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The briefing highlights the dual role of the mining industry in the energy transition, noting its necessity in providing raw materials for low-carbon technologies while remaining a significant source of global emissions. It advocates for the adoption of science-based targets, the use of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework, and the cocreation of a comprehensive decarbonization pathway to mitigate physical and financial climate risks.

The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018 is a strategic update to South Africa's electricity infrastructure development plan, extending the planning horizon to 2050. It evaluates various energy mix scenarios to balance security of supply, cost, and environmental impact, specifically focusing on the transition from coal to renewable energy and gas. The document also includes a Medium-Term System Adequacy Outlook (MTSAO) for 2018-2023 and a specific climate change and water resources assessment for the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power station.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) advocates for the rapid closure of coal plants in Canada to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate severe health risks from air pollution and mercury. While supporting this transition, CAPE stresses that unemployment and poverty are social determinants of health, requiring a just transition framework including retraining, relocation programs, and extended severance to prevent the health benefits of decarbonization from being offset by economic instability for workers.

The briefing highlights the momentum of corporate and municipal climate commitments and advocates for a 'next generation' of low-carbon solutions. It suggests that moving beyond simple wind and solar additions to include technologies like energy storage, nuclear energy, and demand response—implemented through utility-customer partnerships—can more effectively 'green' the grid and reduce overall system emissions at a lower cost.

The report examines the negative externalities of coal power in South Africa, focusing on water consumption, pollution, and health impacts. It argues that the current energy planning (Draft IRP) underestimates the true cost of coal by ignoring water-related externalities, such as acid-mine drainage and the high cost of water treatment. The document suggests that internalising these costs would justify a rapid transition to water-efficient renewable energy, which would also create more jobs and reduce the disproportionate burden on marginalised communities.

The document assesses Colombia's vulnerability as the world's fourth largest thermal coal exporter facing declining global demand. It highlights significant risks to regional GDP and employment in the Cesar and La Guajira departments, where coal is a dominant economic driver. The brief notes a lack of domestic planning for post-coal scenarios and evaluates alternatives such as agriculture and tourism, while recommending coordinated long-term planning involving national institutions like the DNP and UPME to ensure a just transition.

The Climate Bonds Initiative evaluates the JPY10bn green bond issued by Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) on 24 May 2018. While the bond is included in the Climate Bonds database because LNG-fuelled ships are currently the lowest-emission option for long-haul shipping, the briefing argues that switching to LNG is insufficient for long-term climate goals. LNG-fuelled ships reduce total GHG emissions by only 15-21% and CO2 by 30% compared to heavy fuel oil ships, failing to meet the IMO's 2030 target of a 40% cut in GHG emission intensity. The document highlights the risk of 'lock in' to fossil fuels, as these vessels will operate into the 2030s, potentially delaying the transition to commercially viable renewable fuels like ammonia and hydrogen. It also emphasizes the necessity of controlling methane leakage to prevent LNG from having a worse GHG profile than traditional fuels.

The G7 Fossil Fuel Subsidy Scorecard reveals that G7 governments continue to provide substantial financial support to fossil fuels despite commitments to phase them out by 2025. Analysis shows that in 2015 and 2016, G7 nations provided at least USD 100 billion annually in subsidies and public finance, failing to implement mechanisms to document the full extent of this support or ensure accountability.

The document details the requirements for German buildings to qualify for Certified Climate Bonds, focusing on low carbon emissions trajectories and market proxies. For residential buildings, eligibility is based on an EPC rating of "A" or "B" from the Energieausweis system. Commercial buildings can qualify via a proxy—requiring they be built after 2008, hold an EPC rating, and be part of an existing MBS refinancing pool—or by meeting a specific emissions intensity trajectory. In Berlin, for example, a 10-year commercial bond issued in 2018 requires an emissions intensity of 56.23kg CO2e/m2 or below. All trajectories aim for zero emissions by 2050 and are aligned with the Paris Agreement goals.

The report finds that building electrification is generally cost-effective for new construction and for customers switching from propane or heating oil, but often more expensive for existing natural gas customers at current prices. It argues that electrification reduces carbon emissions in most US regions, except those heavily dependent on coal, though this is expected to change as coal plants retire. The authors emphasize that demand flexibility—shifting energy use to low-cost or high-renewable periods—can further improve economics and grid integration. Key recommendations include prioritizing the electrification of oil and propane homes, stopping the expansion of natural gas infrastructure, and updating energy efficiency standards to account for total energy reduction across fuels.

The IAI Directorate Science reports on the final phase of the third Collaborative Research Network (CRN3), the launch of the Small Grant Program on ecosystem services and human wellbeing (SGP-HW), and the planning for the fourth Collaborative Research Network (CRN4). Key initiatives include a co-design process for climate adaptation in the megacities of Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Santiago de Chile, and a collaborative research framework with Argentina's CONICET. The Directorate is shifting toward a co-funding model to diversify science funding and is emphasizing transdisciplinary research aligned with international frameworks like the SDGs.

The meeting, held on 2-3 April 2018, brought together policy makers, scientists, and international organizations to establish a co-designed research program for megacities in the South. The initiative aims to provide scientific guidance for adaptation and mitigation actions, specifically targeting decarbonization in transport, housing, and waste management, as well as addressing climate-related health risks and extreme weather events. The participants outlined a seven-component research plan emphasizing governance, social dimensions of adaptation, and capacity building to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals in Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Sao Paulo.

The document argues that Canada's current trade model privileges corporate profits over people and the environment, specifically citing NAFTA's role in exacerbating economic inequality and environmental degradation. The signatories propose a 12-point alternative model for trade negotiations, emphasizing the elimination of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms, the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, and the abolition of energy proportionality rules that hinder Canada's ability to reduce fossil fuel production. They assert that for Canada to be a 'climate champion', its trade agreements must be compatible with the Paris Agreement and the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.

The report identifies newly adopted policies in 25 major emitting countries and regions—representing 79% of 2012 global GHG emissions—that support long-term decarbonisation goals. These policies include carbon taxes, coal phase-outs, and support for renewable energy and electric vehicles, focusing on legislative decisions and executive orders with direct effects on reducing emissions.

The document advocates for a pollution price for shipping to complement the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) goal of cutting emissions by 50% below 2008 levels by 2050. It highlights that shipping accounts for over 2% of global emissions and suggests that carbon pricing would incentivise the use of renewable fuels, incorporate environmental costs into shipowners' decisions, and generate revenue to support least developed and developing countries.

The Climate Action Tracker reports that current national commitments and policies are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement's warming limits, projecting temperature increases of 3.2°C to 3.4°C by 2100. To align with a 1.5°C limit, global emissions must peak by 2020, requiring rapid decarbonization across the electricity, transport, building, industry, and agriculture sectors.

The Life After Coal Campaign and Greenpeace Africa have written to South Africa's Minister of Energy to express concerns that the updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity is being fast-tracked without sufficient public consultation. The authors argue that the IRP must be based on the least-cost technology combination, account for external costs to health and climate, and align with South Africa's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. They specifically oppose the continued inclusion of coal and nuclear power, citing the risk of stranded assets and the need for a just transition to renewable energy. The letter warns that failing to provide a transparent, fair process for public comment would make the final IRP vulnerable to legal challenges.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provides written submissions on the March 2018 Final Draft Report of Climate Change Mitigation Policies and Measures (PAMs). The CER supports the examination of policy effectiveness but identifies several gaps, including the need for better alignment between various government climate projects, the exclusion of certain greenhouse gases and externalities in socio-economic analyses, and a lack of rationale for prioritizing coal-to-liquid production through 2050. The CER emphasizes that the report's findings—specifically regarding the electricity sector as the key to decarbonization—should inform the revision of the Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity (IRP 2010).

The aviation sector is a top-ten global emitter that could emit 56 GtCO2 between 2016 and 2050, representing one-quarter of the remaining carbon budget. While CO2 emissions account for 2.1% of the global share, the inclusion of non-CO2 effects increases aviation's contribution to global warming to an estimated 4.9%. The document asserts that current government policy measures are "woefully insufficient" and calls for bold government action to establish long-term decarbonization pathways. A proposed roadmap includes deploying near-term technology, investing in breakthrough clean aviation technologies, strengthening the ICAO CO2 standard, revisiting subsidies, and supporting modal shifts through new mobility solutions.

A coalition of business associations, civil society, and think tanks calls on the EU to increase climate-related spending beyond 20% of its post-2020 budget and to 'climate proof' all spending by ending investments in unabated fossil fuel infrastructure and harmful subsidies.