Search Climate Insights Directory
146 results
GREENWASHING BIG OIL & GAS: THE FOSSIL FUEL DECEPTION PLAYBOOK
The report details seven greenwashing tactics used by the fossil fuel industry: paltering, carbon offset deception, aspirational claims (petro-science fiction), vague buzzwords, double dipping, nature rinsing, and outright lies. It argues that these practices delay climate action and policy changes. The document provides examples of regulatory actions in the UK, EU, and Norway, and calls for a comprehensive ban on fossil fuel advertising in Canada, similar to the restrictions placed on the tobacco industry.
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Document type: Report
Brazil Waste Sector Methane Analysis Factsheet
The document analyzes methane emissions from Brazil's waste sector, noting that in 2022, the sector contributed 15% of total national methane emissions, with 68% of those stemming from solid waste disposal. It outlines the institutional framework, including the National Solid Waste Policy and the Basic Sanitation Legal Framework, while highlighting significant challenges such as low recycling rates (4%) and the continued use of open dumps (26% of collected municipal solid waste). The factsheet proposes opportunities for mitigation through improved organic waste treatment, methane recovery systems at landfills, and the development of waste-fee systems to finance infrastructure.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Biogas Policies in the EU: Levelling up or locking in?
The briefing argues that the EU's RePowerEU target to produce 35 billion m3 of biomethane by 2030 lacks an environmental impact assessment, creating risks of methane leakage and the intensification of industrial livestock farming. It finds that no existing EU policy sufficiently mitigates the environmental and social impacts of the sector, and that financial frameworks may channel over €37 billion into projects without robust sustainability checks. The report highlights a systemic issue with methane leaks, noting that real-world losses may be higher than official estimates, and warns that using biomethane to maintain existing gas grids could delay the phase-out of fossil fuels.
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Document type: Briefing
Biogas in the EU: A policy and financial analysis
The European Union is the global leader in biogas production, reaching 22.8 billion m3 in 2024. While promoted as a renewable energy source, the report argues that the sector risks causing significant environmental harm through methane leakages, the incentivisation of industrial animal farming, and the use of food crops as feedstock. It further contends that the injection of biomethane into existing gas grids may postpone the transition to truly sustainable energy systems by locking in fossil gas infrastructure. The report examines the policy landscapes of seven European countries, noting that while most support biogas expansion, regulatory safeguards against these environmental risks are often insufficient. It also details the role of major oil, gas, utility, and agri-food companies in the sector and identifies the primary financial institutions providing credit and investment to biogas producers.
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Document type: Report
Open Letter to the European Commission Revision of Annex V and VI of the Renewable Energy Directive (Directive (EU) 2023/2413, RED III): Ensuring Accurate Greenhouse Gas Accounting for Manure-Based Biogas and Biomethane
The authors argue that the current RED III methodology over-credits manure-based biomethane by using unrealistic baseline assumptions for manure management and incorrectly treating manure as a zero-emission waste feedstock. They call for a revision of the default avoided-emissions credit and a reassessment of system boundaries to include upstream livestock emissions.
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Document type: Statement
Bioenergy Criteria Background document
The Bioenergy Criteria Background document outlines the framework for certifying bioenergy projects as climate-aligned. It establishes a temporal declining trajectory for life-cycle GHG emissions, aiming for near-zero emissions by 2050. The document defines eligible biomass feedstocks—categorized into agricultural, forestry, processing waste, and aquatic biomass—and sets strict sustainability requirements to prevent negative impacts on biodiversity, food security, and carbon stocks. Special emphasis is placed on mitigating methane emissions in the biogas and biomethane value chain through the adoption of 'best-practice' scenarios and leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs. Additionally, it provides a framework for assessing the adaptation and resilience of bioenergy assets against climate-related hazards.
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Document type: Report
Enabling broader decarbonization through Energy Systems Integration
The document argues that while Canada has made progress in decarbonizing power supply, achieving net-zero requires Energy Systems Integration (ESI)—the coordination of energy systems across multiple pathways and scales. It examines five key ESI technologies (electric vehicles, heat pumps, demand response, distributed generation, and hydrogen) and finds that Canadian policy is currently too siloed, relying on voluntary 'soft' incentives rather than systemic market reforms or mandatory legislation. The author highlights significant gaps in information, governance, and implementation, suggesting that a holistic, pan-system approach to modelling and planning is essential to avoid sub-optimal infrastructure lock-in.
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Document type: Research paper
ÉCHANGE DE CHALEUR
The report argues that achieving a cost-optimal net-zero building sector in Canada requires a significant shift toward electrification and a reduction in gas use. It warns that current regulatory inertia and the continued expansion of gas networks risk increasing costs for taxpayers and jeopardizing climate goals. The document recommends that provincial governments legislate net-zero targets, move away from gas as the default heating option for new buildings, and provide regulators with the tools to manage a phased contraction of gas infrastructure while ensuring affordability and equity.
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Document type: Executive summary
HEAT EXCHANGE
The report argues that Canada's cost-optimal path to net zero requires a significant shift from gas to electricity for building heat. It warns that continued expansion of gas networks and a 'business-as-usual' approach to utility regulation create financial risks for ratepayers and threaten climate goals. The authors recommend that provincial governments legislate net zero targets, end the default expansion of gas infrastructure, and provide clear energy roadmaps to guide regulators and utilities.
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Document type: Executive summary
The Future of Building Heat and the Natural Gas Network in a Net Zero Canada
The report details the use of the North American TIMES Energy Model (NATEM) to identify the most cost-effective technology combinations for decarbonizing Canada's building sector. It establishes a core 'Optimal NZ50' scenario targeting 440 Mt of emissions in 2030 and 10 Mt by 2050, while outlining seven sensitivity analyses covering heat pump costs, retrofit levels, and hydrogen integration. The modelling accounts for regional differences across 13 jurisdictions, incorporating detailed load curves, climate change temperature forecasts, and a comprehensive database of over 7,000 technologies.
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Document type: Report
WILD CARDS SAFE BETS
The document distinguishes between 'safe bets'—commercially available solutions with few constraints—and 'wild cards'—solutions with uncertain prospects. It asserts that safe bets will drive most reductions by 2030, while wild cards will increase in importance by 2050.
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Document type: Fact sheet
PARIS RISQUÉS VALEURS SÛRES
The document distinguishes between 'safe bets'—technologies available commercially without major implementation constraints—and 'risky bets'—solutions with uncertain prospects that could still be significant for carbon neutrality. It notes that safe bets provide the majority of reductions by 2030, while risky bets increase in importance by 2050.
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Document type: Fact sheet
RESPONSE OF TWENTY-FIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO THE PETITION OF INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS OF NEW YORK, INC., NEW YORK STATE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL AND NEW YORK STATE AFL-CIO FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SO-CALLED “ZERO” EMISSIONS ENERGY SYSTEMS PROGRAM UNDER THE CLEAN ENERGY STANDARD
A coalition of twenty-five environmental and justice organizations argues that the IPPNY petition would improperly subsidize fossil fuel-based technologies that are not truly zero-emissions. The commenters contend that the proposed definition of "zero emissions" contradicts the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), threatens disadvantaged communities with continued pollution, and ignores the recommendations of the Power Generation Advisory Panel. They urge the Commission to focus instead on energy storage and the phase-down of fossil fuel generation.
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Document type: Report
Renewable Natural Gas
The document describes renewable natural gas (RNG) as a carbon-neutral fuel derived from biomass, landfills, and wastewater treatment. It asserts that RNG is a versatile resource available in every US state, capable of meeting 4-10% of natural gas demand and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 146 million tons of CO2 annually. The briefing emphasizes that RNG is compatible with existing pipeline infrastructure and could create up to 250,000 jobs, while advocating for its inclusion in the federal investment tax credit to ensure a level playing field with other renewables.
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Document type: Briefing
DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE 20 SOURCES IN YOUR STATE? IF SO, WE CAN CREATE HYDROGEN FROM IT!
This fact sheet identifies 20 potential sources for hydrogen production and categorizes them by the technical process used to extract or create the gas, ranging from steam methane reforming and gasification to electrolysis and photobiological water splitting.
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Document type: Fact sheet
MANUAL DE RESULTADOS DEL MIGR
The manual outlines the GCF's Integrated Results Management Framework (IRMF), a system designed for accountability and learning across its investment portfolio. It details the processes for measuring paradigm shifts, mitigation, adaptation, and enabling environments using a combination of quantitative indicators and qualitative scorecards. The guide specifies the roles of Accredited Entities (AEs), the GCF Secretariat, and independent evaluators in implementing Theory of Change (ToC) and logical frameworks, as well as the requirements for annual reporting and mid-term and final evaluations.
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Document type: Guide
energy-subsidies-inventory-spain-2023-d3e4eb3a4c6a1951.pdf
The document outlines Spain's energy taxation system, primarily governed by the Hydrocarbon Tax (IEH) and the Special Tax on Coal, which are aligned with EU Directive 2003/96/EC. It details various tax subsidies, including reduced rates and exemptions for diesel in agriculture, professional transport, and aviation. To transition away from fossil fuels, Spain has implemented Law 7/2021, which prohibits new hydrocarbon exploration and mandates that new tax benefits for fossil fuels be justified by social or economic interest. The report also lists support mechanisms for renewables, such as the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and the PERTE ERHA, aimed at promoting green hydrogen, storage, and energy efficiency.
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Document type: Report
ANEXO A. SITUACIÓN ACTUAL Y PROYECCIONES: ESCENARIO PNIEC 2023-2030
The document details Spain's energy taxation framework, highlighting specific tax reductions and exemptions for fossil fuels in agriculture, transport, and industry. It outlines the transition toward climate neutrality by 2050 through the prohibition of new hydrocarbon exploration and the promotion of renewable gases and energy efficiency programs funded via the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
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Document type: Report
CAN FOSSIL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE BE CONVERTED TO EXTEND ITS LIFESPAN?
The briefing contends that converting fossil gas infrastructure to other energy sources is generally unrealistic due to technical challenges, prohibitive costs, and insufficient projected energy volumes. It asserts that hydrogen and biogas cannot replace the scale of fossil gas, and that 'blending' serves only to prolong fossil gas dependency. While it acknowledges limited viability for converting long-distance pipelines and geological storage for 'hard-to-abate' sectors, it concludes that no new gas infrastructure is justified based on future conversion potential.
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Document type: Briefing
PEUT-ON CONVERTIR LES INFRASTRUCTURES GAZIÈRES POUR PROLONGER LEUR DURÉE DE VIE ?
The document challenges the gas industry's claims that existing and new fossil gas infrastructure can be converted to hydrogen or biogas to avoid stranded assets. It argues that projected energy volumes for hydrogen and bioenergy by 2050 are far too low to justify current gas infrastructure levels. While it acknowledges limited potential for converting long-distance pipelines and geological storage for 'hard-to-decarbonize sectors', it dismisses biogas as unsustainable and LNG terminal conversion as economically non-viable. Reclaim Finance recommends that financial actors cease all support for gas expansion.
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Document type: Fact sheet