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This report by Ember analyzes the progress of European Union member states in phasing out coal-fired electricity generation by 2030. It highlights that while the EU is rapidly reducing coal use—driven significantly by Germany's commitment to exit coal by 2030—three countries (Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria) remain heavily reliant on coal and are lagging behind the rest of the bloc.

Germany's commitment to exit coal by 2030 isolates Poland, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria, who are projected to account for over 95% of the EU's coal electricity generation by 2030. While the rest of the EU-27 is on track to reduce coal generation by 99% by 2030, these three countries plan a reduction of only 42%.

This report by Ember analyzes the progress of European Union member states in phasing out coal power by 2030. It highlights that while the EU is rapidly reducing coal electricity generation—accelerated by Germany's aim to exit coal by 2030—a small group of countries, specifically Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria, are transitioning much more slowly and will account for the vast majority of the EU's remaining coal power in 2030.

This report by Ember analyzes the progress of European Union member states in phasing out coal-fired power generation by 2030. It highlights a significant divergence between most EU countries, which are rapidly reducing coal use, and a small group of countries—specifically Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria—that are projected to account for the vast majority of the EU's remaining coal power production by 2030.

This briefing by Ember analyzes energy scenarios from the UK, EU, and US, identifying a consensus that achieving zero-carbon electricity by the 2030s is a critical milestone for meeting 2050 net-zero targets. The report details the necessary phase-out of coal and gas, the required acceleration of wind and solar deployment, and the role of system flexibility and low-carbon firm power.

The 2020 global coal power landscape was characterized by a sharp increase in capacity in China, which offset declines elsewhere and led to the first global increase in coal capacity since 2015. While the US and EU saw record closures, China's provincial governments accelerated coal projects as economic stimulants. Conversely, several Southeast Asian and South Asian nations began canceling planned projects due to financing difficulties and shifting policies.

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2021 evaluates 57 of the world's highest greenhouse gas emitters, finding that no single country is currently on a path compliant with the Paris Agreement goals. While the European Union improved its ranking to 16th place, the report highlights a stark divide between leading nations and G20 members like the USA, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, who are rated 'very low'.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the increasing trend of states terminating old-generation bilateral investment treaties (BITs) to reform investment regimes. It details the legal mechanisms for termination under international law, analyzes common termination and survival clauses, and provides recommendations for states on how to manage the extinction of these treaties and draft new ones.

This report by Sandbag analyzes the significant decline in coal-fired electricity generation across the European Union during the first half of 2019, attributing the collapse to the rise of renewables, carbon pricing driving a switch to natural gas, and plant closures.

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 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.

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.

This research paper analyzes the 2016 EU-Turkey migrant deal, arguing that while it has succeeded in its primary goal of deterring arrivals via the Aegean Sea, it has done so at a significant humanitarian and legal cost. The author contends that the deal, combined with border closures across Eastern and South Eastern Europe, has trapped refugees in squalid conditions and pushed migrants toward more dangerous smuggling routes, while potentially undermining the international principle of non-refoulement.

This directory, compiled by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) with financial support from Denmark, provides an inventory of assistance and capacity-building programmes available to African states in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) areas. It details the offers of nearly 50 states, various international and regional organisations, and civil society entities, primarily within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and other international non-proliferation treaties.

This research paper examines legal gaps in the international criminal justice system, specifically regarding the obligation of states to exercise national jurisdiction and the lack of a horizontal framework for interstate cooperation. It assesses two intergovernmental initiatives—the International Law Commission (ILC) study on crimes against humanity and the Belgium, Slovenia, and Netherlands (BSN) initiative—aimed at enhancing complementarity by establishing conventions for mutual legal assistance and the obligation to prosecute or extradite.

The report 'The Carbon Rich List' by Sandbag analyzes the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) at a company level for 2008 and projections through 2012. It identifies a group of 'Carbon Fat Cats'—companies that received excessive free permit allocations, allowing them to generate windfall profits or bank permits for future use without reducing emissions. The report highlights a systemic imbalance where the power sector bears the burden of emissions reductions to compensate for industrial surpluses, and recommends tightening the scheme through higher targets, limited offsets, and improved company-level data reporting.

This report documents a seminar held by the Institute for Security Studies on September 19, 2009, regarding the unionisation and democratisation of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The discussions focus on the tension between constitutional labour rights and military discipline, the adversarial relationship between the Department of Defence (DOD) and military unions, and the systemic grievances of soldiers leading to protests.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) in climate change mitigation. It analyzes the potential for carbon sequestration in developing countries, the technical and financial obstacles to including these sectors in international agreements, and the specific policy positions and regulatory frameworks of Canada.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the status of agricultural negotiations following the Doha Ministerial Declaration. It outlines the 'Doha Mandate' for market access, export subsidies, and domestic support, while highlighting the deep divisions between developed nations, the Cairns Group, and the Like-minded Group of developing countries regarding the implementation and definition of these commitments.