Search Climate Insights Directory

This report by Ember analyzes the economic impact of the 2026 Hormuz crisis on Türkiye, detailing how the country's high dependence on imported fossil fuels leads to significant increases in its energy import bill. It argues that accelerating clean electrification in transport and buildings is the most effective way to permanently reduce these structural economic risks.

The May 2026 report 'Boom and Bust' by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the global coal power portfolio, highlighting a growing divergence between the installation of new coal capacity and actual electricity generation. While global capacity increased by 3.5% in 2025, generation fell by 0.6%, with coal increasingly serving as a backup rather than a primary energy source. The report details regional trends, noting that new construction is heavily concentrated in China and India, while other regions face stagnation or decline due to financing constraints and energy transitions.

This report by Ember examines the effectiveness of satellite monitoring in detecting methane emissions from global hard coal mines, noting a significant gap between theoretical detectability and actual observations.

An Ember report finds that global coal mine methane (CMM) emissions remained broadly steady between 2021 and 2023, despite an 8% increase in global coal production. The report highlights significant discrepancies between official UNFCCC-reported data and independent estimates, noting that six of the nine largest emitters failed to submit official 2023 CMM data.

The Global Coal Mine Methane Review 2026 reports that coal mine methane (CMM) emissions have remained steady at approximately 35 million tonnes despite rising coal production since the 2021 Global Methane Pledge. The report highlights a critical lack of transparency, estimating that 89% of emissions were unreported to the UNFCCC in 2023, and that 87% of global coal production relies on generic emission factors rather than direct measurements. While satellite monitoring is increasing, it currently captures emissions from only 10% of global hard coal production. The report concludes that existing technologies could reduce CMM emissions by 54-63% by 2030, with some measures available at no net cost, and that such reductions are affordable relative to industry profits.

The Climate Bonds Initiative report argues that the European Union must accelerate its energy transition to eliminate a critical vulnerability: its 60% reliance on fossil fuel imports. It proposes a five-step strategy focusing on electrification, grid connectivity, flexibility, industrial decarbonization, and the use of the EU Methane Regulation to phase out imports from high-risk suppliers like Russia and the US. The report highlights that while 89% of end-energy demand can be electrified, current investment levels (2.1% of GDP) fall short of the 1.5 trillion euros per year required by 2050.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the dispute settlement function within national investment laws, based on a review of 167 laws. It examines the prevalence of adjudicative mechanisms like national courts and arbitration, as well as non-adjudicative options such as administrative review and amicable settlement. The report warns against the risks of 'advance consent' to international arbitration and provides a framework for policy-makers to assess and reform their national investment laws to minimize legal and financial risks.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the dispute settlement functions within 167 national investment laws. It examines the prevalence of various mechanisms—including national courts, arbitration, administrative review, and amicable settlements—and provides a framework for policymakers to design or reform these laws to minimize legal and financial risks, specifically warning against the inclusion of prior consent to international arbitration.

The report 'Boom and Bust Coal 2026' by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the global coal plant pipeline in 2025, highlighting a growing disconnect where coal capacity continues to increase—driven primarily by China and India—while actual coal-fired electricity generation declines due to the rapid expansion of wind and solar power.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute describes how integrating the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) and Water Evaluation and Adaptation Planning (WEAP) tools, alongside macroeconomic modelling, allows governments to plan for climate-resilient development by analyzing the interdependencies between water and energy systems.

This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) describes the Water Evaluation and Adaptation Planning (WEAP) platform, a scenario-based modelling tool designed to help decision-makers understand climate impacts on water systems and develop adaptation strategies. It highlights WEAP's role in supporting National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and provides examples of its application in various global regions to manage water scarcity, resource allocation, and transboundary river basins.

This briefing by Trend Asia argues that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) continues to support fossil gas through technical assistance (TA) and ambiguous policy language, despite pledges to align with the Paris Agreement. The document contends that framing gas as a 'transitional fuel' or 'low-carbon' enables the planning of infrastructure that locks countries into long-term fossil dependency and risks creating stranded assets.

The 2024 Global Electricity Source Trends report by Ember analyzes global electricity generation across solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, gas, and coal, highlighting record growth in solar and wind alongside fluctuating trends in fossil fuels and nuclear power.

The April 2025 report "Boom and Bust Coal" by Global Energy Monitor and its partners analyzes global trends in coal-fired power generation. It highlights a global trend toward decommissioning coal plants, contrasted by record-breaking construction starts in China and new proposals in India. The report specifically details Russia's divergence from global trends through its continued planning and construction of new coal capacity to support regional energy demands and the domestic coal industry.

This policy brief examines whether South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency, occurring alongside Brazil's hosting of COP30, can re-energise the global climate action agenda. It argues that while the G20 is a powerful 'minilateral' platform capable of driving climate finance and policy, its effectiveness is threatened by rising nationalism, geopolitical tensions, and the potential for a diluted climate focus under the subsequent 2026 US presidency.

The Republic of Kazakhstan's Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) outlines a comprehensive climate strategy for 2026–2035, aligning with its long-term goal of carbon neutrality by 2060. The document sets economy-wide emission reduction targets, details sectoral mitigation and adaptation measures, and establishes a framework for loss and damage and climate finance mobilization.

The Production Gap Report 2025 by the Stockholm Environment Institute finds that global fossil fuel production plans are increasingly divergent from the Paris Agreement's goals. Governments are collectively planning higher levels of production for coal, oil, and gas than in 2023, with projected 2030 production exceeding 1.5ºC-consistent levels by more than 120%.

This research paper analyzes the 'magnetic pull' of BRICS, exploring why non-member states seek to join the informal group. It argues that while initial appeal was based on economic credentials and promises of systemic reform, the group has transitioned toward more strategic outreach. The author examines the evolution of BRICS through its 2010 and 2023 expansions and the 2024 Kazan summit, highlighting the role of 'compound soft power' and the challenges of maintaining internal cohesion amidst rapid growth.

This research paper examines the human rights records of the BRICS nations, arguing that there is a significant gap between the human rights protections declared in their constitutions and their actual implementation. The authors express concern that the expansion of BRICS to include more autocratic regimes may create a safe haven for governments seeking to avoid Western-led human rights sanctions while pursuing economic and geopolitical dominance.

This report by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the power sector transition in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) region, highlighting a significant gap between stated renewable energy targets and actual project pipelines. It finds that fossil fuel capacity is being built at more than three times the rate of wind and utility-scale solar, with oil and gas leading the buildout. The report specifically critiques COP29 host Azerbaijan for low ambition in its renewable energy plans and a continued reliance on gas.