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The report finds that international public finance for gas in low- and middle-income countries is four times higher than for wind or solar, risking a 'dash for gas' that locks economies into high-carbon pathways. It argues that gas is no longer a necessary 'bridge fuel' because renewables are often cheaper and more effective for power, cooking, and industry. The document recommends that international financial institutions end support for gas and instead scale up clean energy finance, focusing on grid integration, technology transfer, and a just transition for workers.

The report finds that international public financing for gas projects in low- and middle-income countries is four times higher than for wind or solar, creating a 'lock-in effect' that threatens climate goals. It argues that gas is no longer a necessary 'bridge technology' because renewables are often cheaper and more effective for energy access. The document recommends that international financial institutions cease all support for gas infrastructure and instead fund grid integration, technology transfer, and a just transition for affected workers.

The report finds that international public finance for gas projects in low- and middle-income countries averaged nearly USD 16 billion per year from 2017 to 2019, which is four times the amount provided for wind or solar. It argues that the 'bridge fuel' concept is obsolete due to the urgency of the climate crisis, methane leakage, and the falling costs of renewables. The document recommends that international public finance institutions end all support for gas exploration, production, and long-lived infrastructure, instead scaling up finance for grid integration, technology transfer, and universal clean energy access. Case studies of Argentina, Egypt, and India illustrate risks such as high subsidies, dependence on volatile export markets, and the creation of redundant parallel infrastructures for gas and electric vehicles.

The report finds that international public finance disproportionately supports natural gas in low- and middle-income countries, often exceeding support for wind and solar by four times. It argues that the 'bridge fuel' narrative is obsolete due to the falling costs of renewables and the risks of stranded assets and methane leaks. The document recommends that international financial institutions cease funding gas infrastructure and instead support clean energy integration, technology transfer, and a just transition, particularly for the poorest nations.

The report finds that international public finance disproportionately supports natural gas over renewables in the Global South, creating risks of stranded assets and carbon lock-in. It argues that renewables are now cost-competitive for most gas uses and recommends that public financial institutions cease support for gas infrastructure to prioritize clean energy transitions.

Reclaim Finance condemns the outcome of Total's general assembly, where over 90% of voting shareholders approved a climate plan that prioritizes hydrocarbon expansion over renewable energy. The statement highlights the contradiction between the public climate commitments of major investors like AXA, BNP Paribas, and Amundi and their support for Total's strategy, which allocates 80% of capital expenditure to oil and gas by 2030.

The World Resources Institute critiques the World Bank Group's draft Climate Change Action Plan, asserting it falls short of the urgency required by the Paris Agreement. The briefing recommends that the World Bank Group implement a numeric emissions cap, phase out fossil fuel financing—specifically natural gas—and prioritize climate resilience through better project design and staffing. It further suggests improving climate finance reporting to measure actual impact rather than just financial inputs and providing more technical resources to low- and middle-income countries to help them develop projects that move beyond 'business-as-usual' development.

The document outlines how fossil fuel companies use misleading advertising to appear more sustainable than they are. It specifically critiques claims regarding the sustainability of natural gas, the viability of carbon capture and storage (CCS), the effectiveness of carbon offsets and nature-based solutions, and the carbon neutrality of wood biomass energy.

Reclaim Finance argues that Engie is failing its climate ambitions by converting coal power plants to gas and biomass rather than transitioning to sustainable renewables. The document highlights specific conversions in Chile and a proposed gas project in Italy as evidence of a lack of strategic vision, while noting that Engie's current SBTi-certified target of 2°C is insufficient compared to the required 1.5°C trajectory.

A coalition of NGOs calls on Total shareholders to reject the company's climate strategy and leadership, citing insufficient emission reduction targets, planned increases in hydrocarbon production, and a lack of transparency regarding Scope 3 emissions.

Reclaim Finance asserts that the EU sustainable taxonomy's climate mitigation and adaptation criteria have been watered down due to pressure from Member states and industry lobbies. The author claims the current proposal allows for the burning of all forest biomass and creates pathways for fossil gas and nuclear energy to be labeled as sustainable, thereby undermining the EU Sustainable Finance Strategy and contradicting scientific research.

Reclaim Finance criticizes the European Commission's 2021 delegated acts for the EU sustainable taxonomy, claiming that political and industrial pressure has overridden scientific criteria. The author asserts that the current framework allows for greenwashing by adopting weak bioenergy standards and leaving the door open for fossil gas and nuclear energy, which the author argues are incompatible with the Paris Agreement goals.

The document argues that the restructuring plan for Complexul Energetic Oltenia (CEO) fails to restore long-term viability because it maintains unviable lignite assets and invests in fossil gas, which are viewed as stranded assets. The authors contend that the plan contradicts the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement, and that the proposed State aid—including €241.4 million for 2020 CO2 allowances—violates EU law and the 'do no harm' principle. They highlight a lack of real own contribution from CEO and the absence of meaningful compensatory measures, suggesting instead a full lignite phase-out by 2030.

Colorado has established a first-of-its-kind legislative framework to manage the transition from a coal-based energy economy, creating a Just Transition Office and Advisory Committee to support workers and rural communities. The state's strategy includes 11 recommendations for worker retraining and community economic diversification, alongside a securitization mechanism (SB-236) to accelerate the closure of uneconomic coal plants. However, the initiative faces significant challenges, including a lack of clear funding, severe understaffing of the Just Transition Office, and a narrow focus that excludes the natural gas and petroleum sectors.

Alberta, Canada, committed to ending coal power pollution by 2030, a goal it is currently exceeding. To manage the transition, the province established the Climate Leadership Plan, which included an economy-wide carbon tax and the 'Off-Coal Agreements' providing CAD 1.36 billion to utilities for converting to natural gas. The government implemented a CAD 40 million Coal Workforce Transition Fund offering retirement bridges, relocation assistance, and tuition vouchers, alongside a CAD 5 million Coal Community Transition Fund for economic diversification. While social dialogue and early phase-out progress are strengths, challenges remain regarding the long-term availability of funding and the risk of investing in non-climate-friendly infrastructure.

Since 1972, Kentucky has used a coal severance tax to support economic development and basic services in coal-dependent counties through the Local Government Economic Assistance Fund (LGEAF) and the Local Government Economic Development Fund (LGEDF). While these funds have provided critical resources for infrastructure and social programs, their effectiveness in achieving broad economic diversification is limited by the lack of a coordinated long-term strategy and a sharp decline in tax revenues as coal production drops. By 2019, coal production in Kentucky had fallen by nearly 80% from its 1990 peak, leading to unpredictable funding and a growing gap between available resources and the needs of a just transition.

The RE:START strategy provides a coordinated framework for the Czech Republic's coal-dependent regions—Moravia-Silesia, Usti, and Karlovy Vary—to transition their economies. Since 2017, it has allocated approximately CZK 68 billion ($3.15 billion) toward goals including entrepreneurship, R&D, and infrastructure. While the strategy is praised for its multi-sectoral coordination and long-term financing, it faces challenges such as the lack of an official national coal phase-out date, limited public consultation, and slow project implementation.

The document identifies an "unspoken consensus" among the UK, EU, and US that transitioning to zero-carbon power by the 2030s is essential for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. It analyzes official pathways, noting a shared commitment to rapidly phasing out coal and reducing fossil gas, while dramatically scaling up wind and solar power. The briefing highlights a "credibility gap" in other OECD nations, such as Japan and South Korea, which have net-zero targets but lack corresponding coal phase-out commitments.

The report finds that the EU is planning a 35% increase in gas import capacity through pipelines and LNG terminals, costing an estimated €87 billion. This expansion is argued to be unnecessary for security of supply and contradictory to the EU's climate goals, creating a significant risk of stranded assets and emissions lock-in. While public financing from the EIB and EU grants has historically catalyzed these projects, the report notes a shift toward phasing out such support, though private finance and initiatives like the Three Seas Initiative continue to pose risks of further fossil gas entrenchment.

The document urges investors to vote against Total's fourteenth and sixth resolutions at its May 2021 AGM, claiming the company's climate strategy is insufficient. It highlights a lack of precise global scope 3 emission targets, planned increases in gas production, and continued investment in new oil projects in East Africa. The authors argue that Total's reliance on carbon capture and storage (CCS) is unrealistic and that its capital expenditure remains heavily skewed toward fossil fuels, creating a risk of stranded assets.