energy policy
Beijing’s new five-year economic plan leaves questions unanswered on growing coal power fleet.
The unveiling of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) was expected to be a watershed moment for global climate action, providing a definitive roadmap for the world’s largest emitter to begin a structural decline in coal consumption. However, the document released in Beijing this week has left international observers and climate scientists in a state of […]
South African rare earths project aims to rival Chinese with low-cost model
The Economic Challenge of Rare Earth Mining Rare earth elements, a group of 17 metals including neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium, are indispensable for the production of high-strength permanent magnets used in EV motors and wind turbines. Despite their name, these minerals are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust; however, they are rarely found in concentrations […]
Vanuatu women spearhead climate resilience and renewable energy transition amid escalating Pacific disasters
PORT VILA, Vanuatu — While international headlines regarding the South Pacific often dwell on the existential threat of rising sea levels and the devastating frequency of Category 5 cyclones, a different story is emerging from the volcanic archipelagos of Vanuatu. It is a narrative not of victimhood, but of sophisticated grassroots leadership. In villages like […]
Restricting raw materials exports is well-intentioned but without other policies to foster domestic processing, they can backfire
The global transition toward a low-carbon economy has ignited an unprecedented scramble for critical minerals, prompting a wave of resource nationalism across the Global South. From the lithium fields of Zimbabwe to the nickel mines of Indonesia, governments are increasingly deploying export bans on raw ores to compel international mining conglomerates to invest in domestic […]
UN Oversight Committee to Address Delays as Over 60 Countries Fail to Submit Updated Climate Pledges
The international community faces a critical juncture in global climate governance as more than 60 nations, including major economies and emerging powers such as India, Argentina, and Vietnam, have failed to submit their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by the prescribed deadlines. This widespread administrative and political delay has prompted the United Nations climate oversight […]
Deep divisions persist as plastics treaty talks restart at informal meeting
The diplomatic rift occurred during the latest round of high-level discussions aimed at finalizing a global treaty to end plastic pollution, a process that has become increasingly fractured as nations grapple with the economic and environmental costs of the material. In a sharp departure from the collaborative tone seen in earlier sessions, United States negotiators […]
US Mineral Bloc Prioritizes Military and Digital Infrastructure Amid Concerns Over Global Cleantech Supply Diversion
The United States government, in coordination with its strategic allies, has officially shifted the operational focus of its international minerals trading bloc to prioritize the stabilization of supply chains for the domestic digital and military sectors, a move that analysts warn could significantly restrict the availability of critical materials for global clean technology projects. This […]
Why women’s leadership is central to unlocking the global phaseout of fossil fuels
The Global Vanguard of Environmental Defense The current wave of environmental activism marks a departure from traditional lobbying. In the first quarter of 2026, data from the Global Environmental Justice Atlas (EJAtlas) indicates that women-led campaigns have been instrumental in halting or delaying over 150 large-scale fossil fuel and mining projects. These interventions are often […]
Kenya Faces Escalating Hunger Crisis as Fifth Consecutive Rainy Season Fails Across Arid Regions
The humanitarian situation in Kenya has reached a critical inflection point as 3.3 million residents across the nation’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) face acute food insecurity. Just four years after the conclusion of a devastating multi-year drought, the region is once again grappling with the consequences of successive failed rainy seasons. Current projections from […]
Colombia and the Netherlands to Host Landmark Global Conference on Fossil Fuel Transition in Santa Marta to Build Momentum for COP31
The Caribbean coastal city of Santa Marta is set to become the focal point of international climate diplomacy this April as Colombia and the Netherlands co-host the First Conference on the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels. This landmark gathering represents a strategic effort to revitalize global momentum for a structured phase-out of coal, oil, and […]
