Carbon Lock-in and development in Latin America and the Caribbean: risks and opportunities for recovery from Covid-19

Countries around the world are thinking about how to address the widespread repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic after the urgent and necessary short-term health response. Extraordinary resources are being made available by governments to relaunch economies and to support vulnerable segments of the society. These mid- and long-term stimulus packages hold both the potential of […]

Can NDCs reconcile objectives of ensuring universal access to affordable energy services, energy security, and fostering sustainable energy systems?

The case of North Africa: Given increasing population, urbanization and improvement in living standards in the North African countries, energy demand from households, industry, service and transport will increase by 2030. This will directly affect energy supply and the overall energy system. Regional electricity demand in particular is predicted to rise significantly, leading to an […]

A Dirty Business: Russia, Climate Change and the Mining Industry

When people think of Russia and the environment, they tend to think of the big, environmental catastrophes of the Soviet past such as Chernobyl and more recent issues like illegal logging, and hydrocarbon exploration in the Arctic. However, the domestic politics and policy processes surrounding these issues are far more complex and nuanced than they […]

The Political Struggle in Eliminating Coal

Advancements in renewable energy and natural gas have appeared to make coal a thing of the past, with the costs of solar, wind, and gas generated electricity approaching or even undercutting that of coal power. Yet, while market conditions no longer favour coal, its political importance prevents an easy transition to these other energy sources. […]