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The global pipeline for wind and utility-scale solar projects grew by 11% in 2025, reaching 4.9 TW. While China and India lead in construction and prospective capacity, G7 nations show stagnant growth in their pipelines, creating a gap in meeting the COP28 goal to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice argues that implementing wealth taxes in South Africa is a necessary tool to address extreme inequality and fiscal constraints, challenging the notion that such taxes harm economic growth.

This report analyzes the emerging role of grid-scale batteries in the European Union as of 2025, highlighting their ability to compete with expensive gas-fired power during peak demand hours and reduce the curtailment of renewable energy. Using Italy as a primary example and California as a comparative case study, the document details how falling battery costs and widening price spreads are driving a record project pipeline aimed at lowering wholesale electricity prices and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

In 2025, the European Union's power sector reached a tipping point as wind and solar generation surpassed fossil fuels for the first time, accounting for 30.1% of electricity. While solar generation hit record highs and coal reached a historic low, gas power saw a slight increase, though it remained below pre-crisis levels.

The High Seas Treaty, formally the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement), enters into force on January 17, 2026. The treaty establishes a legal framework to protect biodiversity and manage natural resources in the 'high seas'—ocean areas outside any single country's jurisdiction, which cover approximately half of the planet's surface.

The European Electricity Review 2026 by Ember analyzes electricity generation and demand across the EU-27 for 2025. The report highlights a historic tipping point where wind and solar combined to produce more electricity than all fossil fuel sources for the first time, while coal reached a new historic low. Despite this progress, the EU remains dependent on imported gas, which drove up electricity prices and import costs in 2025. The report emphasizes the role of battery storage in reducing gas reliance and curtailment of clean power.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines how climate change is reducing the quantity and quality of sparkling wine globally. It details the impact of extreme weather on yields and pricing in key regions like France, Spain, and Italy, the chemical changes in grapes that alter flavor profiles, and the risks to agricultural workers. The document also discusses the limitations and costs of adaptation measures, noting that traditional wine-growing regions face a high risk of becoming unsuitable if global temperatures rise by 2°C or more.

This end-of-year commentary by Ember synthesises key findings from 2025 regarding the global energy transition, highlighting how solar and wind power have begun to outpace global electricity demand growth and reshape energy dynamics through the rise of "electrotech" and battery storage.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics challenges the claim that renewable energy increases electricity prices, arguing that real-world data from the US, EU, Australia, and India often show a correlation between high renewable uptake and below-average power prices.

This report by Ember assesses the current state and future requirements of Europe's electricity interconnection. It finds that the EU is not on track to meet its 2030 interconnection targets, with 80% of the power system expected to miss the goal. To reach an optimal grid by 2040, Europe needs to nearly double its interconnection capacity, adding 151 GW, which requires an estimated €150 billion in investment. The report identifies a €30 billion public funding gap in the proposed Connecting Europe Facility for Energy (CEF-E) budget for 2028-2034, suggesting that this gap must be filled by EU loans and private funding to ensure energy security and cost-effectiveness.

The Consumer Seafood Guide, published by WWF South Africa in December 2025, is a pocket reference tool designed to help consumers make environmentally responsible seafood choices using a 'traffic light' system. It provides guidance on identifying sustainable species based on the species type, the method of capture or farming, and the origin of the seafood.

A briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics detailing how soy-driven deforestation in Brazil's Cerrado biome reduces regional rainfall and agricultural productivity, creating a paradox where individual farmer profits are outweighed by regional economic losses and global supply chain risks.

This report provides a comparative analysis of global electricity tariff-setting methodologies, focusing on the process of determining revenue requirements and conducting Cost of Supply (CoS) studies. It examines various regulatory models—including rate-of-return, incentive-based, performance-based, and market-based pricing—and evaluates their effectiveness in balancing financial sustainability for utilities with affordability for consumers. The document concludes with specific recommendations for South Africa to modernize its tariff structures and revenue determination processes as it transitions toward a wholesale electricity market.

This research paper analyzes the shift in African nations' approach to global development during the UN General Assembly's 80th anniversary. It details a transition from dependency on official development assistance toward a vision of sovereignty, financial agency, and systemic reform of international financial institutions to address debt and climate finance gaps.

In the first half of 2025, global solar and wind generation grew sufficiently to exceed total electricity demand growth, resulting in renewables overtaking coal in the global electricity mix for the first time. While global power sector CO2 emissions fell marginally by 0.2%, results varied by region, with emissions decreasing in China and India but increasing in the US and EU.

The report 'Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2025' by Ember analyzes global electricity generation from January to June 2025. It finds that solar and wind growth exceeded global demand growth, leading to renewables overtaking coal's share in the global electricity mix for the first time on record and causing power sector CO2 emissions to plateau.

This report by Ember examines the critical role of electricity interconnectors in maintaining European energy security, preventing blackouts, and mitigating the impact of geopolitical conflicts and sabotage. It argues that expanding and securing cross-border grid capacity is a vital element of protecting European society against hybrid warfare and technical failures.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the causes of power blackouts, arguing that failures in network infrastructure, human error, and extreme weather are the primary drivers rather than renewable energy generation. It highlights a significant global investment gap in grid infrastructure, which the IEA warns could become the "weak link" in the energy transition.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics debunks common myths about renewable energy, demonstrating that solar and wind are now the cheapest and most efficient power sources. It provides evidence that renewables are reliable when integrated with storage, have lower wildlife and environmental impacts than fossil fuels, and occupy minimal land. The document specifically clarifies that a 2025 blackout in the Iberian Peninsula was caused by grid failures rather than renewable energy usage.

This report by RMI argues that battery energy storage systems (BESS) can enhance grid reliability and affordability by providing resource adequacy, stability, and resilience. Using California and Texas as successful models, the document highlights how well-defined ancillary service markets and clear interconnection rules allow batteries to compete with fossil fuel generators, reducing costs and improving grid stability. It specifically contrasts these successes with the PJM region, where high uplift costs and interconnection hurdles hinder battery deployment.