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3,178 results
Transition Indicators to broaden perspectives beyond adaptation and mitigation
The report argues that transition indicators can bridge the 'ambition gap' and 'implementation gap' by articulating the tangible socio-economic benefits of climate neutrality and resilience. Through case studies in Germany, South Korea, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and the Netherlands, the authors propose specific metrics for the power, industry, transport, building, and agricultural sectors. These indicators are designed to facilitate inclusive social dialogue, improve governance by clarifying sectoral responsibilities, and encourage international mutual learning, particularly within the Global South.
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Document type: Report
Direct electrification of industrial process heat
The study finds that direct electrification could replace 90% of the energy demand not yet electrified in European industry by 2035. While technologies like heat pumps and electric boilers are mature for low-temperature needs, high-temperature applications in sectors like cement and steel require further development of plasma, shock-wave, and resistance heating. The report highlights that economic barriers—specifically the price gap between electricity and natural gas—and organisational hurdles, such as insufficient grid infrastructure and long equipment lifetimes, are more significant obstacles than technical limitations. It argues that direct electrification is generally more energy-efficient than indirect electrification via hydrogen, particularly for low-temperature applications.
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Document type: Report
The hidden threat: Abandoned coal mine methane emissions in the EU
The briefing reports that underground coal mines in the EU closed since 2015 may emit approximately 200 kt of methane per year, with Poland being the largest contributor. It notes that active coal mine emissions in the EU are likely underestimated, with GEM estimates being 36% higher than IEA figures. The report emphasizes that emissions from abandoned mines persist for years unless flooded, but data on the flooding status of over 60% of analyzed mines remains unknown, creating significant uncertainty in estimates.
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Document type: Briefing
Inclusive biodiversity conservation and the unsustainability of ‘sustainable use’
The document challenges the South African government's promotion of trophy hunting as a conservation tool, asserting that the economic value of the practice is inflated and its ecological costs are too high. It argues that the 'sustainable use' philosophy creates unrealistic revenue expectations and promotes unsustainable practices. The author recommends transitioning to non-consumptive alternatives, such as ecotourism and conservation-enhancing agriculture, to better support local communities and ecological sustainability, aligning with the constitutional duty to protect the environment for future generations.
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Document type: Policy brief
LIMBUA Group Limited: A Kenyan processing and marketing enterprise in the fruit and nut sector
The document evaluates LIMBUA Group Limited, a Kenyan SME processing macadamia, avocado, and mangoes, using the RAI Tool to measure compliance with CFS-RAI principles. The analysis finds high levels of compliance across most dimensions, particularly in human resource development and inclusive governance. LIMBUA supports 9,647 organic and FairTrade certified farmers in Embu and Kirinyaga counties, providing a 20% price premium and technical advisory services via its proprietary BioFarm digital system. Key challenges identified include competition from unethical brokers, climate change affecting production cycles, and difficulties in accessing local startup finance. The report recommends further investment in diversification, improved seasonal cash flow support for farmers, and government intervention to regulate brokers.
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Document type: Case study
How the Transition Away From Fossil Fuel Production Can Be Included in New Climate Commitments and Plans
The report analyzes the current state of fossil fuel production references in the climate commitments of the 20 largest producers and provides a framework for including production phase-outs in future NDCs and LT-LEDS. It finds that most producers either omit production plans or signal continued extraction, which contradicts 1.5°C-compatible scenarios. The authors propose five key elements for new commitments: background production data, phase-out targets, restrictive policies, just transition planning, and equity-based international cooperation.
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Document type: Report
POWER MOVES AND POWER FAILURES
The report evaluates the transition plans of Enel, ENGIE, EPH, Iberdrola, and Statkraft, finding that none have committed to phasing out fossil gas power in Europe or the OECD by 2035. While Iberdrola and Statkraft are highlighted as following better practices by focusing on sustainable power solutions, EPH is identified as an industry laggard with a strategy heavily reliant on coal and gas. Enel and ENGIE are described as having conflicting strategies that combine renewable growth with continued fossil gas development and reliance on immature technologies like hydrogen and CCUS. The analysis emphasizes that current CAPEX allocations for several utilities remain too high for fossil fuels to meet the IEA's Net-zero Emissions by 2050 scenario.
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Document type: Report
Climate Negotiations Glossary
The Climate Negotiations Glossary defines the technical, political, and procedural terminology of the UNFCCC process. It covers the governing bodies of the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement, as well as the roles of various negotiation blocks, observer constituencies, and financial mechanisms. The guide explains specific articles of the Paris Agreement (such as Article 6 on carbon markets and Article 9 on finance), the functions of constituted bodies like the Adaptation Committee, and the logistical details of COP meetings, including the 'blue zone' and 'green zone'.
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Document type: Guide
EU elections 2024: all you need to know about the upcoming EU elections
The European Parliament elections, held June 6-9, 2024, determine the legislative representation for 27 EU Member States, with the number of seats increasing from 705 to 720. The document emphasizes the role of the European Parliament in shaping the EU Green Deal and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, while warning against the weakening of environmental requirements in the Common Agricultural Policy and the dropping of chemical regulations like REACH. It advocates for closing the 'implementation gap' of environmental laws, which could save the EU economy EUR 55 billion annually in health and environmental costs, and calls for universal access to justice rights for citizens and NGOs to challenge environmental law-breaking across all Member States.
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Document type: Guide
The Houthi (Ansar Allah) Digital Ecosystem
The Houthi movement utilizes a diverse network of official and unofficial digital channels to project influence and solidarity with Palestinians, leveraging a 'grey area' in platform moderation and government designations to avoid total censorship. The group's messaging is amplified by Iranian state media, pro-Kremlin networks, and far-left commentators, while official English-language content is carefully curated to be more palatable to international audiences than its Arabic counterparts.
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Document type: Briefing
Fact-checking du 3ème débat des européennes 100% consacré à l'écologie - quotaclimat
The report evaluates claims made by candidates from the Socialist Party, Renew, La France insoumise, and Les Écologistes across five key sectors: transport, housing, agriculture, international trade, and finance. It corrects misconceptions regarding railway privatization, energy renovation rates, agricultural demographics, and the financial impact of proposed green taxes.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Seizing the clean tech opportunity in Germany
Germany invested USD 89.12 billion in clean technologies in 2023, representing 29% of total EU investment. While China dominates wind and solar PV, Germany maintains a leadership position in the EU for battery and heat pump manufacture. The document highlights a significant global investment opportunity, with renewable technologies and battery storage potentially reaching USD 5.68 trillion by 2050. However, Germany faces risks from the aggressive industrial policies of the US (such as the Inflation Reduction Act) and China, which may lead companies like Tesla and Northvolt to scale back German operations. The briefing argues that a more robust industrial strategy is required to prevent a repeat of the collapse seen in Germany's solar and wind sectors around 2012 and 2016.
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Document type: Briefing
Draft national targets put EU just short of REPowerEU
Analysis of draft NECPs indicates that while EU member states have significantly increased wind and solar targets since 2019, the current trajectory falls short of REPowerEU goals. Renewables are projected to generate 66% of EU electricity by 2030, missing the 72% target. The report highlights a lack of data transparency in the drafts, particularly regarding power system flexibility and post-2030 decarbonisation pathways.
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Document type: Research paper
Renewables: From Monopoly to Democratisation
The text examines the role of energy communities in mitigating the 'green backlash' and far-right growth in Europe. It contrasts industrial-scale renewable projects, which often exclude rural populations in countries like Spain and Greece, with community-led initiatives that prioritize socio-environmental benefits over profit. The author highlights that community energy projects can provide up to eight times more economic benefit to local economies than private projects. Examples of innovation include agri-photovoltaic projects in Greece and North Macedonia, and a biomass heating network in Spain. The document calls for EU and member state support to ensure that the energy transition is inclusive and democratic, preventing profits from accruing only to large companies.
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Document type: Statement
Serviços básicos universais: uma vida mais verde e justa para todos
The text advocates for 'universal basic services'—publicly funded, sustainable access to essentials like transport, housing, and childcare—as a means to ensure a socially just ecological transition in Europe. It argues that current EU climate policies, such as the European Green Deal, are too reliant on market mechanisms and regulation, which can be regressive and disproportionately affect low-income households. The author contends that shifting from a GDP-centered growth model to one based on 'sufficiency' and collective action can reduce carbon intensity and combat inequality. To achieve this, the document calls for the removal of restrictive EU budgetary rules, the taxation of excess corporate profits and wealth, and a move away from using high interest rates to combat inflation, which the author claims hinders green investment.
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Document type: Statement
EU fossil generation below 25% for the first month ever
In April 2024, fossil fuel generation in the EU fell to a record monthly low of 23%, with coal and gas both seeing significant declines. This shift was driven by record-high wind and solar output, which together provided 34% of electricity, and a recovery in hydropower. Consequently, the EU power sector's emissions in April reached a record low of 38 million tonnes of CO2, contributing to an 18% year-on-year decrease in emissions for the first four months of 2024 despite a slight recovery in electricity demand.
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Document type: Briefing
Global Electricity Source Trends
In 2023, solar and wind power continued to grow, with solar producing a record 5.5% of global electricity and wind reaching 7.8%. China was the primary driver for both, accounting for 51% of solar growth and 60% of wind additions. Conversely, coal generation reached a record high of 10,434 TWh (35% of the global mix), largely due to droughts in China reducing hydropower output, which fell by a record 88 TWh. Fossil gas remained the second-largest source at 23%, with growth driven by the US. Nuclear generation saw a slight rebound to 9.1% of the mix, while bioenergy reached a record 697 TWh (2.4%). The report notes that while solar and wind are on a positive trajectory, coal and gas must decline sharply, and nuclear and hydro must accelerate growth to meet IEA Net Zero Emissions targets by 2030.
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Document type: Report
Major Countries and Regions
In 2023, the world's top six electricity sector emitters—China, the US, India, the EU, Russia, and Japan—accounted for approximately 72% of global emissions from this sector. China remains the largest emitter, though it leads the world in wind and solar growth. The US and EU have seen long-term emissions declines driven by the replacement of coal with gas and renewables. India's emissions continue to rise as demand growth outpaces clean energy additions. Russia's electricity mix remains largely unchanged over two decades, while Japan is seeing a recovery in nuclear generation and a significant increase in solar share, despite very low wind deployment.
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Document type: Report
Electricity Transition in 2023
In 2023, the share of renewables in the global electricity mix exceeded 30% for the first time, driven by record solar and wind generation. Despite this, total power sector emissions reached a record high of 14,153 million tonnes of CO2 because clean growth could not fully meet rising demand and was hampered by a record fall in hydropower. While carbon intensity hit a record low of 480 gCO2/kWh, fossil generation increased by 135 TWh, primarily in emerging economies like China and India where droughts reduced hydro output.
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Document type: Report
The Big Picture
The report identifies 2023 as the likely peak for global power sector emissions, forecasting a decline in 2024 driven by record solar and wind additions. While electricity demand is expected to rise due to electrification, data centres, and air conditioning, the growth of clean energy is projected to outpace this demand. The document highlights that tripling renewable capacity by 2030 could halve power sector emissions. It also provides case studies of China, Brazil, and the Netherlands to demonstrate how high-level ambition, incentive mechanisms, and the removal of technical barriers can accelerate the transition regardless of geographic or economic starting points.
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Document type: Report