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The policy brief highlights Manitoba's potential to utilize over 5 million tonnes of available annual biomass from agriculture, forestry, and ecological sources like cattails to replace fossil fuels. It notes that current demand for biomass fuel exceeds the capacity of existing processing facilities and calls for government investment in infrastructure, research, and water management to enable a high-value bioeconomy.

The RISE 2018 report tracks sustainable energy policies across 133 countries, finding that the number of nations with advanced frameworks tripled between 2010 and 2017. While progress is evident, the global average score of 58/100 suggests the world is only halfway to advanced policy adoption, potentially jeopardizing SDG7 and Paris Agreement goals. The report highlights a strong focus on electricity over heating and transport, a decline in utility creditworthiness in access-deficit countries, and a gap between 'on paper' regulations and actual enforcement.

The SEforALL 2018 Workplan focuses on four primary workstreams: 'Energy Efficiency First', 'Leaving No One Behind', 'Sustainable Energy Diplomacy', and the 'Body of Evidence'. Key initiatives include the 'Cooling for All' program to protect vulnerable populations from heat, the development of energy efficiency finance accelerators, and the coordination of biomass data in Sub-Saharan Africa. The plan emphasizes unlocking finance and brokering partnerships through high-level engagement with the G7, G20, and the UN system. Additionally, the organization aims to enhance its evidence base through the Global Tracking Framework (GTF) and Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE), while utilizing the annual SEforALL Forum to connect government, business, and civil society leaders.

Scaling up 10 existing climate solutions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine could reduce 2030 emissions by approximately 149 Mt (CO2e), representing a 13% reduction compared to baseline projections. The most significant absolute reductions are possible in Poland (71 Mt) and Ukraine (64 Mt), while the highest relative impacts are in the Baltic States, potentially cutting emissions by nearly 40% in Estonia and over 30% in Latvia and Lithuania. Energy efficiency in buildings and industry offers the highest potential and is the most cost-effective, with building efficiency alone potentially saving 2.9 billion euros by 2030. Conversely, wind power provides the greatest relative potential in the Baltic States. The report identifies common barriers such as high investment costs, weak carbon pricing, and lack of financing, and recommends policies including the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies, stable legal frameworks, and targeted financial incentives.

The document argues that restricting California's oil production can significantly lower global CO2 emissions because a portion of the avoided production is not replaced by other sources. It estimates that for every barrel of oil left in the ground in California, global consumption would drop by 0.2 to 0.6 barrels, leading to a reduction of 80 to 240 kg of CO2 per barrel. The brief identifies several policy options, including ceasing new well permits, implementing emissions performance standards, and targeting production in pollution-vulnerable areas. It notes that such measures are cost-competitive with other California climate strategies and could address 'carbon leakage' by complementing demand-side policies. Additionally, the report highlights that many of California's most productive oil fields are more GHG-intensive than global averages and are located in disadvantaged communities, making production limits a matter of environmental justice.

The document evaluates the proposed Northwest Innovation Works methanol facility at the Port of Kalama, arguing that its greenhouse gas emissions are significantly underestimated and that it is unlikely to reduce global emissions. It proposes a 'climate test' for new industry to ensure projects do not lock in high-carbon technologies or become stranded assets in a transition to a low-carbon economy.

The document outlines a strategy for companies to drive global climate action by engaging with governments. It recommends that CEOs use high-profile events to advocate for the Paris Agreement, align corporate emissions-cutting efforts with national 'nationally determined contributions' (NDCs), and meet with government ministers to break down policy silos. The text highlights a gap in NDCs, noting that while 114 NDCs highlight renewable energy, far fewer address energy storage (31) or water conservation and reuse (33).

The report examines border carbon adjustments (BCAs) as a tool to prevent carbon leakage and incentivize climate ambition among trade partners. It analyzes past proposals in the EU and US, evaluates the legal constraints imposed by the WTO, and provides a comprehensive design framework. The authors recommend a BCA focused on imports of primary goods from energy-intensive sectors, utilizing global sectoral benchmarks for emissions and ensuring revenues benefit developing countries.

The briefing contends that the EU ETS phase 4 (2021-2030) fails to drive sufficient decarbonisation due to low carbon prices and excessive free allowances. It recommends that Member States implement national carbon floor prices, unilaterally cancel allowances following coal plant closures to avoid the 'waterbed effect', and redirect auctioning revenues toward a just transition. For the industrial sector, it advocates replacing free allocations with a carbon border tax and increasing the Linear Reduction Factor (LRF) to align with a 2040 or 2050 decarbonisation timeline.

The report finds that the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) carbon market, comprising California, Quebec, and Ontario, is experiencing significant oversupply. This surplus, estimated at 270 million metric tons (MMT) through 2020, is driven by economic factors, renewable energy innovation, and the 2009 recession. Because allowances can be banked, this oversupply threatens to undermine the 2030 climate targets by effectively raising future emission caps. The author recommends that WCI jurisdictions adjust future caps downward by an amount equal to the privately held allowances banked by the end of 2020, citing the success of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in using a similar approach.

A coalition of NGOs calls for the EU to ensure the post-2020 EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) does not subsidize coal plants and implements a tightening emissions cap to drive decarbonization in line with Paris Agreement goals.

A coalition of NGOs calls on the European Parliament, Council, and European Commission to ensure the post-2020 EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) supports the Paris Agreement. The statement argues that the ETS must stop subsidizing coal plants and instead tighten the carbon cap to drive decarbonization and a socially just transition, noting that unabated coal in Europe must reach zero by 2030 to meet climate targets.

The Institute for Policy Integrity recommends that California's cap-and-trade program, extended by Assembly Bill 398, set its permit price ceiling at least as high as the social cost of carbon to properly incentivize emissions reductions. The organization also suggests that unsold allowances be preferentially allocated to the price containment reserve with the highest price to better account for the externalities of greenhouse gas emissions.

The report highlights a significant surge in Canadian green bond issuance in 2017, which reached C$3.8 billion, exceeding all previous years combined. While Canada ranks 10th globally for labelled green bonds, the report identifies a substantial 'climate-aligned' bond universe of C$39 billion, suggesting significant untapped potential. Growth has been driven primarily by provincial entities like Ontario and Quebec, and government-backed entities such as Export Development Canada, with the City of Ottawa recently becoming the first municipality to issue a green bond. The document argues that while policy drivers like the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change are favorable, Canada lacks a comprehensive financial plan to mobilize private capital. It recommends that the federal government issue a sovereign green bond and establish national sustainable finance standards to further catalyze the market.

The document analyzes the 2017 closure of the Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria's Latrobe Valley, arguing that Australia's liberal market economy and majoritarian political institutions discourage long-term transition planning. It highlights how the closure was a commercial decision by Engie, which triggered reactive, large-scale assistance packages from both the Victorian and federal governments. The authors suggest that future 'just transitions' may require direct regulation of company obligations or the mobilization of institutional investors to pressure energy firms into adopting worker- and community-friendly closure policies.

The policy brief argues that border carbon adjustments (BCAs) are a more effective tool for addressing emissions leakage than traditional 'behind the border' measures like free allowances. It outlines a specific six-step design process: determining scope and coverage, calculating embedded carbon, determining the adjustment level, deciding revenue use, establishing an expiration date, and ensuring a fair and transparent process. The authors recommend that BCAs focus on primary goods in high-carbon sectors, apply only to imports to avoid WTO subsidy issues, and exempt Least Developed Countries. Revenue generated should be used to support environmental objectives and benefit affected developing countries. The brief also notes that while BCAs have been proposed in the EU and US, they are rarely implemented.

The report evaluates the US coal fleet's economic viability against alternatives like natural gas and renewables, finding that 38% of the 2016 fleet faces an uncertain near-term future due to being either uneconomic or announced for retirement. It also estimates that emissions reductions from 2008 to 2016 provided $250 billion in public health and climate benefits. A proximity analysis indicates that while many coal plants are located in low-income and minority communities, the demographic distribution of the fleet has not changed significantly during the transition.

The paper outlines how the UK can align its trade policy with the Paris Agreement to capitalise on a low-carbon market estimated at £1.0–1.8 trillion annually by 2030. It identifies UK strengths in offshore wind, gas turbines, and financial services, and proposes a structured approach to FTAs. The authors categorise FTA provisions into 'triple wins' (tariffs, services, and standards), 'policy coherence' (intellectual property and procurement), and 'policy cooperation' (sustainable development chapters, private standards, and environmental taxes). It concludes with a checklist for policy-makers to ensure trade deals support climate-resilient development.

The document assesses the current state of global carbon pricing, noting that most prices are below USD 10, far below the USD 40-100/tCO2 levels recommended by the High-Level Commission on Carbon Prices to meet Paris Agreement goals. It advocates for a 'climate policy portfolio' that combines carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems with complementary measures to address non-price barriers and avoid 'waterbed effects' through price floors. The brief also calls for the abolition of counterproductive policies like fossil fuel subsidies and the use of carbon revenues to fund a just transition and fight energy poverty.

The document summarizes over 125 written submissions and workshop contributions regarding the proposed Canadian Clean Fuel Standard (CFS). Stakeholders generally support the CFS's goal of reducing GHG emissions by 30 Mt annually by 2030, though they diverge on the feasibility of the timeline and the specific regulatory design. Key areas of discussion include the preference for an emission intensity-based approach over volumetric mandates, the need for flexible compliance pathways such as credit trading, and the importance of harmonizing the CFS with existing carbon pricing and international aviation and marine standards. Industrial sectors expressed significant concerns regarding competitiveness, carbon leakage, and the technical feasibility of fuel switching, while environmental groups advocated for broad sustainability criteria and the inclusion of indirect land use changes (iLUC) in life-cycle analyses.