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Japan has the lowest share of clean electricity among G7 nations, with wind generating less than 1% of its power in 2022. While the 6th Strategic Energy Plan targets 59% clean power by 2030, it only allocates 5.7 GW to offshore wind, representing just 4% of the collective G7 target of 150 GW. Alternative pathways from Berkeley Lab and the Renewable Energy Institute suggest that leveraging Japan's theoretical offshore wind potential of 392 GW could enable the country to reach 80% to 90% decarbonised electricity by 2035.

The Strategic Plan argues that current energy efficiency efforts are insufficient to meet global climate targets and calls for a doubling of the rate of energy intensity improvement and a tripling of annual end-use energy efficiency investments by 2030. It outlines five pillars for progress: buildings, industry, transport, financing, and behavioral changes, emphasizing international cooperation between the G20 and Global South countries. The plan aligns with the G20 New Delhi Leader Declaration and a Voluntary Action Plan to double the global rate of energy efficiency improvement within the decade.

Reclaim Finance criticizes the French government's "Industrie verte" bill, specifically its financing measures, for lacking strict criteria to prevent public and private savings from funding fossil fuel projects. The organization argues that new initiatives like the "Avenir climat" savings plan for minors and changes to life insurance regulations do not guarantee alignment with the 1.5°C warming limit and may exacerbate inequalities. Reclaim Finance proposes mandatory transparency indicators for controversial activities, minimum investment criteria for public-supported products, and preferential loan rates for ecological transition projects.

Reclaim Finance criticizes the French "Green Industry" bill for lacking strict investment criteria and restrictive filters, which may allow public and private savings to continue supporting carbon-based activities. The organization proposes introducing transparency indicators for controversial activities and establishing minimum investment criteria to ensure alignment with the 1.5°C global warming limit.

The document highlights the potential negative economic consequences of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on Africa, particularly for least developed countries (LDCs). It warns of significant GDP and export losses, administrative barriers to market access, and a lack of concrete EU financial commitments to help African manufacturing industries decarbonize.

The document outlines the EV battery supply chain—divided into upstream (mining), midstream (processing/refining), downstream (assembly), and end-of-life—highlighting China's current dominance. It discusses the environmental and human rights risks associated with mining critical minerals like lithium and cobalt, and details US legislative tools such as the Inflation Reduction Act designed to 'de-risk' the supply chain and foster domestic economic growth.

The report identifies New Zealand, Australia, and India as leaders in power data transparency, evaluating them across six criteria: time granularity, publishing lag, geographical granularity, fuel breakdown, ease of access, and additional data. It specifically examines the partnership between India's NITI Aayog and the Vasudha Foundation to create a centralized, open-access data platform for the country's energy transition. The document concludes with recommendations for improving data transparency across Asia, emphasizing machine-readable formats, unique identifiers, and the removal of access restrictions.

The review finds that energy transition modeling in Africa is a rapidly growing field, yet it is dominated by researchers based outside the continent and largely ignores the nexus between decarbonization and socio-economic development. Most models focus on global targets (2030/2050) and techno-economic optimization, while neglecting political constraints, comprehensive transition costs, and a diverse range of low-carbon technologies like nuclear and carbon capture.

The document outlines the benefits and application of the Climate Bonds Initiative's certification for commercial and residential buildings in Tokyo and 16 other Japanese cities, aiming for a zero-carbon future by 2050.

As of the end of 2022, Colombia's GSS+ debt market totaled USD 2.4 billion, with green bonds being the most prominent segment at USD 1.3 billion. The market is characterized by a strong sovereign presence and a growing regulatory framework, including the pioneering Colombian Green Taxonomy. While the market is primarily domestic, there is significant potential for growth in hard-to-abate sectors through sustainability-linked bonds and in nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. The report recommends scaling sovereign issuance, establishing green securitization facilities, and expanding the taxonomy to include biodiversity and circular economy objectives.

The revised General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), approved on 9 March 2023 and applicable until the end of 2026, allows EU Member States to grant State aid for green transition projects without prior European Commission notification if specific conditions are met. While it introduces new support for clean mobility, biodiversity restoration, and renewable energy communities, it also maintains loopholes for fossil gas through high-efficiency cogeneration, gas-fired district heating, and carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS). The regulation significantly raises financial notification thresholds and aid intensity rates to accelerate the Green Deal Industrial Plan, though it lacks an explicit 'energy efficiency first' principle and faces criticism for poor transparency in aid reporting.

The document argues that the EU fisheries sector must shift away from carbon-intensive, high-impact fishing to meet the goals of the European Green Deal and the European Climate Law. It recommends a comprehensive approach including the creation of national emission-reduction roadmaps, the transition from active mobile bottom-contacting gears to passive techniques, and the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies. The brief emphasizes the need to quantify all greenhouse gas emissions, including those from seabed disturbance and the removal of fish biomass, and suggests integrating fisheries into the EU Emission Trading System (ETS). It also advocates for fairer funding access for small-scale coastal fisheries and the use of ecosystem-based fisheries management to protect 'blue carbon' habitats.

The document proposes a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty based on three pillars: non-proliferation (ending new exploration), fair phase-out of existing production, and a Global Just Transition. The Global Just Transition pillar focuses on enabling countries, workers, and communities to move away from fossil fuel dependence through economic diversification, the rapid deployment of renewable energy, and robust social protection. It emphasizes that wealthy nations must transition fastest and provide financial, technological, and capacity-building support to the Global South to ensure a sustainable and equitable transformation.

The paper argues that the MOD is on track to meet its 2025 GGC targets primarily because they are 'weak and undemanding' and benefit from the general decarbonisation of the UK national electricity grid. It highlights that GGCs only cover estate emissions, excluding two-thirds of the MOD's total emissions from military 'capability' such as warships and aircraft. The author recommends significantly higher targets for 2030, including a 90% reduction in overall estate emissions and the inclusion of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in future targets.

The Union of Concerned Scientists presents a framework of nine principles designed to make electric grid infrastructure planning in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region more equitable. These principles advocate for the prioritization of Indigenous rights, accountable decisionmaking, and procedural justice to prevent the replication of past harms. The guidance emphasizes shifting away from centralized fossil-fuel systems toward locally controlled clean energy resources, just sourcing of materials, and worker protections. It specifically calls for the adoption of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) standard for Indigenous communities and the implementation of social welfare metrics to benefit disadvantaged communities.

The EU aims to mainstream climate into all foreign policy channels via the European Green Deal, but faces challenges in translating announcements into action. The report recommends that the EU solidify its credibility by avoiding misaligned gas infrastructure investments, institutionalising climate mainstreaming across all foreign policy decision-making, shifting from a technical to a geopolitical approach to climate diplomacy, and strengthening the 'Team Europe' approach to improve coordination between EU institutions and Member States.

The policy brief examines the implementation of Buy Clean standards for the US steel industry, emphasizing the need to balance near-term emissions reductions with the long-term survival and decarbonization of primary steel producers. It proposes a sliding-scale emissions standard based on the ratio of primary to recycled scrap content in steel products to avoid unintended market shifts and emissions leakage.

The report examines the intersection of CIF investments and just transitions within Bolivia's water sector, highlighting how climate change and human activity are exacerbating a water crisis and the need for inclusive management practices.

The document asserts that nuclear energy is essential for a decarbonized global energy system to provide 'clean firm' power, reducing reliance on over-built variable renewables and expensive long-duration storage. It identifies a 'profoundly dysfunctional' current delivery model characterized by high costs and delays, exemplified by the Vogtle 3 and 4 projects in Georgia. To achieve a target build rate of hundreds of Gigawatts per year, the author proposes transitioning from bespoke construction projects to standardized, commoditized 'products' with capital costs below $4,000/kw and delivery times of 3-5 years. Key recommendations for U.S. policy include reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to adopt performance-based licensing, establishing a 'sandbox' for testing new designs, creating an International Bank for Nuclear Infrastructure, and ensuring the domestic availability of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU).

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) took the unusual step of rejecting Enbridge Gas's $123.7 million Saint-Laurent Ottawa Nord pipeline project, citing the City of Ottawa's electrification plans and a projected decline in natural gas demand. The document explores how this decision challenges traditional utility business models—where returns are often based on pipeline mileage rather than gas volume—and highlights the risk of 'stranded assets' if new infrastructure is built despite decarbonization goals. It further discusses Enbridge's five-year plan, which advocates for a 'diversified' scenario including low-carbon gas and hydrogen, contrasting this with the City of Ottawa's preference for integrated energy planning to meet climate targets.