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CATF Comments on the EU 2030 Climate Plan
The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) supports the European Commission's goal of at least 55% emissions reductions by 2030 and argues that achieving carbon neutrality by mid-century requires a diverse portfolio of advanced technologies beyond wind and solar. CATF recommends optimizing the EU ETS to fund commercial-scale demonstrations of carbon capture and hydrogen, implementing mandatory leak detection and repair for oil and gas systems, and using the EU's purchasing power to pressure major gas suppliers like Russia and Qatar to reduce methane emissions.
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Document type: Statement
Code Shift
The report analyzes the 2022 updates to the Harmonized System (HS), which provide more specific commodity codes for environmental goods and sensitive products. Key improvements include the separation of solar photovoltaic cells from LEDs and new codes for electronic waste. The author argues that such specificity is crucial for accurate trade statistics and the negotiation of trade agreements like the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS). The document also proposes a 'wish list' of further specifications for the 2027 HS revision, including electrolyzers, fuel cells, and electrified aircraft and ships.
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Document type: Report
Ready for Work
The report examines the technical and economic feasibility of electrifying heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) in the US, highlighting their potential to significantly reduce NOx, PM2.5, and greenhouse gas emissions. It argues that current battery technology is sufficient for the majority of HDV operating ranges and that total cost of ownership is becoming competitive with diesel. The document recommends a combination of financial incentives, infrastructure investment, and regulatory standards to drive the transition.
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Document type: Report
An Analysis of Deep Decarbonization Trends in China’s Industrial Sector
China's industrial sector, responsible for over 70% of national carbon emissions, is pursuing deep decarbonization through five primary trends: improving energy efficiency via stricter regulations, scaling the recycling of steel and plastics, increasing industrial electrification to reduce coal reliance, piloting carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), and expanding hydrogen energy utilization.
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Document type: Report
Decarbonizing road freight systems
The document identifies a strategic dilemma for Sweden: relying on biofuels to meet near-term 2030 goals may hinder the transition to electrification, which is viewed as the more cost-effective long-term strategy for 2045. While biofuels currently provide about 20% of truck energy and are expected to remain the primary mid-term solution, stakeholders anticipate a shift toward battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and electric road system technologies starting in the 2030s.
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Document type: Policy brief
Energy Storage
The document provides an overview of energy storage solutions, highlighting the transition from traditional pumped-storage hydropower to advanced battery technologies like lithium-ion. It details the technical trade-offs between different storage methods, the economic trends driving adoption, and the regulatory environment in the U.S. aimed at increasing grid flexibility and resilience.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Energy Storage
The document examines various energy storage solutions, including pumped-storage hydropower, batteries, and compressed air, highlighting their capacity to mitigate the intermittency of solar and wind power. It details the dominance of pumped-storage hydropower in the U.S. utility-scale market and the rapid growth of lithium-ion batteries. The text also outlines specific state-level storage targets in the U.S. and global projections for storage capacity needed to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Fuels Without Carbon
The report advocates for the development and deployment of zero-carbon hydrogen and ammonia to address sectors that are difficult to electrify. It details production methods such as steam methane reforming with carbon capture and storage (SMR+CCS) and electrolysis, while highlighting the scalability of ammonia due to existing global infrastructure. The document examines applications in heavy-duty transport, marine shipping, and grid-balancing, and calls for coordinated public-private initiatives to manage safety risks and establish supportive policy frameworks.
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Document type: Report
Electric Trucks and Buses
Heavy-duty vehicles, while comprising only 5% of US road vehicles, contribute over 25% of vehicle-based global warming emissions and significant air pollution. The document advocates for the adoption of battery- and fuel cell-electric trucks and buses to eliminate tailpipe emissions and improve public health, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color. It highlights that battery-electric buses are currently the lowest-carbon option across the US and calls for government policies, including adoption targets and manufacturer standards, to accelerate this transition.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Innovation in Mining: Report to the 2018 International Mines Ministers Summit
The report examines the urgent need for innovation in mining due to declining productivity and rising costs. It details advancements in automation, electrification, and renewable energy, while highlighting the role of governments in ensuring these gains are shared with local communities. Case studies illustrate specific applications of AI, solar power, and new business models across Canada, Australia, Chile, and other regions.
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Document type: Report
SMOKE AND FUMES
The report synthesizes documentary evidence to show that major oil and gas companies were aware of the climate risks associated with their products as early as the 1950s. It argues that these companies had the capacity to foresee harms and the opportunity to mitigate them through technology and public warnings, but instead engaged in coordinated campaigns to sow scientific doubt. The document links this conduct to legal frameworks of responsibility in tort and human rights law, noting that attribution science now allows for the quantification of specific corporate contributions to global climate impacts.
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Document type: Report
How can we decarbonize road freight transport by 2030?
The document outlines a socio-technical research project under the EU Horizon 2020 TRANSrisk initiative to identify pathways for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty vehicles in Sweden. It highlights the challenges of road freight decarbonization compared to personal vehicles and examines various technological options, including biofuels, battery electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, and electric road systems (ERS). The project utilizes stakeholder workshops and quantitative modelling to develop scenarios that align with Sweden's goal of a fossil-fuel independent transport sector by 2030 and zero net emissions by 2045.
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Document type: Briefing
Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
The document provides a comprehensive overview of 'green jobs' in the US and internationally, highlighting the growth of sectors like solar, wind, and energy efficiency. It notes that the US Bureau of Labor Statistics ceased its Green Careers program in 2013, leading to a reliance on fragmented data from multiple sources. Globally, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) identifies China as the leader in renewable energy employment, with solar PV being the largest global employer in the sector.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Fuel Cells
Fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen, offering a high-efficiency, low-emission alternative to combustion engines and batteries. While they excel in reliability, scalability, and energy density, widespread adoption is hindered by high costs—particularly the need for platinum in PEM cells—and the lack of hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Applications range from portable electronics and stationary power (including combined heat and power systems) to transportation. In the U.S., the Department of Energy and various state-level policies, such as Renewable Portfolio Standards and tax credits, are working to reduce system costs and expand infrastructure to make fuel cells more competitive with gasoline-powered vehicles.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
The document provides a comprehensive overview of clean energy employment, highlighting the U.S. and global landscapes. In the U.S., it details job figures across energy efficiency (buildings, appliances, transport) and renewable energy (solar, wind, biofuels, geothermal, hydro, and waste-to-energy). Globally, it identifies China as the leader in renewable energy employment, followed by Brazil, the U.S., India, and Germany, with solar PV being the largest employment driver worldwide.
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Document type: Fact sheet
How Energy Storage Works
The document outlines various energy storage technologies—including pumped hydro, batteries, thermal, compressed air, flywheels, and hydrogen—detailing how they balance electricity supply and demand. It highlights the transition from a reliance on pumped hydroelectric storage toward rapidly scaling lithium-ion batteries, noting a 72 percent drop in battery capital costs between 2015 and 2019. The guide argues that energy storage enhances grid reliability, enables higher renewable energy integration, and provides community benefits by replacing polluting fossil fuel 'peaker' plants and increasing resilience against extreme weather.
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Document type: Guide
Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 2014
The document provides a comprehensive overview of 'green jobs' in the U.S. and internationally, highlighting the impact of energy efficiency and renewable energy on employment. It notes a significant gap in reliable U.S. data following the elimination of the BLS Green Careers program. Key findings include the dominance of solar and wind in global renewable energy employment, with China as the largest employer, and the high job-creation potential of energy efficiency investments in buildings and transportation.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (2014)
The document compiles job statistics for clean energy sectors, noting a lack of standardized measurement in the U.S. following the end of the BLS Green Careers program. It details employment figures across energy efficiency (buildings, vehicles, smart grids) and renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro, biomass, biofuels), while providing global context with a focus on China, Brazil, and the European Union.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Changing patterns of use
The author contends that energy efficiency is a disruptive technology that, through 'integrative design,' can provide energy services more cheaply than supply-side production. By optimizing entire systems rather than individual components, the author claims significant reductions in energy use are possible in buildings, industrial processes, and transport. A central focus is placed on the automotive sector, where 'ultralighting' and electrification could realistically eliminate US motor-fuel demand by 2050. The text warns that oil and gas companies face existential risks as demand-side innovations make hydrocarbons uncompetitive, suggesting these firms pivot toward efficiency and renewable energy investments.
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Document type: Research paper
fact-sheet-jobs-in-renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency
The document compiles job data from various government and industry sources to estimate employment in the U.S. clean energy economy. It highlights that as of 2011, there were 3.4 million green jobs in the U.S., and that the 'clean economy' employed 2.7 million people in 2010, surpassing the 2.4 million employed in the fossil fuel industry. The report details specific employment figures for sectors such as biofuels, hydropower, solar, and wind, while projecting significant future job growth in energy efficiency through 2050.
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Document type: Fact sheet