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1,272 results
Germany: emission permit cancellation and coal phase-out must go hand in hand
The German coal commission's plan to be coal-free by 2038 aims to avoid up to 1.8GtCO2e of emissions compared to a business-as-usual scenario. However, the author contends that the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) alone is insufficient to force a phase-out and warns that closing plants without cancelling permits allows other polluters to use them, known as the 'waterbed effect'. The document advocates for using public funds to support workers and communities in a Just Transition rather than compensating private shareholders of utilities like RWE.
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Document type: Statement
TRACKING PROGRESS OF THE 2020 CLIMATE TURNING POINT
The report finds that while some progress has been made, the world is not yet on track to achieve the 2020 climate turning point. Progress is uneven across the six milestones, with most outcomes designated as having insufficient or off-track progress, though some areas like shipping and public climate finance are on track.
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Document type: Research paper
Confronting Climate Change in Oregon
The document details how rising temperatures in Oregon are increasing the frequency and cost of wildfires, reducing mountain snowpack, and causing ocean acidification. It highlights the vulnerability of the state's $48 billion agriculture, forestry, and fishery sectors and recommends a transition to a clean energy economy through carbon pricing and renewable energy adoption.
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Document type: Fact sheet
TRACKING PROGRESS OF THE 2020 CLIMATE TURNING POINT
The document evaluates the world's collective progress toward six climate milestones in energy, transport, land use, industry, infrastructure, and finance. It concludes that while some progress has been made, the global community is generally not on track to achieve the 2020 climate turning point. The report highlights significant data gaps that hinder accurate tracking and urges governments, businesses, and financial institutions to increase ambition and fulfill commitments to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
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Document type: Executive summary
Halfway There – Sandbag March 2019
The report finds that currently agreed EU and Member State policies are on track to deliver a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, surpassing the existing 40% target. Using the E3ME model, the analysis suggests that further adjustments to coal phase-outs, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle penetration could increase this reduction to 58%. However, the report warns that the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) remains vulnerable to a growing surplus of allowances as emissions fall faster than the current cap, necessitating reforms such as a one-off cap reset in 2026 to maintain a meaningful carbon price.
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Document type: Report
GEC Global Meeting 2019: Background Briefing & Context
The GEC 2019 briefing reviews the global transition to green economies, noting that while renewable energy and green finance grew in 2018, biodiversity loss and inequality remain critical. The document outlines the GEC's mission to champion inclusion, equity, and environmental limits through financial reform, natural capital accounting, and just transitions. It emphasizes that environmental protection is dependent on improving human livelihoods, citing specific examples of community-led success and the need for structural economic reform.
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Document type: Briefing
Ostrołęka C: Energa’s and Enea’s Board Members’ Fiduciary Duties to the Companies and Shareholders
ClientEarth asserts that Enea and Energa's pursuit of the Ostrołęka C coal plant violates board members' duties of due diligence. The briefing highlights significant financial risks from a reported financing structure that increases equity contributions, potential penalties from the December 2018 capacity market auction due to construction delays, and a changing economic landscape marked by rising carbon prices and Polish government goals to reduce coal reliance.
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Document type: Briefing
Alberta’s methane regulations will fail to meet provincial reduction target
The document argues that Alberta's proposed methane regulations are weaker than federal rules and will fail to meet the province's 2014 pledge to reduce oil and gas emissions by 45% by 2025.
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Document type: Briefing
Lancet Countdown Report: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change
The 2018 Lancet Countdown identifies extreme heat as the primary health concern globally, noting that 157 million more vulnerable people were exposed to heat waves in 2017 compared to 2000. In Canada, the report links air pollution from human activity to 7,142 premature deaths in 2015, with health impacts valued at $53.5 billion. The document advocates for carbon pricing, the phase-out of coal-fired power plants by 2030, and the integration of climate health into medical curricula.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Last Gasp
The report finds that ten companies were responsible for an estimated two-thirds of the health damage caused by EU coal power plants in 2016, including 7,600 premature deaths. RWE is identified as the most harmful company, with health costs of €5.4 billion in 2016. The analysis highlights that for many companies, the health costs imposed on society are similar in magnitude to the revenues they earn from selling coal-fired electricity. The report argues that companies are 'clinging to coal' through lack of retirement plans, continued investment in old plants, and lobbying for subsidies, and recommends a full phase-out of coal by 2030.
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Document type: Report
The G20 transition to a low-carbon economy
The report finds that G20 countries are not on track to meet Paris Agreement goals, with energy-related CO2 emissions increasing again in 2017 and 82% of energy supply still coming from fossil fuels. It highlights significant gaps in sectoral actions—particularly in power, transport, and industry—and notes that fossil fuel subsidies in the G20 nearly doubled between 2007 and 2016. While some countries are implementing 'just transition' initiatives for workers, others lack dialogue or action.
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Document type: Report
Shifting Public Money out of Fossil Fuels
The document examines the scale of public money supporting fossil fuels in G20 countries and presents case studies of reforms to align these flows with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. It highlights the use of consumption and production subsidy removals, increased taxation, and the diversification of state-owned enterprise investments. The paper argues that shifting these resources can create fiscal space for social protection, health, and clean energy, while recommending that G20 nations adopt ambitious reform timelines and protect vulnerable groups during the transition.
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Document type: Research paper
The Nuclear Power Dilemma
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) finds that over one-third of US nuclear plants are unprofitable or scheduled to close due to cheap natural gas and falling renewable costs. Without carbon-reduction policies, early retirements could increase US power sector emissions by 4% to 6% by 2035. The report recommends adopting carbon pricing or low-carbon electricity standards and conditioning any nuclear subsidies on strict safety performance and consumer protections.
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Document type: Executive summary
The Nuclear Power Dilemma
The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that over one-third of US nuclear plants are unprofitable or scheduled to close, primarily due to low natural gas prices. Without new policies, early retirements could increase power sector carbon emissions by 4% to 6% by 2035 as plants are replaced by natural gas and coal. The report argues that national carbon pricing or a low-carbon electricity standard would preserve existing nuclear capacity, diversify the energy mix, and significantly reduce emissions with minimal impact on household electricity bills. It further recommends that any financial support for distressed plants be contingent on high safety performance ratings from the NRC and transparency in financial reporting.
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Document type: Report
Policy support will drive even greater business action
The We Mean Business coalition argues that while nearly 500 companies have set science-based emission reduction targets, stronger government policies are required to drive further business action. The coalition recommends specific interventions across zero-carbon grids, fleets, buildings, and agriculture, alongside broader systemic reforms including the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, the implementation of carbon pricing, and the adoption of TCFD disclosure requirements. The document emphasizes that these policies will provide the clarity and confidence businesses need for low-carbon capital investment and a just transition for workers.
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Document type: Statement
Nuclear power dilemma
The document analyzes the economic pressures facing the US nuclear fleet, finding that over one-third of plants are unprofitable or scheduled to close. It warns that without carbon-reduction policies, these closures could increase power sector emissions by 4 to 6 percent as natural gas and coal fill the void. The report advocates for a national carbon price or a low-carbon electricity standard to maintain low-carbon generation and triple renewable energy by 2035, noting that the public health and economic benefits of such policies would outweigh the costs.
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Document type: Executive summary
Comprehensive Wealth in Canada 2018 – Measuring What Matters in the Long Term
The report finds that while Canada's GDP has grown, its comprehensive wealth—comprising produced, natural, human, financial, and social capital—has grown much more slowly and shows signs of fragility. Key concerns include a lack of growth in human capital, the depletion of market natural assets, and an increasing concentration of produced capital in housing and oil and gas infrastructure. The document advocates for the regular measurement of comprehensive wealth by Statistics Canada to better guide long-term policy decisions and address threats like climate change.
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Document type: Executive summary
Le patrimoine global au Canada en 2018 – Mesurer ce qui importe à long terme
The report argues that Canada's long-term prosperity is fragile, as its comprehensive wealth has grown significantly slower than its GDP. While Canada possesses high levels of natural capital, it faces risks from household debt, climate change, and an over-concentration of produced capital in housing and oil and gas infrastructure. The authors advocate for the official adoption of comprehensive wealth measurement to shift policy focus from short-term gains to long-term sustainability.
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Document type: Executive summary
Climate Accountability Scorecard
The report provides a detailed scoring guide and evaluation of eight fossil fuel companies—Arch Coal, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, CONSOL Energy, ExxonMobil, Peabody Energy, and Royal Dutch Shell—on their disclosure of climate-related risks. Using a scale from 'Egregious' to 'Advanced', the Union of Concerned Scientists assesses how these companies report on regulatory changes, physical climate impacts, market shifts, and internal governance. The findings indicate that while some companies provide detailed analysis of regulatory risks, most fail to adequately link physical risks to climate change or provide specific details on climate-related corporate governance.
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Document type: Report
Climate Accountability Scorecard
The report evaluates fossil fuel companies using a scoring guide that measures corporate political disclosure, engagement with Congress, and support for climate policies. It finds a wide disparity in performance, with some companies like ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil receiving 'Good' scores for their policy frameworks, while others like CONSOL Energy and Arch Coal are rated 'Egregious' or 'Poor' due to their opposition to the Paris Agreement or lack of political transparency.
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Document type: Report