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The Clean Air Task Force proposes two specific regulatory changes to EPA air permitting to advance cleaner industrial technologies. First, it urges the EPA to end the "redefining the source" policy, which currently allows permitting authorities to exclude zero-emission technologies from Best Available Control Technology (BACT) evaluations if they are deemed to change the project's fundamental nature. Second, it calls for a formal rulemaking process to ensure that "alternatives" presented during public hearings are fully evaluated, providing a mechanism for community engagement and the consideration of cleaner options outside the BACT analysis.

The Green Connection (TGC) and Natural Justice (NJ) are seeking a judicial review in the Western Cape High Court to set aside the environmental authorisation granted to TotalEnergies EP South Africa Block 567 (Total) for exploration drilling between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas. The legal challenge is based on six grounds, including the failure to assess socio-economic impacts on small-scale fisheries, the omission of climate change impacts from gas combustion, and the lack of consideration for transboundary effects on Namibia. In July 2024, Total announced its decision to withdraw from Block 567, where it held a 40% commercial interest. Following this, Total applied to the court to join Shell as a party to the proceedings, a move opposed by TGC and NJ on the grounds that the case concerns the environmental authorisation granted to Total, not the exploration right itself.

The Green Connection (TGC) and Natural Justice (NJ) have filed for judicial review in the Western Cape High Court to overturn the environmental authorisation granted to Total Energies EP South Africa Block 567 (Pty) Ltd for offshore drilling. The challenge is based on six grounds, including failures to assess socio-economic impacts on small-scale fishers, climate change impacts from gas burning, and transboundary risks to Namibia. Following Total's July 2024 announcement of its withdrawal from block 567, the company filed a joinder application to include Shell as a party in the case, which TGC and NJ oppose on the grounds that the exploration right has lapsed and the challenge concerns the authorisation granted to Total, not the exploration right itself.

Ammonia is essential for global food security via fertilizers and is emerging as a critical low-carbon energy carrier and maritime fuel. While current production relies on fossil fuels—contributing over 1% of global GHG emissions—the transition to 'green ammonia' via electrolysis and renewable energy offers a path to carbon neutrality. RMI forecasts a 113% increase in US ammonia production by 2030, driven by hydrogen exports to the EU and the adoption of ammonia-powered shipping, provided that technical challenges and NOx/N2O emissions are managed.

The chemicals industry accounts for 4% to 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a level comparable to the steel industry. While chemicals are essential for 96% of manufactured goods and over 75% of emission reduction technologies, their production relies heavily on fossil fuel feedstocks and energy-intensive processes. RMI advocates for a systems approach to decarbonization focusing on reducing petrochemical demand through circular economy principles, improving process and energy efficiency via renewables and hydrogen, and transitioning to defossilized feedstocks to avoid over-reliance on carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The report assesses how border carbon adjustment (BCA) schemes, such as the EU's CBAM, may negatively affect Trinidad and Tobago by increasing production costs and reducing export competitiveness due to the country's lower GHG reduction goals and limited access to finance. While BCAs could incentivize a transition from fossil fuels, stakeholders emphasize that this requires substantial investment and international assistance. The report recommends a phased implementation approach and special treatment for developing countries to balance climate action with equity, adhering to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

The authors contend that the boom in energy transition mineral (ETM) extraction threatens Indigenous Peoples and biodiversity, noting that 54% of known ETM projects are on Indigenous lands. They criticize U.S. mining laws from 1872 and the Biden administration's support for the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada as contradictory to Indigenous rights. To reduce reliance on extraction, the document advocates for a circular economy hierarchy prioritizing demand reduction, reuse, and high-standard recycling, specifically favoring direct recycling over pyrometallurgy.

The document details the mission, funding, and legislative changes proposed for the USDA's Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP). It highlights the office's role in supporting urban farming and composting to build climate resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while providing a side-by-side comparison of current law and the House's proposed amendments to expand technical assistance and food waste-to-energy projects.

The document provides a legislative side-by-side analysis of the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, highlighting that the House version proposes extending mandatory and discretionary funding through fiscal year 2029, while other program requirements remain unchanged from current law.

The Climate Bonds Initiative's Agriculture Production Criteria provide a framework for certifying agri-food production assets and entities. The criteria focus on two primary mitigation elements: reducing absolute greenhouse gas emissions (specifically N2O, CH4, and CO2) and sequestering carbon in agricultural soils and biomass. A mandatory precondition for all certifications is that the land must be deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF). For entities and sustainability-linked debt, the document defines 'Aligned' and 'Transition' tiers based on whether the entity's emission intensity meets a 1.5°C transition pathway immediately or by 2030. The framework also incorporates mandatory safeguards for climate adaptation and resilience, biodiversity, water management, social standards, and animal welfare to prevent unintended negative impacts.

The document is a formal statement by a coalition of NGOs and academics criticizing the FAO's 'Pathways towards Lower Emissions' report for underestimating the climate mitigation potential of dietary shifts. The authors argue that the report contains systemic biases and methodological failures, such as double-counting emissions and using obsolete dietary guidelines. They call for a retraction of the report, a delay of the upcoming 2050 Roadmap report until these issues are addressed, and greater transparency regarding the GLEAM livestock emissions methodology.

The document contends that carbon offsetting provides a 'social license' for high-emitting activities to continue and fails to address the root cause of climate change. It highlights systemic quality issues in carbon crediting, such as lack of additionality and non-permanent removals, and argues that the limited supply of high-quality credits cannot meet demand. The authors call for voluntary and regulatory frameworks to exclude offsetting from interim emission reduction targets, citing the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and UN HLEG recommendations as models for maintaining ambition.

The analysis reveals that 31% of properties that deforested in Brazil between 2020 and 2022 accessed subsidized rural credit, with a small number of large properties absorbing a significant portion of these funds. The study finds that deforestation is highly concentrated among the largest credit recipients, particularly in the Cerrado biome, and argues that current credit restrictions based on environmental embargoes are insufficient because most deforested properties are not embargoed.

The document introduces performance-based regulation (PBR) as a modern alternative to early 20th-century utility regulatory frameworks, which are currently challenged by the rise of renewable energy, distributed energy resources, and electrification. PBR is presented as a mechanism to align utility incentives with policy outcomes such as reduced emissions and improved social equity.

The document analyzes the relationship between human emotions and climate action, highlighting that while different emotions trigger different policy preferences, negative emotions like fear and distress can be powerful motivators when paired with a sense of personal threat and collective efficacy. Key findings include the link between guilt and support for personally costly policies in the US, the role of identity-linked threats to the Great Barrier Reef in driving personal energy reduction in Australia, and the influence of personal threat perception on electric vehicle adoption in India.

As of June 2024, the U.S. has 12,164 committed electric school buses, with 67% funded by the EPA's Clean School Bus Program. Adoption is widespread across 49 states, with California leading in total numbers, while the Southeast has seen significant recent growth. The report finds that deployment is increasingly equitable, with a majority of buses now located in high-poverty districts and areas with high air pollution, though adult asthma rates show a more even distribution.

The document argues that the FAO has been captured by the 'Big Livestock' sector, leading to the systematic downplaying of the environmental impacts of animal farming. It traces this shift from the 2006 'Livestock's Long Shadow' report, which highlighted livestock as a major climate driver, to more recent publications like 'Pathways towards Lower Emissions' and the 'Global Roadmap'. The author claims these later documents use flawed methodologies to lower emission estimates and prioritise industry-friendly technological fixes over necessary reductions in livestock numbers and meat consumption. The report details how industry lobbyists influence the FAO through national delegations and partnerships, resulting in a narrative that preserves the status quo of intensive livestock production.

The report argues that credible transition plans are essential to mitigate 'greenwashing' risks and attract diverse financing for the power sector's decarbonization. It highlights the prevalence of Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs) in the power industry and provides a framework for developing transition plans and selecting appropriate financial instruments.

The report argues that for China's power sector to meet its 2030 peak emissions and 2060 carbon neutrality targets, electrical utilities must develop credible, science-based transition plans. These plans serve as the foundation for transition finance instruments, such as Use of Proceeds (UoP) bonds and sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs). While China is a major global issuer of SLBs, the report notes a lack of alignment with rigorous standards, as many domestic issuers focus on renewable energy capacity rather than comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. The document provides a framework for utilities to develop transition plans and select appropriate financial tools to support low-carbon development, including the retirement of coal assets and grid optimisation.

The report examines how the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) uses financial regulation to curb deforestation, particularly in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. It details the BCB's 'Agenda BC# Sustainability', which integrates social, environmental, and climate risks into the national financial system. A central pillar of this strategy is the reform of rural credit, where the BCB has implemented restrictions on financing for properties with illegal deforestation, lack of environmental registration (CAR), or those located in protected areas. The document also highlights the role of the 'Bureau de Crédito Rural' and the 'Sicor' system in monitoring compliance in real-time.