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In the first half of 2024, wind and solar power generated 30% of the EU's electricity, surpassing fossil fuels (27%) for the first time. This transition occurred despite a 0.7% increase in electricity demand. Fossil fuel generation fell by 17%, with coal dropping by 24% and gas by 14%. Renewables overall provided 50% of the EU's electricity, aided by a 21% rebound in hydro generation. Power sector emissions decreased by 17% compared to the same period in 2023, and are 31% lower than in the first half of 2022. While capacity additions are high, the report notes a gap between national ambitions and the EU's 2030 targets under the REPowerEU plan, particularly for wind energy.

Africa possesses vast untapped renewable energy resources, including 60% of global solar resources, yet accounts for only 1.6% of global installed renewable capacity. The continent faces significant barriers to energy transition, including a massive financing gap—requiring $557 billion by 2030—and a heavy reliance on imported technologies, with Africa contributing less than 1% of global clean energy patent applications. While the region holds 40% of global critical mineral reserves essential for green technologies, it primarily serves as a raw material supplier. The document advocates for strengthened partnerships with the G20 and Global North to improve climate finance, facilitate technology transfer, and develop local green value chains to move beyond the export of primary commodities.

Africa possesses vast untapped renewable energy resources and critical minerals but faces significant barriers in financing, technology ownership, and value chain integration. While some progress has been made in solar, wind, and hydropower, the continent remains heavily reliant on imports for technology and patents. The document argues for strengthened partnerships, increased climate finance from the Global North, and the development of local manufacturing to ensure a just energy transition.

A panel of over 30 experts analyzed claims from the June 27, 2024, France 2 legislative debate, focusing on immigration, security, economy, and environment. The analysis identifies several inaccuracies, including claims about France's global CO2 emissions, the efficiency of wind turbines, and the relationship between immigration and insecurity.

The document evaluates statements from Jordan Bardella (RN), Gabriel Attal (Ensemble), and Manuel Bompard (NFP) regarding the 2024 French legislative debate. Key findings include the correction of claims about France's public debt, the impact of immigration on security and finances, and the technical and economic realities of the energy transition, such as electric vehicle costs and wind turbine efficiency.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) asserts that current draft National energy and climate plans (NECPs) are insufficient for meeting the EU's 2030 targets. The organization calls for Member States to adopt technology-neutral strategies, increase financial transparency, and provide detailed roadmaps for carbon capture, methane mitigation, and nuclear energy before the June 30, 2024, submission deadline.

The briefing outlines key priorities for COP29, including climate finance, methane abatement, and technology partnerships, while warning that the cancellation of 2024 regional climate weeks necessitates increased climate action outside the formal UNFCCC process.

A survey of 896 registered U.S. voters conducted in Spring 2024 reveals that while 62% prefer candidates who support action on global warming, it remains a lower-ranked priority for the 2024 election, with only 39% considering it 'very important'. There is broad cross-partisan support for climate justice initiatives, such as green spaces in low-income communities (86%), and corporate climate disclosure (79%). However, significant political polarization persists regarding the economic impact of clean energy and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, with strong support from Democrats and substantial opposition or skepticism from conservative Republicans. Despite these views, actual political engagement remains low, though a minority of voters express willingness to participate in campaigns or non-violent civil disobedience.

The report details a record-breaking Q1 2024 for aligned GSS+ debt, with USD 272.7bn added. Green bonds dominated the market, while Europe remained the primary regional source. The report also highlights the growth of sovereign GSS+ issuance, the emergence of nuclear energy in green bond frameworks in North America, and the evolving alignment of sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) with Climate Bonds' methodology.

The report finds that while burning hydrogen in power plants is technically feasible, it is likely not a cost-effective solution for bulk power production or load following. The authors highlight significant inefficiencies, such as a 24% round-trip efficiency for electrolytic hydrogen, and high costs for necessary geological storage and transport infrastructure. Lifecycle emissions reductions for hydrogen derived from natural gas with carbon capture are limited (averaging 50%) due to upstream methane leaks. The report concludes that clean hydrogen production should be prioritized for heavy industry and transportation rather than the power sector, where clean firm generation (e.g., nuclear, geothermal) or other storage options (e.g., pumped storage hydropower) are generally more economical.

The report evaluates the transition plans of Enel, ENGIE, EPH, Iberdrola, and Statkraft, finding that none have committed to phasing out fossil gas power in Europe or the OECD by 2035. While Iberdrola and Statkraft are highlighted as following better practices by focusing on sustainable power solutions, EPH is identified as an industry laggard with a strategy heavily reliant on coal and gas. Enel and ENGIE are described as having conflicting strategies that combine renewable growth with continued fossil gas development and reliance on immature technologies like hydrogen and CCUS. The analysis emphasizes that current CAPEX allocations for several utilities remain too high for fossil fuels to meet the IEA's Net-zero Emissions by 2050 scenario.

In 2023, solar and wind power continued to grow, with solar producing a record 5.5% of global electricity and wind reaching 7.8%. China was the primary driver for both, accounting for 51% of solar growth and 60% of wind additions. Conversely, coal generation reached a record high of 10,434 TWh (35% of the global mix), largely due to droughts in China reducing hydropower output, which fell by a record 88 TWh. Fossil gas remained the second-largest source at 23%, with growth driven by the US. Nuclear generation saw a slight rebound to 9.1% of the mix, while bioenergy reached a record 697 TWh (2.4%). The report notes that while solar and wind are on a positive trajectory, coal and gas must decline sharply, and nuclear and hydro must accelerate growth to meet IEA Net Zero Emissions targets by 2030.

In 2023, the world's top six electricity sector emitters—China, the US, India, the EU, Russia, and Japan—accounted for approximately 72% of global emissions from this sector. China remains the largest emitter, though it leads the world in wind and solar growth. The US and EU have seen long-term emissions declines driven by the replacement of coal with gas and renewables. India's emissions continue to rise as demand growth outpaces clean energy additions. Russia's electricity mix remains largely unchanged over two decades, while Japan is seeing a recovery in nuclear generation and a significant increase in solar share, despite very low wind deployment.

In 2023, the share of renewables in the global electricity mix exceeded 30% for the first time, driven by record solar and wind generation. Despite this, total power sector emissions reached a record high of 14,153 million tonnes of CO2 because clean growth could not fully meet rising demand and was hampered by a record fall in hydropower. While carbon intensity hit a record low of 480 gCO2/kWh, fossil generation increased by 135 TWh, primarily in emerging economies like China and India where droughts reduced hydro output.

The document tracks congressional hearings in 2024 across various House and Senate committees, covering topics such as energy security, climate risk, environmental regulations, and budget requests for agencies like the EPA and Department of Energy.

The Power Decarbonization Funding Tracker lists various US federal incentives for power sector decarbonization. It categorizes funding into three sectors: Transmission and Electric Grid, which includes the $10.5 billion Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program and the $2.5 billion Transmission Facilitation Program; Clean Firm, featuring the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit Program and $2.5 billion for the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program; and Rural Electrification, highlighted by the $9.7 billion Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program and the $2.025 billion Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Additionally, it identifies key tax credits for clean electricity production, investment, and carbon sequestration.

Since 1970, 98% of analyzed U.S. cities and all 50 states have warmed, with Reno, Nevada and Alaska experiencing the fastest increases. To combat this, U.S. clean technology investment reached a record $239 billion in 2023, more than tripling since 2018, with South Carolina and Nevada leading in investment as a percentage of GDP, primarily driven by battery manufacturing.

The 2024 Three Seas Summit emphasized the necessity of regional coordination and private capital to advance energy transition and infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe. Key priorities include strengthening ties with the EU and U.S., supporting Ukraine's reconstruction, and leveraging a portfolio of 143 priority projects—primarily in transportation (51%) and energy (39%)—to build economic competitiveness and climate resilience.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) expresses concern over the Atomic Energy Advancement Act (H.R. 6544), arguing that certain provisions threaten the independence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and national security. The organization recommends rejecting language that would force the NRC to prioritize the efficiency and benefits of nuclear energy over radiological health and safety, rejecting mandates to 'maximize the efficiency' of oversight programs, and maintaining the prohibition on foreign ownership, control, or domination of U.S. nuclear facilities.

The document evaluates how CEE countries have integrated public consultation and multilevel climate and energy dialogues (MCEDs) into their updated NECPs, finding significant variability in quality and frequent failures to meet European law requirements for early and inclusive engagement.