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The document asserts that nuclear energy is essential for a decarbonized global energy system to provide 'clean firm' power, reducing reliance on over-built variable renewables and expensive long-duration storage. It identifies a 'profoundly dysfunctional' current delivery model characterized by high costs and delays, exemplified by the Vogtle 3 and 4 projects in Georgia. To achieve a target build rate of hundreds of Gigawatts per year, the author proposes transitioning from bespoke construction projects to standardized, commoditized 'products' with capital costs below $4,000/kw and delivery times of 3-5 years. Key recommendations for U.S. policy include reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to adopt performance-based licensing, establishing a 'sandbox' for testing new designs, creating an International Bank for Nuclear Infrastructure, and ensuring the domestic availability of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU).

Reclaim Finance responds to BNP Paribas' claims that the 'Banking on Climate Chaos 2023' report used a biased methodology and overestimated fossil fuel financing. The organization asserts that its methodology is transparent and consistent since 2016, arguing that the reported figures—including $5.5 billion provided to the 100 largest fossil fuel developers in 2022—are likely underestimated because they exclude bilateral financing. Reclaim Finance rejects the bank's attempt to offset these figures with renewable energy investments, noting that BNP Paribas' ratio of clean energy investment to fossil fuel investment (1.7 to 1 in 2021) falls far short of the IEA's 1.5°C scenario requirement of 9 to 1.

A coalition of environmental and social organizations urges G7 nations to cease the promotion and financing of fossil fuel-based technologies, such as ammonia and hydrogen co-firing, in climate-vulnerable developing nations. The statement specifically criticizes Japan's Green Transformation (GX) policy and the continued investment in fossil gas in Southeast Asia, arguing that these 'false solutions' risk stranded assets and undermine the 1.5-degree Celsius Paris Agreement goal.

The briefing outlines four key areas where G7 nations can lead on fossil fuel phase-out: setting a 2030 deadline for coal phase-out, implementing the end of fossil fuel subsidies, fulfilling commitments to stop international public finance for fossil fuels, and ending new oil and gas development.

In 2022, solar and wind power continued their rapid growth, with solar being the fastest-growing source and wind recording the largest absolute increase. Conversely, nuclear power saw a significant decline, primarily driven by outages in France and Germany. Coal generation reached an all-time record high of 10,186 TWh, although its overall share of the global electricity mix slightly decreased. Hydro power rebounded after a poor 2021 but remains below 2020 levels due to droughts in Europe. Fossil gas generation remained relatively stable despite supply chain disruptions. To align with the IEA Net Zero Emissions scenario by 2030, the report argues that solar and wind must sustain high annual growth rates, coal and unabated gas must be phased out, and nuclear power must grow more rapidly than its recent historical average.

In 2022, global electricity generation remained dominated by fossil fuels at 61%, though wind and solar reached a record 12% share. Despite record growth in renewables, global power sector emissions hit an all-time high of 12,431 mtCO2, driven by rising demand in major economies like China and India. The report highlights a gap between current trends and the IEA Net Zero Emissions scenario, which requires a rapid phase-out of unabated coal and gas by 2035-2040.

In 2022, global electricity reached its lowest emissions intensity ever at 436 gCO2/kWh, with wind and solar hitting a record 12% of generation. Despite this, total power sector CO2 emissions reached a record high of 12,431 mtCO2 because wind and solar growth could not fully keep pace with a 2.5% increase in global electricity demand. This gap was filled by coal and other fossils, with coal generation rising by 108 TWh to a record 10,186 TWh. While clean electricity sources other than wind and solar saw their first year-on-year decline since 2011 due to nuclear outages and droughts, 2022 is characterized as an 'accelerator year' due to policy shifts like the EU's REPowerEU and the US Inflation Reduction Act.

The Life after Coal Campaign and the Fair Finance Coalition Southern Africa argue that the JET-IP is heavily skewed toward private sector interests and large-scale infrastructure, specifically green hydrogen, at the expense of community-led renewable energy and social investment. They highlight critical gaps in policy alignment, the lack of transparency regarding debt and loan agreements, and the failure to adequately address the health impacts of air pollution at the Medupi and Kusile power stations. The authors call for a reprioritization of funding toward transmission grid strengthening and socially owned energy models, while warning that the current approach to decommissioning coal plants, as seen at Komati, lacks the necessary community participation to be considered 'just'.

The report finds that Nestlé's net-zero plan fails to meet any of the nine relevant UN Integrity Matters recommendations. It highlights a critical 'methane blindspot,' where the company avoids setting specific methane targets despite dairy and livestock being its largest emission sources. The analysis argues that Nestlé uses 'creative accounting' via business-as-usual scenarios to mask minimal absolute emission reductions and relies on unverified regenerative agriculture and insetting to meet goals. Furthermore, the report identifies greenwashing in the carbon-neutral claims of flagship brands like Nespresso and KitKat, which rely heavily on unreliable offsets.

The global GSS+ debt market reached a cumulative volume of USD3.7tn by the end of 2022, though new issuance fell 24% year-on-year to USD858.5bn due to rising interest rates and macroeconomic instability. Green bonds remained the dominant theme, accounting for 58% of 2022 volumes at USD487.1bn, while social bonds saw the steepest decline (41%) as COVID-19 recovery funding tapered. Transition bonds were the only segment to grow, increasing 5% to USD3.5bn, driven by policy support in China and Japan. The report also highlights the emergence of sovereign sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) in Chile and Uruguay and the need for a dedicated Climate Resilience Taxonomy to scale adaptation and resilience (A&R) financing.

The report finds that while the 'return of coal' did not materialize globally in 2022, the pace of retirements remains insufficient to meet Paris Agreement targets. China is a major outlier, with its coal capacity in development increasing by 38% in 2022, while capacities in the rest of the world decreased by 20%. In the EU and UK, coal use saw a marginal 1% increase due to the gas crisis, but long-term trends remain downward. In Sub-Saharan Africa, coal projects persist despite funding shortages, though some successful just transition initiatives, such as the Komati plant retirement in South Africa, provide a potential model for the region.

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.

The briefing provides a framework for climate-conscious investors to use their voting rights at 2023 AGMs to hold companies accountable for their climate strategies. It recommends voting against the re-election of directors, executive remuneration, and financial statements if companies fail to disclose comprehensive 1.5°C-aligned strategies or continue fossil fuel expansion. The document specifically analyzes the inadequacies of 'Say on Climate' resolutions and provides case studies on companies like TotalEnergies, BP, and BNP Paribas, while offering a set of priority written questions for the energy, utility, and financial sectors.

The document analyzes the economic relationship between South Africa and the BRICS nations, noting that while trade has grown, it remains unbalanced and dominated by raw material exports to China. It identifies three primary 'enablers' for deepening these ties: the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the shift in global manufacturing due to US-China rivalry (including 'friend-shoring' and 'Chexit'), and the potential expansion of BRICS membership. The author recommends that South Africa use its 2023 BRICS chairship to promote Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and business-to-business engagements to attract diversified investment into Africa.

The UN 2023 Water Conference, held in New York, focused on accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) through the Water Action Agenda. The event resulted in approximately 700 voluntary commitments totaling USD 300 billion and the announcement of a UN Special Envoy for Water. Discussions emphasized the water-food-energy nexus, the human right to water and sanitation, and the need for innovative finance and improved global water data. While the conference generated significant political momentum and new partnerships, analysis suggests that many pledges lack quantifiable targets and that the international community must quadruple its efforts to meet 2030 goals.

The author contends that 'carbon farming' activities are unsuitable for carbon removal certification because they provide temporary, volatile storage that risks enabling greenwashing and delaying actual emission reductions. Instead of market-based carbon credits, the document proposes 'activity-based finance' to support farmers and foresters in adopting nature-based practices, funded by public resources or polluter-pays instruments.

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.

The steel sector accounts for 11% of global CO2 emissions, primarily due to the blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route which relies on metallurgical coal. While secondary steelmaking via electric arc furnaces (EAF) and green hydrogen-based Direct Reduction of Iron (DRI) offer cleaner alternatives, coal-based capacity continues to grow, with 80 million tons of annual capacity planned for relining. The document highlights that ArcelorMittal has weakened its 2030 emissions intensity reduction target from 25% to 10% and prioritizes shareholder returns over decarbonization. It calls on financial institutions to adopt corporate-level exclusion policies for metallurgical coal and stop financing the relining of blast furnaces.

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.

In 2022, Türkiye's coal generation returned to its previous peak of 113.6 TWh, driven largely by imported coal, with Russia becoming the primary supplier and the import bill reaching a record $5.3 billion. While wind and solar combined for a 15.5% share of generation, solar deployment lags behind its potential and faces grid capacity barriers. Hydropower proved critical for energy security during a ten-day gas supply disruption from Iran in January 2022, demonstrating its flexibility as a complement to variable renewables.