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India’s zombie threat
The report identifies 27 GW of planned coal power plants in India as "zombie" assets that are superfluous to the country's electricity requirements for FY 2030. It argues that India can meet both aggregate and peak demand growth through its existing construction pipeline and the expansion of renewable energy (RE) and battery storage. The analysis suggests that cancelling these projects would save Rs. 247,421 crore in capital expenditure and potentially reduce annual power purchase costs by Rs. 43,219 crore. The report warns that building these plants would lock consumers into expensive contracts, create stranded assets, and jeopardize India's target of 450 GW of RE by 2030.
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Document type: Report
NO NEW COAL BY 2021
The global pipeline of proposed coal power plants has collapsed by 76% since the 2015 Paris Agreement, with 1,175GW of projects cancelled. While China remains the largest pursuer of coal, hosting 55% of the remaining pre-construction pipeline, many OECD and non-OECD countries have already committed to or are positioned for 'no new coal'. The report highlights that action by six countries—China, India, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Turkey, and Bangladesh—could remove 82% of the remaining global pre-construction pipeline.
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Document type: Report
Water governance for resilient food systems for future climates
The statement calls for a transformation of water governance to protect food systems from climate-driven water cycle disruptions. It proposes six foundational attributes for water-resilient food systems: interconnected systems thinking, polycentric inclusive governance, continual innovation and learning, diversity and redundancy, system preparedness, and long-term planning. The authors emphasize that the climate crisis is effectively a water resilience crisis, requiring a shift from reactionary responses to proactive, robust, and flexible management strategies that prioritize equity and the inclusion of marginalized groups.
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Document type: Statement
ACHIEVING A FOSSIL-FREE RECOVERY IN INDONESIA
The document analyzes Indonesia's National Economic Recovery (PEN) program, finding that 2020 spending heavily favored fossil fuel-related state-owned enterprises and subsidies over clean energy. It highlights a gap in renewable energy targets—reaching only 11.2% in 2020 against a 13.4% target—and recommends reforming fossil fuel subsidies and implementing conditional fiscal support to accelerate the energy transition.
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Document type: Policy brief
Nature-Based Infrastructure: A powerful tool for women's empowerment in climate adaptation
The briefing examines how nature-based infrastructure (NBI) can provide equitable benefits for women, who are disproportionately affected by climate change. It highlights that while women often face barriers to accessing natural resources due to social norms and land tenure systems, NBI projects—such as mangrove restoration in Senegal or agroforestry in Belgium—can protect livelihoods and improve public health. The author emphasizes that integrating gender-responsive approaches and capacity-building strategies is essential for making climate adaptation more effective and sustainable. To support this, the IISD's NBI Global Resource Centre aims to incorporate gender-disaggregated data and specific gender-related questions into the valuation of NBI projects to ensure inclusive benefits.
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Document type: Briefing
Financing Green Recovery From Fossil Fuel Taxation and Subsidy Reform
The document proposes that Indonesia generate approximately IDR 261 trillion per year by reforming fossil fuel subsidies and introducing new taxes on coal and transport fuels. These funds could cover COVID-19 health and social protection expenditures while supporting a transition to renewable energy. The authors recommend a phased approach to price reform, including targeted social safety nets to protect vulnerable populations from rising energy costs.
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Document type: Briefing
Global update
The September 2021 Global Update by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) finds that global climate action continues to lag behind the requirements for limiting warming to 1.5°C. While some countries have updated their NDCs, the 2030 emissions gap remains significant, estimated at 20 to 23 GtCO2e. The report introduces a new rating system that integrates targets, policies, and climate finance, revealing that only The Gambia is overall 1.5°C Paris Agreement compatible. Most net zero targets are rated as poor or incomplete, and developed countries are failing to provide sufficient international climate finance or implement policies that align with their fair share of global mitigation efforts.
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Document type: Briefing
Climate Action Tracker CAT rating methodology
The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) 2021 rating methodology employs a dual-framework approach, combining 'fair share' principles and 'modelled domestic pathways' to assess government climate action. It evaluates targets (domestic and international), implemented policies, and climate finance to determine an overall rating. The system distinguishes between developed countries, which are expected to provide finance and meet stringent domestic targets, and developing countries, which may require international support to achieve full decarbonisation. The methodology specifically excludes land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) from main ratings but flags them when they significantly impact a country's emissions profile.
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Document type: Report
COAL POWER FINANCE IN HIGH-IMPACT COUNTRIES
The document analyzes coal finance in 18 high-impact countries (HICs) in South Asia and Africa, highlighting that while global trends shift toward renewables, significant coal investment persists, largely driven by Chinese state-owned institutions. It argues that coal is an inefficient path to universal electricity access compared to distributed renewables and warns of stranded asset risks, citing overcapacity in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
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Document type: Briefing
Closing the gap
The G20, responsible for 75% of global GHG emissions, currently has commitments that put the world on a trajectory for 2.4°C of warming. While announced but non-formalized pledges could lower this to 2.1°C, only a comprehensive shift where all G20 members align with 1.5°C pathways and mid-century net zero targets could limit warming to 1.7°C. The report identifies a 23 GtCO2e emissions gap for 2030 and warns that many net zero pledges are unrealistic without significantly stronger near-term (2030) targets. Achieving the 1.5°C goal will require G20 leadership, action from non-G20 countries, and the fulfillment of climate finance commitments to developing nations.
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Document type: Research paper
Closing the gap
The report finds that current G20 commitments put the world on a trajectory for 2.4°C of warming by 2100. While announced but non-formalised pledges could lower this to 2.1°C, only an 'enhanced ambition' scenario—where all G20 members align 2030 targets with 1.5°C pathways and commit to mid-century net zero—could limit warming to 1.7°C. The authors argue that G20 countries, accounting for 75% of global emissions, are uniquely positioned to close three-quarters of the temperature gap, provided they accelerate near-term action and developed nations ramp up financial support to developing countries.
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Document type: Research paper
World Wildlife Fund (WWF–US) FY20 Corporate Partnerships Report
The WWF-US FY20 Corporate Partnerships Report outlines the organization's strategic approach to collaborating with the private sector to address environmental degradation. It categorizes partnerships into four types: driving sustainable business practices, communications and awareness raising, philanthropic partnerships, and employee engagement. The document lists specific corporate partners across various revenue tiers, highlighting collaborations on issues such as plastic waste, deforestation, and climate change, and notes that corporate partnership income represented 4% of the WWF-US office's total income in FY20.
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Document type: Report
Assessment of new coal generation capacity targets in South Africa’s 2019 Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity
The study finds that new coal generation is unnecessary for energy security, more expensive than renewable alternatives, and incompatible with the Paris Agreement. Modelling shows that forcing 1.5 GW of new coal into the power system increases total discounted costs by R23 billion in a reference scenario and R109 billion in a climate policy scenario, while reducing GDP and employment.
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Document type: Research paper
Taxing Coal to Hit the Goals: A simple way for Indonesia to reduce carbon emissions
The policy brief proposes that Indonesia adopt a coal tax of IDR 78,700 (USD 5.50) per tonne, similar to India's model, to address the fact that coal accounts for 40% of the country's energy-related emissions. Such a tax would generate approximately IDR 49 trillion (USD 3.6 billion) annually, which could fund clean energy investments and support vulnerable households and coal workers. The author emphasizes that this is a simpler, faster alternative to complex carbon pricing systems and would help mitigate the 7,480 premature deaths caused annually by air pollution from coal-fired power stations.
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Document type: Policy brief
The BRICS’ lagging vaccine diplomacy
The BRICS nations failed to mount a unified response to the COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by inconsistent vaccine adoption and delayed consensus on intellectual property waivers. Despite the high disease burden in India and Brazil, and the production capacity of India and South Africa, the bloc's 'lukewarm cooperation' has undermined its goal of reforming global governance.
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Document type: Research paper
Pathogen Early Warning: New Technologies and Approaches
The document outlines a 'layered detection' strategy for early warning of infectious disease outbreaks, focusing on the integration of metagenomic sequencing, multiplexed detection, environmental surveillance, serological testing, non-invasive wearables, point-of-person tests, and digital detection. It provides specific research and development recommendations for U.S. government agencies and other stakeholders to move these technologies from early-stage research to large-scale procurement and deployment.
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Document type: Briefing
Turning Around the Power Distribution Sector
The document outlines the need for financial, operational, and policy reforms within India's power distribution companies (discoms) to overcome losses and enable the transition to a clean energy future.
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Document type: Report
the last 100 Days
SEforALL reports on its leadership in organizing Ministerial Thematic Forums to secure Energy Compacts, its advocacy for eradicating energy poverty within the G20, and its technical support for national energy transitions in countries such as Nigeria and Rwanda. The organization also highlights the launch of practitioner tools for mini-grid emissions and sustainable cooling, alongside diplomatic engagements with the UAE and the US to accelerate the global energy transition toward SDG7.
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Document type: Report
GREEN BONDS IN SOUTH AFRICA
The report examines how green bonds and transition finance can support South Africa's shift from a coal-dependent energy system to a low-carbon economy. It highlights the critical role of the two largest emitters, Eskom and Sasol, and proposes various financial models, including sovereign green bonds and asset-backed securities, to attract international capital while managing the social implications of a 'Just Transition'.
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Document type: Report
Electrical Grids and Storage Criteria
The document outlines the development of certification criteria for electrical grids and storage to mobilise private capital for low-carbon infrastructure. It establishes that most modern grid investments are eligible if they support the integration of renewables or are part of a system on a trajectory toward decarbonisation, adopting the EU taxonomy as a baseline. It specifically excludes pumped hydropower and hydrogen storage from this sector's scope. The criteria also mandate that issuers demonstrate climate resilience by assessing physical risks and implementing mitigation measures over the assets' operational lifetimes.
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Document type: Report