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The report finds that GenAI was present in 80% of competitive national elections in 2024, primarily used for creating synthetic content like deepfakes. While some beneficial uses for civic outreach were noted, 69% of incidents were categorized as harmful. A significant portion of GenAI content (46%) remains unattributable to a known source, complicating electoral governance and transparency.

The report argues that a transatlantic electricity interconnector could enhance grid resilience and efficiency by leveraging the complementarity of time zones and weather patterns between Europe and North America. It highlights that a six-hour time difference creates arbitrage opportunities for solar production and demand, while uncorrelated or negatively correlated wind and temperature patterns can mitigate the impact of extreme weather. The author suggests that such an interconnector could be a more cost-effective tool for security of supply and decarbonisation than alternatives like nuclear power or hydrogen, though it would require significant government support and investment.

The document examines the transition of South Africa to a coalition-based national government following the May 2024 elections, where the ANC lost its majority. It argues that for the GNU to be effective, partners must prioritize accountability and service delivery over the retention of power. By analyzing the instability of local coalitions in South Africa and comparing them with experiences in Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, and Western Europe, the brief advocates for the adoption of formal, written coalition agreements to manage ideological tensions and improve governmental stability.

The report argues that Norway's 'energy culture' is heavily skewed by the petroleum industry, creating a 'petroculture' that marginalizes climate-critical perspectives. It highlights the contrast between the Norwegian Directorate of Culture's focus on internal emission reductions and Arts Council England's systemic approach. The document details how the oil industry uses 'petroganda'—including STEM sponsorships for children and academic agreements—to maintain legitimacy and delay the energy transition. It also notes a trend of Norwegian cultural organizations taking stances against oil exploration and discusses the criminalization of climate activists in Norway.

The report analyzes the environmental impact of the global data-center boom, identifying systemic challenges such as energy infrastructure lags and temporal-spatial mismatches between green power and demand. It proposes a comprehensive transformation pathway involving optimized site selection, enhanced energy efficiency through new metrics beyond PUE, and the adoption of diverse green power procurement options. The document emphasizes the potential for data centers to act as flexible grid resources and calls for mandatory carbon disclosure and standardized accounting to drive the transition.

The document examines the transition of South Africa to a national coalition government following the May 2024 elections, where the ANC lost its majority. It contrasts the 2024 GNU—born of political necessity—with the 1994 GNU, which was mandatory for reconciliation. The authors analyze the instability of local-level coalitions in South Africa and review coalition models in Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, and Western Europe. The brief concludes that South Africa should adopt formal, written coalition agreements to prioritize governmental accountability and service delivery over the retention of political power.

The report identifies a strategic window for the EU and UK to reset their climate and energy relationship following recent elections. It argues that the current Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) is too limited and suggests a comprehensive new agreement covering industrial decarbonisation, methane, carbon capture, hydrogen, and nuclear energy. The document advocates for an 'options-based strategy' that includes clean firm power to complement renewables, and recommends aligning regulatory frameworks—such as the Emissions Trading Systems (ETS) and carbon removal certifications—to facilitate cross-border trade and infrastructure sharing.

The report finds a positive trend in European pension funds' commitment to sustainable investing, with significant growth in the adoption of mitigation targets and climate risk management. However, a persistent gap remains between these commitments and actual real-economy impact, as pension funds rarely invest directly in projects and often hold fragmented indirect ownership. The analysis highlights that larger funds, those in net-zero coalitions, and funds in countries with strong regulatory frameworks—such as the Nordic countries, the Netherlands, and France—are leading the transition. Key challenges include the gap between asset ownership and management, the difficulty of transitioning passive investments, and limited capital flow to emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).

The EU is experiencing a surge in solar and wind power, which frequently exceeds demand during peak hours, leading to price volatility and negative electricity prices. While renewables are growing, the lack of system flexibility—such as battery storage and interconnectors—forces a continued reliance on fossil fuels during evenings and early mornings. The report highlights that by 2030, excess wind and solar power could reach 183 TWh across the EU, potentially saving €9 billion in annual gas costs if shifted effectively. It specifically notes Germany's role as a leader in battery capacity and suggests that further additions could significantly displace hard coal and gas. The document recommends removing regulatory barriers to co-location, implementing national flexibility strategies in National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), and establishing a comprehensive EU strategy for clean flexibility.

The author contends that the rise of far-right parties, such as Germany's AfD, is partly a reaction to climate policies that lack social equity. To combat this, the text advocates for a 'post-growth' framework and the implementation of community-led energy solutions that prioritize human well-being over profit. It calls for developed nations to accelerate emission cuts and for the EU to shift fossil fuel subsidies toward carbon-free heating to ensure a just transition.

In a speech delivered on 4 July 2024, WTO Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam outlines the evolving relationship between the WTO and environmental protection. He notes a paradigm shift where climate change is now actively disrupting trade, citing examples like the Panama Canal drought. While the WTO has made progress through the 2022 Ministerial Declaration and the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, Paugam warns that uncoordinated national actions—such as the nearly 70 carbon tax schemes in development and varying green steel standards—risk fragmenting world trade. He advocates for a "reglobalization" approach that combines green industrialization with trade cooperation, suggesting the WTO may need to adopt new rule-making models, including plurilateral commitments or non-binding frameworks similar to the Paris Agreement, to remain relevant.

The study analyzes climate change perceptions among Facebook users globally, dividing countries into high and low income/emission groups. It finds that while a high proportion of both men and women in low-income/emission countries are 'Alarmed' about climate change, a significant gender gap exists in high-income/emission countries, where women are more likely to be Alarmed and less likely to be Doubtful or Dismissive than men. Knowledge levels are generally lower in low-income/emission regions, and a global gap persists in understanding the human cause of climate change, though most respondents agree climate change is happening after receiving a brief description.

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA), fully in force as of 17 February 2024, establishes a systemic online safety framework for digital intermediary services. It imposes tiered obligations based on societal impact, with the most stringent requirements applied to Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines (VLOPs and VLOSEs)—those with 45 million or more monthly EU users. These entities must conduct annual risk assessments and implement mitigation measures against systemic risks, including illegal content and negative effects on civic discourse. The DSA introduces transparency mandates for advertising and recommender systems, and establishes a crisis response mechanism for threats to public security or health. Enforcement is shared between the European Commission and national Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs), with potential fines reaching 6 percent of annual turnover.

The report addresses the barrier of limited grid capacity in Europe's energy transition, proposing the use of hosting capacity maps to help developers of renewables, electrolysers, and data centres select optimal connection locations. It notes that while EU legislation now mandates these maps for TSOs and DSOs, there is a lack of specificity in their design. The authors provide a framework for an "ideal" map, recommending substation-level granularity, open-source data access, and the inclusion of planned grid investments to improve network efficiency and investment speed.

The briefing establishes that fossil fuels are responsible for approximately 70% of carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution, with a small number of companies contributing a disproportionate share. It highlights the role of attribution science in linking specific extreme weather events to climate change and details the growing trend of using the 'polluter pays' principle in litigation and legislation to hold these companies financially accountable. The document further argues that to meet the 1.5C target, global fossil fuel production must decrease significantly by 2030, supported by a transition to renewable energy and electric vehicles.

The United Kingdom plans to introduce a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in 2027 to prevent carbon leakage as free allowances under its Emissions Trading System (ETS) are phased out. While similar to the EU CBAM, the UK version will cover ceramics and glass but exclude electricity, and it will lack a transition period. The report highlights risks including potential trade diversion, administrative burdens for exporters, and diplomatic tensions with developing nations who view such measures as 'environmental colonialism'. It suggests that the UK would benefit from mirroring the EU's reporting systems and exploring the linkage of their respective ETSs to reduce bureaucratic friction and economic risk.

The report analyzes seven categories of enclosure-based and open measurement methods for greenhouse gas emissions in sanitation systems. It finds that while enclosure-based methods like flux chambers are widely used, they are limited by scale. Emerging optical and remote sensing methods offer broader coverage but are constrained by high costs. The document highlights a critical lack of empirical data for non-sewered sanitation in low- and middle-income countries and advocates for standardized, affordable methodologies and increased collaboration to improve national greenhouse gas inventories.

The report examines how the interaction of climate change and globalization increases the risk of invasive pests and pathogens, threatening the global food supply. It highlights the vulnerability of monocultures and the high economic costs of biological invasions, while linking food insecurity to national security risks and armed conflict. The author advocates for a shift toward pre-invasion biosecurity, the development of low-cost detection systems, and the adoption of a One Health framework for research to build a more resilient global food supply chain.

The document is a formal request from a coalition of NGOs for the European Commission to provide a detailed inventory of infringement proceedings against Member States failing to enforce the landing obligation, citing a Commission assessment that illegal discarding remains prolific and undermines the Common Fisheries Policy.

Global Witness tested the ad review processes of TikTok, YouTube, and X by submitting 16 advertisements containing election disinformation targeted at Ireland. TikTok approved 100% of the disinformation ads, while YouTube approved 12.5% and X approved none. The report argues that TikTok's failure violates its own community guidelines and the EU's Digital Services Act, which requires platforms to mitigate systemic risks to elections. TikTok attributed the failure to 'human error on the part of one moderator'.