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The Climate Action Tracker reports that current pledges put the world on track for 2.8°C of warming by 2100, while real-world actions suggest 3°C. Despite a 75% shrinkage in the coal pipeline since 2015, coal capacity increased by 63 GW in that period, and natural gas demand continues to grow rapidly. Conversely, renewable capacity is projected to increase by 1,200 GW over the next five years, driven primarily by solar PV and onshore wind.

The report details the creation of the Hong Kong Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), an open-source system-dynamics model used to project energy-related CO2 emissions and evaluate policy combinations through 2050. It compares a 'Current Policy Scenario' with a 'Decarbonization Scenario,' demonstrating that while current trends project emissions to drop from 36 million tonnes in 2017 to 22.5 million tonnes by 2050, a targeted decarbonization strategy could reduce them to approximately 5 million tonnes. Key levers for this reduction include carbon capture and storage (CCS), electric vehicle mandates, and increased imports of renewable energy from Mainland China.

India's energy system is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, which provided 75% of its total energy supply in 2017. The state derives significant revenue from this sector—17.8% of general government revenue in 2017—but also provides substantial subsidies. While India has set ambitious renewable energy targets, including 450 GW, coal is projected to remain a mainstay of the energy mix through 2040. The government faces risks from stranded assets, with approximately 40 GW of coal-fired power plant capacity identified as "non-performing" as of 2018.

Brazil's economy is influenced by significant fossil fuel reserves, particularly 'pre-salt' oil, though it is the least dependent on fossil fuels among BRICS nations due to biofuels and hydropower. In 2017, fossil fuel revenues accounted for 6.8% of general government revenue, while subsidies represented 0.3% of GDP. The government continues to seek increased oil and gas production despite climate commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030. Fiscal complexities include high state-level VAT on fuels, significant tax exemptions for production, and the earmarking of royalties for health and education.

The document analyzes China's heavy reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal, and the fiscal implications of this dependence. It details the structure of government revenues from fossil fuels, the influence of state-owned enterprises, and the prevalence of subsidies. While China has implemented policies to reduce coal overcapacity and peak emissions by 2030, it continues to provide significant subsidies and finance fossil fuel projects internationally through the Belt and Road Initiative.

The report identifies that British Columbia provides hundreds of millions of dollars in annual fossil fuel subsidies through tax exemptions, royalty reductions, and direct spending, which contradicts its CleanBC climate policy. It highlights a significant amount of foregone revenue, including billions in outstanding royalty credits and specific long-term supports for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector, and recommends a transparent self-review and phase-out plan.

The IRP 2019 identifies an immediate risk of power shortages in South Africa due to the declining energy availability factor (EAF) of Eskom's fleet and the decommissioning of old coal plants. To mitigate this, the plan recommends a medium-term power purchase programme, the life extension of the Koeberg nuclear plant to 2044, and the continued operation of plants despite minimum emission standard non-compliance. Long-term, the plan envisions a diversified energy mix shifting from coal toward renewables, gas, and nuclear, while emphasizing a 'just transition' to protect jobs and local economies. It specifically proposes 2,500 MW of new nuclear capacity and the integration of the Grand Inga Hydropower Project from the DRC.

The policy brief contends that new natural gas capacity is a primary driver of increased grid emissions in the US and that avoiding 90% of proposed gas plants could save electricity customers over $29 billion. It advocates for a transition to 'clean energy portfolios'—combinations of wind, solar, batteries, demand flexibility, and energy efficiency—to support economy-wide decarbonization and meet international climate targets.

The document highlights a significant gap between projected fossil fuel production for 2030 and the levels required to limit global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C. It warns that expanding coal, oil, and gas production creates infrastructure lock-in that makes emission reductions more difficult and costly. Preliminary findings indicate that by 2030, the world is on track to produce 50% more fossil fuels than a 2°C pathway allows and 120% more than a 1.5°C pathway allows.

The document highlights a significant 'production gap' where planned fossil fuel production exceeds levels consistent with the Paris Agreement. Preliminary findings indicate that by 2030, the world is on track to produce 50% more fossil fuels than a 2°C pathway allows and 120% more than a 1.5°C pathway. This expansion risks locking in infrastructure that undermines emission reduction pledges and climate ambitions.

The report finds that Rhode Island can feasibly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 70-80% by 2030, 2040, or 2050 by focusing on electrifying transportation and heating, improving energy efficiency, and transitioning the electricity grid to renewables. A critical finding is that updated science on methane leakage from natural gas infrastructure reveals that 2017 emissions were approximately 45% higher than previously estimated in 2016. While the 2050 pathway is relatively low-cost, the 2030 pathway requires a significant spending spike, resembling a 'Green New Deal' approach. The study emphasizes that reaching net-zero requires the complete phase-out of natural gas and further research into industrial decarbonization and carbon sequestration.

The authors propose a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FF-NPT) based on three pillars: non-proliferation of new reserves, disarmament of existing infrastructure, and financing low-carbon alternatives. This proposal addresses the gap in the Paris Agreement, which does not mention fossil fuels despite their role as the primary cause of the climate crisis. The authors highlight that 80% of coal, oil, and gas reserves are un-burnable if warming is to be kept below 2°C, and they point to existing national moratoria in countries like New Zealand and France as evidence of growing political momentum for supply-side climate policy.

Forty-seven civil society organisations have urged the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to align its operations with the Paris Agreement by ending investments in fossil fuels and prioritizing renewable energy and energy access for poor communities.

The report evaluates options for replacing Poland's Bełchatów Lignite Power Plant, concluding that a 'Coal Exit' strategy by 2035—replacing coal with renewables (RES) and gas—is more cost-efficient and beneficial for health and employment than maintaining current policies. The Coal Exit scenario is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by 38% and total system costs by €64 billion compared to the Reference scenario, while increasing total employment by 76%. Specifically, phasing out Bełchatów earlier contributes €4 billion to these savings and approximately 50 million tonnes to the overall CO2 reduction.

The report finds that German lignite plants became significantly unprofitable in the first half of 2019, with the entire fleet losing €664 million. Old units (pre-1990) were hardest hit, with gross profits falling 62% to €188 million. The analysis suggests that 24/7 baseload operation is no longer economic and predicts a €1.8 billion loss for old units between 2020 and 2022. Consequently, the author recommends that the German government push for faster closures, reject excessive compensation claims, and implement a minimum carbon price to prevent future profitability.

In the first half of 2019, EU coal generation fell by 19%, driven by the growth of wind and solar power, a shift toward fossil gas due to rising carbon prices, and specific plant closures. Germany experienced the largest absolute decline, while eastern European countries saw smaller reductions due to slower renewable energy deployment. The report argues that while carbon pricing has made coal less profitable, further declines require accelerated plant closures and increased investment in clean energy and grid infrastructure to ensure a full transition.

In 2018/19, Ontario provided nearly CAD 700 million in public subsidies for fossil fuel consumption, primarily through tax exemptions for aviation, rail, and agriculture, and spending on natural gas expansion. The report argues that these subsidies represent foregone revenue that could be redirected toward education, healthcare, and job training, while hindering the transition to a clean economy. It recommends that Ontario undertake a transparent self-review of all fossil fuel subsidies, develop a phase-out action plan, and establish guidelines to prevent new subsidies that are inconsistent with a low-carbon economy.

The report identifies that Ontario provided nearly CAD 700 million in public subsidies for fossil fuel consumption in 2018/19. These primarily consist of tax exemptions for aviation, railway, and agricultural fuels, as well as direct spending on natural gas infrastructure. The authors argue that these subsidies distort the market and hinder climate goals, recommending a transparent provincial self-review to identify more sustainable alternatives for energy affordability and industry competitiveness.

The Clean Air Task Force criticizes the EPA's Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule for repealing the Clean Power Plan (CPP) and replacing it with a system focused on minor heat rate improvements for coal plants. The author contends that this approach ignores the existing trend of shifting toward cleaner energy sources and will lead to increased CO2 emissions and public health risks, including premature deaths. The document asserts that the ACE rule fails to employ the "best system of emission reduction" required by the Clean Air Act and announces plans to challenge the rule in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) criticizes the EPA's Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, characterizing it as a "life-extension program for coal plants" that replaces the Clean Power Plan. CATF asserts that the ACE rule will increase carbon emissions and cause over 1,600 annual deaths by 2030 compared to the Clean Power Plan, while benefiting the coal industry at the expense of public health and the environment. Consequently, CATF intends to legally challenge the rule.