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China is repositioning its coal fleet to provide system flexibility, with the entire existing fleet on track to be retrofitted by 2027. While technical capacity is increasing, the report argues that full flexibility is constrained by power market design and dispatch practices. It emphasizes that as coal retrofit potential plateaus, the rapid scale-up of clean flexibility, particularly battery energy storage, is essential to avoid locking in emissions beyond 2030 and to maintain grid stability as renewables become dominant.

China is repositioning its coal fleet to serve as a regulatory and security resource to manage the variability of its growing renewable energy sector. This transition is driven by a critical need for short-term flexibility, with the IEA estimating that these needs will be three times higher in 2030 than in 2022. To achieve this, the Chinese government has implemented a series of Five-Year Plans and policies, including a target to retrofit "above 200 GW" of coal capacity for flexibility between 2021 and 2025. Technical efforts focus on lowering minimum loads (ML) to 25-40% of rated capacity and decoupling heat and electricity generation in combined heat and power (CHP) units. Financial mechanisms supporting this shift include a coal capacity pricing mechanism introduced in 2024 and the use of infrastructure real estate investment trusts (REITs) for eligible plants.

China has rapidly expanded its flexible coal power capacity, exceeding its 2025 national target and positioning itself to meet a 2027 goal of retrofitting 500-700 GW. By the end of 2024, total flexible coal capacity exceeded 600 GW, with significant progress in provinces like Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Xinjiang. While coal utilisation is generally declining and showing greater seasonal variability due to renewable growth and demand peaks, the document notes that the full potential of this technical flexibility is not yet reflected in system operations due to market design and institutional arrangements. The transition is supported by a capacity pricing mechanism and diversified revenue models, though flexible operation increases costs through higher maintenance, reduced fuel efficiency at low loads, and accelerated depreciation.

The report argues that South Korea's heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels (84% of total energy supply) creates critical vulnerabilities to geopolitical conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz, Malacca Strait, and South China Sea, as well as climate-driven infrastructure risks. It posits that a rapid shift to renewables can mitigate these risks, reduce financial burdens associated with energy price volatility, and support the energy needs of advanced AI and defense systems. While acknowledging challenges such as China's dominance in critical mineral supply chains and cybersecurity risks associated with digitalized grids, the document concludes these are manageable through battery storage innovation, grid modernization, and supply chain diversification. It recommends integrating renewable energy goals explicitly into national security planning and the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand.

The report argues that South Korea's heavy reliance on fossil fuel imports—approximately 84% of its total energy supply—creates significant national security vulnerabilities due to geopolitical tensions and climate risks. It posits that transitioning to renewable energy would reduce exposure to fragile maritime chokepoints, lower fiscal strain, and improve military readiness. While acknowledging challenges such as China's dominance in critical mineral supply chains and cybersecurity risks from digitization, the report concludes these are manageable compared to the structural risks of fossil fuel dependence. It recommends integrating renewable energy targets into national security planning and leveraging the newly created Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to coordinate a whole-of-government approach to energy resilience.

Colombia's 2025 NDC shifts to an absolute emissions limit for 2035, targeting between 155 and 161 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. The plan emphasizes 'Peace with Nature' to reduce deforestation, a just transition away from fossil fuels including a roadmap by 2029, and urban decarbonization through electric mobility and black carbon reduction. However, the transition faces challenges from economic dependence on oil and coal exports and upcoming 2026 elections.

The document positions renewable energy as a core pillar of Japan's national security, noting that the country's energy import dependency reached 87.4% in 2024. It argues that the current 7th Strategic Energy Plan is insufficient because it maintains high fossil fuel targets (30-40% by 2040) that conflict with 1.5°C climate goals. The author proposes a four-step policy framework—expanding grid capacity, accelerating permitting, expanding distributed energy, and utilizing long-term power purchase agreements—to achieve a clean energy ratio of 80% or more by 2040. This transition is estimated to potentially save up to 3.4 trillion yen in fossil fuel costs by 2035 and requires approximately 38 trillion yen in investment, which is roughly 25% of Japan's 150 trillion yen GX investment plan.

The report positions renewable energy expansion as a national security imperative for Japan, which had an energy import dependence of 87.4% in 2024. It argues that the current 7th Strategic Energy Plan is insufficient for the 1.5°C target and proposes a more ambitious pathway to reach 80-90% clean power by 2035-2040. Key recommendations include upscaling grid capacity, fast-tracking permitting, expanding distributed energy, and using long-term offtake agreements to lower capital costs. The document highlights Japan's potential in offshore wind, agrivoltaics, and perovskite solar cells as means to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and Chinese crystalline-silicon PV.

China experienced a record surge in coal power commissioning and project proposals in 2025, despite a decline in actual coal power generation and the rapid growth of clean energy and storage. The report highlights a growing gap between investment decisions and system realities, noting that new capacity is dominated by large, inflexible units designed for baseload operation. This trend risks creating stranded assets and structural barriers to decarbonisation. The authors argue that the 15th Five-Year Plan must end net coal capacity growth and shift coal's role from a primary energy source to a flexible, residual support system to meet 2030 climate targets.

The report inventories 130 support measures across six energy types in Indonesia: oil and gas, coal, electricity, renewable energy, biofuels, and electric vehicles (EVs). It details various mechanisms including direct financial transfers, tax exemptions, and price regulations. For the period FY 2021 to FY 2024, 27% of these measures were quantified using official government data, while 64% remained unquantified due to data limitations. The annex provides specific legislative references and nominal values in IDR and USD for each measure.

To align with a 1.5°C pathway, the EU must increase wind and solar generation by a factor of 2 to 2.5 by 2030, reaching 1,618–1,861 TWh. This requires adding nearly 700 GW of new capacity (580 GW solar, 120 GW wind) by 2030. While current wind rollout is broadly consistent with these benchmarks, solar deployment is lagging, with a projected capacity gap of almost 160 GW by 2030. The report argues that fossil fuels must exit the EU power sector by 2035, with wind and solar providing 86% of electricity generation by 2050.

An analysis of the winter 2024–2025 season indicates that offshore wind projects could significantly lower the risk of power outages in New England by offsetting high electricity demand during cold spells. A 1,500 MW fleet would have reduced the risk of energy shortfalls by 55%, while a 3,500 MW fleet would have reduced it by 79%. Such a transition to local renewable resources would decrease reliance on volatile imported LNG and lower wholesale electricity prices, potentially saving consumers $400 million.

The report finds that while British audiences generally support more climate-related content in culture, they demand it be 'done well,' avoiding preachy tones and focusing on systemic solutions rather than individual onus. Preferences vary by demographic segment, with some favoring subtle integration and others preferring hard-hitting real-life examples. Audiences respond most positively to fictional characters and real-life messengers who demonstrate authenticity, passion, and a focus on tangible actions, such as solar panel installation or concern for future generations.

In 2025, Türkiye became Europe's fourth-largest market for new battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with sales reaching approximately 190,000 units. This growth saw the BEV share of new car sales rise to 17%, matching the European Union average for the first time. Despite this momentum, BEVs represent only 2.1% of all registered cars in Türkiye, and gasoline consumption increased by 16% in the first 11 months of 2025. The report highlights that while domestic production and tax-compatible models drove growth, high overall tax burdens and exchange rate fluctuations remain challenges to further reducing energy imports.

Between May and December 2025, India's system operator curtailed an estimated 2.3 TWh of solar energy, resulting in approximately 2.11 million tonnes of missed CO2 emission reductions. While generators are compensated for this loss, the costs are passed to consumers, and the practice wastes the value of clean energy assets. With solar capacity reaching 135.8 GW in 2025 and growing faster than demand, the report warns that curtailment could become routine unless system flexibility—such as battery storage—is accelerated to keep pace with capacity additions.

In 2025, India's renewable energy curtailment was primarily driven by transmission infrastructure mismatches and system-wide emergency conditions managed via Tertiary Reserve Ancillary Services (TRAS). While non-fossil fuel capacity reached 266.7 GW by December 2025, the gap between rapid project deployment and slower transmission construction led to significant energy loss, particularly for projects under temporary general network access (T-GNA). Emergency TRAS-down events, often triggered by demand forecasting errors, also caused notable curtailment, such as 93.3 GWh of solar output on 12 October 2025.

India needs to build system flexibility to absorb high and variable renewable generation, moving beyond simple capacity additions. The report identifies three primary levers: improving the flexibility of the coal fleet by lowering minimum technical limits, scaling energy storage (BESS and pumped hydro), and accelerating demand-side flexibility through smart meter deployment and attractive time-of-day tariffs.

In 2025, India experienced significant solar curtailment, estimated at 2.3 TWh between late May and December, primarily due to the inability of the coal fleet to ramp down sufficiently during periods of low daytime demand. This was exacerbated by weaker-than-forecast demand growth in 2025, driven by mild temperatures and increased behind-the-meter solar generation. The report highlights that while operational errors in forecasting contributed to the issue, the structural lack of flexibility in coal plants—many of which must operate above a minimum thermal load of 55%—creates a systemic challenge as solar capacity continues to grow faster than demand.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment – Nova Scotia (CAPE NS) urges the Halifax Regional Council to maintain full funding for HalifACT, asserting that cutting the estimated $6 million Climate Action Tax will shift financial burdens to the healthcare system. The letter highlights that climate change in Nova Scotia is driving increases in extreme heat mortality, respiratory issues from wildfire smoke, and the spread of Lyme disease. It argues that proactive investment in climate resilience is fiscally responsible, noting that every $1 spent today avoids $13 to $15 in future costs. Furthermore, the authors state that funding cuts disproportionately harm vulnerable populations, such as seniors and low-income residents in urban heat islands, who rely on programs like the Solar City initiative and home retrofits.

In 2025, EU wholesale electricity prices rose in 21 countries, driven by spikes during peak gas-use hours. Grid-scale battery capacity in the EU exceeded 10 GW in 2025, more than double the 4 GW recorded in 2023. A pipeline of projects in Germany, Poland, and Italy could push capacity beyond 40 GW, potentially displacing costly gas generation and reducing the waste of curtailed wind and solar power.