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ClientEarth argues that the revised State aid Guidelines and ABER for agriculture and forestry must be fully integrated with the EU Green Deal, the polluter pays principle, and the precautionary principle to avoid compromising environmental protection. The organization recommends strengthening compliance with Union environmental law, refining definitions for carbon farming and forests to prevent biodiversity loss, and increasing transparency in how aid is reported and monitored. Specific concerns are raised regarding aid for irrigation, which may cause a 'rebound effect' increasing water consumption, and the use of forest biomass for energy, which ClientEarth argues should be strictly limited to residues and follow the cascading principle. The document also suggests that aid for climate-related disaster recovery should be conditional on implementing adaptation measures to minimize future losses.

ClientEarth is pursuing a 'world-first' derivative action against Shell's Board of Directors, arguing that the Board has breached its legal duties under the UK Companies Act by failing to properly prepare the company for the net zero transition. ClientEarth asserts that Shell's current climate strategy is insufficient, noting that its net zero target is not reflected in budgets and that its 'Energy Transition Strategy' focuses on 'carbon intensity' rather than absolute emissions reductions. The litigation seeks to compel the Board to align Shell's strategy with the Paris Agreement to protect the company's long-term commercial viability.

The document provides a framework for financial institutions to assess whether a counterparty's transition plan is credible, emphasizing quantitative targets, whole-institution integration, and sustainability. It argues that financial institutions should move beyond risk assessment to 'double materiality'—considering a company's impact on the climate. The brief also addresses the need for capacity building in developing economies and the advocacy for global, standardized climate disclosure frameworks to reduce greenwashing and ensure a just transition.

The briefing assesses the failure of the EU ETS to reduce emissions in the steel sector, which accounts for 221 megatonnes of CO2 annually. It identifies flaws such as excessive free allowances and stagnant benchmarks—particularly for hot metal—that have led to flatlining emissions since 2012. The author proposes replacing free permits with a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and increasing funding for the Innovation Fund to support zero-carbon technologies like hydrogen direct reduction.

The report argues that EPR should be a core component of the EU's strategy for sustainable textiles to operationalise the 'polluter pays' principle and reduce over-consumption. It recommends a harmonised EU-wide approach to EPR, including a consistent definition of 'producer', a broad scope of in-scope products, and the use of eco-modulation to incentivise better design. Because EPR alone cannot address all environmental, social, and animal welfare impacts, the report proposes a suite of complementary measures, such as banning hazardous chemicals, implementing minimum eco-design requirements for durability and repairability, and introducing recycled content targets. The authors advocate for a single, industry-owned, not-for-profit EPR scheme per Member State to better coordinate strategic infrastructure investment and data reporting.

The commentary assesses the challenges of the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) partnership, noting that while common interests exist, translating them into impact remains difficult. It calls for a shift from a donor-recipient model to one based on African ownership and private sector engagement. Key areas for cooperation include a just green transition that supports African industrialisation, coordinated health systems for local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and technical support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The authors emphasize that the EU must recognize global climate injustice and provide sufficient financing to ensure African economies benefit from the green transition.

The 2021 gas crisis caused a paradigm shift in the EU's electricity transition, with skyrocketing prices making fossil gas more expensive than coal and enhancing the competitiveness of renewables. For the first time in Europe, combined wind and solar generation (547 TWh) exceeded gas (524 TWh). While solar growth is surging in countries like Spain and the Netherlands, it remains stagnant in others such as Italy, Czechia, and Romania. Additionally, the structural decline of nuclear power in the EU has slowed decarbonisation, as a significant portion of renewable growth has replaced lost nuclear output rather than fossil fuels.

In 2021, EU-27 electricity demand nearly returned to 2019 levels, with renewables reaching a record 1068 TWh and accounting for 37% of production. A critical shift occurred in the second half of 2021 when soaring gas prices made fossil gas more expensive than coal, leading new renewable output to predominantly replace gas rather than coal. While wind and solar output hit record highs (547 TWh), overall power sector emissions fell by an average of 2.5% per year since 2019, which is less than half the 6% annual decline required to align with a 1.5C pathway. Nuclear power continued a long-term structural decline, accounting for 26% of production in 2021.

ClientEarth asserts that compliance with the NFRD is extremely poor and that national competent authorities (NCAs) are failing to enforce reporting obligations. The document highlights data showing significant gaps in climate-related disclosures among large European companies and argues that without immediate enforcement action, the transition to the CSRD will be hindered by a lack of supervisory experience and lost time.

The European Electricity Review 2022 identifies a 'paradigm shift' in the EU power sector where soaring gas prices in 2021 led new renewable energy to replace fossil gas instead of coal. While wind and solar reached record generation of 547 TWh in 2021, overall power sector emissions declined at less than half the rate required to meet 1.5°C targets. The report highlights that coal phase-outs are stalling in some regions, such as Poland, and that the structural decline of nuclear power is further slowing decarbonization by forcing renewables to replace lost nuclear capacity rather than fossil fuels.

Three lawsuits were filed in Argentina against the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to stop offshore seismic testing by Equinor. The cases raised concerns regarding the protection of the Southern Right Whale, climate impacts, Argentina's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, and procedural rights under the Escazú Agreement. On 11 February 2022, the Federal Court of Mar del Plata ordered a halt to exploration based on the precautionary principle and violations of the rights to information and public participation, though it did not cite climate concerns. However, on 18 February 2022, a different court allowed activities to continue pending an appeal.

The document outlines the financial landscape for nine Swedish cities—Gothenburg, Linköping, Lund, Malmö, Nacka, Örebro, Östersund, Västerås, and Vellinge—stating that achieving climate neutrality would require at least 19,271 SEK per capita per year until 2030. It details municipal funding inflows, including taxes, subsidies, and debt, and distinguishes between on-balance sheet investments (equity and debt) and off-balance sheet options like blended finance and crowdfunding. A significant focus is placed on green bonds, with the nine cities having issued 52 such bonds to raise 31.2 billion SEK for projects like renewable energy and clean transportation.

The document explores strategic litigation as a tool to bridge the gap between state-led anti-corruption efforts and environmental governance. It identifies three main trends: targeting corruption enforcement, improving NRM governance, and addressing transnational sustainability. While it can drive transparency and accountability, the author warns of risks including high costs, potential for abuse via SLAPP suits, and the challenge of enforcing court rulings in weak institutional settings.

Turkey's coal generation declined for the third consecutive year in 2021 due to high import costs, but overall carbon intensity of power has not significantly improved in 30 years. While non-hydro renewables doubled since 2017 and wind and solar reached a record 13.6% share of generation in 2021, a drought-induced decline in hydropower was largely offset by an increase in gas generation, which rose from 23% to 33% year-over-year.

In 2021, Turkey's non-hydro renewable generation overtook hydropower for the first time, with wind and solar reaching a record 44.6 TWh. While coal generation declined for three consecutive years between 2018 and 2021 due to high import costs, gas generation increased to compensate for drought-induced hydropower losses, pushing the fossil fuel share to 65% in 2021. Despite the growth in renewables, the increase in production (+58 TWh since 2011) failed to keep pace with the surge in power demand (+95 TWh), resulting in a carbon intensity of power that has not significantly improved in at least 30 years.

In a letter dated 13 January 2022, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Netherlands calls on 29 large Dutch enterprises to implement climate plans aligned with the Paris Agreement. Citing a court ruling against Royal Dutch Shell, the organization argues that large emitters have a responsibility to reduce scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. They request a climate-just plan by 15 April 2022, targeting a minimum 45% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 relative to 2019. The New Climate Institute will evaluate these plans, with results to be published as a ranking in June 2022.

Analysis by Carbon Limits for Clean Air Task Force estimates a cumulative €10 billion funding gap by 2030 for announced carbon capture and storage projects in Europe, representing non-recoverable costs after accounting for EU Emissions Trading System savings and existing funding. While the EU's Innovation Fund is the primary contributor, the document argues that further public support at the EU and national levels—similar to the Netherlands' SDE++ programme, which awarded up to €2.1 billion in 2021—is essential to cover first-mover costs and establish CO2 transport and storage infrastructure.

The report defines 'climate-washing' as a subset of greenwashing specifically targeting climate change claims and examines the rising trend of litigation used to hold state and non-state actors accountable. It categorizes misleading communications into three areas: corporate/governmental commitments (such as net-zero pledges), product attributes (such as labeling natural gas as 'clean'), and the disclosure of financial risks and investments. The authors highlight a gap between public climate pledges and actual emission reductions, noting that many companies continue to invest in fossil fuels while advertising clean energy. The document provides recommendations for companies, policymakers, NGOs, and lawyers to combat disinformation and increase transparency.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) is implementing a five-year programme (2022–27) focused on accelerating locally-led, equitable, and ecosystem-based climate action. The initiative targets disadvantaged groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, and migrants, across Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. CDKN's strategy centers on three priority areas: integrating gender equality and social inclusion into climate policies, enabling inclusive finance for local action, and implementing effective ecosystem-based adaptation. The approach emphasizes 'knowledge-into-action' by combining local, Indigenous, and scientific knowledge to strengthen Southern leadership and institutional capacity.

The report analyzes the 2020-2021 outputs of seven UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies (HRTBs), noting a significant increase in climate-related references despite COVID-19 disruptions. It highlights a shift toward questioning developed nations on mitigation and fossil fuel extraction, alongside a consistent focus on adaptation and the participation of vulnerable groups. The document also examines key individual communications, such as Teitiota v. New Zealand and Sacchi et al. v. Argentina et al., which establish precedents for climate-induced human rights violations and extraterritorial jurisdiction.