieve significant emissions reductions of 40-60%, the document emphasizes integrating renewable energy into charging infrastructure to offset South Africa's coal-heavy grid. It also identifies the Western Cape's Atlantis SEZ as a developing hub for local micro-EV manufacturing to improve supply chain resilience and affordability.

The report finds that while a majority of registered U.S. voters support clean energy transitions and the Paris Climate Agreement, global warming remains a low priority for most when deciding on congressional candidates. There is strong bipartisan support for protecting workers from extreme heat and opposing the elimination of federal climate research and FEMA, though significant political polarization persists regarding fossil fuel use and the priority level of climate action.

The document reports that 2025 is virtually certain to be among the top five hottest years globally, driven by rising carbon pollution from fossil fuels. In the U.S., record high temperatures significantly outpaced record lows, and the year saw a record-costly start for billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, including the most expensive wildfire event on record in Los Angeles. Globally, carbon pollution intensified Hurricane Melissa, which devastated Jamaica. The report also highlights a trend of 'hydroclimate whiplash' contributing to both the Los Angeles fires and deadly flash floods in Texas, while noting that the U.S. has rolled back key clean energy policies and is set to withdraw from the Paris Agreement by January 2026.

The document introduces attribution science as a method to measure how human-caused climate change affects the likelihood, frequency, and intensity of weather events by comparing current observations with simulated 'counterfactual' worlds. It details Climate Central's specific tools, such as the Climate Shift Index (CSI) for air and sea surface temperatures and the Tropical Cyclone CSI for hurricane wind speeds. The guide distinguishes between different types of attribution—event, trend, source, and impact—and notes that while temperature-related events are highly quantifiable, other severe weather like tornadoes remains an active area of research.

The report analyzes 32 Air Service Agreements (ASAs) among COFFIS member states, finding that while the Chicago Convention does not prohibit aviation fuel taxes, specific bilateral and multilateral ASAs may create legal barriers. It identifies two categories of agreements requiring reform: those with full tax prohibitions and those with non-discrimination clauses. The report suggests that while bilateral reforms are possible, a global or multilateral Joint Agreement would be a swifter method for bulk reform. For EU member states, the EU Energy Taxation Directive (ETD) is the primary barrier, though an international agreement could override it. The report also includes emission quantifications and revenue estimates for three UK-based ASAs.

The G20 is assessed as an effective tool for short-term macroeconomic crisis response but a failure in delivering structural economic justice. While it mobilised trillions during the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, it has consistently prioritised creditor interests and market stability over the needs of the Global South. The report highlights systemic failures in international financial architecture reform, sovereign debt restructuring, and climate finance, where funding remains insufficient and skewed toward profitable mitigation. However, recent Global South presidencies (Indonesia, India, Brazil, and South Africa) have successfully introduced new priorities, such as taxing the super-rich and the care economy. The authors recommend that the G20 redefine 'crisis' to include social and ecological threats and adopt justice-based metrics for success.

The report analyzes the potential economic shocks of phasing out coal in Indonesia, identifying East Kalimantan as the most vulnerable province. Using a mixed-methods approach, it demonstrates that while mine closures cause significant losses in output and employment, targeted stimulus in the food and beverage and green sectors can drive recovery. The study emphasizes the disproportionate impact on informal workers and women, recommending a transition roadmap that integrates gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) principles and expands social safety nets.

The document examines how Poland's high energy intensity and reliance on fossil fuels create economic vulnerabilities, specifically through high electricity and gas prices and EU ETS costs. It posits that transitioning to low-emission technologies and improving energy efficiency can lower production costs and boost GDP. The briefing highlights the role of renewable energy, such as wind and solar, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in stabilizing energy prices. It also discusses the importance of emission transparency for consumer appeal and provides case studies of Polish companies like ORLEN, Galmet, and Kompania Piwowarska implementing decarbonization strategies.

Private equity firms have invested nearly $200 billion in data center-related industries since January 2022, driving a strategy of acquiring vertically integrated retail energy utilities and fossil fuel power plants to secure power for AI infrastructure. BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has acquired ALLETE Inc. and is pursuing a $38 billion takeover of AES, while Blackstone has invested in the Potomac Energy Center and is seeking to acquire TXNM Energy. The report argues that this expansion risks creating stranded high-emitting assets if AI demand is overestimated, while already causing increased electricity costs for ratepayers—rising up to 267% in some data center hubs—and significant environmental degradation. Organized community resistance has already delayed or blocked $64 billion in data center projects across 24 U.S. states.

The report finds that nominee companies, primarily branches of major global banks, mask the ownership of fossil fuel assets in Australia, obscuring approximately 18% of the national fossil fuel CO2 emissions. It highlights that these structures allow investors, including superannuation funds, to maintain stakes in high-emitting projects while avoiding public scrutiny, and notes that Australian law currently lacks regulations to require the disclosure of the actual shareholders behind these nominees.

The steel sector, responsible for 11% of global CO2 emissions, requires a significant increase in sustainable electricity to transition from coal-based production to electricity-intensive methods like green hydrogen-DRI and electric arc furnaces. However, the world's 65 largest banks continue to prioritize fossil fuel financing over sustainable power, with a financing ratio of 0.42:1 between 2021 and 2024, far below the IEA's Net Zero scenario. The document warns that insufficient investment in renewable energy risks a 'gas trap' where steelmakers remain locked into fossil gas instead of switching to green hydrogen. It specifically criticizes European banks for continuing to support coal-based steelmakers and met coal developers despite having decarbonization targets.

In 2025 Q3, US utility resource plans showed increasing projected electricity demand and emissions, with many utilities delaying fossil plant retirements to ensure resource adequacy. Load growth is primarily driven by large loads like data centers, while the phase-out of federal renewable tax credits and MISO regulatory changes have led to reduced wind and solar plans and increased reliance on gas capacity. Current IRP projections indicate a significant gap between planned emissions reductions and the net-zero targets required by 2035 for climate alignment.