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Heat pumps are identified as a cornerstone for sustainable buildings, capable of significantly reducing CO2 emissions by replacing fossil fuel heating. While technologically mature and often cheaper over their lifetime than gas boilers in several major economies, their rollout is hindered by high upfront costs, poor building insulation, and a shortage of skilled technicians. The document highlights that meeting 2030 climate pledges will require tripling the global heat pump workforce to over 1.3 million and implementing strategic policies such as financial incentives, building codes, and innovative business models like heat-as-a-service.

The policy brief outlines how the EPA's $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) can be leveraged to overcome market failures in clean energy financing for underserved US communities. It proposes three primary strategies: mobilizing additional public and private capital to potentially reach $250 billion over 10 years, prioritizing financial products that build long-term borrower wealth rather than just protecting lenders, and centering the role of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and credit unions in the decarbonization process.

A coalition of Global South organizations argues that the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) lacks sufficient due diligence and safeguards to protect the rights of people and environments in resource-rich countries. They demand a human-rights-based approach to decarbonization, including mandatory due diligence, the requirement of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for Indigenous Peoples, and a shift from treating these countries as mere raw material suppliers to establishing equitable partnerships that include technology transfer and value addition.

The briefing argues that insufficient transmission capacity is a major bottleneck for US decarbonization, with new capacity seeking interconnection consisting of 95 percent zero-carbon resources in 2022. It identifies grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) as cost-effective, rapid-deployment solutions that optimize existing transmission, but notes that utility adoption is hindered by risk aversion and regulatory incentives that reward capital expenditures over operational efficiencies. To overcome this, the document outlines four strategies for Public Utility Commissions (PUCs): building knowledge through investigative proceedings, mandating the consideration of GETs in planning processes, implementing performance incentive mechanisms or totex ratemaking, and engaging in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proceedings.

The Canadian Climate Institute argues that for Canada to meet its net-zero goals, the oil and gas sector requires transformational investment. It proposes a two-tier requirement system for the federal government's Sustainable Finance Action Council (SFAC) climate investment taxonomy: company-level net-zero targets and project-level emissions-intensity benchmarks. Specifically, it argues that "transition" labels should only apply to projects that reduce emissions from existing production, as 1.5°C pathways necessitate "no investments in new production."

The analysis finds that CCS projects in Canadian oil sands are economically viable under current and proposed climate policies, such as carbon pricing and investment tax credits, potentially offering private returns of up to 21%. Consequently, the authors argue that additional public funding beyond what is already announced is unnecessary and could lead to excessive corporate profits. While CCS improves the carbon intensity of oil sands production, it does not eliminate the long-term transition risk associated with declining global oil demand.

A pilot project involving RMI, SINAI Technologies, and ArcelorMittal demonstrates that using process-level primary emissions data and dedicated software helps steel producers meet reporting requirements and allows buyers to verify the decarbonization impact of their procurement.

Iberdrola is implementing a just transition strategy focused on decarbonizing the economy while supporting affected workers and communities. The company has closed all its coal plants and is investing heavily in renewables, with planned expenditures of €47 billion from 2023-2025 and €65-75 billion between 2026 and 2030. Key initiatives include the Exiom-Iberdrola Alliance in Spain to manufacture photovoltaic modules, the School of Electricians for Women in Brazil, and collaborations with UNICEF to promote green employment in Spain, Brazil, and Somalia. Iberdrola also advocates for a just transition through international pledges and was the first company to share its Climate Transition Plan for net zero emissions before 2040 with the UN.

The NewClimate Institute introduces the concept of climate contributions as a financial commitment to support global climate action without claiming to offset or neutralise a company's own emissions. This approach is presented as a necessary alternative to traditional carbon offsetting, which the authors argue can undermine decarbonisation progress.

The report examines the G7 Climate Club, an intergovernmental forum aimed at achieving global net-zero emissions by mid-century. While acknowledging its goals, the author argues that the Club's structure—particularly its focus on rapid decarbonisation and potential trade restrictions—could undermine African development. Key concerns include the economic reliance of African nations on hydrocarbon exports, the high cost of transitioning to low-carbon industrial processes, and the risk of trade protectionism through mechanisms like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The report highlights a history of unfulfilled G7 financial pledges to Africa and recommends a co-design approach that prioritises technology transfer, climate justice, and financial support over strict carbon accounting and trade sanctions.

Industrial thermal batteries can convert electricity into high-temperature heat (1,500-1,700°C), potentially displacing 75% of U.S. industrial non-feedstock energy demand. The report analyzes two primary deployment modes: 'generation-following' (off-grid renewables) and 'price-hunting' (grid-connected, price-responsive). It finds that these batteries can provide heat at $35 to $62 per MWh, making them competitive with natural gas. The authors recommend financial incentives via the Inflation Reduction Act and reforms to electricity tariffs to reward the grid flexibility these batteries provide.

The report finds that while there is a growing shift toward electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking, the transition is too slow to meet IEA Net Zero by 2050 targets. Asia, particularly India and China, remains the hub for new coal-based blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) capacity. This continued investment in carbon-intensive technology, alongside persistent global overcapacity, creates a significant stranded asset risk estimated up to US$ 554 billion.

The document analyzes the organizational structure, funding, and implementation challenges of South Africa's JETP, highlighting the gap between policy targets and practical execution. It compares the energy landscapes of South Africa and Indonesia, emphasizing the critical need for transmission grid upgrades and the social protection of coal-dependent regions. Key recommendations for Indonesia include ensuring broad government consensus, translating commitments into legislation, and prioritizing social benefits to ensure a truly 'just' transition.

The document analyzes the historical 'lock-in' of SADC's infrastructure, which has been driven by colonial mercantile systems and extractive economic imperatives. It contends that current infrastructure is elitist and ecologically unsustainable, failing to meet the needs of the region's growing population. To counter this, the authors propose a 'regenerative' approach based on circular economies and human wellbeing. The paper presents three visionary scenarios—one driven by political response to climate migration, one by bottom-up civic innovation, and one by ESG-led market incentives—to illustrate potential pathways toward sustainable development. It concludes with recommendations for policy reform, including the creation of a Green Infrastructure Task Team and the adoption of community-based public-private partnerships (C-PPPs).

The author contends that Ukraine's recovery should not be a return to pre-war status but a comprehensive green transformation. This includes decentralizing the energy grid through wind and solar power to mitigate the impact of Russian attacks, modernizing agriculture to protect fertile chernozem soils, and aligning with the European Green Deal to accelerate EU membership. The text highlights the severe environmental damage caused by the invasion, including the Kakhovka Dam collapse and forest destruction, as urgent drivers for a sustainable reconstruction strategy.

The briefing examines the debate over New York's transition to a 20-year global warming potential (GWP20) timeframe and the inclusion of upstream and biogenic emissions. It argues that this accounting method increases the avoided temperature rise by 66% compared to old methods and could avoid up to $240 billion in damages. The author contends that changing the accounting timeframe does not increase physical emissions and that affordability can be maintained through strategic policy design and federal funding.

The report outlines a diversification framework for Indian Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) to mitigate financial risks associated with fossil fuel dependency. It details a two-step process involving qualitative and quantitative analyses (SWOT, Porter’s diamond, MCDA, and growth share matrix) to identify and prioritize new business segments. The document applies this logic to Coal India Limited, Indian Railways, and NTPC Limited, highlighting their current efforts in renewable energy, electric mobility, and carbon capture to align with India's net-zero goals.

The policy brief highlights a gap between current European electricity interconnection expansion plans and the actual needs of the power system. It asserts that doubling interconnection capacity is essential to integrate renewables cost-effectively and reduce reliance on fossil gas. The author identifies critical border corridors requiring urgent attention and proposes three pathways forward: accelerating the 22 GW of projects already in the pipeline, investing in non-wire solutions like storage and demand response, or increasing domestic renewable capacities at a higher cost.

The paper analyzes the shift in German-African energy relations from a focus on development aid to a complex mix of energy diplomacy, foreign policy, and technical cooperation. It highlights a tension between Germany's goals for a green transition (including hydrogen partnerships) and its strategic interests in diversifying fossil fuel imports. The author critiques 'energy colonialism' and the financialization of projects, recommending that future cooperation be grounded in 'energy justice' and a value-chain approach to ensure local benefits and social standards.

The policy brief advocates for linking the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs with clean transportation corridors for heavy-duty trucking and marine shipping. It argues that while hubs provide localized production, corridors act as 'spokes' that expand the market beyond industrial off-takers and improve the economic viability of zero-carbon fuels. The author suggests that coordinating these programs will create a synergistic ecosystem, reduce conventional air pollutants in environmental justice communities, and position the U.S. as an exporter of low-emissions ammonia.