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The report by Ember argues that the European Union must rapidly scale up 'clean flexibility' solutions, particularly battery storage, to complement the fast growth of wind and solar power. It highlights that without such flexibility, the EU will fail to capture abundant renewable energy, leading to higher reliance on fossil fuels and increased costs. The document provides evidence of current solar dominance in several Member States and simulates the potential for batteries to reduce fossil fuel imports and costs by 2030.

This policy brief analyzes the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and the UK Critical Minerals Strategy (CMS), evaluating their potential to support African industrialization. It argues that both frameworks are primarily driven by domestic energy and economic priorities, focusing on reducing dependency on China and mitigating geopolitical risks. The author contends that current capital allocations and the emphasis on domestic processing capacity are insufficient to attract private investment for African value addition and beneficiation, suggesting a need for a shift in political and commercial relations to align with African industrialization goals.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) analyzes the 2023 activities of UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies (HRTBs) regarding states' human rights obligations in the context of climate change. It tracks the increasing frequency of climate-related references in state reporting procedures and examines specific themes such as fossil fuel extraction, the right to a healthy environment, loss and damage, and intergenerational equity.

In the first half of 2024, wind and solar power generated 30% of the European Union's electricity, surpassing fossil fuels (27%) for the first time. This shift occurred despite a 0.7% rebound in electricity demand, driven by structural capacity growth and favorable weather conditions, leading to a 17% decline in fossil fuel generation and a 31% drop in power sector emissions compared to the first half of 2022.

This working paper, based on a 2023 study by the Stockholm Environment Institute and others, evaluates four decarbonization scenarios for the gas sectors of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland. The analysis focuses on transitioning from fossil gas to renewable methane and hydrogen to enhance energy security and meet 2050 EU sustainability goals, projecting a regional gas demand reduction from 63 TWh in 2021 to 38 TWh by 2050.

This executive summary, based on a report by Aeby et al. (2023), analyzes four decarbonization pathways for the gas sectors of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland to achieve full decarbonization by 2050. The study evaluates scenarios including Business-as-Usual (BAU), Renewable Methane (REN-Methane), Renewable Hydrogen (REN-Hydrogen), and a Cost-Minimizing (CM) scenario, emphasizing the need for regional coordination to reduce dependence on Russian gas and meet EU sustainability goals.

A research paper evaluating four decarbonization scenarios for the gas sectors of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland. It finds that full decarbonization by 2050 is feasible, with a 'Cost minimal' scenario offering the best economic outcome through a mix of biomethane and renewable hydrogen, reducing total system costs by 44% compared to business-as-usual.

This report, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in June 2024, examines pathways for the complete decarbonisation of the gas markets in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland by 2050. Based on a study conducted between 2022 and 2023, it evaluates four scenarios—Business as Usual (BAU), Renewable Methane, Renewable Hydrogen, and Cost-Minimising (CM)—to determine the most sustainable and economically viable transition from fossil fuels to renewable gases like biomethane and hydrogen.

This research paper argues that South Africa's current skills planning system is inadequate for the emerging green hydrogen economy (GHE) due to a reliance on quantitative data and a lack of anticipatory capacity. The author advocates for the integration of strategic foresight (SF) and skills foresight (SF) into the post-school education and training (PSET) system, specifically within technical vocational education and training (TVET). The paper proposes four priority areas: strengthening skills anticipation systems, enhancing TVET sector responsiveness, developing transversal skills, and fostering a renewed education-related social compact to bridge the gap between TVET and universities.

This research paper by Ember analyzes draft National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) from EU Member States to determine if current national ambitions align with the REPowerEU plan and the Fit-for-55 package. The analysis finds that while renewable energy targets have increased significantly since 2019, the EU is still projected to fall short of its 2030 goals for renewable electricity share, solar capacity, and wind capacity.

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity generation trends in 2023 across solar, wind, coal, gas, hydro, nuclear, and bioenergy. It highlights record growth in solar and wind, a slight increase in coal generation driven by droughts in China, and the gap between current growth rates and the IEA Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario requirements.

In 2023, the share of renewables in the global electricity mix exceeded 30% for the first time, driven by record growth in wind and solar. However, a record fall in hydropower generation and rising electricity demand led to a marginal increase in fossil fuel generation, resulting in global power sector emissions reaching a new record high of 14,153 million tonnes of CO2.

The April 2024 report by Global Energy Monitor and partners reveals that while global coal capacity reached a record 2,130 GW in 2023, there is a stark divide: China continues to expand its fleet, while most other countries are reducing new construction. The report highlights that only 15% of operational capacity has retirement plans aligned with the 1.5°C goal. Regional analysis shows significant progress in the EU and UK, stability in Sub-Saharan Africa (dominated by South Africa), and a lack of new projects in the MENA region.

This report, published by Global Energy Monitor and a coalition of partners, tracks global coal-fired power plant capacity as of April 2024. It highlights a paradoxical trend where global coal capacity reached record highs in 2023, driven primarily by China, despite a general decline in new coal construction in the rest of the world and increasing phase-out commitments.

This report by Ember analyzes the alignment between the ten-year grid development plans of European Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and national energy policy targets for 2030. It highlights a risk that transmission grids may become physical barriers to the energy transition if infrastructure planning is based on under-ambitious renewable energy scenarios.

This research paper examines the challenges and expectations of municipalities in four Nordic countries regarding the development and use of consumption-based emission inventories to support climate action.

The Stockholm Environment Institute argues that the proposed EU Critical Raw Materials Act risks exacerbating human rights breaches and 'green colonialism' against the Indigenous Sámi people in Northern Europe. While welcoming the inclusion of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for 'strategic' projects, the authors identify critical weaknesses in the act's reliance on Member State bureaucracies, certification schemes, and the lack of resources for Indigenous participation. They propose three amendments: an EU-level oversight mechanism for grievances, mandatory FPIC standards for certification schemes, and a funding mechanism to support affected rights-holders during fast-tracked licensing processes.

This policy brief argues that cumulative impact assessments are essential for protecting Sámi Indigenous rights in Nordic countries, particularly regarding reindeer herding, and proposes 10 procedural principles to address regulatory failures in Sweden and Finland.

This policy brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the role of municipalities and regional governments in strengthening carbon sinks within the context of EU LULUCF regulations, specifically highlighting the challenges and opportunities in forested nations.

This policy brief analyzes consumption-based emission estimation in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. It highlights that while territorial tracking is standard, consumption-based approaches are necessary to address embodied emissions from global supply chains and food production. Key barriers include data collection challenges and a lack of detailed guidance in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for cities (GPC).