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The report examines hydropower in northern Sweden, specifically the Norrbotten region, amidst rising energy demands from 'fossil-free steel' and battery production. It highlights the shift of hydropower from baseload capacity to a flexibility and storage role to support intermittent wind and solar power. This transition, alongside industrial growth, increases the risk of 'hydropeaking'—rapid fluctuations in river flow—which threatens freshwater biodiversity and fish species like salmon and brown trout. The document analyzes the Swedish National Plan for Hydropower Permit Reviews (NAP), noting the trade-off between environmental restoration and a national production loss limit of 1.5 TWh/year. It concludes that while climate change may increase water run-off and production potential, sustainable management requires integrated economic and ecological frameworks and broader stakeholder inclusion.

The research evaluates the trade-offs between reducing hydropeaking to improve river ecology and the potential increase in CO2 emissions. Findings indicate that individuals generally prefer stronger restrictions on short-term regulations to benefit fish stocks, recreational use, and the ecological state, with these benefits outweighing the disutility of increased CO2 emissions. The study emphasizes the need to account for unobserved preference heterogeneity in willingness-to-pay estimations.

The report evaluates the FAME II policy in India, finding that it generates significant net benefits by replacing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs). Using the SAVi methodology, the analysis demonstrates that while the conventional benefit-cost ratio (BCR) remains constant at 1.58 across scenarios, the government's BCR increases as its subsidy contribution decreases. The highest cumulative net benefits (INR 1,606.90 billion) occur in the scenario with the lowest government contribution (25%), as this shifts more of the investment burden to consumers while still stimulating EV uptake. The primary drivers of these benefits are the avoided investment and operation costs of ICE vehicles and reduced fuel use, all of which are borne by users rather than the state.

The factsheet examines the potential and risks of hydropower, including reservoir-based, run-of-river, and pumped-storage hydropower (PSH). While acknowledging PSH's role in grid stability, it highlights that hydropower is becoming less competitive than wind and solar due to higher costs and long construction timelines. The document details severe negative impacts on biodiversity, human rights, and the climate, specifically noting methane emissions from reservoirs. It concludes that new hydropower projects should be strictly conditioned on robust standards, with a preference for upgrading existing infrastructure over building new dams, particularly in Europe.

The report analyzes Ghana's efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy, focusing on the National Energy Transition Framework (NETF) and updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While official goals align with international standards and stakeholder expectations for green job creation and sustainability, significant gaps exist. These include a contradiction between renewable energy goals and continued fossil fuel investments, such as a $12 billion oil refinery deal. Key barriers include a public debt level of 83.60% of GDP, regulatory inconsistencies, and an outdated power grid. The report recommends that the UNFCCC's Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) provide support in policy reform, financial mobilization, and technology transfer to help Ghana achieve net-zero energy-related emissions by 2060.

The report examines the concept of 'Just Resilience' in Kenya, emphasizing the need for climate adaptation to prioritize equity and the voices of marginalized groups. It analyzes Kenya's existing legal and institutional frameworks, identifies vulnerabilities across different sectors and populations, and reviews several community-led adaptation projects. The document highlights significant barriers to achieving just resilience, including financial constraints, governance issues, and top-down decision-making, and provides recommendations for more inclusive, self-reliant, and transparent climate action.

In 2023, renewables reached a record 30% of global electricity generation, driven by solar and wind. Despite this, global power sector emissions rose by 1% to a record 14,153 million tonnes of CO2, as severe droughts caused a five-year low in hydropower, forcing a reliance on coal in countries like China and India. Solar was the fastest-growing source for the 19th consecutive year, while OECD countries continued to see falling emissions. Ember forecasts that 2023 marked the peak of power sector emissions, with a decline expected in 2024 as clean generation growth is projected to outpace electricity demand.

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.

The Energy Progress Report 2024 reveals that the world is not on track to achieve any of the 2030 targets for SDG 7. While 91% of the global population has electricity access, progress reversed in 2022, leaving 685.2 million people without power, with 83% of the deficit in Sub-Saharan Africa. Clean cooking access stands at 74%, but 2.1 billion people still rely on polluting fuels. Renewable energy's share in total final energy consumption was 18.7% in 2021, and global energy intensity improved by only 0.8% in 2021, far below the 2.6% target. International public financial flows to developing countries rebounded to USD 15.4 billion in 2022 but remain well below the 2016 peak of USD 28.5 billion.

Between 2015 and 2021, Indonesia's financial sector committed USD 41.7 billion in climate-aligned investments, representing 15% of the country's total climate finance needs. Public and private financial institutions contributed nearly equal annual averages (USD 3.5 billion and USD 3.4 billion, respectively), though private contributions represent only 3% of their total investments. While public finance is dominated by Development Finance Institutions targeting renewable energy, private finance is concentrated in the AFOLU sector, particularly certified sustainable palm oil. To meet 2030 targets, Indonesia faces a climate finance gap of approximately USD 145 billion, requiring climate-aligned investment to scale by at least 4.5x this decade.

The Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) aims to install a 15 MW hydropower plant in the Solomon Islands to reduce reliance on diesel and lower electricity costs. As of October 31, 2023, the project is approximately two years behind schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic and delays in approving Environmental and Social Management Plans (C-ESMPs). While the hydropower facility and transmission line have not yet commenced construction, the access road is progressing with a 14.6% completion rate. The project has achieved significant social milestones, including the legal registration of a community benefit-sharing fund and the recruitment of over 4,200 local staff. Financial disbursement remains low at 13% of total financing. The report recommends agreeing on a new Commercial Operation Date and extending the project closing date beyond December 15, 2025.

The Electrical Utilities Criteria provide a framework for certifying entities and debt instruments based on their emissions intensity and transition pathways toward net-zero by 2040. The criteria distinguish between existing and new capacity, setting specific GHG thresholds for low-carbon technologies and phase-out dates for unabated fossil fuel plants. It also defines requirements for mitigation measures like CCS/CCUS and cofiring, as well as a comprehensive adaptation and resilience checklist to ensure infrastructure is robust against physical climate hazards.

The report outlines the development of certification criteria for electrical utilities to ensure their financing aligns with the Paris Agreement. It establishes a global emissions intensity transition pathway based on the IEA Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2050 scenario, targeting near-zero emissions for the power sector by 2040. The criteria distinguish between existing capacity, which must follow phase-out or retrofitting benchmarks, and new capacity, which must be low-carbon as no new fossil fuel plants are eligible. It also details specific thresholds for non-combustion emissions in hydropower, geothermal, and bioenergy, and sets requirements for decarbonization measures like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and hydrogen co-firing.

Indonesia requires approximately USD 285 billion in climate-aligned investment to meet its Enhanced NDC, but current funding is insufficient. The government budget covers 34% of this need, while the financial sector (public and private) contributes 15%. Between 2015 and 2021, public and private financial institutions provided roughly equal amounts of climate-aligned investment, totaling USD 41.7 billion. Private investment is notably low, with only 3% of total private investment being climate-aligned, and much of this concentrated in land use. In the power sector, 58% of the USD 35.6 billion invested went to renewables, with a significant drop in coal finance since 2016. Future investment trends are expected to be driven by government policy signals such as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and the Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM).

Africa possesses the world's highest untapped hydropower potential, yet only 11% of this capacity is currently installed. While large-scale projects like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant are advancing, growth is hindered by the need for extensive transmission networks in unstable regions and institutional failures. By 2043, hydropower is forecast to contribute 5.3% of the continent's energy production.

The document argues that current impact assessment processes in Sweden and Finland fail to account for the cumulative effects of industrial land use, leading to violations of Sámi Indigenous rights. It emphasizes the necessity of treating Indigenous peoples as rights-holders rather than stakeholders and advocates for the implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) supported by robust cumulative impact data to ensure a just green transition.

Climate change in Malawi is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of cyclones, floods, and droughts, significantly impacting the agriculture and road infrastructure sectors. While the government has established various policy frameworks and a National Climate Change Fund, mobilization of funding remains constrained by institutional capacity gaps and macroeconomic vulnerabilities, including unsustainable public debt. The report argues that an agriculture-led growth strategy remains the most effective path for poverty reduction despite climate risks and recommends a structured investment platform to translate adaptation plans into bankable projects.

Mozambique is highly vulnerable to climate change, with projected increases in the frequency and intensity of cyclones, floods, and droughts. The report identifies agriculture, transport, and hydropower as the most critical economic sectors at risk. Agriculture faces significant threats to food security, particularly regarding maize yields, while transport infrastructure is hampered by a high proportion of unpaved roads. The energy sector is heavily dependent on hydropower from the Zambezi River Basin, which is projected to see declining runoff. Macroeconomically, Mozambique is exposed to risks from the global transition to a low-carbon economy due to its reliance on carbon-intensive exports like aluminium and coal. While the government has implemented policies such as Local Adaptation Plans and the National Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy, it faces significant constraints in technical capacity and climate finance. The report recommends a transformative approach through Adaptation and Resilience Investment Platforms (ARIPs) to mobilize funding for infrastructure resilience and agricultural diversification.

Kenya is highly vulnerable to climate change, with adverse events causing annual socioeconomic losses of 3–5 percent of GDP between 2010 and 2020. While some crop yields may increase due to CO2 fertilization and higher elevations, the livestock sector faces significant risks from heat stress and drought, particularly in arid and semi-arid lands. The report highlights critical vulnerabilities in hydropower, tourism, and coastal infrastructure, while noting that the government is a regional leader in policy but struggles with financing and subnational coordination. Recommendations focus on granular climate scenario analysis, diversifying agriculture, improving agricultural insurance, and mobilizing large-scale funding through ARIPs.

Climate change is projected to increase temperatures and decrease rainfall in Zambia, particularly in the south and west, threatening food security, energy stability, and transport infrastructure. The report highlights that maize yields could drop by over 9% by 2050 under high emissions scenarios, and hydropower generation—which provides 85% of installed capacity—is highly vulnerable to drought. Road infrastructure is also at risk, with flooding in Lusaka and the north potentially disrupting trade and supply chains. While the Zambian government has integrated climate goals into its Eighth National Development Plan and is developing a National Adaptation Plan, significant barriers remain, including severe debt distress and limited technical capacity. The report recommends a programmatic approach to funding via ARIPs to mobilize the estimated US$50 billion needed by 2030, emphasizing region-specific agricultural adaptation and the diversification of the energy mix.