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The report finds that an increasing number of Americans perceive global warming as a threat to public health, specifically identifying heat stroke, air pollution, and respiratory issues as growing risks. While 39% believe global warming harms the health of Americans generally, only 16% feel it harms their own health. There is growing recognition of disproportionate impacts on low-income people and people of color. Regarding energy, coal and nuclear power are viewed as the most harmful to health, though perceptions of wind and solar as harmful have slightly increased. Trust in first responders, primary care physicians, and climate scientists remains high as sources of health-related climate information.

The U.S. clean energy sector saw record solar and battery storage installations in 2024, with renewables accounting for approximately 90% of new capacity. However, progress is hindered by grid interconnection backlogs, rising local opposition, high interest rates, and supply chain shortages. The report also notes a slowdown in EV sales growth and warns that the Trump administration's policies may create further roadblocks to decarbonization.

The briefing examines the components of grid reliability—resource adequacy, operational reliability, and resilience—within the context of the U.S. transition to clean energy. It argues that while load growth and fossil fuel retirements create short-term risks, a diverse portfolio of wind, solar, batteries, and demand-side resources can maintain reliability. The document emphasizes the need for interconnection reform, updated market rules for inverter-based resources, and the scaling of demand-response programs to avoid unnecessary supply-side costs.

India achieved a record 34.7 GW of power capacity additions in 2024, driven largely by solar PV. However, the report finds that replicating this record annual deployment would leave India short of its 500 GW non-fossil capacity target by 2030. To close this gap, annual wind and solar additions must grow by approximately 15% year-on-year, effectively doubling current record levels by the end of the decade. While renewables are on track to overtake operating coal capacity in total volume within two years, fossil fuels still contributed over two-thirds of the increase in power generation in 2024.

In 2024, the EU power sector saw fossil fuel generation fall to its lowest level in over forty years, reaching 793 TWh. This decline was driven primarily by record solar growth, which saw generation increase by 22% to 304 TWh, overtaking coal for the first time. Renewables accounted for 47% of EU power generation, while clean sources reached a record 71% of the mix. Despite a small 1% increase in total EU power demand and increased exports to the UK and Ukraine, coal and gas generation fell by 16% and 6% respectively, leading to a 9% drop in power sector emissions to an estimated 585 million tonnes of CO2.

The policy brief argues that climate change threatens US national security by damaging critical infrastructure, increasing state fragility, and intensifying geopolitical competition. It recommends that the US government implement a National Adaptation Plan, integrate 'Operational Resilience' into military budgets, scale up resilience funding for strategic allies, and strengthen interagency coordination on the food-climate-security nexus to protect US interests and economic competitiveness.

The document identifies significant gaps in Poland's draft updated NECP, arguing that the current 'with additional measures' (WAM) scenario is too limited and fails to meet the EU's 55% greenhouse gas reduction target. It recommends diversifying the clean energy portfolio to include clean firm power, prioritising clean hydrogen for hard-to-abate industrial sectors rather than light-duty transport or grid blending, and streamlining the regulatory framework for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Additionally, it highlights Poland's vast CO2 storage potential (over 15 Gt) and urges the government to implement Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfD) to de-risk CCS investments. The report also calls for a dedicated Methane Action Plan to address significant emissions from the oil, gas, and coal sectors, and suggests increasing R&D spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.

A November 2025 survey of 990 registered U.S. voters reveals broad support for clean energy research, soil restoration, and the Paris Climate Agreement, though global warming remains a low-priority voting issue overall. While 59% prefer candidates who support climate action, only 1% rank it as their most important voting issue. There is strong bipartisan support for the proposed Foreign Pollution Fee Act (78%) and protecting workers from extreme heat (92%). However, actual political engagement remains low, with only 10% of voters having contacted government officials about global warming in the past year.

The report reveals that while 50% of Indians have limited or no knowledge of global warming, 84% believe it is happening after receiving a definition, and 88% are worried about it. There is strong public support for transitioning from coal to renewable energy, with 82% favoring a ban on new coal plants and 86% supporting the national goal of net-zero carbon pollution by 2070. However, significant vulnerabilities persist, as 66% of respondents experience daily electricity disruptions and 43% lacked sufficient clean drinking water at least once in the past year.

Kazakhstan's NDC 3.0 sets a target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 17% below 1990 levels by 2035 unconditionally, and up to 25% with international support. The plan aligns with a long-term goal of carbon neutrality by 2060 and emphasizes a transition from coal-dependency toward renewable energy, nuclear power, and energy efficiency. The document details sectoral mitigation measures, adaptation strategies for water and agriculture, and a framework for addressing loss and damage. Implementation is supported by a revitalized Emissions Trading System (ETS) and a proposed Carbon Fund, with total indicative investment needs for 2026–2035 estimated at USD 175.6 billion.

The document details the legal actions taken by a coalition of civil society organizations, including Trend Asia, WALHI, and Greenpeace Indonesia, against the Indonesian government's National Electricity General Plan (RUKN) and the Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL). It argues that these plans ignore the escalating climate crisis—exemplified by Cyclone Senyar—and instead lock the country into fossil fuel dependency through the extension of coal-fired power plants (PLTU) and the use of biomass co-firing, which the authors claim drives deforestation. The coalition alleges that these policies violate multiple national laws and international commitments, such as the Paris Agreement, by failing to provide a clear coal phase-out roadmap and ignoring cheaper renewable energy alternatives.

In 2024, the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) focused on defending U.S. EPA pollution standards in court, advancing superhot rock geothermal and nuclear energy, and reducing global methane emissions. The organization also worked on simplifying renewable energy siting in the U.S., analyzing the efficiency of hydrogen and carbon capture, and addressing high capital costs for clean energy in Africa. In Europe, CATF influenced the EU's 2040 climate targets and the Net Zero Industry Act, while continuing state-level implementation of federal funding in the U.S.

The document outlines the framework for state Clean Electricity Standards (CES), emphasizing that effective policies must be mandatory, technology-inclusive, and ambitious. It contrasts CES with Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) by highlighting the inclusion of clean firm resources like nuclear and carbon capture. The brief details various design options—such as retail sales vs. emission-based standards—and explains how federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) reduce implementation costs. It also discusses advanced features like clean capacity standards and hourly matching to accelerate the deployment of long-duration storage and firm clean power.

The policy brief outlines how Poland can use its 2025 EU Council presidency to influence the EU's energy and climate agenda. It emphasizes the need for a technology-inclusive approach to industrial decarbonisation—including CCS and clean hydrogen—to address regional cost disparities and ensure energy security. The brief also highlights the importance of mitigating socioeconomic impacts through retraining and equitable state aid, while promoting diverse energy solutions such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and geothermal energy.

The author reflects on the mixed progress of 2024, noting record renewable deployment alongside rising global emissions and a political shift toward anti-climate positions. To overcome these hurdles, the author proposes a strategy focused on the lowest-cost electricity mix, including 'clean firm' technologies like nuclear and geothermal, and the use of carbon capture in heavy industry. The document emphasizes the need for regionally differentiated policies and a realistic acknowledgment of the long-term role of fossil fuels to build durable coalitions for action.

The report argues that a transatlantic electricity interconnector could enhance grid resilience and efficiency by leveraging the complementarity of time zones and weather patterns between Europe and North America. It highlights that a six-hour time difference creates arbitrage opportunities for solar production and demand, while uncorrelated or negatively correlated wind and temperature patterns can mitigate the impact of extreme weather. The author suggests that such an interconnector could be a more cost-effective tool for security of supply and decarbonisation than alternatives like nuclear power or hydrogen, though it would require significant government support and investment.

The Commission on Nuclear Energy and American Leadership argues that reliable nuclear energy is essential for the US energy future, particularly to meet surging electricity demands from artificial intelligence and to reduce emissions. The report outlines a comprehensive 'game plan' for the next presidential administration, including a 'Day One' mandate to coordinate an all-of-government approach and a detailed set of actions for the first 100 days and first year. Key recommendations include increasing domestic uranium enrichment to end reliance on Russia, deploying advanced reactors for military and government sites, expanding nuclear exports to counter Chinese and Russian influence, and reforming multilateral development banks to support nuclear financing.

The document outlines a three-phase framework for states to maximize federal clean energy funding: Identification, Collaboration, and Implementation. It details a wide array of available federal grants, loans, and tax credits across generation, transmission, energy efficiency, and workforce development, emphasizing the role of the DOE, EPA, and USDA in supporting the transition to a clean power system.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are viewed as a potential source of reliable, emissions-free electricity in Canada, capable of replacing fossil-fuel baseload plants and diesel generators in remote areas. While Canada possesses an established nuclear industry and uranium reserves, SMRs are currently classified as 'wild cards' because they are not yet commercially viable and face significant technical, financial, and regulatory hurdles. Current Canadian efforts include a joint strategic plan by Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, with specific projects such as a reactor at the Darlington site and a micro-reactor at Chalk River. However, global examples, such as cancelled projects in the United States, highlight a trend of mounting costs and lengthening timelines that challenge the technology's competitiveness against wind and solar power.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are emerging nuclear energy technologies producing 300 MW or less, offering a potential source of reliable, emission-free electricity for Canada's energy transition. While Canada possesses a strong nuclear industry and uranium reserves, SMRs are currently classified as a 'wild-card' technology due to high costs, regulatory hurdles, and a lack of commercial viability. Despite these challenges, several Canadian provinces and the federal government are investing in SMR development, with projects planned for Ontario, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick.