Search Climate Insights Directory

The research paper examines the implications of the lapsed 123 Agreement between the US and South Africa, which suspended export licenses for nuclear fuel supplier Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It details the critical life extension process at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant, including the replacement of steam generators for Unit 1 and Unit 2, and notes that the plant provides approximately 6% of South Africa's electricity. The document highlights a deadlock in US-South Africa negotiations over South Africa's right to produce its own nuclear fuel, and notes a new Memorandum of Understanding between the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) and Russia's TVEL. Finally, it mentions South Africa's plan to procure an additional 2500 MW of nuclear power to combat loadshedding, despite past legal challenges to nuclear deals with Russia.

The report advocates for 'Just Resilience' in Bangladesh, combining climate resilience with climate justice to prevent marginalized groups from being overlooked in adaptation planning. It examines the disproportionate impacts of climate hazards—such as salinity intrusion affecting 53% of coastal areas and erratic rainfall causing floods—on women, children, the elderly, and landless farmers. The document analyzes three key sectors: agriculture, where it highlights the need for climate-resilient crops and the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100; disaster risk management, focusing on the National Plan for Disaster Management 2021–2025; and energy, noting the low share of renewables (2.76%) and the need for rural energy security. It concludes with recommendations for inclusive decision-making, standardized accountability metrics, and the use of biotechnology and indigenous knowledge to build equitable resilience.

The report finds that while 39% of Americans believe global warming is harming the health of the general population, only 16% feel it harms their own health. There is an increasing awareness of specific health risks, particularly heat stroke, air pollution, and respiratory issues, and a growing recognition that low-income people and people of color are disproportionately affected. Trust in information sources like primary care physicians and climate scientists has risen, while coal and nuclear energy are viewed as the most harmful energy sources to health.

A 2024 survey of 1,013 American adults reveals an increase in the perception that global warming harms public health, with specific concerns rising for heat stroke, air pollution, and respiratory diseases. While 39% believe global warming harms the health of Americans, only 16% feel it harms their own health. Public awareness of disproportionate impacts on low-income people and people of color has grown since 2014. Regarding energy, coal and nuclear power are viewed as the most harmful to health, while trust in first responders and primary care physicians as information sources is high.

The report finds that while a majority of registered U.S. voters support various clean energy policies and prefer candidates who take action on global warming, there is a sharp political divide regarding the issue's importance as a voting priority. Most voters support specific measures like soil restoration for farmers and clean energy job training, but few believe the U.S. government is responding well to the crisis. Support for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is high after respondents read a description of the law, despite low general awareness.

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 analyzes the online behavior of the German far right, finding that while they utilize 'alt-tech' platforms to evade moderation, they remain heavily reliant on very large online platforms (VLOPs) for reach. It highlights the central role of conspiracy theories, the opportunistic use of crises like COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, and the increasing importance of audiovisual content.

The April 2024 China-US High-Level Dialogue in Beijing served as a venue for experts to discuss decarbonization strategies and identify collaboration opportunities despite challenging national-level relations. Key discussions focused on the differing sources of methane emissions, the scaling of CCUS and renewable energy, and the need for interoperable standards in trade and corporate disclosure. Both nations emphasized the importance of subnational cooperation and the role of the Sunnylands Statement in guiding joint efforts toward COP 29 and COP 30.

In 2024, WRI supported over 150 U.S. cities and counties in accelerating clean energy deployment and helped over 60 cities claim more than $12 million in tax credits via the Inflation Reduction Act's elective pay mechanism. The organization advanced next-generation geothermal technologies, launched a database of 50 community benefits frameworks for transmission projects, and supported the deployment of electric school buses (ESBs) through initiatives like the RVXDS project in California. WRI also focused on reforming power markets and grids, providing technical assistance to the PJM Cities and Communities Coalition and researching interregional transmission procurement.

The study investigates the transition of Poland's power system to a 99% reduction in emissions by 2050. The 'base' scenario identifies onshore wind as the dominant generation source, complemented by nuclear power, gas plants with carbon capture and storage (CCS), and hydrogen storage. The analysis emphasizes that a technology-inclusive approach is essential for competitiveness, as scenarios excluding nuclear and CCS result in significantly higher electricity prices and system costs. Key recommendations include maximizing onshore wind deployment, advancing a nuclear fleet exceeding 8 GW, and establishing CO2 transport and storage infrastructure by 2035.

The report argues that nuclear energy is essential for a reliable, zero-carbon energy system but has stagnated since 1990 due to high costs and slow delivery. It proposes a 'fundamental reset' of the industry, shifting from bespoke mega-projects to standardized, manufactured products. Key recommendations include the creation of Independent Nuclear Development Organizations (INDOs) to integrate project delivery, a Global Licensing Authority (GLA) to harmonize international regulations, an International Technical Support Organization (ITSO) to assist embarking nuclear nations, and an International Bank of Nuclear Infrastructure (IBNI) to expand financing access. CATF analysis suggests these combined measures could reduce overnight construction costs by as much as 60% from first-of-a-kind to Nth-of-a-kind reactors.

A survey of 906 registered U.S. voters in October 2023 reveals broad support for clean energy infrastructure and the Inflation Reduction Act, though significant political polarization persists. While majorities support carbon taxes and transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050, trust in fossil fuel companies remains low, and actual political or consumer activism is limited despite expressed willingness to act.

The briefing asserts that tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 will provide 85% of the required cuts in unabated fossil fuels for that period. By 2035, these two actions alone are projected to reduce total CO2 emissions by more than half. The document emphasizes that while nuclear energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) play roles, their contributions are significantly smaller due to slow deployment and technology immaturity, making renewables and efficiency the most effective tools for a rapid fossil fuel phaseout.

The document examines the precarious safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, highlighting risks such as loss of offsite power and cooling water. It argues that while customary international law, the Geneva Conventions' Additional Protocols, and the Pelindaba Treaty provide a framework to prohibit attacks on nuclear installations, these norms are often sidelined by political considerations. The author concludes that rather than creating new conventions, the international community must strengthen the enforcement and accountability of existing legal frameworks to prevent nuclear disasters.

The briefing analyzes the failure of the NuScale-UAMPS Carbon Free Power Project, attributing its cancellation to the inherent risks of first-of-a-kind (FOAK) projects, a lack of modularity in the VOYAGR design, and the selection of a customer (UAMPS) ill-equipped for nuclear risk. Despite the project's end, the author notes that NuScale achieved significant regulatory milestones, including the first SMR design certification and reductions in staffing and security requirements. The document argues that FOAK SMRs should be treated as demonstrations rather than commercial endeavors, suggesting that governments provide streamlined prototype sites and cost-overrun insurance, while targeting non-utility customers like data centers and heavy industry who have a higher demand for 24/7 carbon-free power.

The policy brief advocates for a transition to 24/7 carbon-free energy (CFE) in Europe, asserting that variable renewable energy alone cannot maintain grid reliability. It proposes a three-pronged approach: commercialising 'clean firm' technologies (such as next-generation nuclear, CCS, and geothermal), reforming electricity market designs to move beyond short-term marginal cost pricing toward hybrid markets that reward capacity, and updating the GHG Protocol's Scope 2 accounting from annual to hourly tracking to incentivise the procurement of dispatchable carbon-free power.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that low-carbon hydrogen is essential for decarbonizing hard-to-electrify sectors like heavy industry and long-haul transport. In Pennsylvania, the MACH2 and ARCH2 hubs represent diverse production strategies—renewable/nuclear and natural gas reforming, respectively. CATF emphasizes that for hydrogen to be truly climate-beneficial, electrolytic production must follow 'three pillars' of additionality, geography-matching, and temporal-matching, while fossil-based production requires high carbon capture rates and minimized methane leaks. The document highlights Pennsylvania's significant geologic storage potential for carbon capture but notes a lack of public subsurface data. It recommends greater transparency, inter-hub coordination, and deeper community engagement to maximize the program's climate and social benefits.

The report forecasts a significant increase in Africa's energy demand due to population growth, projecting that it will overtake the EU27 by 2043. While Africa possesses vast oil, gas, and hydropower reserves, its current energy mix remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with 'other renewables' making up only 1.6% of production in 2023. The document highlights a trajectory where Africa will eventually become a major global source of carbon emissions from fossil fuels, overtaking the EU by 2034.

The document outlines the state of nuclear energy in Africa, noting that while South Africa is the only country with a commercial plant, Egypt is constructing a large-scale facility and several other nations are exploring the option. It highlights the potential role of small modular reactors (SMRs) in balancing grids with renewable energy.

The report analyzes global and African energy trends, forecasting a significant increase in energy demand driven by population growth. It details the slow decline of fossil fuels and predicts specific transition points where renewables and gas will overtake other energy sources in both global and African contexts.