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Project ASTHA, a partnership between PRADAN and Schneider Electric in Sehal Bara Soli, Jharkhand, India, replaced unsustainable diesel pumps with solar-powered pumps and installed solar microgrids. This transition enabled farmers to grow multiple crop cycles annually, increasing family incomes by USD 710 to USD 830 and reducing rural-urban migration rates from 54% to 17%. The initiative also empowered women through the Ghagara Women Farmer Producer Company and improved educational opportunities via reliable electricity.

The document describes Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as the individual climate plans countries use to contribute to the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C. It highlights the technical and political challenges of formulating NDCs, particularly for developing nations, and explains how these documents signal financial needs to investors and global climate funds. The briefing notes that G20 nations are critical due to their high emissions, while Small Island Developing States (SIDS) use NDCs to lead by example and request 'means of implementation' such as technology transfer and financing.

The study evaluates the H2Global mechanism, specifically the BMWK pilot auction, finding that while some EU-aligned standards for renewable energy are present, the mechanism lacks universal minimum sustainability standards. It identifies gaps in protecting local water and land resources from competing uses and notes that local value creation measures are insufficient to ensure sustainable economic benefits for producer countries.

The author contends that current EU climate policies, including the European Green Deal, lack a sufficient social dimension and risk becoming regressive by disproportionately impacting low-income households. The proposed solution is 'universal basic services' (USB)—a needs-based approach that provides essential services like public transport, housing, and childcare as public goods. This strategy aims to decouple social security from the labor market and reduce carbon intensity by shifting from individual consumption to collective provision. The document calls for the EU to abandon restrictive fiscal rules, increase public investment, and implement wealth taxes to fund this transition, arguing that public support for climate action depends on the perceived fairness of the transition.

The document outlines a framework for EU Member States to accelerate renewable energy deployment through Renewables Acceleration Areas (RAAs) without compromising biodiversity or public participation. It emphasizes that RAAs must be designated in areas with no expected significant environmental impact, requiring robust Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) and Appropriate Assessments (AAs). The guide argues that the presumption of 'overriding public interest' for renewable projects is rebuttable and must not bypass strict environmental safeguards. It further details the necessity of meaningful public consultation and effective access to justice at both the planning and permitting stages to ensure legal certainty and environmental protection.

The report evaluates the health integration of NDCs from several countries, finding that while many recognize the health benefits of climate mitigation, most lack measurable health targets, dedicated funding for health adaptation, and alignment with 1.5°C pathways. It provides specific analyses for countries including Brazil, the UK, and the UAE, and offers recommendations for 'Healthy NDCs 3.0' that prioritize health as a central pillar of climate action.

The report identifies a substantial investment gap of approximately USD 146.4 billion to meet Indonesia's 2030 Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (ENDC) targets. While the government budget provides about one-third of the necessary funding, private financial institutions' contributions remain low, representing only 3% of their total investments. Key barriers include contradictory policies, such as fossil fuel subsidies outweighing climate spending, and a financing mismatch where commercial banks rely on short-term deposits for long-term, capital-intensive climate projects. The report recommends harmonizing sustainable finance policies through the Indonesia Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (TKBI), enabling alternative instruments like sustainability-linked loans and carbon finance, and enhancing transparency via IFRS S1 and S2 disclosure standards.

The report highlights a stark contrast between the $7 trillion in annual global fossil fuel subsidies and the limited funding for climate action. It proposes a $150 per tonne of CO2e levy on international shipping as a landmark mechanism to make polluters pay and fund a just energy transition. While supported by over 50 countries representing 66% of the global fleet, the levy is opposed by BRICS and Petro-States, who account for 68% of fossil fuel subsidies. The author contends that such a levy is legally viable and essential to keep global warming below 1.5°C.

The United States has the world's second-largest pipeline of gas-fired power plants in development, totaling over 85 GW, largely fueled by speculation regarding AI energy needs. However, most of these projects are in early stages, and there is a significant risk that they could become stranded assets if AI power demand does not materialize. The report highlights that renewables and storage are currently cheaper and faster to deploy than new gas power, while specific regions like Texas and the PJM Interconnection area are seeing the highest concentration of these developments.

The document examines the role of DFIs in climate finance, specifically focusing on the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in South Africa. It argues that the IDC is currently unable to meet its mandate of supporting a just transition because it operates like a commercial bank, relying on capital markets and maintaining a risk-averse, private-sector-biased governance structure. The authors recommend a significant recapitalisation of the IDC through fiscal and monetary policy, a shift toward concessional lending with longer grace periods, and a reform of its board to include broader representation from civil society and workers.

The document examines how South Africa's current growth model and monetary governance reinforce a capital-intensive economy and inequality. It identifies significant unexploited liquidity in the banking and retirement sectors and proposes reforms to the South African Green Finance Taxonomy (SAGFT), the adoption of corporate transition plans, and the use of direct and indirect credit allocation tools to fund a just transition for workers.

The document contains technical appendices for a report on reforming environmentally harmful subsidies (EHS). It introduces a 'Fiscal Pressure' indicator to identify countries where high debt and deficits create strong incentives for subsidy reform, and provides a stakeholder analysis mapping the influence and attitudes of businesses, governments, consumers, and civil society toward EHS reform.

The document identifies significant obstacles to Colombia's thermal coal transition, including high fiscal dependence on coal exports, limited subnational institutional capacity, and insufficient environmental regulations for mine closures. It highlights the vulnerability of the Cesar and La Guajira regions, where coal represents a major share of departmental income and employment. The brief argues that a just transition requires strengthening local governance, establishing a permanent transition fund, and ensuring inclusive planning that protects marginalized groups and the civic space.

The document analyzes how Colombia and Nigeria use narratives of development, energy security, and energy transition to maintain dependence on fossil fuels. It argues that these narratives are often inaccurate or outdated, contributing to 'carbon lock-in'. The briefing suggests that civil society and researchers can counter these claims by demanding transparency, highlighting the benefits of renewables, and promoting science-based alternatives for a just transition.

The document analyzes the economic, political, and governance challenges of phasing out coal in Indonesia, emphasizing the need for multi-level coordination, economic diversification for affected workers, and the removal of coal subsidies to enable a just energy transition.

The document argues that while the energy transition is accelerating, current efforts are insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C, and the shift in energy demand will fundamentally reshape global trade and geopolitics. It highlights a significant investment gap, noting that emerging markets and developing economies outside China account for only about 15% of global clean energy spending. The report identifies several trade-related barriers, including protectionist tariffs on electric vehicles, divergent technical standards, and the persistence of fossil fuel subsidies, which reached $7 trillion globally in 2023. It specifically warns that Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanisms (BCAs) and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions in investment treaties may disproportionately burden developing nations. To achieve an equitable transition, the authors recommend reforming WTO subsidy rules, increasing financial support for local value addition in critical minerals, and coordinating the phase-out of fossil fuel production.

The paper defines Zombie Energy Systems (ZES) as outdated, inefficient, and environmentally harmful energy assets that persist in Africa despite being obsolete. It argues that the current international focus on new renewable energy projects overlooks the necessity of decommissioning or rehabilitating these failing systems, which include ageing power plants, inefficient grids, and second-hand appliances. The authors trace the origins of ZES to colonial legacies, poor maintenance, and political corruption, and propose a holistic strategy involving comprehensive system assessments, regulatory strengthening, and local capacity building to ensure a just and effective energy transition.

The GCF Accreditation Panel recommends the accreditation of ArmSwissBank, a commercial bank in Armenia, as a national direct access entity for 'small' projects (up to USD 50 million) with a medium environmental and social risk category (B/I-2). The bank demonstrated strong capabilities in on-lending, blending, and project management, with a track record including USD 44.92 million for a KfW renewable energy programme. However, the panel identified gaps in public disclosure of procurement and whistleblower policies, the lack of anonymous complaint channels, and insufficient staff capacity to screen against IFC Performance Standards. Accreditation is recommended subject to conditions: the bank must publish its whistleblower and complaint procedures, establish anonymous reporting channels, provide evidence of staff training on IFC Performance Standards, and publicly disclose its procurement policy before submitting its first funding proposal.

The report warns that 'relining' seven aging coal-based blast furnaces in the US Great Lakes region is a multi-billion dollar risk that locks in high emissions and health-harming pollution for another 20 years. While these plants represent only about a quarter of US steel production, they generate approximately 75 percent of the industry's emissions. The authors argue that instead of spending $150M to $425M per furnace on relines, companies should invest in hydrogen-ready Direct Reduction (DRI) coupled with electric arc furnaces (H2-DRI-EAF), which can achieve near-zero carbon emissions. Although a new DRI plant costs more ($600M to $800M) and faces a near-term energy cost gap of approximately $2.50/kg H2 compared to coal, the transition is projected to protect skilled union jobs and create additional employment in renewable energy and hydrogen production. The report concludes that federal and state support—via tax credits, grants, and infrastructure investment—is necessary to close the remaining economic gap and avoid stranded assets.

The document outlines four pathways for low-carbon ammonia production: blue ammonia using carbon capture and storage (CCS), green ammonia via electrolysis, and novel methods including electrochemical and plasma-catalysis ammonia. It highlights that conventional ammonia production accounts for over 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions due to its reliance on steam-methane reforming (SMR) for hydrogen.