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This report details ten landmark climate change cases across different countries, highlighting how courts are holding governments and corporations accountable. Key examples include the Urgenda case in the Netherlands, which established a state's legal duty to increase climate ambition, and the Milieudefensie v. Shell case, which held a private company liable for inadequate emissions reductions. The document explores diverse legal strategies, including human rights obligations, fiduciary duties of corporate boards, and the necessity of climate considerations in environmental impact assessments.

The document reports systemic violations of SO2 limit values in Bulgaria, specifically in the Galabovo and Pernik regions. It argues that Bulgarian authorities are failing to enforce the Air Quality Plan of Galabovo (2019–2023) by granting power plants derogations from desulphurisation standards and allowing boilers to operate without abatement systems. Additionally, it notes the absence of a required short-term action plan to reduce emissions during alert threshold exceedances.

The research paper assesses the carbon footprint and economic drivers of China's aluminium and steel industries. It highlights that primary aluminium production contributes significantly to global GHG emissions, particularly when accounting for coal-fired electricity. The paper also examines how export VAT refund rates and trade policies influence the production and export of these metals, using data from the World Bank and China Custom House to illustrate trends between 2003 and 2008.

Vietnam faces high vulnerability to climate change and rapidly growing emissions, projected to reach 387 Mt by 2030, primarily driven by energy supply. While the government has established the National Target Program and various energy efficiency laws, the report finds that existing and planned projects are likely to harvest only 12% of the available abatement potential between 2015 and 2030. Major barriers include low electricity and coal prices, limited technical and financial capacity among stakeholders, and institutional overlaps. The study recommends a coordinated national mitigation programme and specific sector-level interventions in REDD+, wind policy, industrial energy efficiency, and waste management.

The document outlines the financial impact of a low-carbon transition across four major economies. It highlights that net oil consumers, including China, the EU, India, and the US, could see significant financial benefits from reducing oil demand. However, it warns of substantial asset stranding risks in China and India due to planned coal-fired power capacity exceeding IEA two-degree thresholds. In contrast, the EU and US face lower coal stranding risks but must manage the eventual peak of natural gas consumption by 2030 to minimize value loss.

A coalition of 61 organizations argues that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) should be terminated by 2020 to protect the integrity of the Paris Agreement. The authors claim the CDM undermines domestic climate action, has increased global greenhouse gas emissions due to 'junk' credits, and has led to human rights violations and inequitable benefit distribution.

The letter expresses concern that 555 million carbon offset credits were surrendered into the EU ETS between 2008 and 2011, costing an estimated €5.9bn. The signatories argue that these offsets stifle domestic action, support business-as-usual coal and large hydro projects in the CDM, and allow for 'hot-air laundering' through Track 1 Joint Implementation, thereby threatening the environmental integrity of EU climate policies.

The document identifies five coal ash generating facilities in Alaska, noting that 46,179 tons of ash are produced annually. It argues that because Alaska excludes coal ash from the definition of industrial solid waste, disposal is virtually unregulated, leading to the use of unlined landfills that risk leaching toxins like arsenic, vanadium, and mercury into groundwater. The report also notes that low-income individuals and people of color are over-represented in zip codes containing these power plants.

The document details the lack of state regulation for coal ash disposal in Arizona, noting that the state does not require liners, groundwater monitoring, or dam inspections despite having 58 ponds. It identifies documented groundwater contamination at the Cholla and Coronado plants and argues that coal ash dumps disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, with 20 percent of nearby residents living below the poverty line.

Coal-fired power plants are identified as the largest source of toxic water pollution in the United States, discharging billions of pounds of heavy metals into waterways annually. A review of 386 plants reveals that nearly 70% of those discharging coal ash and scrubber wastewater have no effluent limits on key toxins like arsenic and mercury, often operating under expired permits. The report highlights severe ecological damage, including massive fish kills in North Carolina and groundwater contamination in Missouri and Illinois, and notes that these plants are frequently located in marginalized communities. While the EPA proposed updated standards, the report argues that political interference from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) weakened these options. It advocates for 'Option 5,' a zero-discharge standard utilizing dry ash handling and vapor compression evaporation, asserting that such controls are cost-effective and would significantly reduce pollution.

Colorado generates over 1.7 million tons of coal ash annually from 14 coal-fired power plants. The state's regulatory framework is criticized for exempting on-site landfills and ponds from groundwater monitoring and not requiring composite liners or leachate collection systems. This lack of oversight, combined with the age of 40 existing ponds—31 of which are over 30 years old—increases the risk of groundwater contamination, particularly from arsenic, affecting residents relying on private wells. Additionally, the document notes that non-white individuals and people living below the poverty line are over-represented in zip codes hosting these plants.

The document highlights the risk of hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen, leaching from unlined coal ash disposal sites into groundwater. It criticizes the EPA for treating the chemical as a non-carcinogen when ingested in its coal ash rule-making and calls for the regulation of coal ash as a hazardous waste.

The document details a 'multifront assault' by the Trump administration to roll back the 2015 EPA regulations on coal ash, a toxic byproduct of coal-fired electricity generation. It describes how six specific proposals aim to delay the closure of leaking pits, weaken wastewater standards, and eliminate financial requirements for cleanups. The briefing highlights the dangers of coal ash—including carcinogens like arsenic and hexavalent chromium—and cites historical disasters and contamination sites to illustrate the necessity of the safeguards being targeted.

The document details the widespread groundwater and surface water contamination caused by 42 coal ash ponds and 13 landfills across 20 Florida power plants. It highlights specific instances of toxic leakage—including arsenic and lead—at sites such as the C.D. McIntosh, Jr. Power Plant and the Scholz Power Plant. The report further criticizes Florida's regulatory framework for lacking requirements for liners, monitoring, and oversight, particularly regarding the reuse of coal ash in construction materials like "EZBase."

The document details the prevalence of coal ash ponds and landfills in Georgia, noting that the state ranks 8th in the U.S. for coal ash generation. It highlights the age and hazardous ratings of these sites, specific instances of water contamination and structural failures, and the lack of state-level regulations regarding liners, monitoring, and emergency planning.

Indiana ranks second in the United States for coal ash generation, producing over 9.5 million tons annually. The state's 18 coal-fired power plants utilize 83 landfills and ponds, many of which are rated as high or significant hazards or are in poor condition. Documented groundwater contamination involving arsenic, boron, manganese, and other toxins has been found at numerous sites, including the Gibson Plant and Clifty Creek Station. The document argues that Indiana's regulatory program is among the worst in the nation, citing a lack of dam safety requirements, inadequate drinking water protections, and the absence of mandatory groundwater monitoring or composite liners for all disposal units.

The document details the prevalence of coal ash ponds and landfills in Kentucky, highlighting significant safety hazards and documented groundwater contamination. It argues that Kentucky's regulatory program is inadequate due to a lack of reporting requirements, inspection frequencies, and emergency planning for high-hazard dams.

The document details the prevalence of coal ash ponds in Minnesota, highlighting that nine are rated as 'significant hazard' and many lack modern liners due to their age. It argues that Minnesota's regulations are insufficient, failing to require comprehensive groundwater monitoring, composite liners for new sites, or financial assurances for cleanup. Evidence of environmental damage is cited, including groundwater contamination at the Sherburne County Generating Plant and Boswell Energy Center, and a note that low-income individuals are over-represented by 43% in zip codes hosting coal-fired power plants.

North Carolina ranks 9th in the U.S. for coal ash generation, producing over 5.5 million tons annually. The state's infrastructure is characterized by 37 ponds, 29 of which are rated "high hazard," meaning failure would likely cause human life loss and significant economic and environmental damage. Most ponds lack liners and leachate collection systems, with 27 ponds being over 30 years old. Documented failures include breaches at the W.H. Weatherspoon, Cliffside, and Roxboro stations, as well as a 2010 failure at the Sutton plant. Water contamination is widespread, with 13 documented cases involving high levels of selenium, arsenic, and other heavy metals in groundwater and surface water. Regulatory gaps persist, as ponds built before 1994 are not required to have liners or conduct groundwater monitoring, and landfill monitoring remains discretionary.

The document details the prevalence of coal ash disposal sites in North Dakota, noting that the state ranks 14th in the US for coal ash generation with over 3 million tons produced annually. It identifies six specific power stations with documented groundwater contamination involving toxins such as arsenic, lead, and selenium. The text argues that North Dakota's regulatory program is deficient because it lacks requirements for universal groundwater monitoring, composite liners, and financial assurances for cleanup.