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The briefing evaluates 16 countries against 1.5°C-aligned power sector benchmarks, finding that no assessed country is fully on track. It argues for a global phase-out of coal and fossil gas by 2040, noting that while some countries are making progress on coal, there is a critical lack of explicit fossil gas phase-out plans and insufficient renewable energy acceleration globally.

The Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub (MCHH) aims to leverage natural salt domes for large-scale, long-duration green hydrogen storage to safeguard energy security. Domestically, the hub is positioned to supply critical sectors in the Gulf Coast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, potentially serving 52% of US refining, 44% of shipping, 19% of steelmaking, and 17% of heavy-duty trucking capacity. It also seeks to bolster US fertilizer security by transporting green hydrogen feedstock via the Mississippi River to the Midwest. Internationally, the MCHH intends to establish green shipping corridors to help the EU diversify away from Russian fossil fuels and provide backup energy to climate-vulnerable nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The report argues that an initial public investment of $500 million could unlock billions in private capital by 2026, creating a national strategic hydrogen reserve and reducing industrial losses from power outages.

The briefing proposes that the European Union leverage its position as a major oil and gas importer to drive global methane reductions by implementing a methane import standard. It suggests a combination of a 'prescriptive standard,' which mandates specific technologies and practices like Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR), and an 'intensity standard,' which sets a maximum limit on emissions per unit of gas produced. The document asserts that there are no 'insuperable legal obstacles' to these standards and suggests that fees from non-compliance could fund methane mitigation in lower-income countries. It highlights that such a move would align with the European Parliament's position and complement voluntary initiatives like CLEAN.

Analysis of G20 coal power emissions reveals that while 12 of 20 economies saw per capita declines since 2015, Australia and South Korea remain the top polluters, each emitting more than triple the global average. In contrast, emerging economies like Indonesia, Türkiye, China, and India experienced increases in per capita emissions as electricity demand outpaced renewable growth. The G20's combined per capita emissions rose slightly from 1.5 to 1.6 tonnes of CO2 between 2015 and 2022, underscoring a slow overall transition despite individual national progress.

ClientEarth argues that the proposed FMP for mixed flatfish in the Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel lacks binding commitments and fails to adhere to the precautionary and ecosystem-based objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020. The submission specifically calls for fishing limits to be set below Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) to build climate resilience, the recovery of the depleted witch stock, and the implementation of firm Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) and towed gear measures.

The report concludes that all analyzed policy frameworks are inadequate for the robust deployment of carbon dioxide removals (CDR). Most frameworks fail to establish a clear firewall between emissions reductions and removals, often treating them as interchangeable through offsetting mechanisms. Key deficiencies include the absence of legally binding, separate CDR targets, the lack of a robust definition of CDR that ensures long-term permanence, and insufficient monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems. The authors recommend that CDR be strictly defined as a secondary climate function to balance residual emissions, supported by dedicated legal targets and rigorous accounting to prevent 'mitigation deterrence'.

The report identifies non-financial barriers—specifically project development and market uncertainty risks—as the primary constraints on U.S. clean energy deployment. It recommends a portfolio of policies to reduce these risks, including reforming interconnection queues, pre-zoning land for renewables, streamlining permitting processes, and establishing longer-term cost-recovery schedules for power sales.

The report finds that oil- and gas-fired power plants in development increased by 13% in the last year to 783 GW, with Asia accounting for nearly two-thirds of this capacity. If built, these projects would cost an estimated US$611 billion and generate 41,239 million tonnes of CO2e lifetime emissions. The analysis highlights that China leads global development, while the United States possesses the largest existing capacity. The report further challenges the reliability of fossil fuels during extreme weather and notes that renewables with storage are now cheaper than gas-fired power in many regions, including China.

The report defines relinquishment as the legal transfer of responsibility for a closed mine site from the operator to the next landowner after closure commitments are fulfilled. It identifies a global gap in clear relinquishment policies, noting that many jurisdictions either lack such frameworks or have processes that are difficult to achieve due to government risk aversion. The document highlights successful models in Saskatchewan, Queensland, and Chile, and proposes a six-step policy framework: requiring comprehensive closure plans, conducting independent inspections, establishing residual risk management plans, creating funding mechanisms, executing legal transfers, and implementing long-term monitoring.

The report defines restitution as the legal transfer of responsibility for a mine site from the operator to a new owner after closure activities are completed and approved. It argues that current global practices are often insufficient, leading to indefinitely managed sites or abandoned mines. The document outlines six recommended steps for governments: requiring comprehensive closure plans, conducting independent inspections, establishing residual risk management plans, creating funding mechanisms, executing legal transfers, and implementing long-term monitoring. It highlights successful models in Saskatchewan, Queensland, and Chile, while noting that risk aversion and lack of clear legal frameworks often hinder restitution in developed mining jurisdictions.

The document defines mine relinquishment as the legal transfer of responsibility for a closed mine site once closure obligations are met. It argues that a lack of clear relinquishment policies leads to sites remaining indefinitely with operators or being abandoned. The report analyzes practices across 40+ jurisdictions, highlighting successful models in Saskatchewan, Queensland, and Chile. It proposes a six-step process: requiring comprehensive closure plans, conducting independent inspections, planning for residual risk management, establishing funding mechanisms, executing legal transfers, and implementing long-term monitoring.

The report examines the global sugar cane sector, highlighting the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) in promoting resilience and sustainability. It analyzes how climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and government interventions distort market prices and affect the livelihoods of millions of smallholders. The document provides a detailed look at the value chain, where refiners and traders capture the most value, and suggests pathways for improving farmer incomes through diversification, better policy frameworks, and the expansion of sustainable sourcing.

The report analyzes India's vulnerability in the lithium supply chain, characterized by high import dependence and geographical concentration of production and processing in China. It forecasts a significant surge in lithium demand between 2022 and 2030, driven primarily by electric vehicles and grid storage. To mitigate risks, the report recommends a multi-pronged strategy: streamlining domestic exploration in states like Jammu and Kashmir, forming strategic partnerships with mineral-rich nations such as Australia and Argentina, leveraging state-owned enterprises like KABIL to support private sector offtake, and incentivizing the development of domestic lithium refineries and recycling infrastructure.

The report examines India's strategic position in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain, identifying opportunities in mineral processing and cell manufacturing. It analyzes key investment drivers—such as guaranteed demand, infrastructure, and policy incentives—and evaluates India's comparative advantages, including low labor costs and a strong chemical sector, against challenges like critical mineral dependency and the need for more upfront capital subsidies to attract multinational firms.

The report analyzes the critical minerals ecosystem in the SADC region, emphasizing the need to move beyond 'used futures'—historical patterns of colonial extraction and corruption—toward a sustainable transition. It identifies key driving forces across social, technological, economic, environmental, political, and values (STEEP-V) dimensions, such as the risk of 'resource curse' and geopolitical competition between China, the US, and the EU. Through stakeholder workshops, the authors develop four potential scenarios for 2035, ranging from 'Dawn of Empowered Transformation' to 'Shadows of Exploitation'. The document advocates for anticipatory governance, regional collaboration, and a shift toward circular economy principles to ensure that the green energy transition benefits local communities and the environment rather than perpetuating historical inequalities.

The report examines the SADC region's role in the global energy transition, focusing on critical minerals like copper, lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese, nickel, and rare earth elements. It highlights the risk of SADC countries remaining raw material suppliers unless they implement robust governance and strategic value-addition policies. The analysis covers the geostrategic influence of China, the US, and the EU, while providing country-specific case studies and recommendations for regional value chain development.

The document categorizes plastics-related instruments into government legislation, voluntary multistakeholder standards, and non-governmental initiatives. It identifies significant gaps in standards for upstream production and reuse systems, while noting a concentration of existing efforts in waste management. The authors argue for enhanced international cooperation to reduce regulatory fragmentation and improve inclusivity for developing countries, suggesting that a future global plastics treaty could drive the development of harmonized design and transparency standards.

The document explains the distinction between weather and climate, the human-driven causes of global warming, and the resulting increase in extreme weather events. It highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized groups and outlines necessary solutions, including transitioning to renewable energy and improving resource efficiency.

Ember argues that new coal facilities entering the Safeguard Mechanism should be held to a net zero emissions intensity baseline to align with 1.5 degree climate pathways. While supporting the proposed production variable of 0.0653 CO2-e per tonne of run-of-mine coal for driving reductions in high-intensity underground mines, Ember warns that open-cut mines may receive windfall Safeguard Mechanism Credits (SMCs) without performing genuine abatement due to outdated emissions reporting factors.

The analysis finds that July 2023 was likely Earth's hottest month on record, with human-caused climate change making extreme heat significantly more likely for a vast majority of the global population. Using the Climate Shift Index (CSI), the report demonstrates that 81% of people experienced at least one day where temperatures were at least three times more likely due to climate change. The strongest signals were observed in tropical regions and small island developing states, where conditions were often five times more likely due to human influence. The report highlights specific record-breaking temperatures in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, emphasizing that such extremes will increase in frequency as long as fossil fuel combustion continues.