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This report by Ember analyses electricity generation data to demonstrate that fossil fuel power has reached a structural peak and is in permanent decline across all 38 OECD member countries as of 2025. It highlights how the rapid scaling of solar and wind is displacing thermal generation, a trend that is now extending into major emerging economies like China and India.

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity demand and supply trends in 2025 and over the preceding two decades. It details the growth of low-carbon sources, specifically solar and wind, and the relative decline of fossil fuels, while noting the impact of weather and policy on national energy mixes.

The research paper argues for a binding international agreement on fossil fuel subsidies within the WTO framework to address global negative externalities and climate change. It proposes using the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) as a model, specifically highlighting the Standardized Carbon Rate Measurement (SCRM) as a way to move beyond definitional debates. The authors suggest that successful subsidy reduction must be linked to a state's capacity to transition to green energy and may require WTO waivers on local content requirements to support renewable energy transitions.

This report by Ember analyzes the evolving potential of geothermal electricity in Europe, highlighting how technological advances in drilling and reservoir engineering are making geothermal a cost-competitive, firm, low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels. It emphasizes that while Europe pioneered many of these technologies, it now risks losing its leadership to the US and Canada due to a lack of coordinated EU-level policy and investment frameworks.

This report by Ember evaluates the financial risks and technical viability of announced greenhouse gas removal (GGR) projects in the UK, specifically focusing on bioenergy with carbon capture and storage in the power sector (power-BECCS) and direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS). The analysis finds that these technologies are currently unproven at commercial scale, face significant delivery delays, and could require billions in public subsidies, potentially diverting funds from more effective decarbonisation methods like renewables and heat pumps.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the intersection of international trade and climate policy ahead of COP 30. It focuses on the use of trade tools—such as border carbon adjustments, green subsidies, and deforestation-free import rules—to advance climate goals while highlighting the risks of market fragmentation and the potential for these measures to deepen inequities between developed and emerging economies.

This guide provides a structured framework for governments to develop and implement national or subnational fossil fuel subsidy (FFS) phase-out plans. It advocates for a whole-of-government approach to coordinate across ministries and proposes a three-category classification system to prioritize subsidies based on their risk to energy security, social stability, and political feasibility. The framework aims to move governments from general commitments to actionable, time-bound implementation roadmaps.

A research paper by Zero Carbon Analytics (ZCA) examines the economic and health costs of red and processed meat consumption in high-income countries. The analysis finds that wealthy nations in Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania face a substantial disease burden from meat consumption, with some countries spending heavily to treat preventable conditions rather than investing in primary prevention. The report argues that shifting toward dietary interventions could significantly reduce healthcare spending and improve public health outcomes.

This research paper examines the intersection of the evolving international trading system and the urgent need to address biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainable development. It argues that while trade has historically contributed to environmental harm, it can be repurposed as a strategic tool for sustainability through new narratives, inclusive international cooperation, and coherent policy frameworks. The author identifies a shift from traditional trade liberalization toward 'multipurpose' approaches that balance security, resilience, and sustainability, and proposes a policy agenda to reorient trade rules, scale up sustainable technologies, and ensure equitable economic transformation for developing countries.

The 2024 Global Electricity Source Trends report by Ember analyzes global electricity generation across solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, gas, and coal, highlighting record growth in solar and wind alongside fluctuating trends in fossil fuels and nuclear power.

This options paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a framework for governments to develop international agreements to reform and reduce fossil fuel subsidies (FFS). It outlines six key building blocks for such agreements: objectives, scope, substantive disciplines, carve-outs and exceptions, special and differential treatment (SDT), and enforcement mechanisms.

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.

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.

A speech delivered by WTO Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam on 4 July 2024, discussing the evolving relationship between global trade and environmental sustainability. Paugam argues that the WTO must move beyond a history of 'benign neglect' toward the environment to address current climate-driven trade disruptions and the risks of trade fragmentation caused by uncoordinated green policies.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) analyzes the 2023 activities of UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies (HRTBs) regarding states' human rights obligations in the context of climate change. It tracks the increasing frequency of climate-related references in state reporting procedures and examines specific themes such as fossil fuel extraction, the right to a healthy environment, loss and damage, and intergenerational equity.

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity generation trends in 2023 across solar, wind, coal, gas, hydro, nuclear, and bioenergy. It highlights record growth in solar and wind, a slight increase in coal generation driven by droughts in China, and the gap between current growth rates and the IEA Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario requirements.

This briefing examines the current state and potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS), noting that the vast majority of operational projects are linked to the oil and gas industry, specifically for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). While CCS is presented as a tool for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like cement and steel, the document highlights significant challenges including high costs, inconsistent capture rates, and the risk that the technology is used to prolong fossil fuel extraction.

This briefing from the World Resources Institute argues that carbon mineralization requires increased and customized federal policy support to reach its potential for large-scale carbon removal. While some funding exists through broad carbon removal initiatives, the document highlights a gap in dedicated support compared to technologies like direct air capture and outlines necessary advancements in research, deployment incentives, and safety regulations to scale the technology responsibly.

This policy brief analyzes consumption-based emission estimation in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. It highlights that while territorial tracking is standard, consumption-based approaches are necessary to address embodied emissions from global supply chains and food production. Key barriers include data collection challenges and a lack of detailed guidance in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for cities (GPC).

Carbon mineralization is a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) process that accelerates the reaction between CO2 and alkaline minerals (like those in basalt) to permanently store carbon as solid carbonates. While it offers potential co-benefits such as strengthened concrete and the neutralization of toxic mine tailings, scaling the technology poses risks including induced seismicity, high water usage in arid regions, and environmental impacts from increased mining. The document emphasizes the need for standardized measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) protocols and updated mineral mapping to scale the process responsibly.