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The report argues that CCS is essential for the EU to reach climate neutrality by 2050, noting that current deployment rates are far below required levels and that no operational CO2 storage sites currently exist within the EU. It recommends setting clear deployment targets for CCS, DACCS, and BECCS, and establishing a strategic plan to distribute storage basins across the region by 2035 to avoid over-reliance on the North Sea. To address financial barriers, the author suggests coordinating funding, using carbon contracts for difference (CfDs), and creating a dedicated tender for capture capacity. The report also emphasizes the need for a common regulatory framework for cross-border CO2 transport, the creation of an aggregation platform to match CO2 sources with sinks, and the development of market demand for near-zero carbon products. Finally, it advocates for the prioritization of permanent industrial carbon removals (DACCS and BECCS) and their gradual integration into compliance markets like the EU ETS, provided robust standards and monitoring are in place.

The document analyzes the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), highlighting its shift toward mandatory due diligence for commodities like cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya, and wood. It argues that while the EUDR is a significant step, it contains gaps regarding ecosystem coverage and the exclusion of financial institutions. The paper recommends expanding the regulation to include high-carbon biomes (such as savannahs and grasslands) and financial institutions to ensure capital flows toward sustainable agriculture. It also warns of a 'two-tier commodity trading system' where high-risk products are diverted to markets with less restrictive rules, such as the US and China, and emphasizes the need for collaborative frameworks with producer countries like Brazil, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Finally, it suggests using transition plans and third-party certifications, including the Climate Bonds Standard, to facilitate compliance and mobilize investment for a net-zero transition.

The document explains the EU's State aid control system, which generally prohibits government financial support to companies to protect the internal market unless the European Commission approves it. It details the 'State aid rulebook', including block exemptions and guidelines, and highlights the lack of systematic climate and environmental mainstreaming in these rules. The guide also outlines the procedural challenges for CSOs, who are typically treated as 'third parties' without formal standing to lodge complaints or challenge decisions in EU courts, and provides strategies for CSOs to influence State aid design and transparency.

The guide examines the legal frameworks for air quality in Turkey and the EU, analyzing the intersection of environmental law and human rights. It details the obligations of states to maintain air quality limit values, the requirements for air quality plans, and the regulation of industrial emissions. The document highlights the role of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Turkish Constitutional Court in protecting the right to a healthy environment and discusses the process of aligning Turkish legislation with the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).

The briefing argues that conventional neoclassical financial analysis fails to account for long-term non-financial risks and externalities, often leading to underinvestment in sustainable transport. It proposes an 'integrated financial analysis' where positive externalities—such as health benefits and time savings—are monetized and converted into revenue streams. Using a case study of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Bandung, Indonesia, the paper demonstrates that while the project is financially unviable based on ticket sales alone, it becomes viable if a small fraction (12% to 19%) of its societal externalities are internalized. The author recommends lowering social discount rates to better incentivize long-term sustainable investments.

The report evaluates nine voluntary carbon neutrality standards and initiatives (VCNSIs) using the CARE (Coverage, Assurance, Responsiveness, and Engagement) methodology. While performing relatively well in Coverage and Assurance, the analysis reveals significant gaps in Responsiveness and Engagement. Key issues include the inconsistent inclusion of Scope 3 emissions, a lack of stringent mitigation targets aligned with 1.5°C pathways, and limited board diversity. The report recommends shifting from static 'neutrality' labels to dynamic progress-monitoring systems and suggests the creation of an oversight body to harmonize standards and prevent greenwashing.

The report analyzes the landscape of voluntary standards and initiatives for carbon management (VSICMs), categorizing them into four types: GHG inventories, carbon offsets, disclosure platforms, and carbon-neutrality certifications. It details the corporate carbon management cycle—from leadership decisions and inventorying to mitigation and offsetting—and identifies key drivers for adoption, including regulations, investment strategies, and consumer pressure. The document benchmarks 35 leading VSICMs and highlights challenges such as a lack of harmonization and the risk of greenwashing.

The document examines how AI technologies—specifically generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and recommender systems—can be exploited to scale disinformation, impersonate individuals via deepfakes, and automate political micro-targeting. It contrasts these risks with AI's potential to detect harmful content and enhance counter-speech. The briefing also reviews emerging regulatory frameworks in the EU, UK, and US, and discusses ethical principles like accountability and 'Constitutional AI' as means to govern these technologies.

Reclaim Finance establishes a comprehensive framework to identify insufficient or greenwashed corporate climate transition plans. The report outlines five essential steps for a robust plan: setting science-based absolute emission targets, developing a detailed decarbonization strategy (including financial alignment and fossil fuel phase-outs), implementing a value-chain engagement strategy, integrating reporting and governance, and addressing just transition and biodiversity. It further maps these criteria to the EU's European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the European Central Bank's (ECB) supervisory expectations to help companies and financial institutions meet regulatory obligations.

The report examines the planetary boundaries concept, which identifies nine bio-physical systems essential to human stability. It notes that as of 2023, six of these nine boundaries have been exceeded globally. The document explores the difficulty of 'downscaling' these global limits to national levels, discussing various allocation principles such as equality, needs, and sovereignty. It specifically evaluates the potential for Estonia to calculate its 'own share' of these boundaries to inform national environmental policy, while highlighting significant data gaps and the lack of a harmonized EU-wide methodology.

The report outlines 18 recommendations from an Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) for creating a sustainable finance taxonomy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Key proposals include a three-tiered governance structure, the adoption of the ANZSIC classification system, and a focus on five priority sectors: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishery, Transport, Construction & Real Estate, Energy, and Industrial Manufacturing. The framework emphasizes interoperability with international standards, particularly the Australian Taxonomy, and the integration of iwi/Māori knowledge and rights. It suggests a voluntary initial application phase and the inclusion of a 'transition' category, potentially using a traffic light system to label activities moving toward a 1.5-degree pathway.

ClientEarth proposes a series of legislative reforms for the UK to accelerate its transition to net zero by 2050 and protect biodiversity. Key recommendations include the introduction of an Environmental Rights Bill to comply with the Aarhus Convention, the implementation of mandatory corporate transition plans, and a ban on fossil fuel advertising and carbon offsetting. The document also calls for the UK to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, accelerate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution reduction targets to 2030, and ensure 30% of land and sea are effectively protected by 2030. Additionally, it urges the government to address the 'Dieselgate' scandal by supporting affected consumers and funding a clean-up fund.

The report reveals a 'plastic paradox' where a vast majority of consumers in four European countries view plastic packaging as environmentally negative, yet are frequently persuaded by green logos to perceive the same products as environmentally positive. High levels of trust in recycling logos and a strong preference for labels indicating recyclability or recycled content significantly drive purchasing behavior across all surveyed markets.

The report argues that the fossil fuel industry has shifted from outright climate denial to a strategy of 'duplicity,' using greenwashing and misleading claims to protect profits while expanding fossil fuel production. It details how companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and Chevron overstate their clean energy investments, set unrealistic or retracted emissions goals, promote unviable 'false solutions' such as carbon capture and algae biofuels, use front groups to lobby against climate policy, and shift responsibility for emissions onto individual consumers.

The Russian coal sector is facing a period of decline driven by Western sanctions, rising transport costs, and a shifting global market. While the sector initially buffered the impact of sanctions through peak prices in 2022–2023, 2024 has seen a significant drop in export profitability, with 50% of producers reporting losses in Q1. The report outlines three futures: a 'Developing Coal Sector' following a peace agreement, a 'Shift to the East' as a continuation of the current status quo, and a 'Declining Coal Sector' resulting from expanded conflict and further isolation. Regional impacts vary significantly, with Yakutia emerging as a growth center due to its proximity to Asia, while traditional Siberian hubs like Kuzbass and Khakassia face economic instability and social risk.

The guide identifies key barriers to Just Transitions—including institutional capacity gaps, structural labour market vulnerabilities, and limited financing—and offers a strategic roadmap for policymakers. It argues that Just Transitions must move beyond a narrow focus on the energy sector to become a holistic, cross-ministerial strategy integrated into national development plans. Key recommendations include adopting needs-based capacity building, establishing robust social protection systems, and shifting international climate finance toward a more participatory, social-justice-oriented model.

The report analyzes the current state of transatlantic industrial decarbonization policies, identifying a significant divergence between the EU's regulatory-led approach and the US's subsidy-driven model. It argues that while high-level negotiations on carbon pricing (such as GASSA) have stalled, there is substantial opportunity for cooperation through 'softer' market functions, including R&D, green public procurement, and the harmonization of technical standards. The document provides a detailed SWOT analysis of various policy instruments and technology-specific areas, recommending the creation of dedicated dialogue platforms and innovation hubs to foster a globally interoperable clean economy.

Carbon Market Watch (CMW) reports an estimated 2024 GHG footprint of 39.37 tCO2eq, overshooting its retrospective annual target of 22.61 tCO2eq by 74%. The organization's emissions increased from 34.03 tCO2eq in 2023, primarily due to aviation. Scope 2 emissions, largely from remote work and office energy, are the largest source, while aviation is the second largest. CMW has fully implemented several operational policies regarding ground travel, catering, and sustainable procurement, and maintains an internal carbon levy that raised 3,543 in 2024 to support climate advocacy in the global south.

The 2024 Electrification Data Methodology describes how Ember calculates the energy and emissions impacts of electric vehicles (EVs) and residential heat pumps. The methodology focuses on operational energy use, calculating the 'displaced' primary fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by comparing the energy required for electrification technologies against the fossil fuel alternatives they replace. For transport, the model accounts for vehicle stocks, mileage decay, and charging losses. For residential heating, it utilizes final energy consumption data, boiler efficiency factors, and seasonal coefficients of performance (SCOP). The analysis covers the European Union and the United Kingdom, utilizing data from sources such as Eurostat, the IEA, and the UK Department for Transport.

The GCF Risk Dashboard for Q4 2024 reports that portfolio concentration risks remain within Board-approved tolerance levels, though 28 projects are under close monitoring due to notable issues or delays. The fund's total committed amount is USD 15.8 billion equivalent, with a geographic distribution led by Africa (37%) and APAC (30%). Financial instruments are primarily split between loans (41%) and grants (39%), while 54% of target areas focus on mitigation and 46% on adaptation. The report also notes one non-performing loan of USD 4.19 million associated with the IDB's Low Emissions and Climate Resilient Agriculture Risk Sharing Facility.