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The November 2024 update reveals a three-year stagnation in global warming projections, with current policies setting the world on a path toward 2.7°C of warming by 2100. While renewable energy and electric vehicle deployment have seen record growth, these gains are offset by all-time high fossil fuel subsidies and increased funding for fossil fuel projects. The report warns that without a substantial increase in the ambition of 2030 and 2035 targets, the 1.5°C limit will likely be breached in the early 2030s, leading to a multidecadal overshoot.

The Madrid Conference, co-chaired by the US and Soviet Union, established a dual-track peace process consisting of bilateral negotiations between Israel and its Arab neighbors and multilateral thematic working groups. While the US successfully secured the participation of key parties—including a joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation—the process struggled with Israeli and Syrian intransigence. The author contends that the loss of momentum following US Secretary of State James Baker's departure and the subsequent shift toward the direct Israel-Palestine negotiations of the 1993 Oslo Agreement ended the multilateral structure of the Madrid/Washington process.

Japan is the only G7 country without a clear coal phaseout deadline, with coal accounting for nearly one-third of its electricity generation as of 2023. The Japanese government is promoting 'next-generation' technologies, specifically carbon capture and storage (CCS) and ammonia co-firing, which the report characterizes as 'false solutions' due to their high cost and limited effectiveness. These policies are supported by market mechanisms like the Capacity Market and the Long-Term Decarbonization Power Source Auction, which incentivize the continued operation of coal plants. Furthermore, Japan's three megabanks—Mizuho, MUFG, and SMBC—provided US$23.5 billion in coal financing between 2021 and 2023, often utilizing loopholes that exclude only new clients. The report also highlights the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative, noting that 35% of its 158 agreements involve fossil fuels, potentially locking Southeast Asian nations into outdated energy systems.

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 Council on Strategic Risks outlines a strategic framework for the next US administration's nuclear posture, emphasizing the completion of current modernization plans, the preservation of international norms against nuclear testing and use, and the avoidance of provocative posture changes. It warns against 'entanglement' between conventional and nuclear systems and recommends maintaining the 'fundamental purpose' declaratory policy. The report specifically advises against rebuilding nuclear sea-launched cruise missiles (SLCM-N) and expanding the Sentinel ICBM program beyond its current 400-missile target.

The report examines how emerging technologies are being integrated into the civil nuclear sector to support the goal of tripling nuclear capacity by 2050. It highlights US-led diplomatic initiatives like the FIRST program, which promotes the export of next-generation reactors to counter Russian and Chinese influence. The text details technical advancements in neutron detection by the Bay Area Neutron Group and the IAEA's use of AI and satellite imagery for safeguards. It further explores the symbiotic relationship between AI and nuclear energy, where advanced reactors provide stable power for AI data centers while AI optimizes reactor design and safety through physics-informed machine learning and digital twins.

The author argues that current international trade law is insufficient for managing the complexities of the digital economy, particularly regarding data-restrictive measures and the global data divide. The paper proposes a multi-layered approach combining binding treaties with soft law and multistakeholder cooperation to foster regulatory interoperability and digital inclusion.

The study finds that the average WACC for African countries (15.6%) is significantly higher than the 10% uniform value often used in planning, with Eastern Africa facing the highest costs. This high cost of capital, driven by low economic development and high risk premiums, disproportionately affects capital-intensive clean energy projects. The authors argue that relying on uniform WACC values misguides policy and recommend localized data and risk-mitigation instruments to attract private investment.

A coalition of national and regional organizations is calling on Utah's House representatives to support S. 3853, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act, noting that for the first time since 1990, affected downwinders and uranium miners lack access to compensation and cancer screenings.

The 2024 BRICS Summit is expected to focus on integrating new members and defining the role of 'partner countries' rather than further expansion. Key economic goals include increasing trade in local currencies to reduce dollar reliance and streamlining payments via the BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative. The document highlights opportunities for coordination between BRICS, the G20, and the G7, particularly with Brazil and South Africa holding leadership roles in 2025. On climate, BRICS is expected to reaffirm support for the Paris Agreement and a just transition that allows for the continued use of fossil fuels for energy security, while potentially introducing a new framework for sustainable development and carbon market projects.

The study investigates the feasibility of a green shipping corridor for dry bulk trade between the US Gulf Coast and Japan, specifically evaluating the adoption of green methanol in dual-fuel bulk carriers by 2030. It examines cost drivers, opportunities to reduce cost premiums, and the impact of regulatory frameworks on deploying zero-emission technology.

Between October 1 and 6, 2024, over 120 million people in Japan experienced unusual heat that was made at least 3 times more likely by human-caused climate change. At least 74 cities recorded temperatures of 30°C or higher, with conditions 5°C to 8°C above the 1991-2020 average. The analysis uses the Climate Shift Index (CSI), noting that 259 cities reached CSI level 3, while some cities like Kusatsu, Toyota, and Miyazaki reached CSI level 5, indicating an exceptional climate change event. The document also notes broader impacts of extreme heat in Japan, including a record 252 deaths in Tokyo from a summer heat wave, reduced agricultural output for vegetables, dairy, and fish, and delayed peak fall foliage in northern and eastern regions.

The document explores transition finance as a tool for emerging and developing economies, particularly in Asia, to decarbonise high-emitting sectors that struggle to meet strict green finance criteria. It analyses the taxonomies of Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and ASEAN, while highlighting risks of 'transition-washing' and the need for science-based targets and independent verification to ensure alignment with 1.5°C pathways.

The UK became the first G7 country to phase out coal power on September 30, 2024, with the closure of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant. However, the author contends that this domestic achievement is contradicted by the actions of UK financial institutions, which provided US$6.5 billion to the global coal industry between 2021 and 2023. The document calls for stronger financial regulations to end coal expansion funding and redirect capital toward renewable energy and early decommissioning.

The document details the health risks associated with radiation, ranging from acute radiation syndrome and skin burns to chronic conditions like cancer and cardiovascular disease. It highlights how social determinants of health compound these harms for vulnerable groups and critiques the US government's fragmented compensation system, which includes the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), and Veterans Affairs Compensation. The text also notes the US's refusal to join the 2021 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

A review of 20 national climate commitments reveals that while some high-emitting countries are integrating behavior change policies, there are significant gaps in the adoption of high-impact practices and the variety of behavioral tools used.

The report outlines the technological requirements and current Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) for superhot rock (SHR) energy, highlighting critical gaps in reservoir stimulation, casing materials, and surface equipment. It categorizes advancements by criticality, ranging from essential for first-of-a-kind projects to those needed for cost reduction, and identifies key research and industry entities capable of bridging these gaps.

The study finds that WACC in Africa's power sector remains high compared to global benchmarks, driven primarily by a cost of equity that is on average double the cost of debt. While WACC is projected to decrease from 18% to 13% by 2070, significant regional disparities persist, with Eastern Africa facing the highest costs and Northern Africa the lowest. The authors argue that using uniform cost of capital assumptions leads to underestimation bias in energy costs and misguides policy, particularly for capital-intensive clean energy projects.

The author analyzes the friction between national data regulations and international trade agreements, proposing four key lessons for future rule-making: developing a balanced narrative beyond the 'free flow vs. data sovereignty' dichotomy, understanding the limits of trade law in solving complex policy issues, integrating the perspectives of developing countries to combat 'data colonialism', and adopting a multi-layered governance framework that combines binding treaties with soft law and multi-stakeholder cooperation.

The document argues that claiming climate credits for LNG exports is likely impossible and environmentally unsound. It highlights the difficulty of proving 'additionality'—that exports actually cause a switch from coal to gas—and warns that such a mechanism could lead to overstated emissions reductions. The author concludes that any feasible route to these credits would require costly subsidies that would violate Canada's own policies and lock in fossil fuel infrastructure.