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The document argues that low-carbon innovation is a systemic process involving networks of actors and institutional environments, rather than just technical hardware. It highlights that developing countries have a unique opportunity to bypass high-carbon 'lock-in' due to less established energy infrastructures. The authors recommend a 'socio-technical' approach that considers local cultural practices and 'fit-stretch dynamics' to ensure technology adoption. Strengthening indigenous capabilities and aligning international initiatives, such as the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism, with national policies are presented as essential for sustainable transition.

The paper examines the EU power sector's transition toward a low-carbon future, highlighting the critical role of the electricity sector in decarbonizing transport and buildings. It identifies significant risks in current investment trends, such as carbon lock-in from new gas and coal plants, and argues that the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) fails to provide a credible long-term signal for post-2020 investments. The authors recommend establishing post-2020 emissions caps and calibrating the ETS to ensure carbon scarcity after accounting for energy efficiency and renewable energy objectives.

The document examines the strategic importance of low-carbon technology for the EU, highlighting the risk of 'high carbon lock-in' if infrastructure decisions today commit economies to high-emissions pathways for 20-30 years. It argues that the current 20% emissions target is insufficient to drive the necessary scale and speed of innovation. The authors propose a 30% target by 2020 to provide certainty for investors and spur the deployment of technologies like electric vehicles and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). The report also emphasizes the need for a system-wide risk management approach and increased international cooperation, particularly with China, the US, and Japan, to create integrated global markets and avoid protectionism.

The report finds that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has largely failed to meet its core objectives of additionality, sustainable development, and low-carbon technology transfer. In the EU, the use of CDM credits has significantly reduced domestic abatement efforts, potentially increasing global emissions by 30 to 106 million tonnes of CO2eq between 2008 and 2009 due to non-additional projects. The authors argue that the CDM often subsidizes carbon-intensive activities and creates perverse incentives that discourage developing countries from implementing national mitigation policies. To realign results with climate goals, the report proposes limiting project eligibility to those providing long-term sustainable benefits, differentiating crediting periods by project type, and introducing tradable or institutionally procured usage rights within the EU ETS.

This document is a formal objection submitted by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) regarding the proposed use of Karpowerships in Saldanha Bay. The CER argues that the project is inconsistent with South Africa's climate commitments, lacks transparency, and fails to consider cheaper, cleaner energy alternatives.

The report identifies six key mechanisms that taxonomies use to manage the transition of high-emission activities: periodic review of evolving criteria, forward-looking criteria, gradation, specific measures, sunset dates/phase-out guidelines, and transition plan requirements. It analyzes these mechanisms across different taxonomy archetypes—binary, 'traffic light', mixed, and standalone—and provides case studies from the EU, Australia, Singapore, Rwanda, and China to demonstrate their practical application. The document emphasizes that while no single mechanism is inherently superior, their credibility depends on robust governance, science-based pathways, and the avoidance of carbon lock-in.

The guide outlines a framework for deploying capital to reduce methane and flaring in the oil and gas sector, with a particular focus on National Oil Companies (NOCs). It provides detailed recommendations for selecting eligible projects, quantifying emissions, and establishing credible KPIs and sustainability performance targets (SPTs) aligned with the IEA's Net Zero Scenario. The document also specifies requirements for external verification and reporting to prevent greenwashing.

The document provides a scientific and legal basis for the European Court of Human Rights to assess State due diligence regarding climate change. It emphasizes the urgency of limiting warming to 1.5°C to avoid irreversible damage and tipping points, noting that current global emissions trends are insufficient. It highlights severe health risks in Europe, including heat-related mortality, and argues that under the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC, States have a 'best efforts' obligation to pursue the highest possible ambition in emissions reductions. ClientEarth asserts that failure to meet international climate commitments constitutes a prima facie violation of human rights obligations, and that adaptation measures cannot substitute for necessary mitigation.

The document examines the technical, environmental, and economic drawbacks of using hydrogen as a primary energy carrier. It highlights extreme energy losses across the value chain, where total system efficiency is only 20-30%, and notes that over 98% of current hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels. The text warns that 'hydrogen-ready' infrastructure risks locking in fossil fuel dependence and diverting resources from more efficient direct electrification. Environmental concerns include high water and land footprints for green hydrogen, as well as the indirect warming effect of hydrogen leaks. The author concludes that low-carbon hydrogen should be reserved for chemical feedstocks and niche industrial applications where direct electricity is not feasible.

ClientEarth calls on the European Parliament to veto the Taxonomy Complementary Delegated Act on Climate, arguing that the European Commission failed to conduct a dedicated Impact Assessment or ensure consistency with the European Climate Law. The organization asserts that fossil gas activities do not lack feasible low-carbon alternatives and that the act risks creating legal uncertainty and locking in carbon-intensive assets, thereby conflicting with the Paris Agreement and the EU's 2050 climate-neutrality goal.

The Canadian Climate Institute outlines criteria to ensure oil and gas projects eligible for a 'transition' label align with 1.5°C pathways. The proposed framework requires projects to be part of existing facilities, demonstrate significant Scope 1 and 2 emissions reductions against sectoral benchmarks, and ensure upstream Scope 3 suppliers are also aligned with 1.5°C pathways. It specifically excludes new oil and gas developments to prevent carbon lock-in and stranded asset risks.

The Canadian Climate Institute outlines a proposed framework to integrate oil and gas projects into the Sustainable Finance Action Council's (SFAC) climate investment taxonomy. To maintain scientific credibility and avoid 'greenwashing,' the report argues that only decarbonization projects within existing facilities should be eligible for the 'transition' label. It proposes a three-step eligibility process: general corporate requirements (net-zero targets), project-specific requirements (existing facility status and emission intensity alignment with 1.5°C pathways), and 'do no significant harm' criteria. A key proposal is a 50% threshold for downstream Scope 3 emissions to identify projects where demand-side risk is the primary transition risk. The report emphasizes that new oil and gas installations must be excluded to prevent carbon lock-in and align with global net-zero goals.

The paper argues that for India to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, the iron and steel sector—responsible for 10-12% of national GHG emissions—must shift to low-carbon production. It proposes a comprehensive 'Green Steel Mission' and a national sustainable finance taxonomy to bridge the gap between conventional and green technologies. The authors emphasize the need for differentiated strategies for primary steel (BF-BOF route) and secondary steel (DRI-IF/EAF route), noting that secondary producers face higher financing barriers despite having high near-term abatement potential. Key recommendations include mandating corporate transition plans, developing a detailed sectoral technology roadmap, and adopting innovative financial instruments like Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfD) to support low-TRL technologies.

The report evaluates the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), concluding that its -30% target for non-ETS sectors is insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals and may only result in a 26.6% reduction due to flexibilities. It advocates for project-based transfers of Annual Emission Allocations (AEAs) to ensure additionality and avoid carbon lock-in in lower-income Member States. Specific opportunities for such projects are identified in the building, waste, and gas sectors of Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary.

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 policy brief highlights a critical window in the 2020s for emerging economies to leapfrog to green steel production, as these regions are expected to see the largest increases in steel capacity by 2030. It proposes five ways IFIs can intervene: acting as knowledge partners for policy frameworks, supporting green hydrogen roadmaps, de-risking investments for first movers and SMEs, utilizing green procurement in their own operations, and scaling up scrap-based secondary steel production and circular business models.

The report '80 Gigawatts of Change' presents seven modeled scenarios for Egypt's electricity sector from 2015 to 2035. It compares a 'Business as Usual' (BAU) baseline against pathways focusing on decarbonization, energy independence, and decentralization. The analysis highlights that while centralized fossil-fuel-based models are cheaper in the short term, they risk 'carbon lock-in' and exacerbate energy access inequities. Conversely, decentralized and renewable-heavy pathways offer higher job creation and lower emissions but require significant initial investment and institutional reform. The report specifically warns against coal and nuclear power due to high water consumption, environmental risks, and low job creation relative to renewables.

The document argues that the World Bank's Paris Alignment (WB PA) framework is scientifically flawed and provides loopholes for continued investment in high-carbon technologies. It specifically criticizes the classification of fossil gas as a transition fuel and the use of 'expert judgement' over science-based criteria to justify emissions-intensive projects. The coalition calls for an urgent revision to exclude all fossil fuels, prioritize renewable energy, and increase transparency and civil society consultation.

The analysis finds that most energy supply investments by the World Bank, IFC, and ADB are either aligned with or could be aligned with 2°C pathways under specific conditions. Electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) represent the largest share of financing for the World Bank and ADB, accounting for approximately half of the volume of financing and 40 percent of projects. While renewables projects outnumbered natural gas power generation projects in both number and finance volume, the report warns that natural gas must act as a true 'bridge' by displacing coal rather than adding to it. The study identified 21 oil and gas production projects as 'controversial' due to high emissions and lock-in risk. Misaligned projects often cited strong development rationales, but the authors argue that the urgency of climate change requires transformational rather than incremental improvements. The report recommends that MDBs improve disclosure of indirect financing, shift toward newer technologies like battery storage, and ensure fossil fuel production support is reviewed against G7 commitments to phase out inefficient subsidies by 2025.

The document argues that energy-sector infrastructure, particularly electricity transmission and distribution (T&D), requires alignment with Paris Agreement pathways to avoid carbon lock-in. It identifies a gap in previous energy-sector investment assessments regarding T&D and proposes a methodology to screen projects and inform the investment decisions of development finance institutions.