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Written Testimony of Jonathan F. Lewis Senior Counsel Clean Air Task Force Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources “Hearing on Offshore Energy Technologies”
The document advocates for a transition to zero-carbon fuels like hydrogen and ammonia to address the high emissions of the marine shipping sector, which is identified as a "hard to abate" industry. It details production pathways including electrolysis and gas reforming with carbon capture and storage (CCS), and proposes federal policy interventions such as the American Energy Innovation Act of 2020, production tax credits, and the creation of regional fuel hubs to reduce costs and build necessary infrastructure.
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Document type: Statement
Phaesun GmbH – 14.4 kWp Solar PV Off-grid Connect System (Eritrea)
Phaesun GmbH installed a 14.4 kWp solar PV system with battery storage at Orotta Hospital in Eritrea, funded by the NGO Archemed for EUR 75,000. The system provides a reliable power supply for pediatric cardiac surgery and neonatology wards, mitigating frequent grid blackouts and unreliable diesel generators. Since December 2014, the system has enabled round-the-clock operations for critical loads, managed and maintained by the Eritrean Ministry of Health.
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Document type: Case study
Embedding ambitious climate action at the heart of economic recovery
The We Mean Business Coalition argues that integrating climate ambition into economic recovery is a strategic necessity for long-term growth and resilience. The statement highlights that green recovery measures are more effective at creating jobs and increasing GDP than traditional stimulus. It calls for specific policy actions, including the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, mandatory TCFD-aligned financial disclosures, and the requirement that companies receiving public financial assistance adopt science-based targets consistent with a 1.5°C warming limit.
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Document type: Statement
Europe’s Electricity Demand Roars Back, Driving Up Coal Generation
The report finds that EU electricity demand nearly returned to 2019 levels by August 2020, leading to a surge in coal generation. This trend was exacerbated by record low nuclear output in France, which created a supply gap that wind and solar growth could not fully fill, resulting in coal generation reaching its highest level since March 2020.
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Document type: Report
Rally around the flag: the far-right response to Covid-19
The research paper examines the responses of far-right parties—specifically the Lega (Italy), AfD (Germany), and Swedish Democrats (Sweden)—to the Covid-19 pandemic. It argues that while these parties initially struggled to find a resonant message due to a 'rally around the flag' effect favoring incumbent governments, they continue to use the crisis to reinforce populist divisions between 'the people' and 'elites' or 'others'. The author suggests that the future of far-right populism will depend on the social and economic consequences of government measures and the perceived legitimacy of expert-led decision-making.
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Document type: Research paper
Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Emission Projections
The report analyzes how the COVID-19 pandemic affects global emission pathways toward Paris Agreement goals, estimating a 2020 CO2 reduction of 4% to 8% depending on lockdown duration. It projects a potential 2030 emission reduction of 2.5 to 4.5 GtCO2e relative to pre-pandemic projections, though this could be offset by a rebound to fossil fuels. Additionally, it introduces a classification framework for recovery measures, finding that 31% of Germany's June 2020 stimulus package consists of 'green' measures.
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Document type: Report
The German coal exit law: grounds of incompatibility of the compensations for hard coal plants with State aid law
ClientEarth submits that the German Coal Exit Law (KAG) provides incompatible State aid through the Steinkohlezuschlag (hard coal closure compensations) and CHP conversion bonuses. The document argues that older hard coal plants (over 25 years) lack residual value, meaning compensations would result in overcompensation and lack an incentive effect. Furthermore, it claims that CHP funding—specifically the Coal Substitute and South Bonuses—may discourage rapid coal phase-out by offering more attractive financial terms than closure auctions and by promoting unsustainable fuels like natural gas and biomass. ClientEarth calls for a formal Commission investigation into these measures, citing potential violations of Articles 7, 9, and 11 TFEU regarding environmental protection and sustainable development.
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Document type: Statement
A State Aid Framework for a Green Recovery
The report argues that the EU Commission should integrate climate and environmental protection objectives into its State aid decision-making process to ensure that national economic recovery programmes are consistent with the European Green Deal and the goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
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Document type: Report
The German lignite phase-out contract and investment arbitration
The briefing examines a draft contract for Germany's lignite phase-out, specifically focusing on a waiver clause designed to stop operators from using international investment arbitration. While the clause allows the government to stop compensation payments if violated, it cannot bind foreign shareholders, who may still initiate claims under the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) or bilateral investment treaties.
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Document type: Briefing
Carbon Contracts for Differences: their role in European industrial decarbonization
The document argues that CCfDs can mitigate regulatory and price uncertainty in carbon markets while providing innovation incentives for low-carbon industrial technologies. It positions CCfDs as one element of a broader five-part policy package including climate contributions, renewable CfDs, green public procurement, and product carbon requirements. The brief examines the economic costs and social values of CCfDs, suggests national-level implementation to be practical despite state aid complexities, and discusses their potential integration with COVID-19 Recovery Funds to ensure long-term business cases for green industrial investments.
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Document type: Policy brief
Just transition or just talk?
The report finds that 11 of 18 EU coal-using countries lack Paris-compatible phase-out plans, with seven not planning to exit coal by 2030 and four replacing coal with increased fossil gas. It argues that the Just Transition Fund's current allocation methodology risks funding 'climate laggards,' as nearly two-thirds of the fund would go to countries without 2030 phase-out plans. The authors recommend making fund access conditional on ambitious coal phase-out dates and strictly excluding all fossil fuels, including gas, from the fund's scope.
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Document type: Report
Sustainability Assessment of an Onshore Wind Portfolio in Germany
The report evaluates a 28.7 MW onshore wind portfolio in Germany against a gas-fired power plant of equivalent annual generation. Using the SAVi methodology, it integrates externalities (environmental, social, and economic) and climate change risks (physical and transitional) into a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), and financial analysis. The findings indicate that while both assets are viable under conventional metrics, the wind portfolio is significantly more resilient to climate risks and societal costs. The gas-fired plant's financial viability collapses if a carbon tax is introduced or if social costs of carbon are internalized, whereas the wind portfolio maintains positive internal rates of return (IRR) and lower societal LCOE.
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Document type: Report
QUANTITATIVE EASING AND CLIMATE 2: Fueling the fossil gas frenzy
The European Central Bank (ECB) is accused of fueling a 'fossil gas frenzy' through its asset purchase programs. Reclaim Finance identifies 24 companies benefiting from ECB quantitative easing that are actively operating or planning gas infrastructure globally and in Europe. The document highlights that 11 of these companies plan 62 new fossil gas projects, with Total, Shell, Engie, and Enel being major developers. It argues that natural gas is not a low-carbon alternative due to high life-cycle emissions and methane leaks, and is more expensive than wind or solar energy. The briefing calls for the ECB to immediately exclude corporations developing new fossil fuel projects from its asset purchases.
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Document type: Briefing
QUANTITATIVE EASING ET CLIMAT 2
The briefing asserts that the European Central Bank (ECB) is fueling a 'gas frenzy' by purchasing assets from companies heavily invested in fossil fuel infrastructure. It highlights that 24 companies benefiting from ECB asset purchases are active in gas expansion, with 11 companies developing 6,215 new gas projects. The document challenges the narrative of natural gas as a 'transition energy,' citing its carbon emissions, methane leaks, and higher costs compared to renewables. It specifically names Total, Shell, Engie, and Enel as major developers of gas projects, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), and urges the ECB to integrate ethical and environmental criteria into its asset purchases to align with the Paris Agreement.
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Document type: Briefing
AU-EU Partnership to Promote Sustainable Energy Transitions
The policy brief examines the opportunities and challenges of a sustainable energy transition partnership between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU). It highlights Africa's vast renewable energy potential and the possibility of energy trade via Power-to-X technologies, while cautioning that the EU must avoid post-colonial rhetoric and provide tailor-made incentives for fossil-fuel-dependent African nations. The authors recommend joint vision formulation, large-scale green infrastructure investment through blended finance, and a focus on job creation and education to ensure a just transition.
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Document type: Policy brief
Mission Blue - Exploring Circular Interventions in the Baltic Sea Region
The 'Mission Blue' workshop, organized by the BONUS RETURN project, engaged 49 stakeholders from seven countries to develop five prototype interventions to combat eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. Using a three-step 'Cook, Incubation, and Evaluation' methodology, participants combined 21 pre-defined measures across coordination, data, ecotechnologies, and policy categories. The resulting interventions focused on nutrient circularity, ranging from improving knowledge transfer between farmers and authorities to integrating sea-based mussel farming with land-based nutrient management. The report discusses the challenges of operationalizing mission-oriented policies, emphasizing the need to move beyond 'silo' organizational structures, align local capacities with strategic visions, and utilize public procurement to drive circular business models.
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Document type: Report
2020-08-25-letter-to-dg-competition-legality-of-state-aid-to-german-lignite-operators-ce-en-46cafeb1b29041ee.pdf
ClientEarth argues that the German coal phase-out law (KVBG) and its implementing contract provide excessive state aid to lignite operators, specifically LEAG and RWE. The organization claims that the lack of a transparent calculation formula masks overcompensation totaling nearly €2 billion. Furthermore, ClientEarth asserts that using these funds to cover the recultivation of opencast mines violates the polluter pays principle, as such costs are already legal obligations of the mine operators under German mining law.
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Document type: Statement
How Can India’s Energy Sector Recover Sustainably from COVID-19? Part 2 – Environmental Sustainability: Tracking COVID-19 support for fossil fuels and renewables in India
The document examines India's energy sector response to COVID-19, noting a trend of continued support for domestic coal and thermal power despite global clean energy goals. It highlights that while some clean energy initiatives exist, such as electric vehicle policies in Delhi and solar power for farmers in Andhra Pradesh, fossil fuel support remains dominant. The briefing advocates for a comprehensive green industrial policy for solar manufacturing, the phase-out of inefficient thermal plants, and the implementation of 'just transition' frameworks to support coal-dependent communities.
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Document type: Briefing
Green bond market summary H1 2020
The global green bond market saw a 26% year-on-year decline in issuance volume during H1 2020, totaling USD 91.6 billion, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While green issuance slowed, there was a surge in 'pandemic' labeled debt (approximately USD 75 billion) and social/sustainability bonds (USD 94.4 billion). Developed markets dominated the landscape, contributing 82% of issuance, with the US and France leading. Government-backed entities and non-financial corporates were the most prominent issuer types, and energy remained the most popular use of proceeds category at 34%.
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Document type: Report
Gerenciamento de Risco na Agricultura Brasileira: Instrumentos, Políticas Públicas e Perspectivas
The report analyzes Brazil's agricultural risk management landscape, highlighting a significant gap in insurance coverage compared to global peers like the US and China. It examines key programs such as the PSR, Proagro, Garantia-Safra, and PGPM, noting high market concentration and a heavy reliance on credit over insurance. The authors argue that inadequate risk management leads to underinvestment and inefficient land use, recommending a shift in public funding from rural credit to insurance subsidies and the expansion of the Agricultural Climate Risk Zoning (ZARC) system.
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Document type: Report