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The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) advocates for the European Commission to prioritize next-generation geothermal technologies—such as Engineered Geothermal Systems (EGS), closed-loop systems (Advanced Geothermal Systems), and superhot rock systems—within the EU Action Plan on Geothermal Energy. These technologies, which access heat from deeper and hotter crustal layers (above 374°C), offer higher energy density and can be deployed more widely than traditional geothermal energy. CATF recommends a bold R&D agenda, the establishment of financial risk-sharing mechanisms via the European Investment Bank, the creation of a standardized permitting template based on Germany's Geothermal Acceleration Law, and the development of an EU-wide geothermal data repository to attract private capital and accelerate deployment by the early 2030s.

The document argues that CCS is essential for the European cement sector because approximately two-thirds of its emissions are process-related and cannot be eliminated by energy switches. While the EU is emerging as a leader with numerous planned large-scale projects funded by the Innovation Fund, challenges remain regarding energy requirements for capture and the dispersed location of plants relative to CO2 infrastructure. The briefing recommends carbon contracts for difference, low-carbon public procurement, and the development of an EU-wide CO2 transport network to accelerate the transition.

The document highlights that just 1% of Syria's estimated superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 194 GW of energy capacity, generating over 1,613,788 GWh of electricity. This amount is 95 times the country's 2021 electricity consumption and could theoretically replace all fossil fuels used for electricity production, supporting Syria's Nationally Determined Contribution goal of 10% renewable power by 2030. The technology is described as a land-efficient, 24/7 energy source that could reduce Syria's dependence on coal imports, primarily from Turkey, and provide raw energy for desalination and hydrogen production.

The document highlights that just 1% of Türkiye's superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 594 GW of energy capacity, potentially replacing all coal and gas used for electricity production and meeting the country's projected 2050 electricity demand of 609,503 GWh. It argues that this technology would enhance energy security by reducing dependence on coal (58% imported) and natural gas (98% imported), while requiring significantly less land (12 km² per 1 GW) than solar, wind, or biomass.

The document calls for G20 leaders to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and ensure the Paris Agreement is designed for ambition to avoid global warming of 3°C or more. It emphasizes the need for a five-year process to ramp up emission targets starting in 2020 and the delivery of $100 billion annual climate finance by 2020. Additionally, it urges the G20 to fulfill its 2009 promise to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, noting that the G20 currently spends nearly $90 billion annually on fossil fuel exploration.

The document assesses the integration of renewable energy (RE) targets in Asian countries, highlighting national goals in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and China. It emphasizes that while RE technologies are feasible and market-oriented, their deployment in Asia is hindered by a lack of financing mechanisms and inadequate management capacity. The author argues for the use of legal instruments, South-South collaboration for 'appropriate' (small-scale) technologies, and innovative financing like revolving funds to overcome high upfront costs.

The document provides a stakeholder analysis of the Karpowership project in South Africa, which involves the deployment of floating gas ships to provide 1,220 MW of emergency power. It details the corporate structure of Karpowership SA, a joint venture between the Turkish conglomerate Karadeniz Holding and Powergroup South Africa. The analysis identifies key suppliers, including Shell plc for LNG delivery and Mitsui OSK Lines for regasification services, and lists a syndicate of four banks that provided a US$ 140 million loan to Karpowership in March 2020.

The document argues that because the OECD failed to reach a consensus on the Basel Convention's Plastic Waste Amendments, plastic wastes classified as "other wastes" (Annex II) fall outside the scope of the OECD Decision. Consequently, OECD members that are Parties to the Basel Convention must apply the Convention's control and prohibition mechanisms to these wastes. The analysis further concludes that separate agreements, specifically between the US and Canada and among EU member states, are invalid under Article 11 of the Basel Convention because they do not provide equivalent levels of environmental protection and control.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the BTC Pipeline Project's legal framework undermines the rule of law and sovereign regulatory power in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. CIEL identifies significant deficiencies in the project's approach to climate change, public consultation, and compensation for affected populations, particularly in Turkey. The document further contends that the project fails to demonstrate a measurable contribution to poverty alleviation, potentially violating IFC mandates.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) increasingly integrated climate change into its 2023 state reviews and released General Comment No. 26, which establishes the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as implicit in the Convention. The CRC's work focused on state obligations for mitigation and adaptation, the regulation of private actors' contributions to environmental harm, and the protection of children's rights across various legal and procedural frameworks.

The paper analyzes the convergence of human rights and environmental law, arguing that a healthy environment is a prerequisite for the enjoyment of fundamental human rights. It explores legal tools within the Inter-American System—such as precautionary measures, admissibility exceptions, and state responsibility for third-party actions—to address environmental degradation. Through a comparative analysis of jurisprudence from the Inter-American, African, and European systems, the author demonstrates how rights to life, integrity, property, and information are increasingly interpreted to include environmental dimensions, emphasizing the state's duty of due diligence to prevent harm from industrial activities.

The document argues that because the OECD failed to reach consensus on the Basel Plastic Amendments, plastic wastes classified as "other wastes" (Annex II) have fallen outside the scope of the OECD Wastes Trade Decision. Consequently, OECD members that are parties to the Basel Convention must apply Basel's prior informed consent (PIC) and ban mechanisms to these wastes. The analysis further concludes that recent arrangements between the US and Canada, and the EU's Waste Shipment Regulation, are invalid as Article 11 agreements because they do not provide an equivalent level of environmental protection and control to the Basel Convention.

The document catalogues alleged human rights implications across numerous international projects in sectors such as mining, energy, and forestry. It organizes these cases by the specific right implicated, including the rights to adequate food, housing, health, and life, as well as freedoms from forced labor and torture. The case studies highlight recurring issues such as forced resettlement, environmental contamination of water and land, the use of military force to suppress protests, and inadequate compensation for displaced populations.

The UNEP Compendium documents the intersection of human rights and environmental law through a curated selection of global and regional instruments and judicial decisions. It analyzes how substantive rights (such as the rights to life, health, and property) and procedural rights (access to information, public participation, and access to justice) are used to address environmental degradation. The document highlights the 'greening' of human rights law, where tribunals increasingly interpret existing rights to encompass environmental protections, particularly for indigenous peoples and marginalized groups. It also details state obligations regarding industrial pollution and natural resource extraction, emphasizing duties of prevention, regulation, and the requirement for free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) for indigenous communities.

ClientEarth advocates for the implementation of comprehensive framework climate laws (FCLs) to bridge the gap between political ambition in NDCs and domestic action. The brief highlights that current climate commitments are insufficient, with a projected temperature rise of 2.4°C to 2.6°C even if existing NDCs are met. It calls on countries to submit science-driven NDCs by February 2025 and to enshrine these in binding national laws by COP30. The document also details recent international legal precedents from the ICJ, ITLOS, and ECHR that strengthen the legal obligations of states to protect human rights and the environment from climate harm.

The report advocates for the use of legal frameworks to bridge the gap between climate ambition and action following the COP28 Global Stocktake. It calls for the enactment of comprehensive national framework climate laws by COP30, the operationalisation of the loss and damage fund with a human rights focus, and a legally mandated phase-out of fossil fuels. ClientEarth emphasizes the role of international courts in clarifying state obligations and suggests adopting demand-reduction strategies for fossil fuels similar to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to combat greenwashing.

A coalition of European civil society organisations (CSOs) is protesting a campaign of disinformation led by some Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from the European People’s Party (EPP) and far-right groups. The attack specifically targets the legitimacy of public funding for environmental NGOs under the LIFE programme. The statement argues that independent CSOs are essential for a functioning democracy and a fully informed decision-making process, contrasting the modest public grants received by NGOs with the high spending of corporate lobbyists in Brussels.

The Healthy NDC Scorecard evaluates national climate commitments (NDCs) based on climate ambition, health impacts, and governance. It categorizes outcomes ranging from 'Paris Agreement compliant' and 'Science aligned' to those that are 'Catastrophic for human health', specifically tracking temperature trajectories from 1.5°C to over 4°C.

The Willis Transportation Outlook examines how transport infrastructure serves as a primary driver of global economic development and wealth creation. It highlights a shift in aviation and trade growth toward Asia and the Middle East, while developed nations like the UK struggle with political instability and aging infrastructure. The document emphasizes the transition toward 'intelligent mobility'—using smart data and connectivity to reduce congestion—and the urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure to withstand extreme weather. It also explores innovative funding models like Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and the role of China's investment in African transport networks.

The document provides a framework for governments to assess how climate policies affect national budgets, focusing on the production side of fossil fuels and infrastructure. It details a five-step methodology: establishing a base case, developing scenarios, assessing policy impacts, allocating value between consumers and producers, and splitting value between government and commercial entities. The report applies this to Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Egypt, highlighting that oil assets are most sensitive to global demand shifts, while coal and gas are more influenced by regional dynamics and infrastructure. It recommends that governments reduce upfront capital commitments, adapt tax regimes, and diversify into low-carbon technologies to mitigate the risk of stranded assets.