Search Climate Insights Directory

The research examines how contractual frameworks for coal-fired power plants in Indonesia, Pakistan, and Vietnam create financial barriers to early retirement, noting that host countries risk onerous fines from arbitration courts if they break contracts to meet climate targets.

The document identifies a significant global trend toward expanding coal-fired power capacity, with 1,199 new plants proposed across 59 countries. China and India are the primary drivers of this expansion, accounting for 76% of proposed new capacities. The analysis also highlights a shift in the global coal trade from Atlantic to Pacific markets, prompting infrastructure expansions in countries like Australia.

The paper evaluates two policy packages for India: the NDC-SDG scenario, aligning with 2030 goals, and the LTD scenario, targeting 2050. The LTD scenario offers higher emission reductions and health co-benefits but relies more on nascent technologies. Both scenarios demonstrate that deep decarbonization can coexist with GDP growth and employment increases, with a carbon tax identified as a critical policy lever.

The testimony argues that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential for mitigating climate change given that coal is responsible for over 40 percent of global CO2 emissions. The author calls for a global network of 15 to 20 demonstrations to move the technology from the 'valley of death' into commercialization, noting that technical understanding is already adequate for large-scale projects. A significant focus is placed on China, where coal-related emissions may reach 51 percent of the world's total by 2030, necessitating joint public-private partnerships and research exchanges. The document highlights existing initiatives like the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum and the Global CCS Institute, while recommending that the U.S. formalize partnerships with the UK, EU, China, and Australia to avoid duplication and share regulatory knowledge.

The document discusses the role of carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a potential bridging technology to allow the continued use of coal while reducing CO2 emissions. It argues that while CCS is viewed as a way to maintain the energy status quo, deploying it at a national scale would require a transformation of energy infrastructure as fundamental as a large-scale shift to wind energy.

The paper presents a new methodology using machine learning and climate science to assess physical climate risks for power generation portfolios. Pilot testing on the EBRD's thermal and hydro assets indicates that annual generation losses could increase from 0.76 TWh (0.4%) in the baseline period to 7.0 TWh (3.3%) under RCP4.5 and 7.4 TWh (3.5%) under RCP8.5 by 2030. The analysis identifies water stress and rising water temperatures as the primary drivers of loss for thermal assets, while hydro assets are primarily affected by reduced precipitation and upstream water consumption. The study further finds that combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants are more resilient than coal-fired plants, and that once-through cooling systems are the most vulnerable cooling technology.

The document analyzes Japan's 'Warsaw Target' to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.8 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. It finds that while this target represents a decrease in ambition compared to the earlier Copenhagen Pledge, it is likely achievable if Japan continues electricity-saving efforts and implements existing mitigation policies. The paper notes a lack of transparency regarding expected emissions reductions for specific policy measures and highlights a contradiction between the promotion of high-efficiency coal-fired power plants and Japan's long-term 2050 mitigation goals.

WRI analysis indicates that North Carolina can reduce its CO2 emissions by 29 percent below 2011 levels by 2020 through a combination of its Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS), increased combined heat and power (CHP) capacity, fuller utilization of combined cycle natural gas (NGCC) plants, and improved efficiency at coal-fired power plants.

The document details WEPCO's transition toward a more proactive environmental posture, highlighted by its 'Wisconsin Commitment' and demand-side management programs. Despite national awards and strong executive support, a 1991 benchmarking study by A.T. Kearney revealed critical gaps, including the lack of a comprehensive risk assessment program and a disconnect between the company's external environmental image and its internal operational rigor.

The author, representing the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), highlights the vulnerability of Australian regions reliant on coal power, such as the Latrobe Valley. Using the closure of the Hazelwood power station as a case study, the text describes a novel negotiation process involving the Victorian government and multiple private power companies to manage redundancies and redeploy workers. The author advocates for a statutory agency to manage the long-term social impacts of the transition to net zero emissions, noting that worker support for climate action is contingent on fair deals for those displaced.