Search Climate Insights Directory

The report establishes that gender equality is both a co-benefit of and a tool for effective climate policy. Through an analysis of the Colombian coal sector, it finds that current climate and energy policies are largely gender-blind or rely on stereotypes, while gender policies often ignore the climate crisis. Field research reveals that while women—particularly Indigenous and Afro-Colombian women—are active grassroots leaders in defending their territories, they are structurally excluded from formal decision-making. The authors propose a GRCP that incorporates intersectionality, local expertise, and a 'just transition' framework to ensure that the phase-out of coal does not reproduce existing social inequalities.

Nova Scotia has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining economic growth, primarily through electricity sector decarbonization and energy efficiency. However, the province faces challenges including high rural unemployment, a continued reliance on fossil fuels for heating and transport, and air quality issues in rural areas.

The document outlines principles for financial institutions (FIs) to align with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement, specifically referencing the IPCC SR1.5 pathway 1. It demands the immediate cessation of financing for new fossil fuel exploration and infrastructure, a rapid phase-out of coal financing by 2030 in OECD countries and 2040 globally, and the prohibition of financing for projects causing deforestation or ecosystem degradation. FIs are urged to disclose their full carbon footprint, set science-based targets to reach zero impact by 2050, and avoid reliance on offsets or untested negative emissions technologies.

The report finds that EU electricity demand nearly returned to 2019 levels by August 2020, leading to a surge in coal generation. This trend was exacerbated by record low nuclear output in France, which created a supply gap that wind and solar growth could not fully fill, resulting in coal generation reaching its highest level since March 2020.

A statement by Ember outlining seven demands for the European Union's Just Transition Mechanism to ensure that funding supports a genuine shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy and climate neutrality.

ClientEarth submits that the German Coal Exit Law (KAG) provides incompatible State aid through the Steinkohlezuschlag (hard coal closure compensations) and CHP conversion bonuses. The document argues that older hard coal plants (over 25 years) lack residual value, meaning compensations would result in overcompensation and lack an incentive effect. Furthermore, it claims that CHP funding—specifically the Coal Substitute and South Bonuses—may discourage rapid coal phase-out by offering more attractive financial terms than closure auctions and by promoting unsustainable fuels like natural gas and biomass. ClientEarth calls for a formal Commission investigation into these measures, citing potential violations of Articles 7, 9, and 11 TFEU regarding environmental protection and sustainable development.

The briefing examines a draft contract for Germany's lignite phase-out, specifically focusing on a waiver clause designed to stop operators from using international investment arbitration. While the clause allows the government to stop compensation payments if violated, it cannot bind foreign shareholders, who may still initiate claims under the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) or bilateral investment treaties.

The report finds that 11 of 18 EU coal-using countries lack Paris-compatible phase-out plans, with seven not planning to exit coal by 2030 and four replacing coal with increased fossil gas. It argues that the Just Transition Fund's current allocation methodology risks funding 'climate laggards,' as nearly two-thirds of the fund would go to countries without 2030 phase-out plans. The authors recommend making fund access conditional on ambitious coal phase-out dates and strictly excluding all fossil fuels, including gas, from the fund's scope.

The document analyzes the 2019 securitization laws of Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico, which allow utilities to issue ratepayer-backed bonds to refinance investments in early-retired electric plants. It identifies Colorado's legislation as a 'best practices model' due to its extensive consumer protections and public interest requirements, while noting that New Mexico's law is more narrowly focused on a specific utility and plant. Montana's approach is described as falling between the two. The brief highlights key legislative elements such as the ability of commissions to hire independent experts, requirements for quantifying consumer savings, and the use of bond proceeds to mitigate impacts on workers and communities.

ClientEarth argues that the German coal phase-out law (KVBG) and its implementing contract provide excessive state aid to lignite operators, specifically LEAG and RWE. The organization claims that the lack of a transparent calculation formula masks overcompensation totaling nearly €2 billion. Furthermore, ClientEarth asserts that using these funds to cover the recultivation of opencast mines violates the polluter pays principle, as such costs are already legal obligations of the mine operators under German mining law.

The Climate Action Tracker has established 'highest plausible ambition' benchmarks for four key sectors—Power, Transport, Industry, and Buildings—to guide the global transition to net-zero emissions by 2050. The report provides specific targets for 2030 and 2050, both globally and for seven major economies (Brazil, China, EU, India, Indonesia, South Africa, and the US), emphasizing that while starting points differ, all sectors must decarbonise by mid-century to meet the 1.5°C goal. Key priorities include the immediate phase-out of coal in developed nations by 2030, a rapid shift to zero-emission vehicles, and significant emissions intensity reductions in cement and steel production.

The document advocates for the transition of the Southeast U.S. electricity sector from vertically integrated monopolies to a competitive wholesale market, potentially via a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO). It highlights that such a shift could save customers 29 percent on electricity costs and reduce emissions by 37 percent below 2018 levels by 2040. The authors suggest incremental steps, such as Energy Imbalance Markets (EIM) and all-source procurement, as pathways toward full restructuring. Additionally, the report emphasizes the need for integrated distribution planning for distributed energy resources and a 'just transition' framework to support communities affected by the phase-out of coal power.

The report examines the socioeconomic impacts of industrial decline and evaluates the effectiveness of various transition responses. It argues that successful 'just' transitions require early strategic planning, multi-stakeholder governance, and a holistic approach to regional economic development that builds on existing local capabilities rather than seeking a single industrial replacement. Through case studies in the US, UK, Australia, and South Africa, the document highlights the risks of uneven benefit distribution, the importance of reskilling over simple monetary compensation, and the necessity of addressing environmental legacies to enable land reuse.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, on behalf of the Life After Coal campaign and 350Africa.org, provides commentary on the National Treasury's 2020 Draft Technical Paper 'Financing a Sustainable Economy'. The submission argues that the Draft Paper focuses too heavily on voluntary disclosure rather than binding commitments and fails to align with the urgency of the climate crisis or South Africa's international obligations under the Paris Agreement.

In the first half of 2020, renewable electricity generation in the EU-27 reached 40%, surpassing fossil fuel generation at 34%. This shift was driven by record wind and solar penetration and a 7% drop in electricity demand caused by COVID-19. Coal generation fell by 32%, contributing to a 23% reduction in power sector CO2 emissions. While grids remained stable, the increase in renewables led to more frequent negative wholesale electricity prices, indicating a need for greater system flexibility. Poland emerged as the most coal-dependent EU country, generating as much coal-fired electricity as the other 25 EU members combined.

In 2019, wind and solar generated 8.2% of global electricity, with the EU leading at 18%. The report highlights that wind and solar are now the cheapest new generation sources for two-thirds of the global population and that electricity grids remained stable during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns even as renewable shares reached record highs in countries like Denmark (65%), Germany (45%), and Greece (41%). To limit temperature increase to 1.5 degrees, the report notes that coal's market share must drop from 35% to 8% by 2030, requiring wind and solar's share to increase to approximately 29%.

Reclaim Finance reports that the Paris financial centre has failed to meet its mid-2020 deadline for coal exit strategies, with only about ten French financial actors adopting sufficiently robust policies. The analysis specifically criticizes Société Générale for policies that exempt companies with coal exposure under 25%, arguing that such gaps prevent a genuine transition to zero coal.

The author calls on energy ministers attending the IEA Clean Energy Transitions Summit to allocate global stimulus funds toward a sustainable recovery. The text advocates for the IEA's Sustainable Recovery Plan and specific policy targets, such as phasing out coal by 2040 and ending fossil fuel subsidies by 2025, while highlighting the potential for significant job creation and the growing corporate and public support for a green transition.

The document explores 'solar for coal swaps,' where third-party investors and developers purchase and retire a utility's coal assets in exchange for contracts to provide new solar power. This model aims to bypass utility inertia and high costs, particularly for municipal and cooperative utilities. The brief highlights that by 2025, 22.5 GW of such plants will be uneconomic compared to local solar. Case studies from New Mexico and Colorado, involving Kit Carson Cooperative, Holy Cross Energy, and Delta Montrose Electric Association, demonstrate how these swaps can reduce consumer rates and promote local economic development despite resistance from wholesale providers like Tri State Generation and Transmission Cooperative.

The Life After Coal Campaign argues that the Draft Regulations Amending the Electricity Regulations on New Generation Capacity, 2011 are redundant and legally inconsistent. They contend that the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) does not require Ministerial approval for municipalities to establish electricity capacity, and that such regulations create unnecessary barriers to the urgent transition to clean energy. The document highlights the severe health, environmental, and economic harms of South Africa's coal-dependent energy sector and criticizes the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019 for unjustifiably constraining renewable energy while permitting new coal and gas capacity. The campaign recommends that if the regulations proceed, they must include requirements for environmental and health impact assessments, transparent public consultation, and financial support for under-resourced municipalities.