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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.

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.

The research paper analyzes the intersection of climate change and migration, challenging the narrative of inevitable mass migration from the Global South to the Global North. It highlights the lack of consensus on terminology, such as the contested use of 'climate refugees,' and notes that most climate-induced movement is internal. The author argues that voluntary, planned migration can serve as a positive adaptation strategy, benefiting migrants, origin communities, and destination areas. The document calls for coherent, multi-scalar governance and the integration of climate considerations into EU migration and development policies.

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 document addresses the rise in EU ETS carbon prices, which reached €98.49 on 8 February 2022. It refutes claims from energy-intensive industries and countries like Poland and Spain that speculative trading is causing price spikes, noting that speculative activity accounts for only about 4% of ETS activity. The author opposes a proposal by MEP Peter Liese to release 100 million additional allowances if prices remain high for six months, arguing this would undermine emission reduction goals. Instead, the document advocates for reducing the oversupply of credits, ending free allowances, and aiming for a 70% reduction in ETS emissions by 2030 to provide a stable price signal for industrial decarbonisation.

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.

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 blending green hydrogen into existing natural gas infrastructure for buildings and power generation is inefficient, costly, and risky. It finds that electrification is a superior alternative for the building sector due to higher energy efficiency and lower costs. In the power sector, hydrogen-fired turbines face significant NOx pollution challenges and risk becoming stranded assets. The authors recommend that green hydrogen be reserved for 'hard-to-decarbonize' sectors like industrial feedstocks, aviation, and marine shipping, while urging regulators to maintain a high burden of proof for any ratepayer-funded hydrogen projects.

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 policy brief examines the long-standing tension between the World Trade Organization's (WTO) focus on trade liberalization and the need for environmental protection. It highlights the failure of the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) to produce recommendations and the persistence of harmful subsidies in agriculture, fisheries, and fossil fuels. The author argues that the WTO must integrate science-policy interfaces and prioritize sustainable development to support the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, noting recent member-led initiatives on plastics and climate as potential paths forward.

The document advocates for the integration of 'clean firm power' like nuclear energy to complement variable renewables, citing land-use constraints and system costs. It identifies project management and lack of standardization as primary drivers of high nuclear costs and proposes a shift toward manufactured, standardized designs. Key policy recommendations include reforming NRC licensing fees, adopting consent-based siting for spent fuel, and repurposing retired fossil fuel sites.

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.

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.

The paper argues that Canada should implement federal legislation to mandate a comprehensive just transition strategy, embedding International Labour Organization principles of social dialogue and decent work. It recommends linking this transition to a 1.5°C-aligned pathway, ensuring the respectful inclusion of Indigenous Peoples, and establishing independent advisory bodies with adequate authority and accountability. Beyond legislation, the author suggests mainstreaming just transition principles across government departments, improving corporate accountability, and planning a managed wind-down of fossil fuel production to support workers.

The report identifies systemic barriers for NEETs in remote island regions, including limited vocational training in green skills, high costs of mobility, and a lack of specialized financial support. It recommends that the EU establish mandatory funding shares for green employment and innovation within the 2021-2027 budget and NextGenerationEU, implement a centralized EU student loan system, and create a 'Sustainability for islands secretariat' to expand support beyond energy to include education.

The document advocates for a 'green feminist foreign policy' for the EU that moves beyond basic gender equality to an intersectional approach. It criticizes the current male-dominated culture of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the limitations of the Gender Action Plan III (GAP III). The author proposes systemic changes, including mandatory training, gender-responsive budgeting, and the inclusion of marginalized groups in climate and security decision-making, citing Sweden's pioneering model as a reference.

The document examines regenerative livestock farming in Spain, a model based on directed grazing and frequent rotations to mimic wild herbivores. Through 52 interviews with farmers, the study finds that the model is adaptable to various pastoral systems and does not depend on high external inputs for economic profitability. While farmers report high satisfaction (over 90%) regarding soil health and biodiversity, the current administrative and bureaucratic framework is identified as a barrier to adoption. The authors call for increased communication between farmers, scientists, and institutions to align policy and subsidies with regenerative practices.

The report argues that Canada requires comprehensive federal just transition legislation to provide certainty for workers and communities as the country moves toward a low-carbon economy. It identifies critical gaps in Canada's previous approach to the coal transition, such as a lack of negotiating power for advisory bodies and insufficient monitoring. Drawing on case studies from Spain, New Zealand, the US, South Africa, and the EU, the authors recommend that new legislation entrench International Labour Organization (ILO) principles, mandate a comprehensive just transition strategy, and establish a dedicated implementation agency. Key priorities include the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples as full partners, the use of 'tripartite-plus' social dialogue, and the enforcement of corporate accountability to ensure the polluter-pays principle is upheld.

The report outlines a consensus among approximately 30 Canadian civil society organizations to prioritize absolute emissions reductions over carbon removals and offsets. Key recommendations include establishing a firm fossil fuel phase-out date, ending subsidies for nuclear and carbon capture technologies, and integrating Indigenous reconciliation and just transition principles into climate policy. The document highlights a tension between incremental government targets and the systemic change required to align with a 1.5°C warming limit.