Search Climate Insights Directory

The document criticizes the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) for granting excessive free pollution permits to heavy industry, citing court cases involving ArcelorMittal in Luxembourg and ExxonMobil in Germany as evidence of systemic abuse. It argues that lax 'carbon leakage' rules allow companies to profit from selling surplus permits while emissions remain stagnant, and advocates for a transition to a carbon-free industrial framework based on meaningful carbon pricing and innovation.

LeasePlan CEO Tex Gunning urges Germany to embrace electric vehicles (EVs) as a critical tool for reducing transport emissions and driving economic growth. He highlights that while the global automotive industry and countries like China, the UK, and Norway are accelerating their shift to EVs, Germany's transport sector has seen no GHG emission reductions since 1990. Gunning calls on the German clean mobility commission to provide the policy clarity needed for businesses to invest in a zero-carbon transport future.

The Inclusive Job Centre (IJC), established in 2015 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, facilitates the employment of persons with disabilities in the textile and garment sector. Supported by the PSES programme, the centre provides matching services, training, and advisory support to factories. Outcomes include 250 persons with disabilities finding jobs and approximately 230 factories implementing inclusion measures, shifting the perception of disability hiring from a CSR activity to a productive business choice.

The analysis finds that Germany's current climate targets, including the Climate Mitigation Plan 2050, are insufficient to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, potentially resulting in 20% to 130% more emissions by mid-century than allowed. To be unambiguously compatible with the 1.5°C limit and fulfill its historical responsibility, the document argues Germany must reach zero emissions by 2030. It further notes that failing to meet the original -40% target for 2020 has already consumed 10% of Germany's 1.5°C budget for 2010-2050, necessitating steeper future reductions.

The analysis finds that Germany's current climate targets are incompatible with the 1.5°C limit, potentially leading to 20% to 130% more emissions than allowed by mid-century. To be indisputably compatible and meet its global responsibility, the report argues Germany must reduce emissions to zero by 2030. It further notes that failing to meet the 2020 target of a 40% reduction has already consumed approximately 10% of Germany's 1.5°C budget for 2010-2050, necessitating a steeper future reduction path.

The document estimates that failing to meet 2030 transport sector emission targets could cost Germany between 3 and 36 billion euros, primarily through the purchase of emission rights from other EU member states.

The report analyzes the legal landscape for RES prosumers and renewable energy communities (REComs) in the EU and nine Member States: Belgium/Flanders, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It finds a significant gap between recent EU-level efforts to promote active citizen participation—such as the RED II and the draft recast Electricity Directive—and the diverse, often restrictive, national laws. While some countries like Germany and France have more advanced frameworks, others like Portugal and Belgium/Flanders face substantial regulatory barriers, including the lack of legal definitions for energy communities and restrictions on peer-to-peer energy sharing. The report concludes that EU legislation is likely to drive national policy changes toward more progressive, citizen-centered energy models.

The document analyzes the scale of plastic pollution in China, noting that China's 2017 plastic production was approximately 75 million tons. It details the EU's comprehensive approach, including the Waste Framework Directive and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, which utilize Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to shift financial and operational burdens to producers. The paper highlights EU targets under 'Plastics 2030' to make all plastic packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030. It concludes by recommending that China upgrade its legal systems, adopt whole-process management from production to disposal, and cooperate with the EU on transboundary waste treatment and global governance.

In 2018, global coal power growth indicators declined for the third consecutive year, with new construction capacity falling 39% compared to 2017. While China and India saw record lows in new permits, China remained an outlier by resuming construction on previously frozen projects. The United States led the world in plant closures, recording 17.6 GW of decommissioned capacity. The report highlights that meeting IPCC climate goals of 1.5°C to 2°C requires a rapid phase-out of coal, yet China's China Electricity Council has proposed increasing its coal capacity limit to 1,300 GW by 2030. In India, coal is facing stiff competition from cheaper solar and wind energy, while Vietnam has seen the fastest growth in coal capacity among countries with over 4 GW, though it is facing increasing public opposition and financial tightening from Japanese banks.

The report finds that most indicators of global coal power growth declined in 2018, with significant drops in new construction starts and permits in China and India. While global retirements reached near-record levels, led by the US, China remains a major exception by resuming construction on previously shelved plants and proposing a high coal power cap for 2030. The document argues that current operating coal plants already exceed the limits necessary to meet IPCC global warming targets of 1.5°C or 2°C.

The report finds a three-year decline in global coal power growth indicators as of 2018, driven by record reductions in permits in China and India and accelerated closures in the US. However, it highlights a contradictory trend where financial institutions from China, Japan, and South Korea have become the primary funders for overseas coal projects. While global planned capacity has dropped significantly since 2015, the report warns that current operational plants already exceed the IPCC's carbon limits for 1.5°C and 2°C warming targets. It specifically notes China's potential to add up to 290GW of capacity by 2030 if a proposal by the China Electricity Council is adopted.

The 2019 report by Global Energy Monitor, Sierra Club, and Greenpeace indicates a three-year decline in major growth indicators for coal-fired power generation. While global project pipelines and new licenses in China and India have dropped significantly, China remains a critical factor due to its financing of international projects and potential policy shifts regarding its domestic capacity ceiling. The United States led the world in coal plant retirements in 2018, despite political efforts to maintain aging plants. The report emphasizes that current operational coal capacity exceeds the limits required to meet IPCC climate goals of 1.5°C or 2°C warming.

The document defines natural infrastructure (NI) as ecosystems providing infrastructure services and distinguishes between 'natural' (e.g., wetlands) and 'green-grey' (e.g., permeable pavements) types. It argues that NI is generally more cost-effective than grey infrastructure, offering co-benefits in land security, climate regulation, and water security. However, adoption is hindered by high transaction costs, long time horizons for full capacity, and a lack of standardized quantitative evaluation tools. The report provides specific cost data for artificial wetlands and restoration projects, while identifying policy interventions—such as rating systems and market instruments—to incentivize investment.

The document outlines how countries can coordinate policy processes across different global agendas to improve coherence and efficiency in climate-resilient development. It identifies the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process as a key connecting point and details the enabling factors, objective-setting steps, and practical entry points necessary for successful alignment.

The document provides practical guidance for countries to align their national policy processes to achieve climate-resilient development. It emphasizes the role of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) as a key link between international commitments and operational implementation. The briefing outlines the relationships between global programs and national policies, identifies enabling factors such as institutional arrangements and capacity building, and proposes a four-step approach to defining alignment goals. It also provides a framework of key questions to help countries identify entry points for alignment across synergies, process mapping, and financing.

The European Defence Fund (EDF) represents a significant shift in EU policy, marking the first time the Union directly invests public funds into military technologies. With an estimated 13 billion euro allocated for 2021-2027, the fund aims to enhance the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) and achieve 'strategic autonomy' by funding cutting-edge research and interoperable capabilities. A specific portion (4% to 8%) is dedicated to 'disruptive technologies,' such as artificial intelligence and robotics. However, the initiative faces criticism over the potential for 'corporate capture' by the defence industry, a lack of transparency in fund management, and a perceived shift in the EU's identity from a peace project to a military investor.

The document details Burkina Faso's transition from the 2007 National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) to a comprehensive National Adaptation Plan (NAP) adopted in 2015. It outlines a multisectoral approach targeting water, agriculture, health, and energy, emphasizing a vision for climate resilience by 2050. The study highlights the institutional role of the Permanent Secretariat of the National Council for Sustainable Development (SP/CNDD) and identifies critical gaps in financing, inter-ministerial communication, and the need for reliable long-term scientific data.

The document provides an overview of energy storage solutions, highlighting the transition from traditional pumped-storage hydropower to advanced battery technologies like lithium-ion. It details the technical trade-offs between different storage methods, the economic trends driving adoption, and the regulatory environment in the U.S. aimed at increasing grid flexibility and resilience.

The document advocates for Poland to adopt climate finance tracking methodologies, similar to those used in France and Germany, to manage the large-scale investment needs required for Paris-compatible development and to redirect financial flows toward sustainable solutions.

The document serves as a reference list of legal precedents and compliance findings related to access to justice. It categorises these by the issuing body: the Court of Justice of the EU, the General Court, and the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC). The listed cases cover a wide range of legal issues, including the definition of "individual concern," standing for NGOs, the standard of review under the EIA and Habitats Directives, and the compliance of the Aarhus Regulation with the Aarhus Convention.