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In June 2026, solar power provided 25% of the EU's electricity, reaching a record 52 TWh and becoming the bloc's largest single power source for the third time ever.

The report analyzes the potential for batteries and demand flexibility from electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps to replace fossil-based grid balancing in the EU by 2030. It projects a significant increase in battery capacity and the ability of smart charging and heating to reduce peak demand and grid strain, provided that regulatory barriers are removed and smart meter rollout is accelerated.

This report by Ember argues that Europe can enhance its energy security and economic resilience by transitioning from a dependency on volatile fossil fuel imports to a system based on electrification and clean technology. It highlights that the EU already possesses a strong domestic manufacturing base for several key technologies and explains why dependencies on clean tech imports are fundamentally less risky than those for fossil fuels.

This report by Ember analyzes the declining role of gas in the global electricity mix as of 2025, noting that gas share has fallen for five consecutive years. The analysis highlights that while global gas generation has not yet peaked in absolute terms, its growth has slowed significantly as renewables increasingly meet new electricity demand, particularly in the G7 and large emerging economies.

The Center for International Environmental Law argues that the UNFCCC requires urgent reform to overcome the limitations of its consensus-based decision-making process, which allows a small number of countries to obstruct progress on fossil fuel phase-outs and climate finance.

The Climate Bonds Initiative's Q1 2026 report details the state of the global aligned GSS+ (Green, Social, Sustainability, and Sustainability-linked) debt market. As of March 2026, the cumulative aligned volume reached USD 6,986.0 billion, with green-labelled debt remaining the dominant theme. While the overall market saw a 9% decline in supply compared to Q1 2025 on a like-for-like basis, specific regions like France and Germany showed strong activity in social and green bonds, respectively.

This research paper presents the 'Financial Flows scenario', a model using the International Futures (IFs) forecasting platform to assess the impact of increased aid, foreign direct investment (FDI), and remittances, alongside reduced illicit financial flows (IFFs), on Africa's development indicators through 2043.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the transition from annual to hourly matching for accounting scope 2 emissions. It argues that hourly matching—requiring electricity consumption to be matched by renewable generation in the same hour—provides a more accurate reflection of decarbonisation and creates stronger market signals for renewable energy deployment than current annual standards. While 100% matching can be costly, the document suggests that partial matching (e.g., 80-90%) can maintain climate benefits while reducing costs. The briefing notes that the GHG Protocol is updating its Scope 2 Guidance, with a release expected in 2027, and highlights that hourly matching is already being implemented through 45 projects globally and specific regulatory frameworks like the EU's CBAM.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the funding landscape of the global ocean economy, noting that while public investment has increased over the last decade, it remains significantly below the estimated USD 550 billion needed annually by 2030. The report highlights a heavy reliance on official development assistance (ODA), which is currently facing cuts from major donors, and emphasizes the economic and climate benefits of closing the sustainable ocean funding gap.

This executive summary from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines policy coherence between the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030, drawing on research from nine countries. It argues that incoherence is driven by power asymmetries, vested interests, and the prioritization of economic growth over social and environmental goals, rather than simple coordination failures.

This report by Ember and IKND argues that Germany has a significant opportunity to enhance its energy security and reduce gas dependency by scaling up battery storage. While Germany leads Europe in battery capacity and has a strong project pipeline, the authors warn that current legislative drafts and a lack of a clean flexibility strategy may unfairly favor fossil gas in upcoming capacity auctions, potentially locking the country into costly gas imports.

A research paper by OCP and IISD examines the ability of the European Union's Public Procurement Data Space (PPDS) to track the actual environmental impact of green public procurement (GPP). The authors argue that while current monitoring focuses on intent (whether environmental objectives were declared), it is possible to estimate real-world carbon savings using existing data and spend-based estimation. A pilot study using German data in the construction and vehicle sectors suggests that the potential for emissions reductions is significantly higher than what is currently being achieved through green-tagged contracts.

The report 'Boom & Bust Coal 2026' by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants in 2025. It highlights a growing divergence where global coal capacity increased by 3.5% while actual production fell by 0.6%, as coal plants are increasingly used as backup capacity rather than primary energy sources. While China and India continue aggressive expansions, the number of countries pursuing new coal developments is declining, and the European Union is seeing a terminal decline in coal usage.

The report 'Pedal to the Metal 2026' by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the global iron and steel industry's struggle to decarbonize, highlighting a 'coal lock-in crisis' where continued investment in blast furnace (BF) capacity and relining of existing assets threaten net-zero targets despite incremental gains in electric arc furnace (EAF) and direct reduced iron (DRI) technologies.

This research paper analyzes the structural decline of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the systemic failures in allocating climate finance toward adaptation and resilience between 2024 and 2026. It argues that the primary constraint is not a lack of information or foresight, but an institutional 'decision gap' that prevents organizations from translating risk analysis into operational preparedness.

The report argues that betting on long-term growth for metallurgical coal (met coal) is a losing strategy as demand plateaus due to China's economic shift and the rise of low-carbon steel production. It highlights the risk of stranded assets given the volume of planned mine expansions and recommends that governments accelerate the transition to green steel through subsidy reform and public procurement.

In 2025, record solar and wind growth met 99% of global electricity demand increases, causing fossil fuel generation to decline for the first time since 2020. Renewables surpassed coal as a share of global electricity generation for the first time in a century, reaching 33.8%.

The global electricity sector has transitioned from fossil-fuelled growth to clean growth, with clean power meeting all global demand growth in 2025. This shift is driven largely by the plateauing of fossil generation in China and the rapid scale-up of solar and wind power. Battery storage is now emerging as a critical technology to displace fossil fuels during non-daylight hours, particularly in high-solar regions.

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity demand and supply trends in 2025 and over the preceding two decades. It details the growth of low-carbon sources, specifically solar and wind, and the relative decline of fossil fuels, while noting the impact of weather and policy on national energy mixes.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines how the start of the Iran war and subsequent fossil fuel price shocks have accelerated consumer and government interest in clean energy technologies, specifically solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and electric vehicles (EVs), across six European markets: Germany, Italy, France, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.