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The report indicates that while global coal power is trending toward an end, the pace of phase-out is insufficient to meet Paris Agreement targets. China is a major outlier, with a surge in new plant approvals and construction that contrasts with a general decline in new projects outside its borders. In Japan, while new project scales are shrinking, operational capacity increased in 2022, and very few plants have confirmed closure dates.

The report finds that while global coal phase-out remains possible, the current pace of closures is insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals. China is a major outlier, accounting for 68% of proposed global coal capacity in 2022, while other regions show a decline in new projects. In South Korea, the report argues that current plans are inconsistent with national climate goals and that the financial risks of coal dependence are evident in the deficits of the Korea Electric Power Corporation.

The report indicates that while the global coal fleet grew by 19.5 GW in 2022, this was primarily driven by China, which now accounts for 68% of global developing coal capacity. Outside China, new coal proposals have collapsed by 84% since 2015. However, the current pace of decommissioning is insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals, with a required average of 117 GW of annual retirements to achieve a 2040 phase-out. In Latin America, development has slowed significantly, though Argentina recently commissioned the Río Turbio plant and Brazil maintains plans for 1.4 GW of new capacity by 2031, despite current project stalls.

The 2023 report by Global Energy Monitor and partners highlights a divergence in global coal trends: while most of the world is reducing coal capacity, China is significantly increasing its domestic pipeline. In 2022, China's under-construction coal capacity grew by 38%, while the rest of the world saw a 20% decrease. The report notes that 70% of OECD coal capacity is moving toward phase-out, but only 6% of non-OECD capacity is scheduled for retirement before 2040. In Pakistan, coal capacity grew from 150 MW in 2016 to 7.6 GW in 2023, with the government signaling a shift toward increasing local coal-based electricity capacity to 10 GW despite environmental and social concerns in the Thar region.

The report indicates that while the global coal sector is generally declining, China is significantly increasing its coal capacity, contrasting with a sharp drop in new projects elsewhere. Most of the world's operational coal capacity is now within the scope of national neutrality targets, though the current pace of retirement remains insufficient to meet Paris Agreement objectives. In Latin America and the Caribbean, coal development has slowed significantly, with notable retirements in Chile and Peru, though Argentina and Brazil maintain some capacity in development.

The report indicates that while global coal capacity is nearing an end with one-third of the 580 GW fleet having set closure dates, the pace of exit is insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals. China is a major outlier, with its development-stage capacity increasing by 32% to 366 GW in 2022, while the rest of the world saw a 22% decrease. In the EU and UK, the energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine slowed retirements and led to the temporary restart of some units, though coal's share of electricity production only rose by 1%. Turkey ranks third globally in developing coal capacity with approximately 11 GW of announced projects, though many face financing and legal hurdles, and the government plans only 3.2 GW of new coal capacity by 2035.

The report highlights a global divergence in coal energy trends: while OECD countries and much of the world outside China are reducing coal capacity and increasing retirements, China is significantly expanding its domestic coal pipeline. The document notes that one-third of global coal capacity has a set phase-out date, yet the overall pace remains insufficient to meet Paris Agreement targets. Specific focus is given to Pakistan, where a shift toward local coal is increasing despite environmental concerns and international pledges.

The report finds that while the world outside China is nearing a 'no new coal' milestone, a massive surge in coal permitting and construction in China is offsetting global progress. In 2022, the global coal fleet grew by 19.5 GW, driven by China, which now accounts for 68% of global capacity under development. While the U.S. and EU continue to retire capacity, the pace of global retirements remains far below the levels required to meet a 1.5C pathway, which would necessitate an average of 117 GW of retirements per year. The report also highlights the role of private finance, noting that most financial institutions' coal policies remain insufficient to align with climate science.

The document analyzes the economic relationship between South Africa and the BRICS nations, noting that while trade has grown, it remains unbalanced and dominated by raw material exports to China. It identifies three primary 'enablers' for deepening these ties: the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the shift in global manufacturing due to US-China rivalry (including 'friend-shoring' and 'Chexit'), and the potential expansion of BRICS membership. The author recommends that South Africa use its 2023 BRICS chairship to promote Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and business-to-business engagements to attract diversified investment into Africa.

The document argues that BRICS failed to harness the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity for collective health diplomacy, instead relying on bilateral arrangements and national interests. Despite declarations of cooperation, there were no 'all-BRICS' partnerships for vaccine development, and the bloc experienced significant discord over the transparency and approval of vaccines like Russia's Sputnik V and India's Covaxin. The author highlights a lack of a dedicated BRICS health institution and recommends the creation of a collaborative think tank, a joint research centre, and a formal pandemic intervention protocol to move from 'vaccine nationalism' toward effective science diplomacy and technology transfer.

The briefing recommends that NATO avoid reactive expansions of its nuclear arsenal or mirroring Russia's suspension of the New START Treaty following Putin's announcement to operationalize tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. The authors argue that NATO's current deterrence is sufficient and that overreacting would play into Russian narratives of NATO aggression. Key recommendations include continuing transparency regarding B61-12 deployment, prioritizing the reduction of tactical nuclear weapon risks, and strengthening crisis communication channels with Russia to prevent accidental escalation.

The UN 2023 Water Conference, held in New York, focused on accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) through the Water Action Agenda. The event resulted in approximately 700 voluntary commitments totaling USD 300 billion and the announcement of a UN Special Envoy for Water. Discussions emphasized the water-food-energy nexus, the human right to water and sanitation, and the need for innovative finance and improved global water data. While the conference generated significant political momentum and new partnerships, analysis suggests that many pledges lack quantifiable targets and that the international community must quadruple its efforts to meet 2030 goals.

The report examines the challenges facing Nigeria's energy transition, noting that economic crises and security issues have marginalised climate action in political discourse. It suggests that the government can drive renewable energy adoption by reinstating VAT and import duty exemptions for solar components and by completing the Presidential Power Initiative to improve grid stability. The author argues for a realistic energy vision that avoids suboptimal pathways and leverages existing agricultural networks for climate-smart interventions.

The document translates complex IPCC findings into accessible language, emphasizing the urgent need for zero new fossil fuel development, the necessity of carbon dioxide removal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and the critical requirement for increased climate finance for developing countries.

The document examines the unprecedented global outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, highlighting the virus's increasing ability to infect mammals and the risk of potential human-to-human transmission. It details the devastating ecological impact on bird populations and the economic toll on poultry farms, particularly in the United States. The authors argue that current biosecurity efforts are lagging and call for urgent improvements in vaccine development, the implementation of safer industrial farming practices—specifically regarding mink and pig farms—and the expansion of wild bird surveillance to prevent a future pandemic.

The AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade by eliminating 97% of tariff lines, but commercially significant trade is delayed primarily by ongoing negotiations on Rules of Origin (RoO). To maintain momentum, the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) was launched in October 2022 as a pilot involving eight countries: Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Tunisia. While political will is high and many countries have developed national implementation strategies, challenges remain, including clashes between national interests and pan-African goals, dependence on external donor funding for expertise, and concerns over productive capacity disparities. The document highlights that 'smaller' countries fear domination by 'bigger' economies like South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria, while some, such as Kenya, anticipate significant tariff revenue losses. Recommendations include seeking political solutions to stalled technical negotiations, institutionalising support through African multilaterals like the AfDB and Afreximbank, and coordinating industrial policies to build complementary production structures across the continent.

Ember's analysis finds that the Whitehaven coal mine in Cumbria is likely to emit 15 times more methane over its lifetime than estimated by the developer, West Cumbria Mining Limited (WCML). The report argues that WCML understated methane content by using core samples instead of official National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) factors and overstated mitigation potential by claiming a 95% destruction rate, whereas the IEA suggests 69% is realistic for such mines. These discrepancies could lead to the mine producing 12 kilotonnes of methane in 2030, significantly impacting the UK's goals under the Global Methane Pledge.

The document outlines eight reasons why the UK should not increase its military spending, asserting that the UK and NATO already possess significant force advantages over Russia and China. It highlights recent budget increases, such as a £24bn boost in 2020, and criticizes the arbitrary nature of NATO's 2% GDP spending target. The author argues that funds would be better allocated to the National Health Service, overseas aid, and carbon emission reductions, noting that military spending is more than seven times the budget for reducing national carbon emissions.

Ember's analysis suggests the Whitehaven coal mine in Cumbria will emit 15 times more methane over its lifetime than estimated by the developer, West Cumbria Mining Limited (WCML). The report argues that WCML underestimated methane risk by ignoring official UK emission factors and overstated the feasibility of its mitigation plans, which claim a 95% destruction rate compared to an IEA benchmark of 69% for coking coal mines. Consequently, the mine could substantially increase the UK's methane emissions from fossil fuel production by 2030, potentially jeopardising the UK's targets under the Global Methane Pledge.

The document outlines China's transition toward a "New Power System" as a means to reach peak carbon emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. It characterizes the current system by its reliance on coal, growing electricity demand, and the geographic distance between renewable sources and load centers. To transition, the report proposes a system defined by balanced green power development, large-scale energy storage, smart grids powered by AI and digital technology, and elastic demand for system balancing.