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The Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced European states to prioritize energy security over climate goals, leading to a 'dash for LNG' that outbids developing nations and encourages a global return to coal. This shift undermines EU climate leadership and risks 'locking in' long-term fossil fuel infrastructure in Africa and Asia.

ClientEarth and the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) are urging the European Commission to mandate an administrative inquiry into the Dutch pelagic fishery under Article 102.2 of the EU Fisheries Control Regulation 1224/2009. The organisations argue that the Netherlands has systemic deficiencies in its fisheries control system, noting that only two inspectors manage the vast landings of the pelagic fleet. They claim that pelagic freezer trawlers routinely use "unverified estimates" for landing declarations, creating a risk of "massive underreporting of many thousands of tonnes of pelagic catches over decades." The letter highlights the need for CCTV electronic control tools to ensure accountability for the discard ban and cetacean bycatch, citing the illegal discarding of Blue Whiting by the vessel FV Margiris as a specific example of the need for intensified control. The authors argue that such an inquiry is necessary to ensure a "level playing field" between large-scale and small-scale fishers and to maintain the credibility of the EU's fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

ClientEarth and the LIFE platform are urging the European Commission to mandate an administrative investigation into the Dutch pelagic fishery. They argue that the Netherlands has systemic failures in its fisheries control system, citing a lack of adequate inspectors and the use of unverified estimates for catch data. The organizations claim this leads to massive underreporting of catches, undermining the Common Fisheries Policy and the EU's fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. They request a full audit of catches landed by Dutch-owned pelagic freezer trawlers since 2010 to ensure fair competition and environmental sustainability.

The document details discussions within the TRAN committee on two key legislative files: the AFIR and RED II. For AFIR, members debated the inadequacy of previous charging station targets, the need for higher power outputs, and the role of LNG in heavy-duty transport. Regarding RED II, the committee discussed increasing the renewable energy share to 40% by 2030, the controversial inclusion of low-carbon fuels, and the prioritization of electrification for road transport versus synthetic fuels for aviation and maritime sectors.

The author examines the electoral impact of government participation for European Green parties, arguing that while simple 'before and after' comparisons often show a drop in vote share, this is frequently a reversion to a party's base performance rather than a punishment for governing. The analysis finds no significant correlation between electoral outcomes and the number of portfolios held, party ideology, or the ideology of coalition partners. However, a strong link is identified between 'defecting' (leaving government early) and poor election results, suggesting that internal divisions and perceived incompetence during premature exits lead to voter punishment.

In 2021, wind and solar generated over 10% of global electricity for the first time, but record-high electricity demand led to a record rise in coal power and the largest absolute increase in power sector CO2 emissions ever recorded.

In 2021, global electricity demand grew by 5.4%, the fastest rate since 2010. While solar and wind generation continued to rise, coal generation reached an all-time high, leading to a 7% increase in power sector CO2 emissions. This resulted in the first increase in global electricity carbon intensity since 2011, moving the sector further away from the IEA's 1.5 degree pathway.

Fortum/Uniper is criticized for having an inadequate coal exit strategy and increasing its dependence on gas, while continuing to receive significant financial support from major banks and investors, including French institutions like BNP Paribas and Société Générale.

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) has called on the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) to phase out financial ties to fossil fuel companies, specifically those not aligned with the Paris Agreement's 2°C goal. While acknowledging the IET's commitment to net-zero operations within ten years, SGR highlights ongoing concerns regarding the IET's investments in oil sands and thermal coal, a lack of transparency in corporate payments, and the absence of a formal environmental policy. SGR recommends that the IET adopt fossil fuel-free indexes, report the carbon footprint of its investment portfolio, and align its practices with other professional bodies that have already divested from fossil fuels and arms.

The document details EU member state reactions to the proposed extension of the Emission Trading System (ETS) to road transport and buildings (RTB). While many delegations support the measure to meet the -55% emission target by 2030, significant concerns persist regarding socio-economic impacts on vulnerable groups, the sufficiency of the Social Climate Fund (SCF), and the timing of implementation. The briefing also notes discussions on the Effort Sharing Regulation, LULUCF targets, and CO2 standards for vehicles.

The authors analyze transportation data from the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically focusing on the shift toward working from home. By applying the Opportunity, Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) model and a concept map, the paper explores how these behavioral changes impact carbon emissions and suggests that policy-makers can leverage these shifts to support long-term climate mitigation goals aligned with the Paris Agreement.

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) has called on the Energy Institute to end its financial ties to fossil fuel companies and formalize a policy against investing in arms. While acknowledging the Institute's adoption of a net zero pledge and climate action charter, SGR highlights ongoing concerns regarding a lack of transparency in investments and lax policies compared to other professional bodies. SGR proposes a series of actions, including disclosing corporate payments over £1,000 and investments over £5,000, phasing out ties to companies not aligned with the 2°C Paris Agreement goal, and redirecting funds toward renewable energy and energy storage.

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) has written to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) expressing concern over its continued financial ties to the arms and fossil fuel sectors. SGR calls for a rapid phase-out of investments and sponsorships from companies whose carbon targets are not aligned with the Paris Agreement's 2C goal, as well as the elimination of links to the military technology industry. The letter demands greater transparency regarding corporate payments and investments, and encourages IMechE to join climate initiatives like the Pledge to Net Zero and the Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter, noting that other professional bodies such as the British Medical Association and the Royal Meteorological Society have already implemented similar divestment policies.

The submission contends that ISDS mechanisms allow fossil fuel companies to shift the financial risk of stranded assets onto taxpayers and create a 'regulatory chill' that discourages governments from implementing emissions-reduction policies. It highlights that the fossil fuel industry is the most litigious sector in ISDS, accounting for nearly 20% of cases. The authors argue that the perceived benefits of investment agreements in attracting renewable energy are unproven, while the costs—including massive compensation awards—are high. To align investment law with the Paris Agreement, the document recommends the OECD explore multilateral termination of treaties, the removal of protections for carbon-intensive investments, and the creation of 'climate carve-outs' to exempt climate-related measures from arbitration.

The submission contends that ISDS mechanisms allow foreign investors, particularly in the fossil fuel industry, to challenge climate policies and shift the financial risk of stranded assets onto taxpayers. It highlights a 'regulatory chill' effect where states may avoid implementing environmental rules to evade costly arbitration. The authors argue that the perceived benefits of investment treaties in attracting capital are unproven, while the costs—including massive compensation awards—are high. To resolve this, the document recommends that the OECD promote multilateral termination of treaties, the removal of protections for carbon-intensive investments, and the creation of 'climate carve-outs' to ensure that measures aligned with the Paris Agreement cannot be interpreted as treaty breaches.

The submission argues that current international investment agreements and the ISDS system create a 'regulatory chill' that discourages states from implementing urgent climate policies. It highlights the risk of fossil fuel companies using ISDS to secure massive payouts for 'stranded assets' and recommends that the OECD support multilateral termination of old treaties, the removal of protections for carbon-intensive investments, and the creation of climate-related carve-outs.

Three separate lawsuits were filed in early 2022 against the Argentinian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to stop offshore seismic testing by Equinor. These cases focus on the protection of the Southern Right Whale, the incompatibility of fossil fuel exploration with Argentina's Paris Agreement commitments and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and violations of the Escazú Agreement regarding public participation and environmental information. The court combined these three lawsuits on January 14, 2022.

A case study regarding the 2019 legal action brought by Milieudefensie, six other organizations, and over 17,000 Dutch citizens against Royal Dutch Shell PLC to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions.

The document argues that reducing methane emissions by at least 45% by 2030 is essential to meet the 1.5°C target. It details sector-specific interventions: transitioning to agroecology and plant-based diets in agriculture, eliminating fossil fuels and fixing leaks in the energy sector, and implementing a waste hierarchy focused on organic waste prevention and composting in the waste sector. It further proposes a global governance framework based on monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV), national action plans, and financial assistance for developing countries.

The report argues that while the Global Methane Pledge aims for a 30% reduction by 2030, a 40–45% reduction is necessary to meet the 1.5°C target. It details sector-specific interventions: shifting to plant-rich diets and improving livestock management in agriculture; phasing out fossil fuels and implementing leak detection in energy; and prioritizing organic waste prevention and composting in the waste sector. It further advocates for a global governance framework based on monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV), national action plans, and financial assistance for developing countries.