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The document outlines a five-step process for governments to identify and quantify fossil fuel subsidies: applying a whole-of-government approach, establishing a comprehensive scope based on WTO standards, choosing measurement methods (price-gap vs. inventory), evaluating socio-economic and environmental impacts, and ensuring regular public disclosure. It emphasizes the use of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM) as a minimum baseline and highlights the role of effective carbon rates (ECRs) in improving cross-country comparability.

The report argues that the current EU public procurement framework, specifically Directive 2014/24/EU, fails to drive the green transition because GPP remains voluntary, leading to fragmented implementation and a prevalence of lowest-price awards. It identifies three primary challenges: a fragmented legal landscape, the voluntary nature of GPP, and perceived legal uncertainty regarding the 'link to subject matter' rule. To address these, the authors recommend making GPP the default via a 'comply-or-explain' approach, tying 'Buy European' rules to environmental performance, simplifying rules through harmonized criteria and labels, strengthening data monitoring, and investing in the professionalization of contracting authorities. The report provides detailed operational options for both simplification and strategic procurement to support the EU's 2040 emissions targets.

In 2025, Europe transitioned toward commercial-scale CCS deployment, marked by the first fully operational value chain at Norway's Brevik cement plant. While ten projects reached final investment decisions (FID) between December 2024 and October 2025—adding approximately 4 Mt CO2/year of capture and 14 Mt CO2/year of storage capacity—deployment remains far below the trajectories needed for 2040 and 2050 climate targets. Progress is heavily reliant on blended finance and corporate carbon dioxide removal (CDR) offtake agreements, particularly with Microsoft. Geographically, CCS is expanding from Northern European hubs into Southern and Central & Eastern Europe, with new projects in Spain, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Policy advancements include the Net-Zero Industry Act's 2030 injection target and Germany's 2025 legislation classifying CO2 transport and storage as projects of overriding public interest.

The document outlines three priority areas for the upcoming EU Grid Package to resolve electricity grid bottlenecks in Europe: coordinating planning across borders and time horizons, accelerating permitting processes, and modernising existing infrastructure using grid-enhancing technologies. It highlights that Europe requires approximately half a trillion euros in grid investments by 2030 and notes that over 40% of distribution grids are over 40 years old. The text emphasizes that current fragmented planning and permitting delays, which account for about 25% of total investment time, hinder the integration of renewable capacity. It proposes extending planning horizons from 10 to 20 years and implementing 'one-stop shops' for permitting to improve efficiency. Additionally, it suggests that grid-enhancing technologies could increase network capacity by 20-40%.

The document examines how four countries—Germany, the UK, Japan, and Australia—successfully reduced waste sector methane emissions through a combination of legislation, market-based tools, public education, and voluntary agreements. It highlights a general trend of diverting waste from landfills toward recycling, composting, and incineration, while noting that high-income countries in Europe, Asia, and Oceania have seen the most significant progress.

The document examines the role of green public procurement (GPP) in the EU, highlighting that while public procurement accounts for 14% of EU GDP and 11% of its greenhouse gas emissions, the uptake of GPP tools is hindered by legal uncertainty, administrative burdens, and capacity gaps. It advocates for reforming EU directives to broaden the 'link to subject matter' requirement, standardize sustainability tools, and professionalize procurement staff to drive the green transition.

In the first half of 2025, global solar and wind generation grew sufficiently to meet and exceed total electricity demand growth, leading to renewables overtaking coal in the global electricity mix for the first time. Solar generation saw record absolute growth, while total fossil fuel generation declined slightly. Consequently, global CO2 emissions from the power sector fell marginally by 0.2%, although results varied by region, with emissions decreasing in China and India but increasing in the US and EU.

In the first half of 2025, global solar and wind generation grew sufficiently to exceed total electricity demand growth, leading to renewables overtaking coal's share of the global electricity mix for the first time on record. While China and India saw declines in fossil fuel generation and emissions, the US and EU experienced increases due to demand growth outpacing clean energy in the US and unfavorable weather affecting wind and hydro in the EU.

The document provides a comprehensive introduction to the ETS2, a 'cap and trade' system starting in 2027 to reduce emissions in buildings and road transport by 42% relative to 2005 levels by 2030. It details the market mechanisms, including the Linear Reduction Factor and the Market Stability Reserve (MSR2), and emphasizes that carbon pricing must be paired with complementary policies—such as building renovations and EV electrification—to prevent price volatility and ensure a just transition. The guide also describes the Social Climate Fund (SCF), a €65 billion mechanism designed to support vulnerable households facing energy and transport poverty, and analyzes the distribution and potential misuse of ETS2 revenues among member states.

The global economy consumes approximately 100 billion metric tons of resources annually, with 75% coming from non-renewable sources. While the European Union leads in circular economy policy, global resource productivity has stalled since 2000, and the world must reduce per capita material consumption from 12.6 metric tons in 2022 to below 5 metric tons by 2050 to ensure sustainability. Significant disparities exist in consumption, with the top 25% of the population using 52% of the world's resources. Despite some progress in municipal waste recycling—averaging 35% across OECD countries—and the regulation of single-use products in 75 countries, systemic changes in product design and corporate monitoring are required to decouple economic growth from resource extraction.

The report argues that major steel companies, including ArcelorMittal, Nippon Steel, and POSCO, overlook methane emissions from coal mining in their Scope 3 disclosures. It highlights that these emissions, particularly from 'gassiest' Australian mines, significantly increase the climate impact of blast furnace-based steelmaking and are not mitigated by downstream technologies like hydrogen injection or CCUS.

Deforestation in the Congo Basin risks reducing regional rainfall by up to 40%, which could lead to cumulative cocoa yield losses of 3.06 million tonnes across nine African countries by 2050. This supply shock is projected to drive cocoa prices to USD 68.1 per kilogram by 2050, with deforestation accounting for 40.2% of that price. EU importers could face cumulative additional costs of USD 256 billion by 2050. The report argues that investing in forest conservation, particularly community-led restoration, is more cost-effective than inaction, offering avoided costs of USD 1.8 to USD 6 for every dollar invested.

The Francophone court of first instance in Brussels ruled that the Belgian federal government and the regional governments of Wallonia, Brussels, and Flanders breached their duty of care under the Belgian Civil Code and violated Articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The court found this breach was based on ineffective climate governance, mixed results in emission reductions, and ignored warnings from the European Union. However, the court rejected the plaintiffs' request to set specific binding emission targets, citing the principle of separation of powers. The case is currently pending following an appeal filed on 17 November 2021.

The document outlines the existential risk posed by the approximately 12,000 nuclear warheads held by nine nations. It explains the physics of fission and fusion weapons and analyzes the catastrophic effects of detonations, ranging from immediate blast and radiation deaths in urban centers to global climate disruption. The guide highlights the instability of 'launch on warning' postures and the potential for 'nuclear winter' and ozone depletion, arguing that even regional conflicts would cause global famine and societal collapse.

The document outlines a framework for reporting on National Adaptation Plan (NAP) progress, categorising methods into three primary objectives: monitoring activity status, evaluating performance and impact, and learning and communication. It provides a menu of 17 specific tools—ranging from low-effort checklists and traffic-light systems to high-effort indicator tracking and digital platforms—supported by real-world examples from countries such as Saint Lucia, Burkina Faso, and Finland. The guide emphasizes an iterative 'learning by doing' approach, the integration of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and the alignment of national reporting with international commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework.

The document outlines a structured approach to NAP progress reporting, categorized into three primary objectives: tracking activities, evaluating performance, and learning/communication. It provides a detailed toolkit of 17 specific methods—ranging from simple checklists and traffic-light systems to complex indicator tracking and digital platforms—supported by real-world examples from countries such as Saint Lucia, Burkina Faso, and Finland. The guide emphasizes an iterative 'learning by doing' approach, urging countries to start simply and integrate gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) into their reporting frameworks.

The document outlines a framework for reporting progress on National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), categorizing methods into three primary objectives: monitoring status, evaluating performance, and learning/communication. It provides step-by-step instructions for 17 different methods, ranging from low-effort checklists to high-effort digital platforms and indicator tracking. The guide emphasizes a 'learn-by-doing' approach, encouraging countries to start with simple methods and increase complexity as capacities grow, while ensuring the integration of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI).

The June–July 2025 heatwave in Europe increased electricity demand by up to 14% and caused average daily power prices to double or triple in several countries. While record solar generation of 45 TWh in June 2025 helped maintain daytime stability, the heatwave triggered thermal power plant outages, particularly affecting France's nuclear fleet. The report argues for the deployment of battery storage, interconnection, and demand flexibility to mitigate future extreme weather risks.

The US power sector is experiencing unprecedented load growth, requiring the grid to expand more than five times faster than in the previous two decades. To address this, the report recommends maximizing existing grid value through grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and demand-side flexibility, accelerating connections via 'energy parks' and streamlined interconnection processes, and adopting proactive, scenario-based planning. It also suggests targeted affordability measures for low-income customers and specialized rate designs for large loads to prevent cost-shifting and stranded-asset risks.

The report examines how smarter grid strategies can unlock digital infrastructure investments, particularly for AI and data centres. It highlights that long grid connection queues in Europe are deterring developers, but suggests that phased connections, non-firm (flexible) agreements, and strategic siting in priority zones can significantly reduce wait times and infrastructure costs. The document emphasizes that data centres often underutilize their contracted capacity and can offer flexibility to the grid, which could potentially double available capacity if implemented.