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The chemicals sector contributes approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with production projected to grow up to 43% by 2050. While low-emission technologies exist, their scale-up is hindered by high capital intensity, long investment horizons, and complex value chains where intermediaries have little incentive to pay premiums for green inputs. To address this, the Center for Green Market Activation (GMA) and RMI are promoting demand aggregation and 'book and claim' systems using Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs). These mechanisms allow downstream brands to pay for emissions reductions directly to upstream producers, bypassing value chain intermediaries and geographic constraints. GMA and RMI have launched a Low-Emissions Chemicals Initiative focusing on low-emissions ethylene to provide the demand certainty required for capital-intensive projects.

The report argues that substituting tax-exempt public debt for investor-owned utility (IOU) equity and taxable debt can significantly lower transmission costs for ratepayers in New England. It identifies two primary paths: strengthening existing quasi-public entities or creating a new purpose-built transmission authority. The author emphasizes that any such vehicle must have a clear statutory mandate for FERC-jurisdictional transmission, non-recourse revenue-bond authority, the ability to form public-private partnerships, and governance structures that ensure state accountability and risk control.

The report finds that Romania's geothermal potential is largely untapped, contributing only 0.02% to the energy mix and primarily serving district heating and spas. It identifies significant structural barriers, including fragmented permitting, outdated subsurface data, and high early-stage financial risks. The document highlights the potential for the oil and gas industry to accelerate the market by repurposing abandoned wells, which could reduce drilling costs by up to 50%. It recommends streamlining licensing, shifting to energy-based taxation, and introducing risk-sharing mechanisms like drilling insurance to attract investment.

The report argues that New England's transmission costs are the highest in the U.S., driven by a lack of cohesive planning and a reliance on expensive private capital. It proposes replacing private equity and debt with low-cost, tax-exempt public financing, which could save ratepayers up to $8.3 billion on new transmission and $1.1 billion on asset condition projects. The authors suggest several implementation pathways, including integrating public financing into ISO New England's Longer-Term Transmission Planning (LTTP) process or creating new state transmission authorities.

The document argues that the traditional carbon offsetting model is fundamentally flawed and misleading, urging companies to adopt Beyond Value Chain Mitigation (BVCM). Unlike offsetting, which claims to 'cancel out' emissions, BVCM involves supporting external climate projects as a contribution to global goals without claiming carbon neutrality. The guide outlines the legal and reputational risks of offsetting—including a September 2026 EU ban on product-level offsetting claims—and provides a five-step implementation framework for BVCM. It suggests diversifying contributions beyond carbon credits into durable carbon removals (CDR), 'high-hanging fruit' technology research, and climate impact funds, while emphasizing that external action must not replace internal decarbonization aligned with a 1.5°C trajectory.

The report argues that the proposed Turkish ETS is fundamentally weak due to its reliance on an intensity-based cap, broad unconditional free allocation, and the use of offsets. These design choices are expected to prevent the system from generating a meaningful carbon price signal, thereby failing to drive emissions reductions aligned with the Paris Agreement and leaving Turkish exporters exposed to significant CBAM fees. The authors recommend transitioning to an absolute declining cap, phasing out offsets, and shifting toward auctioning to retain climate revenues domestically.

In 2025, global coal capacity increased by 3.5% while production fell by 0.6%, as new plants are increasingly built for backup reliability rather than primary generation. This trend is most prominent in China and India, where renewables are meeting most new demand. While the number of countries developing coal projects fell to 32, political interventions in the US and energy security concerns in the EU have delayed planned closures. The EU continues a terminal decline in coal, with solar and wind producing more energy than all fossil fuels combined for the first time in 2025.

In 2025, global coal capacity increased by 3.5% while production fell by 0.6%, as coal is increasingly used as 'system insurance' rather than a primary energy source. This trend is most prominent in China and India, where renewables are meeting new demand despite record coal plant commissioning. Globally, the number of countries proposing new coal plants dropped to 32. In Indonesia, coal expansion continues through 'captive' plants for nickel and aluminium industries, reaching 20 GW, while national energy plans (RUKN and RUPTL) are criticized for maintaining fossil fuel dependency and lacking a clear phase-out roadmap despite official net-zero commitments.

In 2025, global coal capacity grew by 3.5% while generation fell by 0.6%, reflecting a trend where coal is increasingly used as system 'insurance' rather than a primary energy source. While Latin America achieved a 'No New Coal' status in 2025, several countries in the region, including Brazil and Chile, experienced delays or reversals in planned plant retirements. China and India continue to lead global capacity expansions, accounting for 95% of all coal capacity under construction worldwide.

In 2025, global coal capacity increased by 3.5% while production fell by 0.6%, as coal is increasingly used as 'system insurance' rather than a primary energy source. While the number of countries pursuing new coal projects dropped to 32, China and India continue massive expansions. In Indonesia, the growth of captive coal plants for nickel and aluminium processing contradicts national climate commitments, with the RUPTL 2025-2034 continuing to plan for on-grid coal investment despite a formal moratorium.

The report finds that by 2025, fossil fuel power generation fell below its peak in all 38 OECD member countries, driven by the rapid scaling of solar and wind energy. This trend is extending to emerging markets, with 2025 marking the first year this century (excluding 2020) that non-OECD fossil generation fell, specifically in China and India. The transition is increasingly driven by economic imperatives, as the levelized cost of solar and onshore wind is now 60% lower than combined cycle gas turbines.

The report examines the decarbonization of the commercial vehicle sector, which contributes 37% of road-transport CO2 emissions. It highlights that technology pathways are shaped by national priorities and geopolitical interests, notes the uncertain cost-competitiveness of long-haul low-carbon trucks, and discusses the tension between OEM diversification and the need for economies of scale.

The report asserts that metallurgical coal demand is plateauing as the steel industry shifts toward low-carbon technologies like electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and green hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI). While some governments and financial institutions remain bullish on long-term growth, particularly in Asia, the document predicts a 4.8% drop in met coal consumption between 2025 and 2030. It highlights the risk of stranded assets, noting that 145 companies are planning expansions that could increase global capacity by 580 million tonnes per year. The report recommends scrapping subsidies for traditional steel, lowering industrial electricity prices, and using public procurement to prioritise green steel to accelerate the transition.

In 2025, clean power met all global electricity demand growth for the first time since the pandemic, as China's fossil generation plateaued. Solar power is the primary driver of this shift, and the deployment of battery storage is increasingly enabling solar to displace fossil fuels during non-daylight hours. India is expected to follow a less coal-reliant path than China due to lower energy intensity and the maturity of low-cost clean technologies.

The Genesis Mission, supported by a $293 million initial funding opportunity, aims to use AI and supercomputing via a National Discovery Platform to accelerate breakthroughs in fusion, fission, and geothermal energy. However, the author contends that AI models will be limited by data gaps regarding novel physical phenomena, such as high-energy neutron bombardment on structural materials. To resolve this, the document calls for Congress to fund the construction of small- to medium-scale test stands, a Fusion Prototypic Neutron Source, and an Integrated Blanket and Fuel Cycle Test Stand, as well as the Fusion BRIDGE program for co-investment with private and philanthropic stakeholders.

The report examines New York State's progress toward the climate requirements of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), noting that the state is not on track to meet these goals and has cited costs as a reason for infeasibility.

The authors argue that Europe risks missing a strategic window to lead in geothermal energy due to insufficient political support and financial risks. They claim next-generation geothermal systems could generate 301 TWh of electricity annually in the EU, roughly 42% of current coal- and gas-fired generation. To unlock this, the letter calls for a dedicated EU geothermal de-risking facility for drilling, long-term revenue frameworks like two-way CfDs, streamlined permitting, and the creation of a European Geothermal Industry Alliance.

The document outlines how climate-fueled hazards like rising sea levels and extreme weather are reshaping global tourism, leading to trends such as "coolcations" and the decline of snow-based activities. It highlights the economic risks for tourism-dependent communities, the carbon intensity of aviation, and the ethical dilemmas of "last-chance tourism." The guide suggests reporting on adaptation strategies, such as Hawaii's "green fee" and climate insurance in El Salvador, while urging journalists to contextualize aviation emissions beyond their current global percentage.

Between 2021 and 2024, European banks provided US$41.9 billion to companies developing over 320 new gas power plants globally, with 63% of this funding coming from a small group of French and UK banks. The report links gas reliance to electricity price volatility, air pollution causing premature deaths, and the climate crisis, urging banks to shift funding from gas expansion to renewables.

The document argues that heat pumps are a cost-effective alternative to gas heating due to their superior energy efficiency, which allows them to overcome higher electricity costs. In the residential sector, heat pumps have outsold gas furnaces for four consecutive years. In the industrial sector, they are particularly viable for low-temperature processes (under 200°C), with the potential to increase U.S. GDP by over $42 billion by 2030. The briefing concludes that other alternatives, such as hydrogen and renewable natural gas, are less scalable and more expensive than heat pumps.