Search Climate Insights Directory

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.

Mallory Stewart testifies that the U.S. must lead the development of international guardrails and rules of responsible behavior in outer space to avoid unintentional escalation and prevent China and Russia from defining future space security policy. Stewart emphasizes the need for the State Department to lead a unified space diplomacy policy, improve interagency coordination, and restart bilateral and multilateral space security dialogues to strengthen alliances and protect U.S. national security and commercial interests.

The UBIC coalition demands the resignation of South African Minister of Social Development Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe following allegations of financial misconduct and improper hiring. The coalition argues that these scandals distract from urgent poverty alleviation efforts, specifically the finalisation of basic income support and Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant policies.

The study evaluates 23 CDR pathways for Massachusetts, concluding that while several are suitable for deployment and R&D leadership, in-state CDR alone cannot meet the projected 14 million tCO2e annual removal need by 2050. The report suggests that achieving the Net Zero 2050 mandate will require a combination of additional emissions reductions, regional coordination, and out-of-state CDR procurement.

The authors argue that the Paris Climate Agreement's 'name and shame' approach fails because it ignores the science of cooperative agreements on common resources. They propose a climate club where members commit to net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, using a combination of high import tariffs and export taxes on non-members, a uniform tariff surcharge (up to 10%) on non-member imports, and penalties for members who miss intermediate goals. To ensure WTO compatibility, the proposal relies on GATT Articles XX(b) and XX(g), allowing any regulatory approach that achieves emissions reductions. The plan includes a Multilateral Fund for developing countries and suggests similar structures for methane and nitrous oxide, drawing inspiration from the Montreal Protocol.

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 report finds a significant gap in methane action within the dairy and coffee sectors, with only three companies setting 2030 reduction targets and 15 failing to disclose emissions for 2024 or 2025. While members of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance (DMAA) generally outperform non-members, performance varies widely, and dairy co-operatives are noted as lagging. Danone is highlighted as a leader, having achieved a 29.8% reduction in methane emissions from fresh milk and dairy products by 2025. The report also notes that major global supermarkets are currently failing to disclose methane emissions or set targets, and warns that upcoming EU regulations like the CSRD and CSDDD will make such disclosures a legal obligation.

In May 2026, the United States experienced slightly below-average temperatures overall, with an average anomaly of -0.2°F across 192 cities. Despite this, the western U.S. saw above-average temperatures, and the Northern Rockies and Plains region was the warmest, averaging more than 1.6°F above normal. Long-term data indicates that 185 of the 192 analyzed cities have warmed since 1970, with Reno, Nevada, showing the greatest increase at 7.5°F. Climate attribution analysis shows that San Juan, Puerto Rico, had the highest number of days (28) where temperatures were at least two times more likely due to climate change (CSI level 2 or higher).

The May 2026 report highlights that the month was the second-warmest on record globally, with carbon dioxide levels reaching a new monthly peak of 432.3 ppm. In the United States, spring 2026 was the second-warmest on record for the contiguous U.S., while 77% of the region experienced abnormally dry or drought conditions as of early June. The report also notes a developing potentially very strong El Niño and record-low snowpack in several western states.

The report outlines seven key recommendations for ensuring a just transition away from fossil fuels, focusing on institutionalising social dialogue, enhancing transition modelling, implementing worker-centred planning, and pursuing sequenced economic diversification. It emphasises the need for collaborative governance, justice-oriented finance, and the integration of just transition principles into multilateral processes like the Belém Roadmap.

The report assesses how Indonesia can move from corporate-level financing to project finance to meet a USD 24 billion investment requirement for transmission lines and substations. It analyzes five models: leasing, joint ventures (JVs), public-private partnerships (PPPs), infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs), and collective investment schemes for infrastructure (CIS-DINFRA). While leasing and JVs are easier to implement, InvITs and CIS-DINFRA offer the highest scalability and liquidity. The report emphasizes that success depends on three policy enablers: a dedicated transmission fee, off-balance sheet accounting treatment, and targeted fiscal support.

The report argues that Brazil's primary agricultural policy instrument must be reoriented to align with national climate goals, specifically by restricting credit for illegal deforestation, expanding access for vulnerable family farmers, and reforming risk management programs like Proagro and PSR to ensure fiscal sustainability and environmental integrity.

The report finds that while significant financial flows enter the Cerrado, the current financial architecture fails to align agricultural funding with sustainability and zero-deforestation goals. Subsidized sustainable credit represents only 5.7% of total rural credit in the biome between 2020/21 and 2023/24, and is highly concentrated among large producers and a few financial institutions. The Matopiba region is particularly vulnerable, concentrating over 55% of the biome's deforestation (2013–2022) while relying heavily on Constitutional Financing Funds (FCFs), which often lack transparent sustainability criteria. Blended finance instruments show potential through risk mitigation and flexible terms but remain limited in scale compared to the economic incentives driving land conversion. The authors recommend improving transparency via the Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy (TSB), expanding the role of sustainable credit, and fostering financial innovation to mobilize private capital.