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European Defense Spending: Trade-Offs and Consequences of Non-Alignment
The authors analyze the trend of rising defense budgets in EU and NATO member states following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, noting that spending increases are uneven and unaligned. They argue that this lack of coordination risks worsening the fragmentation of the European defense industrial base, creating mismatches between industrial supply and operational needs, and undermining the concept of strategic autonomy. Furthermore, the paper highlights potential negative economic impacts, including the 'crowding out' of civilian industries and the diversion of funds from the green transition, specifically citing proposals to cut EU renewables funding to support military investments.
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Document type: Research paper
China’s Climate and Energy Partnerships in the Global South
China has positioned itself as a leader in green technology innovation, utilizing aid, trade, and investment to support the energy transition in the Global South. Through mechanisms like the Belt and Road Initiative and the South–South Climate Cooperation Fund, China has deployed renewable energy, electric vehicles, and sustainable agricultural technologies across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. However, the effectiveness of these partnerships is hindered by gaps between environmental commitments and actual impacts, limited local operational capacity, geopolitical tensions with Western nations, and difficulties in meeting global ESG standards.
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Document type: Policy brief
RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: INSIGHTS FROM AFRICA
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.
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Document type: Policy brief
Independent Evaluation of Green Climate Fund’s Energy Sector Portfolio and Approach
The evaluation finds that while the GCF has a prominent position in climate finance and a diverse set of instruments, its energy sector approach lacks a clearly articulated strategy and suffers from a mismatch between its stated and actual risk appetite. The portfolio is heavily skewed toward international accredited entities (IAEs) and focuses primarily on renewable energy generation, while underfinancing energy efficiency and emerging technologies like green hydrogen and large-scale storage. Results management is described as underdeveloped, with inconsistent metrics for measuring paradigm shifts and a lack of specific emissions reduction targets for the energy sector. The report recommends that the GCF clarify its role in the global energy transition, increase support for enabling environments and regulatory frameworks, and better align its risk appetite with transformational innovation.
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Document type: Report
Understanding pro-climate voters in the United States
The report identifies that 37% of registered U.S. voters are 'pro-climate voters'—those who view global warming as a very important voting issue and prefer candidates who support climate action. This group, estimated at nearly 60 million people, shows higher levels of social engagement regarding climate change and stronger support for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) than other voters, although awareness of the IRA remains relatively low even among them.
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Document type: Report
Understanding Pro-Climate Voters
The report identifies that 37% of registered U.S. voters are "pro-climate voters"—those who view global warming as a very important voting issue and prefer candidates who support climate action. While this group is more likely to discuss climate change and support the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) than other voters, only 47% of them are familiar with the IRA. The analysis suggests that these voters, numbering nearly 60 million, could be decisive in the 2024 election, particularly as they show a higher likelihood of voting than other registered voters.
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Document type: Report
How to talk to kids about climate change
The document outlines a three-part approach to discussing climate change with children: listening to their concerns to manage eco-anxiety, providing reassurance through the existence of global solutions, and using visual and interactive tools to make invisible climate processes understandable.
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Document type: Guide
Transition Finance Case Studies: Tocopilla Units 14 and 15 — Results-Based Loan Incentive
In 2021, IDB Invest and Engie Energia Chile (EECL) implemented a blended finance package to retire two coal units at the Tocopilla plant early and finance the 151 MW Calama wind farm. The deal utilized a results-based concessional loan where interest payments at maturity are reduced based on verified carbon emissions abated through early retirement, using a pre-agreed carbon price of $3/ton. This transaction was enabled by Chile's top-down coal phaseout policy, the lower cost of renewable energy compared to legacy coal Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and the involvement of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).
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Document type: Case study
ACEN — Project Sale to Special Purpose Vehicle
In 2022, ACEN Corporation sold its equity in the SLTEC coal plant to a special purpose vehicle (SPV), reducing the plant's operating life by 25 years to a retirement date of 2040. The transaction was enabled by the use of domestic financial institutions to provide low-cost debt and equity, as international lenders often have coal exclusion policies. The SPV re-levered the capital structure, increasing the debt/capital ratio from 0.58 to 0.79, with $247 million in debt provided by RCBC and BPI. This structure allowed ACEN to divest the asset and reinvest proceeds into renewable energy, aligning with its corporate goal of 100% renewable energy by 2025.
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Document type: Case study
Canada's Sustainable Jobs Legislation: A milestone for workers and communities on the path to net-zero
The Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act (Bill C-50) establishes a governance framework, including a Partnership Council and Action Plans, to ensure a people-centred transition to a low-carbon economy. The legislation emphasizes social dialogue and decent work, aiming to align sustainable employment with the Net-zero Emissions Accountability Act.
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Document type: Statement
side-by-side-farm-bill-2024-rural-energy-for-america-program-reap-7c6db0abec37234e.pdf
The document compares current law with the House version of the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), highlighting proposed changes to grant selection criteria, loan guarantee limits, and discretionary funding. It notes that the Senate version is pending. REAP provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency upgrades.
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Document type: Briefing
Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Spring 2024
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.
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Document type: Report
Decentralized Solutions for Island States Energy
Island states are transitioning from imported fossil fuels to decentralized renewable energy solutions to address energy insecurity caused by geographic isolation and climate-induced hydrometeorological hazards. The research argues that leveraging local solar, wind, and bioenergy resources can create more reliable energy supplies and reduce the vulnerability of fragile grid-based distribution systems.
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Document type: Research paper
Litio 2040: Sustainably Developing Mexico’s Lithium from Ground to Grid
The briefing examines the challenges and opportunities of developing lithium in Sonora, Mexico. It highlights the tension between the global demand for clean energy minerals and the local risks of ecological damage and cartel co-option. The author criticizes the current state-led energy model, citing the debt of Pemex and the prioritization of carbon-intensive power, and suggests that Mexico should instead focus on moving up the value chain into refinement and battery production through international partnerships and stakeholder consultation.
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Document type: Briefing
Four ways climate policy continuity can contribute to a competitive and resilient EU
The briefing outlines how the EU can sustain its climate leadership following the June 2024 elections by linking emissions reductions to energy security, consumer cost savings, and industrial competitiveness. It highlights the success of the RePowerEU Plan in reducing Russian gas imports and notes that wind and solar power saved EU consumers approximately EUR 100 billion between 2021 and 2023. The document emphasizes that investing in green technology and implementing social safety nets, such as retraining programmes, will ensure the transition is competitive and inclusive.
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Document type: Briefing
Climate Change Reporting 101
The document serves as an introductory resource for journalists to understand the causes and impacts of climate change and how to report on them accurately. It defines key terms, explains the role of greenhouse gases and fossil fuels, and details the effects of warming on weather patterns. The guide offers specific phrasing to help reporters connect extreme weather events to human-caused climate change and distinguishes between mitigation and adaptation strategies. It also outlines international and national policy frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement and the US Inflation Reduction Act, while advising journalists on how to avoid pitfalls like greenwashing and the platforming of climate deniers.
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Document type: Guide
scientists-letter-to-citi-june-2024-0143b41c2503df3b.pdf
A group of scientists and researchers calls on Citi to cease financing fossil fuel expansion, citing the bank's role as the second-largest financier of fossil fuels since the Paris Agreement. The authors argue that such financing exacerbates the climate crisis and disproportionately harms frontline communities, specifically mentioning impacts in the US, the Amazon, and the Niger delta. They demand a phase-out of coal, oil, and gas financing, an end to LNG project funding, increased investment in renewable energy, and restitution for the bank's role in fueling climate chaos.
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Document type: Statement
Ending Canadian Domestic Public Financing for Fossil Fuels
The report highlights a significant disparity in Canadian public finance, with crown corporations providing between CAD 7.6 billion and CAD 13.5 billion annually to fossil fuels (2020-2022) versus CAD 147 million for domestic renewable energy. It argues that Canada must implement a comprehensive policy this year to end all public finance for fossil fuels—including loans, equity, and insurance—to align with climate commitments and its upcoming G7 presidency.
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Document type: Report
Why Liquefied Natural Gas Expansion in Canada Is Not Worth the Risk
The document assesses the viability of Canada's planned LNG expansion, concluding that it is incompatible with 1.5°C global warming targets and economically precarious. It highlights that new facilities would increase domestic emissions and divert clean energy resources. Economically, the brief warns of a global supply glut by 2030, with Canadian projects struggling to compete against lower-cost producers in Qatar and the United States, thereby risking significant losses for taxpayers and investors.
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Document type: Policy brief
The Incredible Inefficiency of the Fossil Energy System
The report quantifies the massive energy and financial waste inherent in the fossil fuel system, noting that nearly two-thirds of primary energy is lost before providing useful services. It identifies fossil thermal power plants and internal combustion engines as the primary drivers of this waste and posits that the transition to renewables, localization, and electrification will undercut fossil fuels through superior efficiency and lower lifetime costs.
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Document type: Research paper