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Reach-ing further: what do we want to see in the EU’s reformed chemicals law?
ClientEarth argues that the current REACH law is inadequate, noting that over 70% of chemicals produced and used are hazardous. The organization calls for 'REACH 2.0' to implement a non-essential use ban with specific phaseout deadlines, strengthen 'no data, no market' registration requirements, and enable the fast-track restriction of entire chemical groups. Additionally, it advocates for stronger enforcement mechanisms—comparable to GDPR fines—and the creation of legal tools for citizens to demand action against pollution in 'toxic hotspots'.
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Document type: Statement
The south can unlock Türkiye’s solar ambitions
The report analyzes Türkiye's shift in renewable energy generation from the hydro-rich east to the wind and solar-rich west and center. It highlights the vulnerability of the energy system to droughts, which historically force a reliance on imported gas. While Konya has seen massive solar growth due to the Karapınar plant, other high-potential southern provinces like Antalya and Van remain underutilized. The report advocates for more ambitious wind and solar targets to ensure energy security and meet net-zero goals.
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Document type: Report
Policies to Accelerate the Transition to Clean and Competitive U.S. Industry
The document argues that U.S. manufacturing is responsible for a quarter to a third of national greenhouse gas emissions and proposes a suite of policy interventions to transition to clean industry. Key recommendations include trade mechanisms like carbon border adjustments, green public procurement, direct financial support for early-stage technologies, and the implementation of emissions and energy efficiency standards. It emphasizes the need for a combination of R&D support, subsidies for clean production, and improved lending mechanisms to ensure U.S. industry remains competitive against international producers while achieving decarbonization.
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Document type: Briefing
Carlyle Emissions Surpass a Quarter Billion Metric Tons
The report finds that The Carlyle Group invested in 91 energy companies owning 972 assets between 2011 and 2021, with 90% of these being fossil fuel investments. These assets emitted an estimated 277 million metric tons of CO2e, with emissions growing at an average annual rate of 95%. The analysis highlights a significant disparity between Carlyle's fossil fuel investments ($22.4 billion) and its renewable energy commitments ($1.4 billion). Furthermore, the report documents that 84% of Carlyle's downstream US assets are located in areas with higher concentrations of low-income residents or people of color than state averages, and 47% of these plants have a record of environmental violations.
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Document type: Report
Carlyle Emissions Surpass a Quarter Billion Metric Tons
The report finds that The Carlyle Group invested in 91 energy companies owning 972 assets from 2011 to 2021, with 90 percent of both companies and assets being fossil fuel investments. These investments emitted an estimated 277 million metric tons of CO2e, with a compound annual growth rate of 95 percent. The analysis highlights a significant disparity between Carlyle's fossil fuel capacity (peaking at nearly 10,000 MW in 2021) and its renewable capacity (just over 1,300 MW). Furthermore, the report documents that 84 percent of Carlyle's current US downstream fossil fuel assets are located in areas with higher percentages of low-income residents and/or residents of color than state averages, and 47 percent of these plants have a record of environmental violations.
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Document type: Report
ASSESSING THE CREDIBILITY OF ARCELORMITTAL’S DECARBONIZATION STRATEGY
The document argues that ArcelorMittal's current climate strategy is inadequate to limit global warming to 1.5°C, citing a lack of absolute emission targets, a reliance on unproven carbon capture technologies, and a 'two-speed' approach that continues coal-based expansion in the Global South while deploying cleaner tech in Europe.
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Document type: Briefing
GASLIGHTING: Financing fossil gas power is leading Europe’s energy transition astray
The report argues that financial institutions are hindering Europe's energy transition by providing hundreds of billions of dollars in support to fossil gas power producers and developers. It highlights a significant gap between the need to phase out gas by 2035 to align with a 1.5°C trajectory and the current trend of developing over 60 GW of new gas capacity. The document identifies a lack of robust sectoral policies among top banks and investors, which allows for continued corporate-level financing of gas-intensive utilities and the development of new base load plants, often as replacements for coal.
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Document type: Report
What the history of “poverty thinking” means for future “development”
The document analyzes the transition of poverty conceptualization from a moralistic, legal status to a functional, multidimensional experience. It details the influence of Enlightenment optimism, Cold War-era development theories, the neoliberal 'Washington Consensus', and the eventual shift toward human-centric and intersectional frameworks.
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Document type: Research paper
Clean Energy 101: Geothermal Heat Pumps
Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) use the constant temperature of the earth to provide efficient heating and cooling with zero direct emissions. While installation costs are higher than fossil fuel alternatives, the Inflation Reduction Act provides tax credits and rebates that can reduce these costs by up to 50%. In the U.S. Midwest, GHPs can reduce emissions by 85-90% compared to gas or propane furnaces and use approximately 80% less energy annually. The document highlights 'networked geothermal' systems for campuses and neighborhoods as a way to achieve over 500% efficiency and lower individual costs through economies of scale.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Legal Considerations When Using the CO2 Performance Ladder in Public Procurement
The document serves as a legal FAQ for the CO2 Performance Ladder, a carbon management system used in the Netherlands and Belgium to provide certified organizations with award advantages in public tenders. It addresses compliance with the EU Procurement Directive, specifically regarding the link between award criteria and contract subject matter, the acceptance of equivalent proof, and the determination of the most economically advantageous tender. The tool is managed by the Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO), which aims to expand its application across Europe to accelerate carbon emission reductions.
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Document type: Briefing
The Hidden Climate Impact of Residential Construction
New home construction in the US generates over 50 million tons of embodied carbon emissions annually. Analysis of 921 model homes across the US, Canada, and Europe indicates average cradle-to-gate emissions of 184 kg CO2e/m2. Reductions of 30% to 50% are achievable using existing, cost-parity materials by targeting concrete, insulation, cladding, and interior surfaces, which comprise over 70% of total emissions. Further reductions up to 140% are possible through low-emitting and carbon-storing materials.
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Document type: Report
One Year Later: Unraveling Climate and Ecological Security in Ukraine
The document analyzes how the conflict in Ukraine has accelerated Europe's shift toward renewable energy while simultaneously causing severe ecological damage within Ukraine and destabilizing global food security. It highlights the systemic interplay between war, climate change, and environmental degradation, noting that the resulting ecological losses and food system disruptions may have long-term, irreversible effects.
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Document type: Briefing
The Avian Influenza Outbreak: Ecological and Biological Security Implications
The document examines the unprecedented global outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, highlighting the virus's increasing ability to infect mammals and the risk of potential human-to-human transmission. It details the devastating ecological impact on bird populations and the economic toll on poultry farms, particularly in the United States. The authors argue that current biosecurity efforts are lagging and call for urgent improvements in vaccine development, the implementation of safer industrial farming practices—specifically regarding mink and pig farms—and the expansion of wild bird surveillance to prevent a future pandemic.
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Document type: Briefing
Transforming the EU’s industrial pollution policy into an effective climate tool
The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) regulates approximately 50,000 large industrial installations in Europe, which account for 736 million tonnes of CO2 or about 40% of the EU's total carbon footprint. However, the IED currently does not address greenhouse gas emissions, as these are managed by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The author contends that the EU ETS has failed to significantly reduce industrial emissions due to exemptions and free pollution subsidies. The European Commission's April 2022 proposal for reforming the IED failed to include GHG emission limits, with the Commission suggesting a delay until 2028 to avoid negatively impacting the EU ETS's efficiency. The document argues that this delay is unacceptable given the urgency of the climate crisis and that the EU ETS already possesses mechanisms, such as the Market Stability Reserve, to handle any oversupply of permits resulting from IED-mandated limits. The author urges the European Parliament and Council of the European Union to amend the proposal to regulate carbon emissions, particularly from the most polluting plants, noting that due to the IED's lengthy permit update processes, a delay until 2028 would mean no stringent GHG regulations would be in place until 2038 or later.
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Document type: Statement
The health effects associated with ambient pollution arising from the proposed Lephalale Coal and Power Project (LCPP) and critique of selected reports
The report argues that the proposed Lephalale Coal and Power Project (LCPP) poses substantial health risks to surrounding communities in Limpopo, South Africa. It critiques the project's official Air Quality Impact Assessment (AQIA) for failing to provide quantifiable health risk estimates and for relying on weak national air quality standards. In contrast, the report supports findings from the Centre for Research into Energy and Clean Air (CREA), which identifies significant morbidity and mortality risks and an 'unfunded liability' of US$33.6 billion in externalised health costs. The author provides a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature linking coal-related pollutants—including particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen oxides, and mercury—to respiratory, cardiovascular, neurocognitive, and maternal health disorders, as well as various cancers.
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Document type: Report
Financement de la croissance propre : quatre exemples de la communauté internationale intéressants pour le Canada
The policy brief examines four international models of clean growth financing to provide lessons for Canada's transition to carbon neutrality by 2050. It highlights Australia's Clean Energy Finance Corporation for its dual focus on profitability and emissions reduction, the UK's contracts for difference for effective risk-sharing in renewable energy, Norway's Longship project for its holistic state support of carbon capture and storage, and the US Inflation Reduction Act's use of tax credits tied to carbon intensity and social standards for hydrogen production.
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Document type: Policy brief
DECARBONIZING THE STEEL SECTOR
The steel sector is the highest CO2 emitter among heavy industries, accounting for 11% of global CO2 emissions. The report highlights that the dominant blast furnace to basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route is highly carbon-intensive due to its reliance on metallurgical coal. To meet the 1.5°C target, the IEA suggests steel emissions must drop by 25% by 2030 and 92% by 2050. The document emphasizes a critical investment window, as over 70% of existing coal-fired blast furnaces need refurbishing by 2030. Reclaim Finance recommends that financial institutions end support for new metallurgical coal mines and coal-based steel facilities, instead prioritizing electric arc furnaces (EAF) and hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (HDRI).
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Document type: Report
Creating a “Leave-Behind” for Legislators
The guide outlines the essential components of a legislative leave-behind, emphasizing the need for a one-page document written in simple language that includes a clear recommendation, a description of the problem, supporting analysis, and a trackable 'ask'. It includes a practical example focused on urging the US Congress to meet international climate finance commitments, specifically referencing President Biden's pledge of $11.4 billion annually by 2024 and the loss and damage fund established at COP27.
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Document type: Guide
A guide to monitoring and quantifying methane emissions from the oil and gas sector
The document discusses the critical need to reduce anthropogenic methane emissions, particularly from the oil and gas sector, to limit global warming. It details a transition from 'bottom-up' estimation methods to 'top-down' monitoring using ground-based, airborne, and spaceborne instruments. The authors advocate for globally recognised testing standards, integrated observing systems, and robust reporting protocols to support smart regulation. It highlights that the oil and gas industry could eliminate nearly 75% of its global methane emissions using existing technologies at little to no cost, and notes emerging regulations in regions including North America, Europe, Nigeria, and Colombia.
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Document type: Guide
Europe needs an options-based climate strategy
The author contends that Europe's current climate approach is too narrow and lacks coordination, risking failure to meet net-zero targets. To mitigate risks such as supply chain dependence on China for rare earths and the slow deployment of renewables, the document advocates for a strategy that supports nuclear power, carbon capture and storage, and zero-carbon fuels alongside renewables. It highlights the need for long-term investment planning, as historical data shows technology commercialization takes decades, whereas current net-zero models assume unrealistic compression of these timelines. Furthermore, the text calls for the EU to streamline its 'kaleidoscope' of conflicting policies and adopt incentive structures similar to the US Inflation Reduction Act to drive cost reductions and infrastructure deployment. Finally, it emphasizes the necessity of proactive system planning to determine future energy demand and the required clean firm power capacity, estimated at over 100 GW by 2035.
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Document type: Statement