Search Climate Insights Directory

The report argues that while the EU ETS has halved emissions in key sectors, it remains structurally oversupplied and hampered by free allocation subsidies. It advocates for the total elimination of free allowances, the expansion of the system to cover all international aviation and shipping, and the rejection of carbon offsets and removals. The document emphasizes that the Market Stability Reserve (MSR) must be preserved to maintain a strong carbon price signal and that revenues should be redirected from fossil fuel subsidies toward a 'people first' transition.

The report by Carbon Market Watch outlines a framework for 'carbon pricing done right,' arguing that such systems must be integrated into broader policy packages and based on strict emission caps to be effective. It emphasizes the 'polluter pays principle,' warning against free allocations and offsets, which it claims can weaken price signals and lead to greenwashing. The document advocates for transparency, the reinvestment of revenues into climate action and vulnerable communities, and a cautious approach to carbon leakage and border adjustment mechanisms to avoid protectionism while ensuring climate justice.

The report by Carbon Market Watch provides a framework for implementing 'right' carbon pricing, arguing that such systems must be integrated into a broader policy mix, feature declining emission caps, and avoid loopholes like free allocations and carbon offsets. It emphasizes the need for transparency, the reinvestment of revenues into climate action and vulnerable communities, and the use of carbon border adjustments to prevent leakage while maintaining equity.

The report analyzes international public opinion on climate change, finding widespread belief that it is happening and a general desire for increased government action, though levels of worry and perceived personal risk vary significantly by country.

A survey of 2,034 U.S. adult video gamers reveals that their beliefs about global warming—such as the fact that it is happening and human-caused—align closely with the general U.S. population. However, video gamers exhibit higher levels of worry, a stronger personal sense of responsibility, and a greater willingness to engage in political and consumer activism compared to the broader public. The report also highlights that a majority believe the gaming industry has a responsibility to reduce its carbon emissions and that the gaming community could collectively influence government and business actions.

The report argues that climate change will increasingly exacerbate risks to US national security by intensifying physical impacts and mounting geopolitical tensions over the energy transition. It identifies a likely increase in cross-border conflicts over water and migration, strategic competition in the Arctic, and the risk of unilateral solar geoengineering. The document highlights 11 highly vulnerable countries and two regions (Central Africa and Pacific island states) where climate-induced instability may necessitate increased US diplomatic, humanitarian, and military resources. It also notes that current global policies are insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals, leading to competition over critical minerals and technologies.

The document details cobalt's critical importance for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and electronics, noting that demand for clean energy technologies is expected to rise by 80% between 2025 and 2030. It highlights a highly concentrated supply chain, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) producing about 76% of global cobalt and China refining 50% to 70% of global supplies. The text emphasizes severe externalities in the DRC, including child labor, human rights violations, and the deforestation of 32,100 acres of the Congo Basin forest from 2001 to 2020. It also notes the U.S. has a 76% import reliance for cobalt and discusses recycling and substitutes, such as iron-phosphate and TAQ, to mitigate supply and ethical risks.

The document details the essential role of critical minerals in clean energy technologies, the U.S.'s high import reliance, and the regulatory and economic barriers to domestic production. It highlights the environmental and human rights risks of mining, the potential for secondary recovery and recycling, and recent federal legislative and executive actions aimed at securing supply chains.

This executive summary from Ember reports that wind and solar power reached 10.3% of global electricity generation in 2021. While clean energy sources collectively provided 38% of global electricity, the report highlights a concerning record increase in coal power and carbon emissions, driven largely by surging electricity demand in Asia.

The document reports that clean electricity generated 38% of the world's power in 2021, surpassing coal. While renewables met all electricity demand growth in the first half of 2022, the report notes that unabated coal power must fall by 87% in the next nine years to align with 1.5C goals. Regional analysis highlights China's leadership in wind and solar, Europe's accelerated transition due to the gas crisis, and the significant role of coal mines as the largest source of energy sector methane.

The document details the technical approach for calculating and harmonising monthly wind and solar capacity data. It defines 'installed capacity' as the maximum potential output and explains the process for converting solar data between AC and DC values, using a default conversion factor of 1.3. The methodology describes how onshore and offshore wind are distinguished, often relying on IRENA data when primary sources lack a breakdown. It also specifies the publication schedule (twice monthly) and the use of proxies and linear interpolation to estimate missing data for global aggregates and specific countries. Detailed country-specific sections list data sources, publication lags, and specific adjustments for 25 territories, including the US, China, and the EU.

In 2021, wind and solar power reached a record 10.3% of global electricity generation, with solar growing by 23% and wind by 14%. However, a massive surge in global electricity demand—the highest absolute increase ever recorded at 1,414 TWh—outpaced clean energy growth. Consequently, coal generation hit a new historical peak of 10,042 TWh, accounting for 36% of global electricity and driving power sector CO2 emissions to a record 778 million tonnes, a 7% increase over 2020.

In 2021, wind and solar power reached a record 10.3% of global electricity generation, with total clean energy accounting for 38%. However, a 5.4% surge in global electricity demand—driven largely by economic growth in Asia—led to a record increase in coal power, which grew by 9.0% to reach 10,042 TWh. Consequently, power sector CO2 emissions rose by 7% in 2021, the largest percentage increase since 2010, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

In 2014, global investment in low-carbon technology and climate resilience reached $391 billion, an 18% increase from 2013. Renewable energy attracted $292 billion, with private capital accounting for 75% of this investment. China, the U.S., and Japan were the top three investors. The document also notes that nearly 50% of all new power installed globally in 2014 was renewable, with solar and wind making up 95 GW of the 103 GW added. In the U.S., declining costs are evident in solar PV bids and LED light bulb prices, with Lazard's LCOE data showing utility-scale solar and wind are cost-competitive with natural gas and coal.

The report outlines a framework for energy technology innovation divided into research, engineering, and commercialization. It advocates for the use of innovation hubs, peer review, and 'stage gating' in research; industry-led agendas and shared government testing platforms in engineering; and long-term, liquid market signals and reverse auctions in commercialization to ensure technologies reach market competitiveness efficiently.

The report argues that a small number of well-designed policies—categorized as economic signals, performance standards, and R&D support—can substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and provide economic benefits. It details ten specific policy areas, including vehicle and appliance standards, clean energy supply, and smart urban design, while emphasizing the need for policies to be predictable, market-driven, and synchronized with infrastructure turnover. The text highlights successful examples from the US, China, Europe, and Japan to demonstrate the effectiveness of these approaches.

The document asserts that the climate crisis is exacerbated by 'corporate and elite capture' of political processes, where narrow interests from polluting industries influence governments to resist urgent economic transformation. It highlights how this influence manifests through lobbying, funding, and 'revolving doors,' and argues that underlying power imbalances created by neoliberal trade and investment liberalisation prioritise short-term corporate profits over environmental protection and human well-being. The briefing specifically critiques the trajectory of the UNFCCC and the promotion of 'false solutions' like carbon capture and storage and nuclear energy.

The guide critiques the agribusiness investment model, highlighting how bilateral investment treaties and mechanisms like Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) prioritize corporate profits over state sovereignty and environmental protections. It details the negative impacts of industrial agriculture, including land grabbing, biodiversity loss, and high greenhouse gas emissions. As an alternative, the document promotes agroecology led by small-scale food producers, citing evidence that such methods can increase crop yields and enhance climate resilience while supporting food sovereignty.

The report critiques the 'agribusiness investment model' promoted through bilateral investment treaties and free trade agreements, asserting that these frameworks prioritize corporate profits over human rights and environmental health. It highlights how mechanisms like Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) prevent governments from implementing public health and environmental protections. The document advocates for food sovereignty and agroecology, noting that small-scale farmers produce 70-80% of food in the developing world and that agroecological methods can significantly increase crop yields while regenerating natural resources.

The document describes climate change as a result of an industrial development model dependent on fossil fuels and environmental destruction. It highlights the disproportionate responsibility of wealthy nations and the severe vulnerability of poor regions, particularly Africa. The text argues that government inaction is driven by the influence of powerful corporations and calls for a systemic shift toward renewable energy, forest protection, and sustainable food systems, while demanding that rich nations pay their 'climate debt' to poorer countries.