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This guide by RMI explains the function, types, and potential of thermal batteries as a decarbonization tool for industrial heating and grid stability. It details how these systems convert renewable electricity into stored heat using abundant materials, offering a cheaper and less complex alternative to hydrogen for high-temperature industrial processes.

This report by the Global Climate and Health Alliance evaluates the integration of health objectives within the third generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) submitted by several countries. The analysis finds that while many nations recognize the health benefits of climate mitigation, most NDCs lack measurable health targets, dedicated funding for health adaptation, and alignment with 1.5°C pathways necessary to protect human health.

This briefing note by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) and E3G examines the intersection of global trade, climate policy, and the energy transition. It analyzes how the shift away from fossil fuels reshapes geopolitical power and trade flows, highlighting the disproportionate risks and opportunities for developing countries. The document advocates for proactive trade policy reforms, increased financial support, and international coordination to ensure an equitable transition that avoids protectionism and supports climate-resilient development in the Global South.

The Ember report '2024 at a glance' details the EU power sector's performance in 2024, highlighting a record decline in fossil fuel generation and a record high for clean energy sources, which reached 71% of the power mix.

The report by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) analyzes the landscape of bilateral and multilateral agreements between African states and global powers to secure critical minerals essential for the green energy and digital transitions. It examines the strategies of twelve key actors—including China, Russia, the EU, and the US—highlighting a trend toward resource diplomacy driven by national security concerns and the need to diversify supply chains away from dominant suppliers.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a response to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) consultation regarding updated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) guidance for offshore operators. This guidance follows a British Supreme Court ruling in Finch v Surrey County Council, which mandated that planning authorities assess "downstream" greenhouse gas emissions for fossil fuel projects.

This briefing by RMI analyzes the state of the global energy transition entering 2025, highlighting record growth in cleantech and falling costs despite ongoing challenges in methane reduction and energy efficiency.

A report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Friends of the Earth US analyzing the risks and geographic scope of marine geoengineering technologies, arguing that these speculative interventions threaten all ocean basins and distract from fossil fuel phaseout.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) examines the environmental, climate, health, and financial risks associated with the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas infrastructure. It highlights how improper closure and the proliferation of abandoned wells lead to methane leaks and toxic contamination, while corporate strategies and regulatory loopholes often shift the massive financial burden of cleanup from operators to the public.

This guide by the Global Climate and Health Alliance provides a framework for the climate and health community to help governments integrate health considerations into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), specifically for the 'NDCs 3.0' due in 2025. It outlines seven criteria for health-inclusive NDCs, practical steps for government implementation, and strategies for civil society to advocate for health-centric climate policies.

The 2025 Energy Services Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape analyzes investment opportunities in embedded solar PV and behind-the-meter (BTM) lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) for South Africa's commercial, industrial, and agricultural (CI&A) sectors. The report highlights a shift in market drivers from mitigating loadshedding toward long-term cost savings, energy security, and decarbonization to meet international trade requirements.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) synthesizes the climate, sustainability, energy, and climate finance commitments made by G20 member countries from 2008 to 2024. It tracks the evolution of these commitments through various summits, highlighting the shift from general statements to specific frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the challenges posed by inconsistent national policies, particularly those of the United States. The document also details the priority areas for South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency, which emphasizes solidarity, equality, and sustainability.

The Production Gap Report 2025 by the Stockholm Environment Institute finds that global fossil fuel production plans are increasingly divergent from the Paris Agreement's goals. Governments are collectively planning higher levels of production for coal, oil, and gas than in 2023, with projected 2030 production exceeding 1.5ºC-consistent levels by more than 120%.

This guide by Transforma explains the "ambition cycle" of the Paris Agreement, an iterative process designed to help countries progressively improve their climate commitments through formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. It details the key instruments involved—such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Strategies (LTS)—and provides a roadmap for national implementation to align short-term actions with long-term goals like net-zero emissions by 2050.

This report provides guidance on transitioning the construction industry from prescriptive concrete specifications—which dictate a specific 'recipe'—to Performance Standards and Specifications (PSS) that focus on desired properties. The author argues that PSS is essential for scaling low-carbon concrete and reducing sector emissions by 25% or more, as traditional standards are geared toward ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The document outlines stakeholder roles, suggests specific tests for workability, strength, and durability, and provides case studies from the US and international examples to demonstrate how PSS can be trialed on real-world projects.

Ember modelling indicates that the UK can achieve a stable, decarbonised clean power system by 2030 while significantly reducing its reliance on expensive, imported biomass. By reducing biomass capacity by 2 GW—retaining only the equivalent of a single large-scale unit—biomass generation could drop to just 2% of total electricity generation, with the gap largely filled by power imports and a marginal increase in gas use.

A report by Ember analyzing UK power generation in 2024, finding that low-carbon renewables (wind, solar, and hydropower) are set to generate more electricity than fossil fuels for the first full year.

This policy brief examines the potential for the South African G20 presidency to facilitate the rechannelling of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), specifically the African Development Bank (AfDB). It outlines the financial mechanisms for such a transfer, the political and legal hurdles preventing it, and the potential development impacts for African nations.

This toolkit by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines policy options to address carbon leakage—the displacement of production and emissions to countries with lower climate ambition. It analyzes the trade-offs of international frameworks, Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs), carbon cost containment, subsidies, and product standards, noting that while carbon pricing coverage grew to 24% of emissions in 2024, price divergence continues to drive leakage risks.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) provides a guide for developing financial instruments for climate adaptation, drawing on a decade of experience from the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (The Lab). It identifies key barriers to adaptation finance—such as high perceived risk, limited investor awareness, and a lack of bankable pipelines—and outlines a five-step framework for structuring successful instruments: defining a resilience thesis, building robust pipelines, strategic funder engagement, cultivating collaborations, and measuring impact.