Search Climate Insights Directory

The document analyzes methane abatement through improved flaring practices in nine African and Latin American countries. It identifies removing unlit flaring as a priority low-cost action and notes that while most measures fall below a low-cost threshold of 596 USD/tCH4, costs vary by country based on flaring volumes per site. Key barriers include regulatory focuses on flaring volumes rather than efficiency and high operation and maintenance requirements.

The document evaluates the replacement of methane-bleeding pneumatic devices in the oil and gas sector with electric or instrument air systems. It finds that while adoption is already medium-to-high in several assessed countries, the remaining abatement potential is cost-effective, with instrument air systems often falling below a low-cost threshold of 596 USD/tCH4. Key barriers to further deployment include technical constraints at aging facilities and weak economic incentives where gas has low commercial value.

The livestock sector is a primary source of greenhouse gas emissions in Paraguay, specifically methane. To support Paraguay's commitment to reduce GHG emissions by 20% by 2030, the Ministry of Environment (DGA/MADES) and the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) held a workshop in August 2025. This event brought together government, industry, finance, and academic stakeholders to evaluate methane-reducing technologies, financing mechanisms such as carbon markets, and enabling policies to create a coordinated roadmap for a low-emission, resilient livestock sector.

The testimony evaluates the Build Nuclear with Local Materials Act, the RECHARGE Act, and the Enrichment Licensing Modernization Act, arguing that while the intent to accelerate nuclear deployment is correct, some legislative approaches should be shifted to agency rulemaking to ensure transparency and regulatory flexibility.

The policy brief outlines how western US states can unlock next-generation geothermal energy—which uses advanced drilling and stimulation to access deeper heat sources than conventional hydrothermal systems—to provide carbon-free firm capacity. It identifies five critical policy levers: improving subsurface data availability, streamlining regulatory processes, providing early-stage financing, integrating projects into transmission and procurement frameworks, and sustaining R&D innovation. The author emphasizes that regional coordination among states is essential to overcome transmission constraints and build investor confidence.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) reports on the 2026 Virginia legislative session, highlighting progress in diversifying the electricity portfolio, modernizing procurement, and improving infrastructure siting. Key achievements include the state's planned reentry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) by July 1, 2026, and the creation of a Chief Energy Officer position. CATF argues that while these targeted improvements are constructive, Virginia must further modernize its Clean Economy Act (VCEA) to better integrate clean firm resources and manage rising electricity demand from data centers and manufacturing.

The Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act (S.4406) aims to accelerate the commercialization of supercritical geothermal energy by expanding field testing, establishing targeted R&D, fostering public-private collaboration, and improving subsurface data access. The legislation expands the remit of the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) to include supercritical environments and creates a center of excellence to coordinate research across national labs and private stakeholders. It also mandates deep exploration boreholes and quadrennial reporting by the U.S. Geological Survey to map geothermal potential across diverse geological provinces in the U.S.

The report finds that methane emissions from anaerobic digestion (AD) systems typically range from 0.5% to 6% of total production, with some plants reaching 41%, which is significantly higher than average levels in the oil and gas industry. Current regulatory frameworks in countries like France and Germany often prioritize worker safety over methane mitigation, and the United States lacks dedicated federal or state regulations for AD methane emissions. The report emphasizes that digestate storage is frequently the largest emission source, particularly in the U.S. where lagoons are often uncovered. It recommends implementing robust, facility-level MMRV, mandatory leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, and the use of conservatively high default emission factors in carbon crediting methodologies to incentivize actual emission reductions.

The report argues that next-generation geothermal, specifically enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), can provide the 'clean firm' power California needs to reach its 2045 goals affordably. Modeling shows that EGS could reduce annual electricity supply costs by $10-44 billion and decrease the required pace of solar installation from 10 GW/year to 3 GW/year. While projects are currently being developed in other western states, the authors argue that in-state development would further save $3.5-5.5 billion annually and reduce interregional transmission needs by 28-53%. To overcome the 'missing middle' of financing for high-risk exploration wells, the report recommends California establish a public subsurface mapping and testbed program similar to the DOE's FORGE project in Utah.

The document discusses induced seismicity in next-generation geothermal systems, specifically Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), closed-loop systems, and superhot rock (SHR) geothermal. It identifies three primary triggers for seismicity in EGS: volume and pressure changes, temperature changes, and chemical changes. While closed-loop systems have lower risk, they may still induce seismicity through temperature-driven rock contraction. The text highlights historical failures in Basel, Switzerland (2006) and Pohang, South Korea (2017) as reasons for implementing modern mitigation protocols. Recommended safeguards include early geologic mapping, real-time seismic monitoring, and the adoption of regulatory frameworks such as the U.S. DOE's Induced Seismicity Protocol and Switzerland's Good-Practice Guide, which utilize 'traffic light systems' and GRID scores to manage risk based on geologic and social sensitivity.

The report argues that substituting tax-exempt public debt for investor-owned utility (IOU) equity and taxable debt can significantly lower transmission costs for ratepayers in New England. It identifies two primary paths: strengthening existing quasi-public entities or creating a new purpose-built transmission authority. The author emphasizes that any such vehicle must have a clear statutory mandate for FERC-jurisdictional transmission, non-recourse revenue-bond authority, the ability to form public-private partnerships, and governance structures that ensure state accountability and risk control.

The report details the economic importance of Paraguay's livestock sector, which contributes approximately 12% of the national GDP, while highlighting its role as a major emitter of methane. It identifies a significant gap in productivity, noting that 85% of producers are small-scale and only 22% use improved genetics with technical assistance. The document argues that increasing efficiency—through genetic improvement, reproductive technologies, and regenerative pasture management—can simultaneously reduce emission intensity and increase profitability. It references Paraguay's NDC 3.0 goal to reduce emissions by 20% by 2030, with a specific target of mitigating 2,570.3 kt CO2eq through Good Livestock Production Practices. The report concludes with recommendations for a multi-sectoral roadmap, the development of green financial products like Brazil's Eco-Invest, and the creation of a permanent inter-institutional working group to monitor climate goals.

The report identifies the livestock sector as a primary economic pillar and a major source of methane emissions in Paraguay. It argues that increasing productivity through genetic improvement, regenerative pasture management, and silvopastoral systems can simultaneously reduce emission intensity and increase profitability. The document highlights the need for integrated public policies, innovative green financing, and better local data to meet Paraguay's NDC 3.0 goals.

The report finds that Romania's geothermal potential is largely untapped, contributing only 0.02% to the energy mix and primarily serving district heating and spas. It identifies significant structural barriers, including fragmented permitting, outdated subsurface data, and high early-stage financial risks. The document highlights the potential for the oil and gas industry to accelerate the market by repurposing abandoned wells, which could reduce drilling costs by up to 50%. It recommends streamlining licensing, shifting to energy-based taxation, and introducing risk-sharing mechanisms like drilling insurance to attract investment.

The report argues that New England's transmission costs are the highest in the U.S., driven by a lack of cohesive planning and a reliance on expensive private capital. It proposes replacing private equity and debt with low-cost, tax-exempt public financing, which could save ratepayers up to $8.3 billion on new transmission and $1.1 billion on asset condition projects. The authors suggest several implementation pathways, including integrating public financing into ISO New England's Longer-Term Transmission Planning (LTTP) process or creating new state transmission authorities.

The Dubrovnik Geothermal Declaration, endorsed on 28 April 2026, positions geothermal energy as a strategic asset for the Three Seas Initiative (TSI) region. The signatories commit to doubling geothermal investments by 2030 relative to 2025 baselines and establishing a 'TSI Next 10 GEO' priority pipeline for commissioning between 2032 and 2035. The declaration calls for the creation of a TSI Geothermal Exploration Risk Facility by 2027 and the development of a flagship geothermal pilot by 2029. To support these goals, the document advocates for regulatory harmonization, including fast-track licensing based on Croatia's model and the removal of preferential treatment for fossil gas and unsustainable biomass. It also proposes the 'Geoterm Carpatia' corridor to integrate geothermal energy into regional energy highways linking TEN-E and TEN-T nodes.

A joint statement from research organisations, think tanks, and civil society arguing that the European Commission's Industrial Accelerator Act proposal lacks the ambition needed to create effective lead markets for low-carbon materials. The signatories call for progressive increases in public procurement quotas, the inclusion of private procurement, and robust definitions of 'low-carbon' to avoid stranding committed supply and to provide the investment certainty required for large-scale decarbonisation.

The Clean Air Task Force disputes industry claims, specifically a Wood MacKenzie study commissioned by the IOGP, that the EU Methane Regulation will disrupt oil and gas supplies. The author asserts that the regulation focuses on measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) rather than import bans or strict molecule tracing. The document argues that producers are unlikely to abandon the European market due to strong commercial incentives and the low cost of methane abatement. Furthermore, it claims that the regulation's phased timeline allows for market adjustment and that increased transparency can actually enhance energy security by reducing wasteful gas losses.

The document highlights that waste sector methane emissions are rising rapidly and will outpace fossil fuel and agriculture sector increases by 2050. It argues that national governments must move beyond treating waste as a local sanitation issue to establish national standards and financing. Finally, it asserts that regulatory frameworks must be complemented by public education and incentives to ensure compliance and reduce organic waste at the source.

The document argues that while the second Trump administration has targeted wind, solar, and electric vehicles, bipartisan support for clean firm energy—including nuclear, geothermal, and carbon capture—remains durable through existing statutory foundations and congressional appropriations.