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The report assesses the decarbonization of Indian Railways (IR), the world's second largest railway network and India's largest electricity consumer. It identifies that transitioning to an electrified network is a prerequisite for decarbonization. The study compares eight pathways based on procurement (captive generation vs. purchasing), rate (accelerated by 2020 vs. normal by 2030), and technology (solar vs. solar-wind mix). Findings indicate that accelerated captive generation is the most cost-effective pathway for both traction and non-traction segments, offering savings of 32% and 61% respectively over business-as-usual scenarios. Implementation challenges include inconsistent state policies on net metering and open access, as well as the need for load balancing technologies like power banking and pumped hydro storage.

The document examines Kenya's potential to lead the East African Community in climate objectives, noting that while the 2016 Climate Change Act and international support provide a strong framework, progress is hindered by limited government capacity and the discovery of fossil fuel reserves. It recommends prioritising energy infrastructure, integrating micro-grids and solar home systems for universal energy access, and leveraging devolution to increase public accountability.

The statement advocates for a pragmatic, hope-driven approach to the energy transition, asserting that the shift toward low-carbon energy is now globally supported and commercially viable, making it largely irreversible regardless of U.S. political shifts.

The report concludes that the Polish Draft Act on the Capacity Market constitutes State aid and is incompatible with EU law. Key issues include the exclusion of foreign capacity providers, potential environmental harm through subsidies for high-emission units, and a lack of competitive pricing mechanisms. The report estimates that the capacity market will cost end users approximately EUR 16.8 billion (PLN 73.5 billion) between 2021 and 2035. Furthermore, the Draft Act conflicts with the EU's 'Winter Package' proposal, particularly regarding decarbonisation goals and the requirement for cross-border participation.

The document examines the intersection of private sector activity and climate policy, highlighting the potential for a 'new industrial revolution' in green technology. It balances optimism regarding falling costs of renewables and new financial instruments with warnings about 'brown pillars' of the economy, market failures, and the risk of social dislocation similar to that seen during globalisation. The author argues for a public-private partnership where governments shape markets and provide social safety nets to ensure a just transition.

The UK has nearly completed its transition from coal, a process driven initially by market forces and later by a carbon tax, rather than a single planned strategy. While the 'dash for gas' in the 1990s and the 2013 carbon tax significantly reduced coal-fired power, the socio-economic recovery of mining communities remains incomplete. Despite regeneration efforts, former coalfields experience persistent 'economic inactivity' and high rates of incapacity benefit claims, indicating a long-term job shortfall that transcends the retirement of the original mining workforce.

The 2017 Green Economy Barometer reports a dual reality: while renewable energy capacity is growing and green technologies are hitting mass markets, the 'brown economy' remains dominant, biodiversity is in crisis, and financial systems continue to subsidise fossil fuels. The document argues that the transition is gathering speed but risks failure if it does not address the needs of rural economies, informal workers, and the youth unemployment crisis.

The report identifies significant opportunities for solar thermal energy in South Africa's agri-processing and textile sectors due to their need for heat below 160°C. It quantifies the potential installation area and greenhouse gas savings, while analyzing the financial drivers, such as rising energy prices, and barriers, including high capital costs and a lack of component-level certification. The document advocates for the use of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) and government support to transition the 'infant' solar thermal industry toward cost-competitiveness.

The 3rd Sustainable Energy for All Forum served as a marketplace for leaders to broker partnerships and mobilize finance to achieve universal energy access. A central feature was the launch of the third Global Tracking Framework (GTF) report, which indicated that the world is not on track to meet 2030 targets for electricity access, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. The event highlighted the need for increased investment—specifically a 2-3 fold increase for renewables and a 3-6 fold increase for energy efficiency—and showcased various financial innovations, such as Results-Based Financing (RBF) and the Microgrid Investment Accelerator. The Forum also emphasized the critical roles of gender equality, digitalization, and decentralized energy systems in reaching the most vulnerable populations, particularly in Africa and Latin America.

The statement warns that non-transparent land-use accounting in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) can allow countries to meet targets while carbon pollution increases. It highlights specific examples in Russia and New Zealand and advocates for separating land-use credits from other sectors to ensure the 1.5°C target is met through essential decarbonisation.

The report argues that the EU ETS's 'carbon leakage' rules have allowed heavy industry to generate over €25 billion in windfall profits from 2008 to 2015. It claims that free allocation of pollution permits has cost governments at least €143 billion in lost auctioning revenues, reduced incentives for efficiency, and lacks empirical evidence of actual carbon leakage. The document calls for phasing out free allocations and establishing a Just Transition Fund to support impacted communities.

The statement asserts that the shift toward renewable energy is an economic inevitability, citing corporate commitments from companies like Walmart and General Mills and the cost-competitiveness of wind and solar power over fossil fuels in various global regions. It emphasizes that the drive to decarbonize the US energy economy will persist through the actions of states, cities, and businesses, and calls for bipartisan cooperation to protect climate policies like the Clean Power Plan.

ClientEarth calls on the UK government to fulfill its commitment to legislate a net zero emissions target. While the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) suggests that now is not the right time for such a target, ClientEarth argues that a legal target is necessary to signal international support for climate action, provide confidence to investors, and encourage the development of zero-carbon options and removal technologies. The document asserts that establishing a long-term goal does not undermine the immediate priority of meeting existing carbon budgets under the Climate Change Act, nor does it require a detailed 'bottom-up' plan for the distant future.

The document argues that the Energy Market Design Initiative is essential for the success of the Energy Union and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. It outlines how market design can reduce energy poverty, boost security, and avoid fossil fuel lock-in by facilitating clean technology deployment. The authors call for specific actions, including the phase-out of coal by 2030, the promotion of energy efficiency and demand response, and the regulation of distribution system operators to support a decentralised energy system.

The document notes that current intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement's goals of limiting global temperature increases to well below 2°C or 1.5°C. However, it identifies several reasons for optimism: many contributions are conservative and may be overachieved, the INDC process has advanced national policy-making (especially in developing countries), and the Agreement mandates regular updates to strengthen actions. Additionally, the document highlights that non-state actions are not yet fully captured in INDCs and that faster-than-expected decarbonization in certain sectors suggests a broader transition is possible.

This policy brief advocates for the empowerment of the Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) to provide independent oversight of the EU energy market. It specifically recommends transferring the development of EU Network Codes from ENTSO-E to ACER, granting ACER oversight powers over a proposed EU-level body for distribution system operators (DSOs), and expanding ACER's role in monitoring adequacy assessments and cross-border transmission system operator (TSO) activities to prevent fossil fuel lock-in and ensure market competition.

The document argues that for the EU's 2030 climate and energy targets to be credible, governance must be embedded in legislation and based on transparency, accountability, and investor certainty. It recommends a mandatory system for Member States to set national contributions toward collective EU-level targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency, supported by 'ambition gap-filler' processes. The brief advocates for the creation of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) that are coherent with 2050 decarbonisation goals and updated every two to three years. To ensure accountability, it proposes binding annual and biennial reporting, the empowerment of the Commission to issue Country-specific recommendations (CSRs) and require corrective action plans, and the establishment of a new independent EU-level expert body to support planning and evaluation.

The report argues that CETA fails to be a 'gold standard' for the environment, citing weak enforcement of environmental commitments, the risks posed by the Investment Court System (ICS), and the potential for increased imports of carbon-intensive tar sands oil. It highlights a lack of transparency in negotiations and suggests that the agreement's regulatory cooperation and domestic regulation chapters could hinder the EU's ability to implement ambitious climate and environmental policies.

The document advocates for a more coherent institutional framework within the EU to ensure that energy market design supports the 2030 and 2050 climate goals. It identifies a disconnect between the IEM's focus on free movement of gas and electricity and standalone climate legislation. Key recommendations include creating an independent regional institution (IRSO) for least-cost system balance, strengthening the independence and mandate of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), and expanding the oversight roles of ACER and ENTSO-E to explicitly incorporate flexibility and demand-side measures.

The report argues that for the Energy Union Governance System to be credible, indicators must be rooted in law and serve both ex-ante planning and ex-post monitoring functions. It recommends a two-tier system of mandatory key indicators and supporting auxiliary indicators, integrated into National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). The author suggests that these indicators should trigger a differentiated response mechanism, ranging from non-binding Country-Specific Recommendations for minor deviations to mandatory corrective action plans and punitive measures for serious failures to meet binding targets. To ensure objectivity, the report proposes strengthening the role of independent expert bodies, such as the European Environment Agency (EEA), and utilizing a public scoreboard to increase transparency and accountability.