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In the first half of 2020, renewable electricity generation exceeded fossil fuel generation for the first time in the EU-27, driven by new installations, favorable weather, and a COVID-19-related drop in electricity demand.

An analysis of preliminary 2019 emissions data from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), highlighting a significant decline in power sector emissions driven by the collapse of coal power and the emergence of steel plants as primary emitters in several countries.

This briefing note from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) outlines recommendations for UNFCCC Parties at COP-25 to integrate human rights, gender equality, and participatory processes into climate action. It emphasizes the need for rights-based safeguards in Article 6 market mechanisms, the ratification of the Escazú Agreement, and the protection of indigenous peoples and local communities in adaptation and loss and damage frameworks.

This briefing note from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues for the integration of procedural rights—specifically access to information, public participation, and access to justice—into climate governance and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. It highlights the roles of the Aarhus Convention and the Escazú Agreement in promoting environmental democracy and provides specific recommendations for the COP-25 agenda to ensure climate policies are inclusive, rights-based, and gender-responsive.

This fact sheet details a EUR 700 million green bond issued by Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) on July 5, 2019, to finance the procurement of energy-efficient passenger and freight trains for the Italian rail network.

This fact sheet from the Climate Bonds Initiative details a EUR 500 million green bond issued by BayWa AG on June 26, 2019, to finance and refinance renewable energy projects.

This fact sheet details a EUR 750 million green bond issued by La Banque Postale on April 4, 2019, with a 10-year tenor. The proceeds are dedicated to financing or refinancing 47 renewable energy loans, specifically focusing on wind and solar projects.

This report by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and Sandbag analyzes the draft National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of 21 EU Member States that use coal for electricity. It finds that the EU is on track to miss the goal of stopping coal use by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5°C, with 60 GW of capacity projected to remain in 2030.

This manifesto by Friends of the Earth International calls for a systemic transformation of the global energy system to achieve energy sovereignty and climate justice. It argues that the current economic model, based on privatization and the commodification of nature, has led to ecological and social crises. The document outlines ten key demands, emphasizing that energy should be treated as a common good rather than a commodity, and advocating for a transition to 100% renewable energy that is decentralized, community-controlled, and socially just.

This fact sheet from the Climate Bonds Initiative details a EUR 3 billion (USD 3.459 billion) sovereign green bond issued by Ireland's National Treasury Management Agency on October 17, 2018.

This fact sheet details a EUR 600 million green bond issued by Energias de Portugal Group (EDP) on October 12, 2018, marking the first green bond issuance in Portugal.

This fact sheet provides a global overview of high-speed rail (HSR) development, contrasting the extensive networks in Asia and Europe with the limited deployment in the United States. It details the history of HSR, the technical standards for speed, the economic and environmental benefits of rail over air and car travel, and the current status of projects in China, Japan, France, and the U.S.

This fact sheet details a EUR 500 million green bond issued by Svenska Handelsbanken on July 3, 2018, with a five-year tenor. The proceeds are allocated to renewable energy, clean transport, waste and water management, green buildings, and sustainable forestry.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative outlines key public sector green bond policy developments from the first half of 2018, focusing on sovereign issuance, national guidelines, financial incentives, and the role of central banks in supporting the energy transition.

BBVA issued a EUR1bn green bond on May 14, 2018, under its SDGs Framework, marking the first such issuance by a Spanish bank. The proceeds are primarily allocated to renewable energy (83%), with smaller portions for sustainable transport, water/waste management, and energy efficiency. The bond was oversubscribed, with an order book exceeding EUR3bn and 51% of allocation going to SRI investors, primarily from France and other European nations.

A fact sheet detailing the issuance of the first sovereign green bond from the Republic of Lithuania on May 3, 2018, intended to fund energy efficiency renovations for multi-apartment buildings.

This fact sheet details a EUR 750 million green bond issued by ABN AMRO on April 18, 2018, which is notable for being the first bond certified under the Climate Bonds Standard's Marine Renewable Energy Criteria.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute provides an overview of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). It details the environmental and economic benefits of PEVs, the current state of the U.S. and global markets, charging infrastructure, battery technology trends, and government incentives.

Lifting Europe's Dark Cloud is a report published in October 2016 by a coalition of environmental and health organizations. It analyzes the health impacts of air pollution from coal-fired power plants in Europe and evaluates the effectiveness of the EU's Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and the proposed revised Large Combustion Plants Best Available Techniques Reference Document (LCP BREF). The report argues that current pollution limits are undermined by widespread 'derogations' (exemptions) and that adopting stricter, proven Best Available Techniques (BAT) would significantly reduce premature deaths and healthcare costs across the continent.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International marking the 5th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, arguing that these principles have failed to stop corporate impunity or provide access to justice, and advocating for a binding UN treaty on business and human rights.