Search Climate Insights Directory

The report examines border carbon adjustments (BCAs) as a tool to prevent carbon leakage, synthesizing views from stakeholders in five countries. It analyzes the risks of carbon leakage—specifically in Canada's heavy industry—and evaluates the design of the EU and UK CBAMs. Key discussions include the challenges of product-level emissions measurement, the need for revenue to support decarbonization in developing nations, and the potential for domestic carbon pricing as a strategic response to foreign BCAs.

The report examines how the EU's CBAM and potential future BCAs from other nations affect Vietnam's export-oriented economy, focusing on the iron, steel, aluminum, cement, and fertilizer sectors. It highlights the administrative and financial burdens on Vietnamese enterprises, particularly SMEs, and argues for the development of a domestic carbon pricing mechanism to retain revenues and improve competitiveness. The document also emphasizes the need for technical assistance and the application of the 'common but differentiated responsibilities' principle to ensure fairness for developing nations.

The Union of Concerned Scientists interviewed 19 legal experts to identify critical research gaps in climate litigation. The report categorizes these into three priority areas—attribution science, human health, and economic modeling—and five strategic areas, including greenwashing and emissions accounting. A central cross-cutting theme is the need for research on losses and damages. The authors emphasize that while IPCC reports provide a foundation, litigation requires more granular, geographically specific data and better communication between scientists and legal teams to overcome barriers such as differing timelines and data gaps in the Global South.

Ember recommends that Indonesia update its coal mine methane (CMM) emission calculations using IPCC 'average' global emission factors, as current estimates based on 'low emission factors' likely undercount emissions. The brief argues for the inclusion of underground mining data, the development of region-specific emission factors for Sumatra and Kalimantan, and the mandate of direct measurement in underground mines to improve safety and accuracy. It further suggests integrating GHG reporting into business licensing and implementing mitigation techniques like pre-mine drainage and Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) capture. Finally, it advises limiting coal expansion to avoid stranded assets and preparing a just transition for coal-producing regions through renewable energy and critical mineral industries.

Agri-PV, the simultaneous use of land for food production and solar electricity, offers significant potential for Central Europe to increase renewable energy generation and improve farmer livelihoods. Analysis shows that Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia could deploy 180 GW of agri-PV, potentially tripling the region's annual renewable electricity production. While agri-PV can increase yields for certain crops like berries by up to 16%, it can also offset yield losses in shade-sensitive crops like wheat through electricity revenues. Despite this, Czechia is currently the only country in the region with agri-PV legislation, and the report recommends that other Central European governments introduce regulations to secure CAP subsidies and incentivize the transition.

Brazil is positioned as a potential global leader in green steel due to high-quality iron ore and vast renewable energy resources, though its industry remains heavily reliant on coal-based blast furnaces. While the country leads in biochar use, a full transition requires shifting to electric arc furnaces (EAF) and green hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI). The report emphasizes that strategic policy and the upcoming COP30 summit are critical to overcoming the longevity of existing coal-based infrastructure and the high capital costs of new technologies.

The report finds that while CETP signatories have significantly reduced international public finance for fossil fuels, they have failed to scale up clean energy investment at a comparable rate.

The report examines the role of border carbon adjustments (BCAs) in preventing carbon leakage, focusing on stakeholder views from five diverse economies. It analyzes the design of existing mechanisms like the EU and UK CBAMs, explores alternatives to BCAs such as output-based allocation and green industrial policy, and details the challenges faced by exporting nations, including emissions measurement complexities and the need for technology transfers.

Ember argues that the Boggabri coal mine's fugitive emissions are severely under-reported, using a self-led estimate that is 95 times lower than NSW state guidance. The submission warns that the proposed Modification 10, which involves mining deeper coal seams between 2033 and 2040, could result in Scope 1 emissions being 9 million tonnes higher than reported if state-recommended factors were used. Ember highlights a lack of assessment regarding how increased mining depth affects methane release and calls for a peer-reviewed assessment of pre-mine drainage mitigation before approval.

The report examines the increasing integration of climate change into the monitoring work of UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, highlighting a rise in climate-related recommendations to States in 2023. It specifically analyzes the role of these bodies in addressing fossil fuel phase-outs, the right to a healthy environment, loss and damage, and the rights of future generations, while identifying gaps in the scrutiny of carbon markets and international climate finance.

The report provides a 'Bank of Evidence' detailing the failures and risks of geoengineering, categorized into carbon removal and solar radiation management. It highlights specific project failures in carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Australia, the UAE, and Canada, and critiques the ecological risks of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and direct air capture (DAC). The document also examines speculative solar radiation management (SRM) experiments in the US, UK, and Mexico, and various marine geoengineering attempts, asserting that these 'false solutions' often benefit the fossil fuel industry while threatening biodiversity and human rights.

The report documents the negative impacts and risks associated with various geoengineering 'false solutions,' including carbon capture and storage (CCS), bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), direct air capture (DAC), solar radiation management (SRM), and marine geoengineering. It provides specific examples of project failures, environmental hazards, and social injustices across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America, asserting that these technologies often perpetuate the fossil fuel economy rather than solving the climate crisis.

The document provides a comprehensive critique of geoengineering, categorizing it into carbon removal (CDR) and solar radiation management (SRM). It details specific failures and risks of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS/CCUS), Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), Direct Air Capture (DAC), and marine geoengineering across various global regions, emphasizing that these 'false solutions' often facilitate continued fossil fuel extraction through Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and pose significant ecological and social threats.

The report finds that South Africa's mining sector is in a state of economic decline, with its share of real GDP falling from 11.1% in 1993 to 4.8% in 2023. It argues that the MPRDA has failed to facilitate growth or efficient regulation, contributing to a 'dried up' project pipeline and a global exploration expenditure share that has stagnated below 1% since 2020. Key constraints include institutional capacity gaps at the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), infrastructure failures in electricity and logistics, and a profound trust deficit between government, industry, and host communities. The report recommends urgent amendments to the MPRDA to address regulatory uncertainties, the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining, and the adoption of a new, multi-stakeholder vision for the industry to restore investor confidence.

The report finds that while international public finance for fossil fuels from CETP signatories has decreased significantly, there has not been a corresponding increase in clean energy finance. Many signatories lack quantitative targets or comprehensive policies to prioritize clean energy, and some high-income countries continue to violate the pledge by financing fossil fuel projects.

The report finds that while infrastructure investors have integrated climate change considerations, they lag in measuring other nature impacts like habitat change and pollution. It identifies physical and transition risks associated with biodiversity loss and highlights a shift toward 'nature-positive' investments driven by evolving regulations such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The document provides case studies of leading practices, including the use of eDNA soil testing and sustainability-linked loans, while noting that a lack of usable data remains a primary barrier to widespread adoption of quantitative biodiversity metrics.

The report analyzes 13 large-scale CCS projects across various industries, including natural gas processing, hydrogen production, power generation, steel, and cement. It finds that while many projects have met high technical standards, others have faced significant operational hurdles, often due to a lack of climate-focused incentives or unexpected geological challenges. The document argues that transparent reporting and robust climate-driven policies are essential to ensure future projects maximize their emissions reduction potential.

The briefing examines how battery energy storage systems (BESS) can replace fossil fuel generation to ensure grid reliability. It details three primary functions of batteries: balancing variable renewable energy supply and demand, providing stability services like frequency and voltage regulation, and enabling 'black start' capabilities to restore power after blackouts. The author contends that batteries often offer lower costs and faster response times than thermal plants. To maximize these benefits, the document recommends that utilities conduct analytical studies to identify specific reliability needs and utilize all-source procurement processes to ensure the most cost-competitive resources are selected.

The Institute for Economic Justice and the Universal Basic Income Coalition critique Sassa's implementation of biometric identity verification and algorithmic risk scoring for the Social Relief of Distress grant. They argue these measures exclude eligible recipients who lack smartphones, internet access, or smart ID cards, while raising concerns about data privacy and the lack of evidence for systematic fraud.

The report highlights a significant gap in emissions reporting among Indonesia's ten largest coal mining companies, where six fail to include coal mine methane (CMM) in their inventories. Despite national regulations and international standards, CMM emissions are often overlooked in favour of carbon dioxide reductions, potentially doubling the reported emissions of some companies. The document warns that increasing coal production quotas amidst declining global demand creates stranded asset risks and environmental impacts. It recommends that companies adopt comprehensive GHG inventories, re-assess investment risks in light of global methane pricing trends, and implement technical abatement measures such as pre-mine drainage.