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In China, a small boost to low-emissions steelmaking can mean big cuts to its carbon footprint
China's steel industry is dominated by emissions-intensive BF-BOF technology, which accounted for almost 94% of industry emissions in 2022. While the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) set a target of 15% EAF production by 2025, the document argues that China already possesses the capacity (151 mtpa) to meet this goal if utilization rates are increased. Achieving a more ambitious 20% EAF target by 2025 could reduce industry emissions by 217 mtpa CO2, nearly 11% of 2022 levels. Key obstacles to this transition include scrap steel distribution and power supply stability, though the growth of scrap availability and offshore wind energy provides opportunities for decarbonization.
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Document type: Briefing
EUROPE GAS TRACKER REPORT 2024
The Europe Gas Tracker Report 2024 finds that Europe is continuing a massive gas infrastructure buildout despite emerging from its energy crisis and seeing a decline in gas demand. With €84.1 billion in planned LNG terminals and pipelines, the report argues that the region is creating significant overcapacity and risking stranded assets. It further warns that these projects could increase annual emissions by up to 1.1 gigatonnes CO2e, undermining the EU's 'Fit for 55' goals. Additionally, the report characterizes the proposed 35,000 km hydrogen pipeline network as a 'red herring' that may serve to lock in methane gas infrastructure due to technical incompatibilities and the lack of green hydrogen production.
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Document type: Report
Mapping India’s Energy Policy 2023
The document outlines the methodology used by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to map public financial flows in India's energy sector. It defines government support as encompassing subsidies, state-owned enterprise investments, and lending by public financial institutions. The annex introduces new subsidies for green hydrogen, battery storage, and electric vehicles, while retrospectively revising methodologies for coal and renewable energy support. It also details the tracking of government receipts from coal, oil, gas, and renewables to provide a comprehensive view of the financial relationship between the state and the energy sector.
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Document type: Report
STEELING OUR FUTURE
The report 'Steeling Our Future' by Reclaim Finance analyzes the financing of the 100 largest steel producers, finding that banks provided US$429 billion to these companies between 2016 and June 2023. It highlights a critical gap between banks' climate commitments and their continued support for coal-based blast furnace (BF-BOF) production, which accounts for nearly 90% of steel sector emissions. The document argues that current decarbonization targets are insufficient and calls for an immediate end to financing for new blast furnaces and the relining of existing ones to avoid stranded asset risks estimated at US$554 billion. It advocates for a shift toward hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron (HDRI) and electric arc furnaces (EAF) powered by sustainable electricity.
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Document type: Report
Systemic Innovations for South Africa’s Energy Futures: Draft Strategic Framework
The report argues that South Africa must move beyond linear thinking and 'energy blindness' to embrace systems and futures thinking for its energy transition. It identifies critical leverage points—ranging from infrastructure and regulatory reform to paradigm shifts in economic growth—to avoid energy poverty and social unrest. The framework outlines four strategic priorities: championing cross-border collaboration for energy democracies, practicing active non-alignment in renewable energy diplomacy, challenging 'used' (borrowed) energy futures, and transitioning from growth-centric economic models to anticipatory energy governance.
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Document type: Report
PEN 2022 -2052 _TOMO 2.docx
The report outlines Colombia's energy transition pathways through 2052, evaluating five scenarios: Actualization, Modernization, Inflexion, Innovation, and Energy Transition (TE). It details the shift from coal and hydrocarbons toward non-conventional renewable energy sources (FNCER), including solar, wind, and hydrogen. The analysis covers demand-side efficiency in residential, industrial, and transport sectors, as well as the strategic role of critical minerals like copper and nickel. Economic evaluations using benefit-cost ratios indicate that while residential and tertiary efficiency measures are highly beneficial, industrial transformation requires significant capital investment and state support due to high private costs.
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Document type: Report
Actualización Plan Energético Nacional (PEN) 2022- 2052
The PEN 2022-2052 is a long-term planning exercise by Colombia's UPME to transition the national energy matrix toward sustainability and decarbonization. It analyzes five scenarios—Actualization, Modernization, Inflexion, Innovation, and Energy Transition—ranging from conservative technological updates to ambitious transformations. Key focus areas include the electrification of transport, the integration of non-conventional renewable energy sources (FNCER), the development of a hydrogen economy, and the potential introduction of Small Modular Reactors (SMR). The report emphasizes that while Colombia has the capacity for carbon neutrality, current trajectories may not meet the 2030 NDC goal of a 51% emission reduction without accelerated implementation of efficiency and substitution measures.
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Document type: Report
A closer look at CCS: problems and potential
The briefing examines the role of carbon capture and storage (CCS), noting that the majority of the world's 41 operational projects are linked to the oil and gas industry, specifically for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). It highlights a history of 'unmet expectations' and slow deployment, with capture rates often falling short of targets. While CCS is proposed for hard-to-abate sectors like cement and steel, the document argues it is often less cost-effective than electrification or energy efficiency. It further details how CCS projects in Norway, Canada, and Australia have been used to maintain the financial viability of fossil fuel extraction.
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Document type: Briefing
Refinery of the Future
The report provides a detailed market assessment of the refining industry in four key regions, analyzing the transition from traditional crude-based products to low-carbon alternatives like SAF, green ammonia, and e-methanol, while evaluating the impact of regional climate policies.
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Document type: Report
How to spot greenwashing in a sustainability report: a guide to spotting false environmental claims
The guide outlines how to detect greenwashing by analyzing emissions data, target setting, and the use of controversial technologies. It emphasizes the importance of absolute emissions over intensity targets and warns against the over-reliance on carbon offsets, natural gas, and unproven carbon removal technologies.
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Document type: Guide
A breath of fresh air: Offshore wind in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is at a pivotal energy transition point as coal's share of electricity generation fell below 30% in 2023. While solar power has grown rapidly, wind energy has stagnated since 2012. The report highlights a technical offshore wind potential of 4.3-5 GW in the maritime exclusive economic zone near Romania, which could lower wholesale power prices by 45% by 2030 if combined with increased onshore wind and better interconnections. To achieve this, the report recommends the swift adoption of a new offshore wind law, the implementation of Contracts-for-Difference (CfDs), and the update of the National Energy and Climate Plan with explicit 2030 targets.
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Document type: Report
Russia doubles down on coal-based steelmaking, even as opportunity grows for greener technology
Russia's steel industry remains dominated by emissions-intensive coal-based blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) technology, which accounts for 60.9% of its 88,400 ttpa operating capacity. Despite pressures from the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and corporate sustainability reporting rules in the EU and US, Russian companies are refurbishing old blast furnaces and planning new ones rather than transitioning to low-emissions electric arc furnace (EAF) or hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) production. While Russia aims to produce 550 thousand tonnes of hydrogen per annum, it lacks domestic demand and faces challenges in DRI-EAF deployment due to the exit of key Western suppliers like Midrex, Danieli, and Primetals. The report suggests that redirecting investments from blast furnace relinings to hydrogen-based DRI could stimulate the domestic hydrogen market and align Russian steel with global decarbonization standards.
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Document type: Briefing
ON THIN ICE: A supply-demand analysis of three EU energy scenarios
The report concludes that the EU's demand for fossil gas and oil is in a long-term structural decline, making new production projects—especially in the Arctic—unnecessary and incompatible with 1.5°C warming limits. Analysis shows that existing production and current contracts will likely exceed EU demand by the 2030s in net-zero aligned scenarios, creating a risk of oversupply and stranded assets.
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Document type: Report
Report of the thirty-seventh meeting of the Board, 23 – 26 October 2023
The GCF Board's 37th meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia, resulted in the approval of 15 funding proposals totaling USD 736.4 million and the adoption of the 2024 administrative budget of USD 112.4 million. Key strategic outcomes include the endorsement of the Readiness Strategy 2024–2027, which allocates USD 501.5 million to enhance country ownership and direct access, and the confirmation of USD 9.3 billion in pledges for the second formal replenishment (GCF-2). The Board also established an ad hoc Committee on Human Resources Matters to address systemic compensation and policy issues. Significant discussions occurred regarding the potential for a regional presence to reduce operational bottlenecks and the ongoing debate over the financing of results-based payments for REDD+, which was deferred to the next meeting.
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Document type: Report
NAVIGATING CLIMATE ACTION
The report examines the potential effects of International Maritime Organization (IMO) candidate mid-term GHG measures on African economies. Using a CGE model, it finds that a USD100/t carbon levy would generally reduce GDP and household incomes across Africa, increase global food prices, and reduce the supply of maritime services. A case study of Ghana highlights existing freight cost imbalances and the risk of a stranded fleet of older vessels. The authors argue that for such measures to be equitable, revenues must be redistributed as direct grants (not loans) for out-of-sector climate resilience and mitigation, based on criteria including climate vulnerability and historical emissions contributions.
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Document type: Report
Indian States’ Electricity Transition (SET): 2024
The 2024 Indian States’ Electricity Transition (SET) report identifies Gujarat and Karnataka as consistent top performers in decarbonising their power sectors and preparing their market ecosystems. While some states like Delhi and Odisha show high readiness or strong market enablers, they struggle with actual decarbonisation. Conversely, states such as Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh exhibit structural challenges and slow progress across all dimensions. The report recommends strengthening state-level regulatory frameworks and developing specific subnational transition plans to address these uneven disparities.
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Document type: Report
Electric Vehicles
The report identifies four primary investment opportunities for electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa: electric micro-mobility for last-mile delivery, electrification of public transportation, electrification of freight and logistics, and local manufacturing of private passenger vehicles. While high capital expenditure (CAPEX) and energy security concerns related to loadshedding remain significant barriers, rising fuel prices are improving the operational business case for fleet electrification. The South African government is supporting the transition through the December 2023 Electric Vehicle White Paper and a planned investment allowance starting March 1, 2026, to encourage local production, with the first battery EVs expected by 2026.
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Document type: Report
Are Africa’s priorities and vision being heard at COP?
The document analyzes Africa's role and priorities within the UNFCCC COP process, specifically focusing on the transition from COP27 to COP28 and looking ahead to COP29. It highlights the continent's success in establishing the Loss and Damage Fund and launching voluntary initiatives like the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative, while warning that climate finance remains severely constrained and dominated by loans rather than grants. The brief argues that Africa must shift from a reactive to a proactive approach, integrating gender perspectives and climate-peace-security policies, while balancing the need for energy access with a just transition to low-carbon energy.
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Document type: Policy brief
Status of the Just Energy Transition in seven southern African states
The report examines the energy landscapes of seven southern African states, highlighting a stark divide between vast renewable energy potential and a continued reliance on fossil fuels or traditional biomass. While most surveyed countries have established renewable energy targets and some have liberalized their energy markets, the transition is often hindered by governance challenges, high rural-urban electricity gaps, and the pursuit of new oil and gas reserves. The document advocates for an 'energy justice' framework to ensure that the shift to low-carbon energy is inclusive, transparent, and protects the rights of marginalized communities and future generations.
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Document type: Report
A Strategic Phase-out of Colombia’s Diesel Subsidy to Support the Energy Transition
The document examines the fiscal burden of Colombia's Fuel Price Stabilisation Fund (FEPC), which saw a deficit of 2.5% of GDP in 2022. It highlights the tension between the government's goal to align fuel prices with global markets and the transport sector's skepticism regarding the feasibility of energy transition alternatives. The brief identifies structural issues in the freight sector, such as a high rate of self-employment (63%) and an aging vehicle fleet (average age of 26 years), as barriers to reform. It recommends resuming stakeholder dialogue, implementing social mitigation programs via Sisbén, and restructuring the transport sector through cooperatives to facilitate the transition to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
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Document type: Policy brief