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The document analyzes the evolution of community-company engagements in the mining, oil, and gas sectors, emphasizing the need for community-driven processes to ensure fair outcomes. It categorizes types of agreements—ranging from Joint Venture Agreements to Consultation and Negotiation Agreements—and evaluates the risks associated with government-led processes. Through case studies in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Ghana, the paper highlights the importance of self-identification of affected communities and the role of international human rights frameworks, such as the UN Guiding Principles and FPIC, in protecting community rights.

The report advocates for the EPA to establish direct methane standards for the oil and gas industry, which it identifies as the largest industrial source of methane in the U.S. It proposes three primary control measures: regular leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, upgrading older compressors and pneumatic equipment, and capturing gas from wells. The authors argue these measures are low-cost, commercially available, and would reduce methane emissions by 3.2 to 3.7 million metric tons per year, while also significantly lowering volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxic air pollutants.

The document analyzes the 2014 U.S.-China climate agreement, detailing the specific emissions targets for both nations and their plans to transition away from coal toward renewables and natural gas. It discusses the diplomatic significance of the deal for the 2015 Paris negotiations and the specific pressures it places on Canada to increase its own climate ambitions and regulate its oil and gas sector.

The paper examines the fragmented nature of global energy governance, mapping institutions like OPEC, IEA, and the World Bank. It argues that while most international bodies provide weak or indirect incentives to limit fossil fuel extraction, the UNFCCC and WTO offer multilateral platforms to implement supply-side policies, such as extraction-based accounting, fossil fuel subsidy reform, and mechanisms for net avoided emissions.

A joint letter from the Attorneys General of New York, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont requests that the EPA establish methane emission standards for the distribution sector. The states argue that excluding this sector undermines the climate benefits of the Clean Power Plan and cite an EPA Inspector General's report stating that voluntary industry efforts have failed and that distribution leaks cost consumers approximately $192 million in 2011.

The document analyzes the drivers and barriers to low-carbon energy in Kenya, noting that while energy security and climate vulnerability favor renewables, recent oil and gas discoveries may hinder this transition.

The report examines how the transition to a low-carbon economy creates 'stranded assets'—assets that suffer premature write-downs or devaluation due to climate change, regulation, or technological shifts. It highlights that traditional market valuations often ignore long-term carbon budgets, leading to overinvestment in fossil fuels. The author provides specific risk assessments from HSBC, noting that 40-60% of the market value of major European oil and gas companies is at risk. To mitigate these risks, the document proposes reforms in capital regulation for high-carbon industries, fiscal incentives for sustainable investment, financial regulation that accounts for climate stability, and the adoption of climate targets by institutional investors.

The document examines how the global shift toward a low-carbon economy creates the risk of 'stranded assets'—productive assets that suffer premature write-offs or downward revaluations. It highlights that current market valuations often ignore long-term carbon targets, leading to overinvestment in fossil fuels. Using HSBC analysis, the report quantifies potential value losses in the coal and oil and gas sectors, while also noting the impact of water stress on China's energy sector. It concludes by recommending four themes for capital market alignment: capital stewardship in high-carbon sectors, linking financial incentives to ESG factors, climate-proofing financial regulation, and setting portfolio climate targets for institutional investors.

The author contends that voluntary programs like Natural Gas STAR are insufficient to achieve necessary methane reductions in the U.S. oil and gas sector, as emissions are projected to increase by 4.5% by 2018. Citing studies from NOAA, Harvard, and the University of Texas, the text asserts that actual methane leaks are substantially higher than EPA inventories suggest. Because proven reduction technologies are cheap or provide negative costs through captured gas, the author argues that federal regulation is required to move these 'best' practices to 'standard' practice by overcoming market barriers such as diverse ownership and lack of incentive.

The document argues that the GCF's proposed safeguards are insufficiently detailed and overly reliant on the IFC Performance Standards, which the authors claim do not represent international best practice. It advocates for a differentiated accreditation system based on project risk levels, the adoption of a mandatory 'do no harm' principle, and the creation of an 'exclusion list' for high-risk activities such as fossil fuel extraction. The submission emphasizes that environmental, social, and gender safeguards must be developed with the same rigor and independent oversight as fiduciary standards, specifically calling for mandatory requirements on land tenure, indigenous peoples' free, prior and informed consent, and gender-responsive stakeholder engagement.

The report analyzes data from 4,293 surveys of oil and gas facilities to determine the economic viability of LDAR programs. It finds that while many individual facilities may experience a net cost, the aggregate abatement cost for gas plants and compressor stations is negative (net benefit), and remains very low for well sites. The study concludes that the vast majority of leaks are economic to repair once identified, and that increasing survey frequency further reduces emissions while keeping abatement costs relatively low.

The report analyzes the systemic power imbalances in compensation processes for extractive industries, where benefits often accrue at the state level while costs are borne by local communities. It evaluates several mechanisms for improving outcomes: Community Development Agreements (CDAs) in mining, strategic human rights litigation, and Biocultural Community Protocols. A specific case study of the Chad-Cameroon Oil & Pipeline Project illustrates the failures of individual-based monetary compensation and argues for a paradigm shift toward livelihood restoration and 'land for land' replacement.

The paper identifies critical gaps in Mozambique's environmental licensing for the oil and gas sector, specifically regarding the quality of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), compliance with Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), and post-licensing transparency. It attributes these failures to the limited technical capacity of the Ministry for the Co-ordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA). To address this without new legislation, the author proposes implementing peer review systems for assessments, establishing Expert Technical Councils (ETCs) for implementation oversight, and adopting biodiversity offsets to achieve no net loss of biodiversity. The author argues that these improvements would benefit the state, local communities, and companies by reducing social conflict and aligning with international financial standards like the Equator Principles.

Friends of the Earth and members of Congress are seeking a Government Accountability Office review of the State Department's environmental impact assessment for the Keystone XL pipeline. The request follows allegations that the review vendor, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), failed to disclose financial and professional ties to TransCanada and other oil interests, thereby compromising the integrity of the review process.

The report analyzes data from 4,293 surveys to determine the economic viability of LDAR programs. It finds that while many individual facilities may face a net cost for a survey, the aggregate effect across a group of facilities is positive due to the high value of repairing major leaks. The study concludes that LDAR using IR cameras is a low-cost abatement method for methane and VOCs, with the most economic strategy being to repair almost all identified leaks.

Brazil has reframed its South Atlantic strategy to protect significant pre-salt oil and gas deposits, leading to a naval modernisation programme and a 'Blue Amazon' campaign to foster a maritime mentality. This strategy includes pursuing the expansion of its continental shelf through UNCLOS, developing a nuclear-propulsion attack submarine in co-operation with France, and establishing a 'goodwill belt' of defence ties with West African states. Brazil also seeks to revive the South Atlantic Peace and Co-operation Zone (Zopacas) to assert regional leadership and limit the influence of outside powers like NATO.

The document examines the oil industry in South Sudan following the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the country's 2011 independence. It argues that oil revenues have been mismanaged by political elites, leading to endemic corruption and a failure to provide basic services to a population where 90% earn less than a dollar a day. The paper details the economic crisis caused by the January 2012 oil production shutdown, the subsequent austerity measures, and the diplomatic pressure from the US and China that led to the resumption of oil flow in 2013.

The report proposes an Agricultural Water Security Market (AWSM) for southwestern Manitoba to mitigate potential water shortages caused by climate change and industrial demand. Under this model, the oil and gas sector would purchase water quantity offsets by funding the creation of water retention sites, which enhance regional water security through groundwater recharge and increased surface water access.

The policy brief analyzes four regulatory scenarios for Canada's oil and gas sector, pairing emission-intensity improvements (20% to 40%) with price ceilings ($20 to $60). It argues that a 40% intensity standard with a two-tiered price ceiling ($30 and $60) provides an optimal balance by delivering 42 megatonnes of compliance in 2020 at an average cost of $28 per tonne. The author notes that while higher intensity targets increase costs, the average cost per barrel remains low (under $1), suggesting that such regulations would not significantly deter industry investment, as project hurdle rates already account for a $40 marginal cost.

The research examines the 'green paradox'—where climate policies may inadvertently accelerate fossil fuel extraction—within a two-period model that incorporates learning-by-doing (LBD) in the renewable energy sector. The authors find that while a present carbon tax consistently reduces current fossil fuel use, the impact of renewable energy subsidies is ambiguous and depends on the strength of the LBD effect. Specifically, large LBD effects can trigger the green paradox by significantly reducing future demand for fossil fuels, thereby incentivizing resource owners to increase extraction in the present. The paper concludes that a carbon tax is the most reliable tool for reducing immediate CO2 emissions, suggesting that tax revenues should only be used to fund subsidies if the LBD effect is small.