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This document is a Vietnamese translation of excerpts from the 'Boom & Burst Coal 2024' report by Global Energy Monitor and its partners. It analyzes global coal power trends in 2023, highlighting a dichotomy where new construction has hit a 9-year low outside China but an 8-year high within China. The report provides a detailed assessment of Vietnam's energy transition, focusing on the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), while noting that global coal capacity reached an all-time high in 2023.

The report identifies a widening gap between coal capacity and generation, particularly in China and India, where new plants are built as 'system insurance' while renewables displace coal in actual output. Globally, the coal pipeline is narrowing geographically, with 95% of construction concentrated in China and India. However, the report notes a significant slowdown in retirements in the U.S. and EU due to policy interventions and energy security concerns. Regional analyses highlight Indonesia's growth in captive coal for industrial processing, the U.S.'s political push to sustain aging plants, and the EU's structural shift toward a coal-free system. The document also examines the impact of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on the Western Balkans and the challenges of rebuilding Ukraine's energy system.

The document analyzes disinformation campaigns during the European Parliament elections, highlighting narratives that undermine civic integrity through claims of voter fraud and conspiracy theories. It details targeted attacks on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the framing of the Digital Services Act (DSA) as a tool for censorship. The brief also identifies Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), particularly from Russian state-owned media, aimed at weakening support for European democratic institutions and policies regarding Ukraine.

The EU is establishing Strategic Partnerships with 14 countries to secure critical minerals for its 2050 climate neutrality goal. Global Witness argues that these deals prioritize resource access over social and environmental governance, citing specific risks in Serbia, Rwanda, Australia, Argentina, Uzbekistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The author calls for the EU to implement stringent safeguards and transparent 'Roadmaps' to ensure the energy transition does not perpetuate human rights abuses or environmental destruction.

The document criticizes the influence of fossil fuel lobbyists and petrostates on the UN's Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, specifically at INC-5. It highlights how oil-producing nations have blocked agreements to curtail plastic production as the industry seeks new markets for petroleum products. The text details the environmental and health impacts of plastic, including greenhouse gas emissions, flooding in Mumbai and Indonesia, and toxic pollution in Alberta, Canada. It calls for the 2025 INC-5.2 session to establish specific global reduction targets and ensure the inclusion of Indigenous and civil society voices.

The report finds that all forecast capital expenditure in new oil and gas fields is incompatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C. It warns that relying on unproven carbon capture and removal technologies to justify continued investment increases the risk of a 'disorderly transition' and systemic financial instability, potentially leading to global economic losses of $23 trillion per year if the world fails to transition.

Global Witness reports that despite a 13% drop in Russian crude exports over five weeks, significant loopholes in UK and US sanctions allow Russian oil to enter these markets via blending and refining. Specifically, the 'CPC Blend' allows Russian-Kazakh mixtures to reach the UK, while Russian crude refined in India is imported into the US as gasoline. Additionally, the document criticizes Germany for allowing Siemens to export banned technology for Nord Stream 1 maintenance and notes the use of ship-to-ship transfers off the Suffolk coast to obscure oil origins.

The document outlines a framework for analyzing payments made by oil, gas, and mining companies to governments. It details ten specific tests—ranging from simple checks of payment types to complex revenue forecast comparisons—designed to identify 'red flags' or discrepancies that may indicate revenue loss due to bad deals, tax avoidance, or lack of enforcement. The guide emphasizes the use of supplementary data, such as fiscal terms and international commodity prices, to verify the accuracy of company disclosures.

The SAVi assessment concludes that a sustainable infrastructure scenario—combining railway expansion and sustainable buildings—would generate a cumulative discounted net benefit of KZT 2,424 billion (USD 5,259 million) between 2022 and 2050. While a traditional benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 0.82 would suggest the project is not investment-worthy, the sustainable benefit-cost ratio (S-BCR) is 8.53 when accounting for societal and environmental externalities. The most significant economic driver is the value added from freight trade, totaling KZT 2,452 billion (USD 5,319 million), assuming a 60% shift from road to rail transport. The report recommends prioritizing electrified rail and energy-efficient buildings to reduce CO2 emissions and operational costs, noting that solar power is cheaper than fossil fuel generation for the project's energy needs.

The SAVi assessment of the Uchkuduk-Kazakhstan Border Highway in Uzbekistan indicates that while the project has a low traditional benefit-cost ratio of 0.18, its sustainable benefit-cost ratio (S-BCR) is significantly higher at 1.38 to 1.95. The project is expected to generate cumulative discounted net benefits between USD 230 million and USD 567 million over a 30-year period (2022-2052), driven primarily by public revenues from raw materials trade and avoided traffic accident costs.

The briefing outlines key environmental priorities for the WTO's MC12, focusing on fisheries subsidies, climate policy alignment with the Paris Agreement, and several member-led initiatives. It highlights the 'Structured Discussions on Trade and Environmental Sustainability' (TESSD), a ministerial declaration on plastic pollution, and a proposal for fossil fuel subsidy reform. The author emphasizes that success depends on integrating the needs of developing countries through enhanced 'Aid for Trade' and inclusive dialogue to avoid a two-speed global green economy.

The Fourth Conference of the Parties (COP-4) in Buenos Aires resulted in the 'Buenos Aires Plan of Action,' a work program with deadlines to resolve six key issues necessary for the Kyoto Protocol's implementation. While the talks were characterized by deadlock and high-level closed-door negotiations, significant developments included a breakthrough in Global Environment Facility (GEF) funding for developing countries and Argentina's decision to voluntarily commit to greenhouse gas emission reductions. However, deep divisions remained regarding the capping of Kyoto mechanisms and the formalization of technology transfer.

The document presents a statistical overview of Russia's demographics, economy, and military capabilities, alongside a strategic analysis of its 'Positive' achievements—such as energy sector consolidation and the halting of military decay—and 'Negative' challenges, including corruption and the expansion of NATO and the EU into Ukraine.

The report estimates that a reunification of Cyprus would provide Turkey with an annual peace dividend of EUR 17.4 billion (3.5% of 2009 GDP), comprising EUR 5.1 billion in savings and EUR 12.3 billion in additional export revenue. Key gains for Turkey include the potential for EUR 7 billion from financial and business services, EUR 1.7 billion from transport, and EUR 1.6 billion from tourism. Additionally, Turkey could see foreign direct investment (FDI) rise to EUR 33 billion per year. Greece is projected to benefit from EUR 2.3 billion in annual military savings, EUR 19.8 billion in FDI, and various gains in tourism and energy transit. The document highlights energy as the greatest opportunity, noting that a settlement would unblock Turkey's EU accession energy chapter and facilitate projects like Blue Stream-2.

The document examines the shift in Russian foreign policy under President Dmitry Medvedev, analyzing the tension between his proposed 'modernization' and the 'hard power' approach demonstrated during the 2008 conflict in Georgia. It explores Russia's strategic interests in the 'near abroad' (CIS), its pursuit of a multipolar world order to counter US unilateralism, and its complex relationships with the EU, China, and the US. Key themes include the use of energy as a political tool, the militarization of the Arctic, and the role of international law and institutions like the OSCE and Council of Europe.

The research examines the Central Asia Regional Security Complex (CA RSC), comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It argues that while these states share concerns regarding trans-border terrorism, extremism, and narcotics trafficking from Afghanistan, their primary security drivers are internal rivalries and the strategic balancing of global powers—specifically Russia, China, and the USA. The author contends that the 'Heart of Asia' concept fails because it underestimates inter-state non-cooperation and ignores the distinct security dynamics of sub-regions. Central Asian states employ a 'multi-vector' foreign policy to maximize benefits from competing external interests while guarding their sovereignty. Consequently, their engagement with Afghanistan is fragmented and unilateral, focused on extracting economic rent or preventing security 'bleed-out' rather than a unified regional strategy.

The report argues that transitioning from national energy self-sufficiency to an integrated regional power system in Central Asia would enhance energy security, lower electricity production costs, and accelerate decarbonization. Modelling indicates that 'Unlimited transmission' could reduce electricity production emissions intensity by approximately 3% and save 1.4 billion USD in annual costs by 2050 compared to self-sufficiency. The document highlights the potential for Kazakhstan to become a hydrogen hub (primarily via 'blue' hydrogen) and for Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to provide baseload hydropower. To achieve this, the report proposes a roadmap integrating technical, political, financial, and organizational considerations.

The report details the creation of a comprehensive modeling framework for the Syr Darya River Basin, integrating the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) platform, the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) with the Next Energy Modeling system for Optimization (NEMO), and a macroeconomic model (Macro). This integrated approach allows for the simulation of complex interdependencies between water availability, energy production, and economic outcomes across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The study evaluates six thematic narratives—ranging from business-as-usual to regional cooperation and ecosystem restoration—under four climate projections (Historical, Dry, Average, and Wet). Key findings indicate that pursuing isolated national interests increases water stress, while regional cooperation and efficiency policies significantly reduce unmet irrigation demands, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and boost agricultural value added and GDP.

The report argues that the sustainability transition creates 'creative destruction' where new technologies and business models render existing assets economically unusable. It proposes a three-step methodology: identifying disruptions and scenarios, testing for negative growth dynamics, and mapping asset-type implications. Applying this to Europe, the authors identify up to €750 billion in assets at risk across three sectors. The European electricity sector serves as a historical case study, having suffered €130 billion in impairments between 2010 and 2015. In the automotive sector, up to €243 billion is at risk due to the combined impact of electric vehicles, autonomy, and car sharing. The apparel industry faces risks primarily in real estate and intangible brand value due to e-commerce and supply-chain ESG issues. The report concludes that traditional ESG analysis is insufficient and must be integrated with financial value assessments to capture non-linear disruption risks.

The document advocates for a shift in how Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) approach climate action, moving beyond simply maximizing climate finance volumes to ensuring their entire investment portfolios align with the Paris Agreement. It emphasizes the need for MDBs to stop supporting CO2-emitting energy sources, mainstream climate risks for a world 3-4°C warmer, and support the strengthening of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).