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In 2024, the EU power sector saw fossil fuel generation fall to its lowest level in over forty years, reaching 793 TWh. This decline was driven primarily by record solar growth, which saw generation increase by 22% to 304 TWh, overtaking coal for the first time. Renewables accounted for 47% of EU power generation, while clean sources reached a record 71% of the mix. Despite a small 1% increase in total EU power demand and increased exports to the UK and Ukraine, coal and gas generation fell by 16% and 6% respectively, leading to a 9% drop in power sector emissions to an estimated 585 million tonnes of CO2.

In 2024, the EU experienced record growth in solar generation and capacity, with all member states seeing increases. However, the rapid expansion has led to more frequent zero or negative power prices and wider intraday price spreads. To manage this and maintain the trajectory toward 2030 targets, the report advocates for the accelerated rollout of clean flexibility tools, specifically battery storage, smart electrification, and grid modernization.

The North Sea is the world's largest offshore wind basin, with 30 GW of capacity across 101 operational wind farms. While the region leads in deployment, the report highlights that supply chain challenges and fragmented regulatory frameworks hinder further progress. It advocates for the standardisation of component sizes and the deployment of hybrid offshore assets to create a more secure, meshed grid. Additionally, the report emphasizes that the North Sea's potential as a 'green power plant' for Europe depends on the electrification of non-power sectors, as half of Europe's industrial energy consumption is located in North Sea bordering countries. Finally, it notes that offshore wind is helping stabilise electricity prices through Contracts-for-Difference (CfD) mechanisms, with recent projects delivering competitive strike prices compared to average European day-ahead power prices.

The document outlines the elements and instruments of groundwater governance, utilizing a global diagnostic based on thematic papers and regional consultations. It analyzes the roles of actors, legal frameworks, policies, and knowledge, specifically highlighting the importance of monitoring and assessment through a case study of The Netherlands. The text concludes by proposing a 'Global Vision for 2030' and a Framework for Action developed by UNESCO, FAO, the World Bank, and IAH to achieve good groundwater governance, including the management of transboundary resources.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that the EU's Clean Industrial Deal must adopt a technology-neutral approach, integrating a diverse portfolio of low-carbon solutions including carbon capture, hydrogen, and small modular reactors. The brief emphasizes the need for coordinated cross-border infrastructure, particularly for CO2 transport and storage to avoid regional cost disparities, and calls for a robust funding strategy to bridge a projected €180 billion gap following the end of the Recovery and Resilience Facility in 2026. It further recommends targeted market measures, such as reforming public procurement and prioritizing clean hydrogen for hard-to-abate sectors like steel and shipping, while warning against the use of public funds for inefficient solutions like hydrogen blending.

The Europe Gas Tracker 2025 identifies a sprawling planned hydrogen network in Europe consisting of 12 import projects for hydrogen derivatives, 50,165 km of pipelines, and 44.6 GW of hydrogen-burning power capacity. The report argues this scale is unrealistic for decarbonization due to energy inefficiencies and a massive gap between projected green hydrogen production and the network's requirements. Most projects remain in early stages, with no hydrogen derivative import projects having reached final investment decisions. Meanwhile, the report notes that the rapid growth of LNG import capacity, which increased by 31% since February 2022, is slowing as structural gas demand falls and overcapacity emerges.

The report argues that the traditional Official Development Assistance (ODA) model is outdated and failing to meet 21st-century challenges. It identifies six key pressures: shifting poverty geographies, rising demands for climate and health financing, fragmentation from new actors, changing flow natures, geopolitical rivalries, and declining public trust. The author contends that incremental tweaks are insufficient and proposes a 'reset' that integrates ODA into a broader Global Public Investment (GPI) framework. This new architecture would distinguish core poverty reduction from global public goods financing, reform governance to include the Global South, and shift the narrative from donor-driven charity to mutual interest. The report outlines five future scenarios for 2040, ranging from 'Incremental Change' to a 'Managed Handover' to non-governmental actors, urging policymakers to proactively shape a transition to avoid a fragmented 'Wild West' of bilateralism.

A February 2025 survey of 1,000 Dutch citizens reveals strong cross-political support for measures to combat climate disinformation. A majority believe that banning misleading fossil fuel advertising (71%) and legally requiring Big Tech companies to stop spreading climate disinformation (79%) would be effective. While support is high, awareness of these specific policy options is lower, with only 30% of respondents having heard of increasing resources for fact-checking organizations. The report notes that older respondents are generally more convinced of the effectiveness of these measures than younger people, despite the latter being more exposed to online disinformation.

A survey of 1,000 Dutch citizens found broad cross-political support for regulatory measures to combat climate disinformation, including banning fossil fuel advertising and holding social media companies legally accountable for the amplification of false content. While a majority believe these measures are effective, awareness of specific policy options remains relatively low, particularly regarding the funding of fact-checking organizations.

The report finds that the dairy and coffee sectors are failing to address methane emissions, with 18 out of 20 analyzed companies scoring less than 50% on a comprehensive performance scale. While some companies acknowledge the climate impact of methane, there is a widespread reluctance to reduce dairy production, and most lack specific methane targets or transparent reporting practices.

The report finds that most large dairy and coffee companies lack credible methane targets and transparency, with 18 of 20 companies scoring less than half of the available points in a comprehensive assessment. While some dairy companies show slight progress, coffee house companies performed poorly, and only one company, Danone, possesses both a methane-specific target and a detailed action plan.

The report details how petrochemicals, primarily plastics and nitrogen fertilizers, drive fossil fuel demand and contribute to a 'triple planetary crisis' of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. It highlights the significant health risks to workers and communities, particularly in Europe's Trilateral Chemical Region, and criticizes EU policy for prioritizing industry 'competitiveness' and speculative technologies like carbon capture over a phasedown of production.

The 2025 Impact Report details the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative's progress in securing diplomatic support, engaging subnational governments, and conducting research to create a 1.5ºC-aligned mechanism for phasing out fossil fuels. Key achievements include the announcement of the First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels for April 2026, the addition of Cambodia and Saint Kitts and Nevis to the participating nations, and a resolution in support of the treaty passed by the IUCN. The initiative has grown to include 18 participating countries from the Global South, over 140 cities, and 4,200 civil society organizations.

The report highlights two primary investment areas in the Western Cape's agricultural sector: smart farming, specifically precision-spraying via drones, and undercover farming using shade netting and tunnels. It notes that while the sector grew to R25.6 billion in 2023, producers face pressure from rising input costs and new EU sustainability regulations (CSRD and CS3D). Precision-spraying drones offer a market size of R156 million for grain and R50.9 million for tree crops per season, while undercover farming represents a larger market of R5.4–8.6 billion, driven by water scarcity and the need for climate resilience. The report emphasizes that undercover farming has seen significant growth, with shade netting area increasing 329% between 2018 and 2023, particularly in berries and citrus fruit production.

The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals for Sustainable Development (IGF) was established in 2005 as a UN Type II partnership following the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. It serves as a member-led platform for over 80 countries to promote good mining governance. The IGF's central tool is the Mining Policy Framework (MPM), which provides best practices across six pillars: laws, policies and institutions; financial benefits; socio-economic benefits; transition to post-mining; environmental management; and artisanal and small-scale mining. Since 2015, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has managed the IGF Secretariat, with core funding from Canada and the Netherlands.

The IGF was established in 2005 as a UN Type II partnership to help resource-rich countries improve mining governance for sustainable development. It is guided by the Mining Policy Framework (MPF), which covers six pillars including environmental management and post-mining transition. Now comprising over 80 member nations, the IGF provides technical assistance and national assessments to align mining laws with sustainable development goals, with its secretariat hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and funded primarily by Canada and the Netherlands.

The document argues that Africa's potential for a demographic dividend depends on accelerating the demographic transition—reducing child mortality and fertility—and converting a larger working-age population into economic growth through job creation and governance. It contrasts the youthful population of Africa with the ageing populations of Europe and the Netherlands, suggesting strategic opportunities for labour mobility and trade. Using the International Futures (ifs) model, the author presents a 'Demographics and Health' scenario where targeted investments in contraceptives, maternal health, and WASH infrastructure lead to a smaller, wealthier, and better-educated population by 2050, reducing extreme poverty by 48 million people.

The policy brief assesses the failure of the Mozambican government's military-first strategy in Cabo Delgado, noting that despite interventions by Rwanda and SADC, the insurgency persists and has expanded in 2025. It identifies local grievances—including youth unemployment, religious discrimination, and economic displacement—as primary drivers of recruitment. The author advocates for a multi-level dialogue approach involving community leaders and civil society to address these root causes, while critiquing the government's tendency to frame the conflict as 'international terrorism' to avoid negotiation.

The report identifies four primary barriers to nature-integrated finance: the underestimation of nature's intrinsic value, regulatory gaps, challenges in scaling nature-based financing, and a knowledge gap within financial institutions. It argues that the financial sector is critical for redirecting global capital toward biodiversity protection, noting a biodiversity financing gap of $700 billion annually. To address these, the document details the 'Locate' phase of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) LEAP approach, guiding institutions through scoping, identifying dependencies and impacts using tools like ENCORE, and mapping intersections with ecologically sensitive locations. It provides practical examples from entities such as Banco de Bogotá, Banco Bolivariano, and Grupo Sura to demonstrate how spatial analysis and heat maps can identify material nature-related risks in investment portfolios.

The document outlines how commercial banks, institutional investors, and insurers can use the NPOP framework to shift financial flows toward nature-positive outcomes in the blue economy. It details four primary entry points for financial institutions: exclusions policies, sector policies and due diligence, corporate engagement, and sustainable finance products. The briefing provides real-world case studies from institutions such as ING, BNP Paribas, and Standard Chartered to illustrate the application of the AR3T mitigation hierarchy—Avoid, Reduce, Restore & Regenerate, and Transform—across sectors including shipping, seafood, offshore wind, and coastal tourism.