Global Spotlight Report #46: Climate Mitigation Priorities

Introduction

For Post 46, Climate Scorecard asked our Country Managers to propose a strategy for what their countries need to do to reach the goal of reducing emissions by 50% by the year 2030. The following table highlights our recommendations for each country. Detailed Country Reports are provided below.

Country	Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities
Australia	Adopt Energy Management System Standard ISO 50001; Establish National Renewable Energy Information Centres Use Low Emissions Carbon Materials (Steel and Aluminium)
Brazil	Increase Deforestation Monitoring Make Greater Use and Spread of High Technology Products for the Agricultural Sector Restore Forests, Wetlands, and Degraded Pasture Land Reduce the Number of Landfills by Investing in Proper Waste Management Increase Wind and Solar Plant Capacity
Canada	Reduce emissions by 375 Mt of C02 or half of 2019’s 730 greenhouse gas emissions total (the same amount of emissions generated in 2005) Increase carbon pricing targets three-fold and making them consistent across provinces and territories Mandate rapid, accessible, and affordable carbon reduction for road, shipping, rail, passenger ferries, and aviation Achieve a 90% non-emitting electricity target (legislated 2016) by 2030 Finalize with provinces and territories diesel reduction targets in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities End Canada’s oil and gas industry expansion, capping its emissions to reach net-zero by 2050, phasing out coal-fired power, and reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector Implement a complete fossil fuels subsidies reform to align oil and gas production with a 1.5°C compatible pathway Identify a 2050 emissions reductions target to ensure if corrective measures are needed if non-compliant for 2030
China	Implement national programs to identify the impact of closing polluting industries such as coal mines, coal-fired power plants etc. on the livelihood of affected workers; Design the necessary training and reskilling programs to support workers’ transition into new jobs or encourage entrepreneurship Develop policy or legislation to steer and enable regional and local governments to focus on green development goals and a just transition Accelerate installation of renewable energy sources such as on- and off-shore wind and solar farms Invest in grid-improvement and battery storage Educate the public to enable responsible consumption Step up monitoring efforts of carbon emissions at their source.
European Union	More frequent and random monitoring of how countries are complying with their agreed upon goals under the Effort Sharing Regulation by the European Environment Agency Stricter policies guiding the EU ETS, which covers emissions from industry Do more to help countries in the global south decrease their emissions. Increase support for states in the Western Balkans that are not already part of the EU
India	Greater policy coordination between the legislature and the Prime Minister’s Office Increase investment from private sector, banking system, multilateral agencies Phase out use of fossil fuel Make greater use of technological innovations.
Japan	Phase-out out of coal-powered energy plants The phasing out of coal needs to be executed with clear and feasible non-nuclear, renewable energy expansion and emissions reductions Integrate renewables into the power grid more aggressively beyond the government’s current targets for 2030 of 36-38% to 40+% Enable the existing grid to incorporate instantaneous VRES penetration levels of up to 60% – 70% Focus the government’s new Digital Agency on lowering the logistical burdens stemming from the paper-based culture which relies heavily on transportation of paper materials both domestically and globally Conduct awareness campaigns on climate-impacting Sustainable Development Goals (11, 12, and 13) to create a national sense of purpose for reducing carbon emissions Expand greener investing into transition bond markets which will allow for brown projects as long as they are deemed part of a transition strategy to a green economy Make TCFD disclosure mandatory for both listed and unlisted companies which issue securities (e.g., bonds)
Mexico	Have government policy move towards favoring clean energy generation Increase the ambition of government policy to reduce emissions, e.g. commit to reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 Increase funding for the preservation of natural resources Institute a carbon tax and incentivize carbon markets Support the Mexican Emissions Trading System (ETS)
Nigeria	Government Needs to Implement Its Climate Promises Implement solar panels in 5 million households Curtail the use and production of coal Make gas flaring illegal
Russia	Ensure a low-level greenhouse gas emissions by implementing the Ministry of Economic Development scenario for reducing emissions. Expand of investment programs to support renewable energy projects increase the use of renewable energy in the country’s energy and transport sectors Terminate subsidized support for oil companies and the revision of railway tariffs for the transportation of coal Refuse to build new and significant modernization of existing coal-fired power plants Increase in renewable energy projects in the portfolio of assets of Russian fuel and energy companies Develop a state strategy for the transfer of commercial, public and personal transport to more environmentally friendly fuels
Saudi Arabia	Make a more ambitious commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, and a 50% emissions reduction by 2030 Increase use of carbon capture to enable carbon that Is captured to balance carbon that is produced Increase use of renewable energy so that It constitutes 50% of Saudi Arabia’s electricity mix by 2030 Increase investments in tourism and financial services to diversify the economy away from the oil sector
Spain	Improved cooperation between the general administration of the state and the autonomous communities Increase forest cover Increase knowledge and implementation of capture and storage technologies Increase climate cooperation with international agencies and developing countries.
South Africa	Make greater use of alternative energy Increase use of technological innovation to support the use of alternative energy Improve communication and participation in energy conservation efforts Make policy and legislative changes to allow more independent power producers
Turkey	Extend Renewable Energy Investment Incentives Increase research into improving energy storage facilities Increase support for electric vehicles, charging stations and rail cars End waivers for the enforcement of industry emission standards Explore price controls for the household use of natural gas
Ukraine	Raise the carbon tax Determine the coal exit year Make greater use of technological innovations and industrial modernization Updated NDC should guide climate strategy at national, regional, and local levels
United Kingdom	Permanently phase out all North Sea oil and gas exploration Prioritize two sectors with stagnant emissions: transport and housing Reduce so-called “embodied emissions” from major polluters such as steel and cement Reduce embodied emissions in imported goods by establishing carbon border adjustments The UK should increase financing to 3rd party organizations overseeing the follow through, monitoring, report publication and best practice exchange of the Race to Zero initiatives.
United States	Speed up the transition to clean energy Decrease fossil fuel production Support a just transition of the workforce Provide more funding for mitigation efforts

Country Reports

Strategic Priorities for Australia

Posted: January 10, 2022 | Australia News Brief and Action Alert

Riya Shukla Priorities Adopt Energy Management System Standard ISO 50001 Establish National Renewable Energy Information Centres Use Low Emissions Carbon Materials (Steel and Aluminium) Narrative Adapt energy management system standard (ISO 50001) Greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector make up 28% of total emissions in Australia. Emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for Brazil

Posted: January 10, 2022 | Brazil News Brief and Action Alert

Elis Cotosky Priorities Increase Deforestation Monitoring Greater Use and Spread of High Technology Products for the Agricultural Sector Restore Forests, Wetlands, and Degraded Pasture Land Reduce the Number of Landfills by Investing in Proper Waste Management Increase Wind and Solar Plant Capacity Narrative As evidenced in previous posts, Brazil is lagging on its path…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for Canada

Posted: January 11, 2022 | Canada News Brief and Action Alert

Diane Szoller Priorities Reducing emissions by 375 Mt of C02 or half of 2019’s 730 greenhouse gas emissions total (the same amount of emissions generated in 2005) Achieving this through home/building retrofit programs, strong provincial regulations, more ‘sustainable’ jobs for those in transition during a fossil fuel phase out, and strong investment in clean transportation…

FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2019 file photo, smoke and steam rise from a coal processing plant in Hejin in central China's Shanxi Province. Chinese President Xi Jinping says his country will aim to stop pumping additional carbon dioxide, the main global warming gas, into the atmosphere by 2060. Xi's announcement during a speech Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, to the U.N. General Assembly is a significant step for the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and was immediately cheered by climate campaigners. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil, File)

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for China

Posted: January 12, 2022 | China News Brief and Action Alert

Annette Wiedenbach Priorities Nationwide programs to identify the impact of closing polluting industries such as coal mines, coal-fired power plants etc. on the livelihood of affected workers Designing the necessary training and reskilling programs to support workers’ transition into new jobs or encourage entrepreneurship Policy or legislation should be developed to steer and enable regional…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for the European Union

Posted: January 12, 2022 | European Union News Brief and Action Alert

Brittany Demogenes Priorities More frequent and random monitoring of how countries are complying with their agreed upon goals under the Effort Sharing Regulation by the European Environment Agency Stricter policies guiding the EU ETS, which covers emissions from industry Do more to help countries in the global south decrease their emissions Increase its support for…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for India

Posted: January 13, 2022 | India News Brief and Action Alert

Pooran Chandra Pandey Priorities Greater Policy Coordination Increased Investment A Movement Away from Fossil Fuel Greater Use of Technological Innovation Narrative During the recently concluded COP 26 meeting in Glasgow, India announced its highly anticipated short term (2030) and long term (2070) country climate pledges, mitigation goals, and strategies. It plans to halve its…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for Japan

Posted: January 13, 2022 | Japan News Brief and Action Alert

James Hawrylak PRIORITIES The rapid phasing out of coal-powered energy plants The phasing out of coal needs to be executed with clear and feasible non-nuclear, renewable energy expansion and emissions reductions Integrate renewables into the power grid more aggressively beyond the government’s current targets for 2030 of 36-38% to +40% Enable the existing grid to…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for Mexico

Posted: January 13, 2022 | Mexico News Brief and Action Alert

Pablo David Necoechea Porras Priorities Have government policy move towards favoring clean energy generation Increase the ambition of government policy to reduce emissions (e.g., commit to reducing emissions by 50% by 2030) Increase funding for the preservation of natural resources Institute a carbon tax and incentivize carbon markets Support the Mexican Emissions Trading System (ETS)…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for Nigeria

Posted: January 14, 2022 | Nigeria News Brief and Action Alert

Peter Hansen PRIORITIES Government needs to implement its climate promises Deliver solar panels to 5 million households Curtail the use and production of coal Make gas flaring illegal Narrative For the rest of the climate scorecard countries, reaching the goal of reducing emissions by 50% by the year 2030 is feasible. However, in the…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for Russia

Posted: January 14, 2022 | Russia News Brief and Action Alert

Michael Oshchepkov Priorities Ensure a low-level greenhouse gas emissions by implementing the Ministry of Economic Development scenario for reducing emissions Expansion of investment programs to support renewable energy projects An increase in the use of renewable energy in the country’s energy and transport sectors Termination of subsidized support for oil companies and the revision of…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for Saudi Arabia

Posted: January 14, 2022 | Saudi Arabia News Brief and Action Alert

Abeer Abdulkareem, Amgad Ellaboudy Priorities A More Ambitious Commitment to Net Zero Emissions by 2050, and a 50% Emissions Reduction by 2030 Increased Use of Carbon Capture to Enable Carbon That Is Captured to Balance Carbon That is Produced Increased use of renewable Energy so That It Constitutes 50% of Saudi Arabia’s Electricity Mix by…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for South Africa

Posted: January 15, 2022 | South Africa News Brief and Action Alert

Deepti Charitar Priorities Greater Use of Alternative Energy Greater Use of Technological Innovation to Support the Use of Alternative Energy Better Communication and Participation in Energy Conservation Efforts Policy and Legislative Changes to Allow More Independent Power Producers Narrative Greater Use of Alternative Energy Amongst the G20 countries, South Africa depends the most on…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for Spain

Posted: January 15, 2022 | Spain News Brief and Action Alert

Wendy Paredes PRIORITIES For Spain, Climate Scorecard proposes climate mitigation strategies to help achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. These strategies include the following: Greater Institutional Cooperation Between the General Administration of the State and the Autonomous Communities Promotion of an Increase in Forest Cover Increased Knowledge and Implementation of Capture…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for Turkey

Posted: January 15, 2022 | Turkey News Brief and Action Alert

Semih Ergur Priorities Extend Renewable Energy Investment Incentives Increase Research in Improving Energy Storage Facilities Increase Support for Electric Vehicles, Charging Stations and Rail Cars End Waivers for the Enforcement of Industry Emission Standards Explore Price Controls for the Household Use of Natural Gas Narrative Turkey joined the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for the United Kingdom

Posted: January 15, 2022 | United Kingdom News Brief and Action Alert

Thomas Christensen Priorities Permanently phase out all North Sea oil and gas exploration Prioritize two sectors with stagnant emissions: transport and housing Reduce so-called “embodied emissions” from major polluters such as steel and cement Reduce embodied emissions in imported goods by establishing carbon border adjustments The UK should increase financing to third party organizations overseeing…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for Ukraine

Posted: January 16, 2022 | Ukraine News Brief and Action Alert

Anastasiia Bushovska PRIORITIES Raise the Carbon Tax Determine the end of Coal Year Make Greater Use of Technological Innovations and Industrial Modernization Updated NDC Should Guide Climate Strategy at National, Regional, and Local Levels NARRATIVE To succeed in reaching its pledge of a 65% carbon reduction goal by the year 2030, it is important…

Climate Mitigation Strategic Priorities for the United States

Posted: January 16, 2022 | United States News Brief and Action Alert

Ron Israel Image: Metronome’s clock in Manhattan shows the artists’ interpretation of the amount of time left before the effects of climate change are irreversible. Source: The New York Times.PRIORITIES Speed up the Transition to Clean Energy Decrease Fossil Fuel Production Just Transition of the Workforce Funding Mitigation Efforts NARRATIVE After years of inaction, the…