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The study finds that new coal generation is unnecessary for energy security, more expensive than renewable alternatives, and incompatible with the Paris Agreement. Modelling shows that forcing 1.5 GW of new coal into the power system increases total discounted costs by R23 billion in a reference scenario and R109 billion in a climate policy scenario, while reducing GDP and employment.

The paper examines the 'solidarity economy' in Central and Eastern Europe, arguing that while the region has a deep tradition of informal mutual aid and survival networks, these practices often inadvertently subsidize capitalist accumulation by covering reproduction costs that capital does not pay. It contrasts the 'new' solidarity movements in Western Europe and North America with the 'traditional' survival strategies of the semi-periphery, suggesting that for a genuine solidarity economy to emerge, these existing practices must be transformed from extractive to generative purposes.

Ember argues that the EU should lead by example in reducing coal mine methane (CMM) emissions, proposing a differentiated approach to state aid based on the type of methane project. The organization opposes state aid for 'Drained CMM' from active mines to avoid extending mine lifetimes, but supports aid for Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) destruction and Abandoned Mine Methane (AMM) capture, provided strict safeguards are in place to ensure these measures do not increase coal production or profitability.

The report argues that the current U.S. electricity transmission system is too slow and fragmented to meet decarbonization goals, which require tripling or quadrupling generating capacity and significantly expanding long-distance transmission. It proposes a '5P' framework—planning, permitting, paying, participation, and process—to replace the traditional three-P approach. The authors contrast two primary policy models: a private-enterprise approach relying on market incentives and regulatory streamlining, and a public-initiative approach centered on a National Transmission Authority (NTA) with federal siting and ownership powers. The report concludes that a national transmission plan is an imperative to coordinate these efforts across state and federal jurisdictions.

The document details user experiences with three existing climate tools—the Global Climate Monitor, World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, and Copernicus Climate Information Portal—and provides a set of design recommendations for the upcoming ClimVis tool. Key user preferences include the need for national language support, intuitive layered complexity, high-quality metadata, and the ability to compare real-time weather data with long-term climate trends.

ClientEarth is supporting five Polish citizens in lawsuits against the Polish government, claiming that the state's failure to address climate change violates personal rights under the Polish Civil Code and human rights under the European Convention of Human Rights. The claimants seek a legally enforceable right to a healthy environment and a commitment from Poland to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 61% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2043 to align with the Paris Agreement's 1.5 degree goal. The document highlights Poland's heavy reliance on coal, with 70% of electricity coming from coal and significant public subsidies for fossil fuels, as well as the specific climate-related impacts—such as droughts, floods, and wildfires—experienced by the claimants.

The report argues that while not explicitly stated, the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) grants EU citizens a right to air quality within legal limit values. It identifies significant barriers to justice in several Member States and advocates for the use of the Francovich doctrine to allow individuals to seek compensation for health damages. ClientEarth recommends that the European Commission explicitly codify this individual right in the revised AAQD, introduce coercive remedies for non-compliance, and alleviate the burden of proof for claimants seeking damages.

The report finds that 2,277 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of new coal mining capacity is under development globally, with 614 mtpa already under construction. This expansion is heavily concentrated in China, Australia, India, and Russia, which together represent 77% of global development. The authors argue that this trajectory is incompatible with the Paris Agreement, as coal production would need to decline 11% annually through 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C. If all proposed capacity is realized, 2030 production would be over four times the 1.5°C-compliant pathway. The report also highlights a potential $91 billion USD in stranded assets and significant greenhouse gas emissions, estimated between 5,000 and 5,800 Mt of CO2-equivalent annually from these projects.

A small number of countries, primarily Turkey, Ukraine, and those in the Western Balkans, are responsible for the majority of coal power air pollution in Europe. Ukraine dominates PM10 emissions, while Turkey leads in NOx pollution. The report highlights that most of the most polluting plants are over 30 years old, though Turkey is an exception with some young plants among the top polluters. Many Energy Community countries failed to meet 2019 emission ceilings, and the report argues that subsidies and rehabilitation costs should instead be redirected toward the region's significant renewable energy potential.

The report analyzes the legal and economic feasibility of a social contract intended to restructure Poland's hard coal mining sector. It concludes that the contract lacks direct legal effect and violates EU competition law, particularly regarding subsidies for operating mines. The author argues that the European Commission is unlikely to authorize new state aid for coal production given the European Green Deal, and that the sector's continued preferential treatment hinders Poland's energy transition.

Between 2008 and 2019, fifteen CO2-intensive industrial sectors in nineteen EU countries earned estimated additional profits between €30 billion and over €50 billion from the EU ETS. These profits were derived from three primary sources: the overallocation of free emission allowances, the use of cheaper international credits (CERs/ERUs) for compliance, and the passing through of opportunity costs of free allowances into product prices. The iron and steel sector was the largest beneficiary, with profits ranging from €11.9 billion to €16.1 billion. In contrast, the aviation sector experienced a net loss of €151.2 million due to the need to purchase allowances. The report argues that free allocation may no longer be fit for purpose and recommends increasing the share of auctioning combined with targeted investment subsidies or a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to reduce windfall profits and encourage decarbonization.

The report assesses Turkmenistan's institutional capacity for climate change adaptation, highlighting the critical vulnerability of the water and agriculture sectors. It identifies the Inter-Sectoral Commission on environmental protection as a key driver for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process and recommends formalizing institutional frameworks, harmonizing legislation, and improving cross-sectoral data exchange to mainstream adaptation into national planning.

The study employs multi-criteria analysis and stakeholder workshops to evaluate resource recovery systems in the Fyriså river catchment (Sweden) and Słupia river catchment (Poland). While the technical systems were similar across both sites, the preferred alternatives differed: source-separation was preferred in Fyris, while a large redesign with ammonia stripping was preferred in Słupia. In both cases, the most expensive systems achieved the highest sustainability scores, suggesting significant potential benefits from enhanced resource recovery despite higher costs.

Reclaim Finance asserts that the EU sustainable taxonomy's climate mitigation and adaptation criteria have been watered down due to pressure from Member states and industry lobbies. The author claims the current proposal allows for the burning of all forest biomass and creates pathways for fossil gas and nuclear energy to be labeled as sustainable, thereby undermining the EU Sustainable Finance Strategy and contradicting scientific research.

Reclaim Finance criticizes the European Commission's 2021 delegated acts for the EU sustainable taxonomy, claiming that political and industrial pressure has overridden scientific criteria. The author asserts that the current framework allows for greenwashing by adopting weak bioenergy standards and leaving the door open for fossil gas and nuclear energy, which the author argues are incompatible with the Paris Agreement goals.

The rapid closure of coal mines in Wałbrzych, Poland, in the mid-1990s led to severe unemployment and poverty due to a lack of proactive transition planning. While long-term diversification efforts like the INVEST-PARK special economic zone eventually created thousands of jobs, they failed to provide immediate relief or targeted support for displaced miners. Current efforts focus on green urban infrastructure and energy efficiency funded by the European Investment Bank and the EU Just Transition Fund.

The EU's Just Transition Mechanism is a three-pillar framework designed to mitigate socio-economic disruptions caused by the transition to net-zero emissions by 2050. It focuses on regions dependent on coal, lignite, peat, and oil shale, providing a combination of grants and loans to support economic diversification, reskilling, and infrastructure. While the mechanism requires national Territorial Just Transition Plans for funding, challenges remain regarding the fund's size, the inclusion of social partners in governance, and the alignment of member state climate targets with EU goals.

ClientEarth argues that the GBER must be revised to eliminate aid for environmentally harmful activities and prioritise sustainable energy transitions. The organisation recommends integrating the 'do no harm' principle, increasing transparency in state aid reporting, and excluding fossil-fuel-based technologies like high-efficient cogeneration and hydrogen from block exemptions. Conversely, it proposes new aid categories for energy communities, zero-exhaust-emission vehicles, and sustainable battery storage to accelerate the green transition.

ClientEarth argues that the IED revision must shift from a static, activity-based approach to one that promotes the industrial activity with the least environmental impact for a given service. The organization advocates for expanding the IED's scope to include mining, upstream oil and gas, and aquaculture, while making greenhouse gas (GHG) emission limit values and energy efficiency standards binding, even for installations covered by the EU ETS. Key recommendations include restricting Article 15(4) derogations to a maximum of 48 months, introducing a right to compensation for victims of pollution, and strengthening Aarhus Convention rights through periodic permit renewals every four years and mandatory public participation for all permit updates.

The document identifies an "unspoken consensus" among the UK, EU, and US that transitioning to zero-carbon power by the 2030s is essential for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. It analyzes official pathways, noting a shared commitment to rapidly phasing out coal and reducing fossil gas, while dramatically scaling up wind and solar power. The briefing highlights a "credibility gap" in other OECD nations, such as Japan and South Korea, which have net-zero targets but lack corresponding coal phase-out commitments.