The Green Edge Digest Update – May 2025
A listing of all the publications we reviewed last month, categorised and tagged for upload to The Green Edge Digest Database.
Green Skills Map
Author/publisher: greenskills.org
Publication Date: March 2025
Focus: A thematic taxonomy of green knowledge domains and activities across environmental, agricultural, water, and energy sectors.
Category: Skills and Employment
Tags: Green Skills, Skills Intelligence, Environmental Awareness, Green Economy, Career Development, Education and Training
Summary: This visual mapping resource identifies hundreds of green skill areas across 19 environmental domains, ranging from soil and air quality to marine conservation and smart agriculture. It showcases how technical, environmental, and ethical competencies are clustered by sector, serving as a foundational tool for curriculum developers, career advisors, and workforce planners to frame green skills as life skills for a sustainable future.
Powering the Future
Author/publisher: JTL Training
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Tackling the UK’s electrification workforce challenge through apprenticeships and electrical training infrastructure.
Category: Skills and Employment
Tags: Electrification, Electrician Workforce, Apprenticeships, Skills Shortages, Clean Energy Jobs, Career Development
Summary: This report highlights the critical shortage of electricians needed to deliver the UK’s clean power transition, calling for urgent investment in training and qualification pipelines. It underscores electricians’ central role in delivering EV infrastructure, heat pumps, and smart energy systems, backed by national polling showing public trust in the trade. JTL proposes a systemic approach, from chartered regional alliances to data-driven training strategies, to futureproof the electrotechnical workforce.
Blueprint for Electrification
Author/publisher: Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA)
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: A national roadmap for workforce readiness and infrastructure deployment in support of UK electrification.
Category: Energy – Electricity
Tags: Electrification, Electrician Workforce, Grid Readiness Reform, Public Engagement, Clean Heating, Energy Transition
Summary: The ECA argues that electrification is more than an infrastructure shift—it’s a behavioural, workforce, and confidence challenge. This Blueprint identifies policy and market failures hampering electrical rollout and outlines sector-led proposals to enhance training capacity, clarify consumer pathways, and stabilise supply chains. It stresses that electricians, not policymakers, will ultimately deliver the UK’s net zero goals—if systemic barriers are removed.
From Skills Anticipation to Skills Action
Author/publisher: European Training Foundation (ETF)
Publication Date: 2025
Focus: Comparative research on skills demand, gaps, and mismatches in countries neighbouring the EU.
Category: Labour Market
Tags: Skills Intelligence, Transition Planning, Workforce Development, Regional Development, Green Transition, Digital Skills Transition
Summary: This anthology captures seven field studies from Serbia to Tunisia, highlighting how skills gaps manifest differently across agriculture, energy, and industrial sectors. It introduces a “skills anticipation to action” framework, arguing that labour market forecasting must inform real-time education, training, and migration policy. It also surfaces examples of youth entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, and industrial partnerships as responses to green and digital transition pressures in EU-adjacent economies.
Skills Transition Programmes
Author/publisher: Shell UK
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Shell’s strategic training and employment partnerships to support a just energy transition in the UK.
Category: Skills and Employment
Tags: Skills Transition, Inclusive Growth, Corporate Strategy, Clean Energy Jobs, Reskilling, Career Development
Summary: Shell UK outlines its SkillsTransition programme aiming to help 15,000 people—particularly from underrepresented backgrounds—into jobs aligned with the energy transition by 2035. With over 3,000 people trained and nearly 800 placed so far, the programme builds on cross-sector partnerships to offer inclusive training in emerging energy technologies. The report also details Shell’s socioeconomic footprint in the UK, reinforcing the role of energy majors in regional workforce development.
Global In-Demand Skills Report
Author/publisher: Randstad Enterprise
Publication Date: December 2024
Focus: A global snapshot of white- and blue-collar skill demand based on 10 million job postings and 136 million CVs.
Category: Labour Market
Tags: AI Skill Shifts, Digital Labour Markets, Workforce Development, Career Development, Transition Risk, Skills Intelligence
Summary: Randstad’s 2024 data show a stabilising global labour market with persistent high demand in nine skill clusters, notably AI, cloud computing, and skilled trades. The report identifies increasing importance of human-centric skills such as empathy and judgment. A key insight is the widening experience gap: demand surges when specific sub-skills are needed, highlighting how AI and automation exacerbate hiring complexity even as overall job vacancy rates fall.
Assessing and Anticipating Skills for the Green Transition
Author/publisher: OECD
Publication Date: September 2023
Focus: A cross-country review of how skills anticipation methods can better support green transition policymaking.
Category: Skills and Employment
Tags: Skills Intelligence, Transition Planning, Green Human Capital, Policy Recommendations, Career Development, Climate Governance Gaps
Summary: This OECD review of five national strategies (Australia, Austria, France, Norway, Sweden) explores how green skill assessments can shape education, labour, and industrial policy. It critiques the fragmented, often superficial, nature of many current efforts and provides a framework for effective anticipation exercises. The report argues that without stronger coordination, the lack of clear green targets and inconsistent data use will continue to hinder workforce preparedness for net zero transitions.
Green Skills and Knowledge – Labelling ESCO
Author/publisher: European Commission
Publication Date: January 2022 (updated January 2025)
Focus: Classifying and tagging green skills and knowledge within the EU’s ESCO framework.
Category: Skills and Employment
Tags: Skills Taxonomy, Green Skills, Education and Training, Digital Labour Markets, Transition Planning, Sustainability
Summary: This technical report details how ESCO has classified and labelled over 500 green skill and knowledge concepts to aid policymakers, educators, and employers. The system helps distinguish essential vs. optional skills, allowing for the systematic identification of green competencies within occupations. It supports transitions by enabling curriculum design, workforce analytics, and labour mobility in alignment with the EU Green Deal.
QS World Future Skills Index
Author/publisher: QS Quacquarelli Symonds
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: How national higher education systems are preparing graduates for fast-evolving skill demands.
Category: Education and Training Reform
Tags: Green Human Capital, Higher Education, Future Skills, Innovation, Talent Gap, AI Skill Shifts
Summary: This index benchmarks countries on how well their higher education systems support workforce readiness in emerging domains such as AI, sustainability, and digital transformation. Drawing from millions of data points, the report recommends modular, industry-aligned curricula, international research partnerships, and talent-focused immigration. It underscores the urgency of equipping graduates for volatile, innovation-driven economies—and the risks of failing to do so.
OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability
Author/publisher: OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations)
Publication Date: February 2025
Focus: Curriculum and assessment specification for the UK’s new Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability.
Category: Education and Training Reform
Tags: Curriculum Reform, Sustainability, Green Skills, Vocational Training, Career Development, Environmental Awareness
Summary: Aimed at post-16 learners, this qualification combines an externally assessed unit on sustainability fundamentals with a non-exam assessment on applied practice. It builds foundational knowledge of environmental systems, ethical challenges, and sustainability transitions while developing learners’ ability to investigate, evaluate, and act. Designed to support both academic progression and green career pathways, it reflects growing momentum for sustainability literacy in core qualifications.
National Skills Taxonomy Discussion Paper
Author/publisher: Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA)
Publication Date: June 2024
Focus: Designing a unified skills taxonomy to improve Australia’s responsiveness to emerging labour market needs.
Category: Skills and Employment
Tags: Skills Taxonomy, Workforce Planning, Lifelong Learning, Education System Reform, Labour Market Intelligence
Summary: This discussion paper proposes a National Skills Taxonomy (NST) to replace the existing Australian Skills Classification system. It aims to establish a common skills language across government, industry, and education sectors. The NST is envisioned as a flexible, stakeholder-driven framework to support occupational mobility, training reform, and responsive policy. Stakeholder feedback will shape its structure, use cases, and governance.
UKRI Technician Commitment Action Plan
Author/publisher: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Publication Date: January 2021
Focus: Recognition and career support for technicians across UK research and innovation systems.
Category: Science and Innovation
Tags: Technician Workforce, Career Development, Research Infrastructure, Workforce Diversity, STEM Skills
Summary: This action plan outlines UKRI’s commitments as a funder, employer, and policy body to support technicians in research and innovation. It emphasizes visibility, skills development, and equity, acknowledging technicians' crucial role in advancing science and maintaining critical infrastructure. UKRI advocates for sector-wide professional recognition and better working conditions, and encourages tailored action plans across institutions.
Research on Green Jobs: Reflections with Practitioners
Author/publisher: Sustainable Economies Research Group, UWE
Publication Date: March 2025
Focus: Practitioners’ perspectives on research priorities for green jobs in the UK.
Category: Labour Market
Tags: Green Jobs, Skills Gaps, Just Transition, Metrics, Research Gaps, Employment Equity
Summary: This mixed-methods paper reviews green jobs literature and complements it with practitioner insights from focus groups. Key recommendations include developing robust green job metrics, linking research to workforce planning, and addressing structural inequalities in access. Practitioners called for more applied, socially attuned research that could feed into employment and training strategies, especially in the context of a just transition.
Green Jobs: A Literature Review
Author/publisher: Bucharest University of Economic Studies
Publication Date: June 2022
Focus: Systematic analysis of scholarly work on green jobs from 2017 to 2022.
Category: Labour Market
Tags: Green Economy, Sustainable Development, Circular Economy, Employment, Skills Policy
Summary: This review maps the evolution and thematic clusters within green jobs research. It identifies convergence around the UNEP/ILO definition and links to broader economic concepts like sustainable growth and the European Green Deal. Core research themes include green job creation, public policy support, work-life balance, and the role of local government. The study reinforces the cross-cutting relevance of green employment strategies.
Green Jobs in the UK: ESCOE and ONS Evidence
Author/publisher: ESCoE and ONS
Publication Date: October 2024
Focus: Green labour market segmentation and equity impacts in the UK.
Category: Labour Market
Tags: Green Jobs, Pay Inequality, Labour Market Data, Just Transition, Inclusion, Administrative Data
Summary: Using linked administrative data from 2011–2018, this report assesses who benefits from green jobs in the UK. White, male, full-time workers in non-unionised, small, or foreign-owned firms are most likely to be employed in green occupations. A pay premium is evident, yet gender and ethnic pay gaps persist even within green roles. Findings point to the need for intersectional just transition policies.
Greener Workplaces Toolkit
Author/publisher: Trades Union Congress (TUC)
Publication Date: December 2024
Focus: Supporting UK union representatives in advancing workplace climate action and just transition.
Category: Just Transition
Tags: Workplace Transition, Green Reps, Union Bargaining, Skills Planning, Climate Justice, Worker Voice
Summary: This hands-on toolkit provides union reps with checklists, case studies, and model agreements to help negotiate greener, fairer workplaces. It includes sections on building retrofits, skills foresight, transport planning, and nature protection. The TUC frames climate and nature crises as union issues, and argues for worker voice in shaping transition plans. The toolkit also supports freelancers and reps in sectors facing rapid change.
Just Transition Indicator Framework (Ireland)
Author/publisher: Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland)
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Developing indicators to guide and assess Ireland’s just transition policies.
Category: Just Transition
Tags: Indicator Framework, Evidence-Based Policy, Environmental Justice, Socioeconomic Equity, Monitoring and Evaluation
Summary: This EPA synthesis report outlines an indicator framework for just transition in Ireland, drawing on literature and international best practice. It proposes thematic domains and indicators for tracking justice-related outcomes—ranging from social protection and participation to environmental quality. The goal is to embed just transition in mainstream policy and inform cross-sectoral decisions with data that reflects lived experience and structural inequities.
What Is a Just Transition? (WRI Explainer)
Author/publisher: World Resources Institute (WRI)
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Conceptual framing and international examples of just transition approaches.
Category: Just Transition
Tags: Equity and Governance, Distributive Justice, Policy Design, Community Resilience, Inclusive Growth
Summary: This WRI explainer distils the principles of distributive, procedural, and restorative justice underpinning just transition thinking. It offers real-world illustrations from South Africa and Scotland and emphasizes the importance of inclusive planning, worker support, and social repair. WRI argues that monitoring and stakeholder participation are critical to holding governments accountable and ensuring no community is left behind in the net zero shift.
Just Transitions Monitoring Guide (ICAT/WRI)
Author/publisher: ICAT / World Resources Institute
Publication Date: February 2025
Focus: A practical framework for countries to monitor progress on just transition goals.
Category: Just Transition
Tags: Monitoring and Evaluation, Climate Policy, Just Transition Indicators, Equity Tracking, Data Governance
Summary: This guide equips governments with tools to assess how just their low-carbon transitions really are. It recommends creating goals, indicators, and data systems to measure impacts on jobs, equity, resilience, and inclusion. The approach incorporates lessons from the SDGs and stresses transparency, trust-building, and adaptive policymaking. It’s intended to help avoid unintended harms and support course correction through stakeholder engagement.
Just Transition Taxonomy (World Bank)
Author/publisher: World Bank
Publication Date: June 2024
Focus: Defining just transition-aligned activities to guide sustainable finance and project classification.
Category: Just Transition
Tags: Sustainable Finance, Taxonomy, Extractive Sector, Climate Bonds, Governance, Energy Transition
Summary: This taxonomy targets just transition in the coal sector, aligning finance tools with social and environmental justice goals. It defines eligible activities under pillars such as land repurposing, worker transition, and governance reforms. The report situates this taxonomy within global finance standards (e.g. green bonds, SDGs), making the case for integrated climate and justice accounting. It is both a classification tool and an implementation roadmap.
Opportunity and Productivity: Tertiary Harmonisation Roadmap
Author/publisher: Jobs and Skills Australia
Publication Date: February 2025
Focus: Advancing alignment between vocational and higher education sectors to boost productivity.
Category: Education and Training Reform
Tags: Tertiary Education, Skills Alignment, VET-HE Integration, Lifelong Learning, Skills Architecture
Summary: This roadmap calls for greater harmonisation between Australia’s vocational and higher education systems. Without merging the sectors, it proposes structured coordination to support mobility, recognition, and cross-system learning. The report lays out system actors, benefits, and barriers, offering detailed recommendations to align qualifications, policy, and governance frameworks to better serve learners and employers.
Impacts of Birthrate Decline
Author/publisher: UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Demographic decline and its implications for the workforce and public services.
Category: Labour Market
Tags: Demographics, Ageing Population, Public Services, Workforce Planning, Immigration
Summary: This POSTnote explores the UK’s falling fertility rate and its long-term economic implications. As the workforce shrinks and the population ages, pressures on public services and care provision will mount. The note evaluates mitigation strategies—extended working lives, immigration, and care reform—and considers broader societal and environmental consequences.
QS World University Rankings Yearbook 2025
Author/publisher: QS Quacquarelli Symonds
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Global ranking trends and insights into university performance, reputation, and sustainability.
Category: Education and Training Reform
Tags: Higher Education, Employability, Global Rankings, Sustainability Metrics, Reputation, International Mobility
Summary: Alongside rankings data, this yearbook reflects on shifting global higher education trends—AI integration, sustainability performance, and employability metrics. Universities are judged by academic and employer reputation, research output, and environmental impact. A growing student focus on institutional values like climate action and inclusion reshapes the global landscape of higher learning.
Estimating Labour Market Transitions and Skills Investment
Author/publisher: European Commission
Publication Date: March 2025
Focus: Assessing the labour market impact of the green transition and required training investment.
Category: Labour Market
Tags: Skills Forecasting, Labour Mobility, Net Zero, Workforce Planning, Social Investment, Renewable Energy
Summary: This study presents data-driven estimates of job flows and training costs linked to green transition sectors. It finds stable employment in energy-intensive sectors and highlights underinvestment in training. Meeting EU renewables goals may require 130,000+ skilled workers and €1.4 billion in upskilling by 2030. Gender and sectoral disparities shape transition risks and opportunities.
Future-Proofing Workforces for the Green Transition
Author/publisher: OECD
Publication Date: June 2024
Focus: International lessons for local workforce development in the US and beyond.
Category: Skills and Employment
Tags: Green Jobs, Workforce Development, Place-Based Policy, Labour Market Inclusion, Skills Shortages
Summary: Drawing on OECD-wide case studies, this policy brief advises US regions on aligning workforce and environmental goals. It calls for clear green career pathways, improved inclusion across demographics and geographies, and whole-of-government coordination. With only 12.9% of US jobs currently green (vs. OECD avg 17.6%), the report highlights urgency and opportunity in localised green skills planning.
Sustainability in College Learning and Teaching
Author/publisher: EAUC Scotland
Publication Date: November 2024
Focus: The state of sustainability education in Scotland’s further education sector.
Category: Education and Training Reform
Tags: Education for Sustainable Development, College Reform, Learning for Sustainability, Pedagogy, Institutional Change
Summary: This report finds fragmented but promising integration of sustainability in Scottish colleges. Environmental topics (e.g. biodiversity, net zero) are unevenly covered and more common in teaching than assessment. Major barriers include staff capacity and lack of systemic support. It calls for stronger leadership, better training, clearer qualifications reform, and collaboration between institutions and employers.
The Changing Face of the Youth Labour Market
Author/publisher: CIPD
Publication Date: December 2024
Focus: Long-term changes in youth employment, qualifications, and apprenticeship access in the UK.
Category: Labour Market
Tags: Youth Employment, Apprenticeships, Labour Market Access, Education Reform, Career Pathways
Summary: This report tracks a 30-year shift in youth employment, marked by declining apprenticeships and rising academic enrolment. Many young people now struggle to enter the workforce with job-ready skills. It supports new policy proposals including a youth guarantee, expanded pre-apprenticeship training, and improved vocational routes to reverse current trends and unlock young talent.
China’s First Workforce Skills Taxonomy
Author/publisher: Sun Yat-sen University / CSIRO / MIT
Publication Date: 2020
Focus: Applying machine learning to classify and spatially map workforce skills in China.
Category: Skills and Employment
Tags: Skills Taxonomy, Workforce Mapping, Labour Economics, Digital Infrastructure, AI and Skills
Summary: This study presents the first national skills taxonomy for China, aligned with the US O*NET framework. Using machine learning, it maps job roles to skill types (social-cognitive vs. sensory-physical) and reveals stark skill polarisation and regional inequalities. The taxonomy provides a data-rich foundation for workforce planning in a rapidly automating economy.
UCU Green Survey Report
Author/publisher: UCU Scotland
Publication Date: March 2025
Focus: Trade union engagement with sustainability and climate policy across Scottish universities.
Category: Just Transition
Tags: Union Action, Climate Policy, Institutional Engagement, Workplace Representation, Green Skills
Summary: Based on responses from 11 university branches, this survey examines how UCU green reps influence campus climate policy. While many institutions lack formal trade union representation in sustainability decisions, some reps have successfully embedded themselves in planning structures. The report highlights the role of worker voice in transition planning and calls for broader inclusion of union reps in institutional governance.
2025 Work Trend Index Annual Report
Author/publisher: Microsoft
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: AI’s transformative impact on work structures, skills, and organisational design.
Category: Digital and Future Work
Tags: AI Transformation, Skills Shift, Workforce Capacity, Human-Agent Teams, Organisational Change
Summary: Microsoft envisions a new “Frontier Firm” built around AI agents and human-agent collaboration. Based on global data, the report charts three phases of adoption—from assistant tools to autonomous business execution. As companies blend machine intelligence with human leadership, every employee becomes an “agent boss.” The report urges proactive workforce adaptation and ethical integration of AI.
Future of AI: Perspectives for Startups
Author/publisher: Google Cloud
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Industry predictions, investment trends, and infrastructure strategies for AI startups.
Category: Digital and Future Work
Tags: AI Transformation, Startup Ecosystems, Venture Capital, Generative AI, Multimodal AI, Digital Infrastructure
Summary: Google Cloud convenes global leaders and VCs to chart emerging trends in generative AI and startup acceleration. The report showcases applications of Gemini 2.0 and anticipates multimodal AI interfaces replacing traditional devices. Contributors stress AI's role in augmenting—not replacing—human work. Insights include calls for ethical design, sector-specific use cases, and early-stage investment infrastructure to shape a wave of AI-native startups.
Futureproofing Growth through the Modern Industrial Strategy
Author/publisher: Aldersgate Group
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Aligning the UK’s modern industrial strategy with net zero, nature restoration, and long-term growth.
Category: Industrial Strategy
Tags: Net Zero Growth, Industrial Policy, Green Economy, Clean Tech, Financial Services, Digital Transformation
Summary: This briefing argues that sustainable growth and decarbonisation are not competing goals but twin engines of prosperity. It urges the UK Government to embed net zero across industrial strategy—targeting priority sectors like clean energy, AI, and life sciences. Evidence shows green economy jobs outperform national averages in value-add. The report calls for coherent regulation, targeted incentives, and cross-sector collaboration to unlock private investment and boost resilience.
Scotland’s Carbon Budgets
Author/publisher: Climate Change Committee (CCC)
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Legally binding carbon budget recommendations to guide Scotland’s path to net zero by 2045.
Category: Climate Policy
Tags: Net Zero Targets, Carbon Budgeting, Devolved Policy, Just Transition, Climate Adaptation
Summary: Following the repeal of missed interim targets, the CCC recommends new five-year carbon budgets for Scotland, cutting emissions by up to 94% from 1990 levels by 2045. The Balanced Pathway model forecasts sectoral shifts and highlights co-benefits—cleaner homes, energy savings, and healthier air. Delivery will depend on stronger action in devolved areas like heat, transport, and land use, alongside continued UK-wide coordination.
Understanding Geographies of Innovation
Author/publisher: Innovation and Research Caucus (UKRI/ESRC)
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Mapping innovation agglomerations and infrastructure for place-based economic development.
Category: Innovation and R&D
Tags: Innovation Clusters, Engineering Biology, Place-Based Investment, Knowledge Networks, Commercialisation
Summary: This research examines how regional innovation ecosystems develop through infrastructure, business clustering, and academic–industry ties. It identifies hotspots in engineering biology and argues that place-based investments can generate more equitable spillovers with the right enablers. The report calls for more dynamic policy to support interregional knowledge exchange, investment readiness, and scaling of tech-intensive clusters beyond the South East.
Regional Transformational Opportunities – Highlands and Islands
Author/publisher: Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Forecasting the economic, social, and environmental impacts of net zero investment in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands.
Category: Regional Development
Tags: Renewable Energy, Just Transition, Hydrogen, Marine Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Strategy
Summary: The Highlands and Islands region is poised for over £100 billion in low-carbon investment, potentially creating 114,000 job-years and £76 billion in GVA by 2040. The report identifies six Regional Transformational Opportunities (RTOs) including offshore wind, hydrogen, and space, with detailed infrastructure and labour forecasts. It stresses the need for coordinated planning, skills development, and equity-focused policy to ensure the benefits are regionally distributed and socially inclusive.
The Future of Cities
Author/publisher: WPI Economics for Network Rail
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Rethinking the economic and spatial role of UK cities in light of behavioural and technological shifts.
Category: Urban and Transport Policy
Tags: Urban Development, Rail Infrastructure, Remote Work, Agglomeration, Net Zero Cities, Public Transport
Summary: This report re-evaluates urban policy post-pandemic, identifying six emerging city typologies including “Knowledge Cities” and “Sustainable Cities.” Rail infrastructure is framed as essential to productivity, inclusion, and emissions reduction. It urges greater place-based investment to unlock underperforming regional cities, using transport as a lever for regeneration. Recommendations include aligning planning with remote work trends and maximising the socioeconomic spillovers of clean transit systems.
The Economic Impact of Scotland’s Renewable Energy Sector
Author/publisher: Fraser of Allander Institute
Publication Date: December 2023
Focus: Quantifying the economic value of Scotland’s renewable sector across output, GVA, and employment.
Category: Energy – Renewables
Tags: Green Economy, Renewable Jobs, Offshore Wind, Economic Spillovers, Scottish Economy
Summary: Scotland’s renewables sector had a turnover of £6.1 billion and supported 13,600 FTE jobs in 2021—but wider economic spillovers push total employment impact to over 42,000. Offshore wind, hydropower, and renewable heat are leading job creators. The report calls for improved data collection and investment in supporting industries to fully realise Scotland’s net zero economic potential.
Northern Ireland’s Fourth Carbon Budget
Author/publisher: Climate Change Committee
Publication Date: March 2025
Focus: Advice to the Northern Ireland Executive on emissions caps aligned with the region’s 2050 net zero target.
Category: Climate Policy
Tags: Carbon Budgeting, Regional Pathways, Net Zero Legislation, Just Transition, Policy Accountability
Summary: The CCC recommends a 77% reduction in average annual emissions from 1990 levels for Northern Ireland’s Fourth Carbon Budget (2038–2042). The report stresses the need to accelerate action across sectors, particularly agriculture and transport. Clearer responsibilities, devolved powers, and integrated delivery plans are seen as essential. The region’s net zero trajectory remains technically viable—but politically and socially complex.
East Anglia Insights Paper
Author/publisher: Bennett Institute / The Productivity Institute
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Regional economic development, skills, and productivity challenges in East Anglia.
Category: Regional Development
Tags: Skills Gaps, Infrastructure, Net Zero, Governance, Trade, Productivity
Summary: This insights paper analyses cross-cutting themes holding back productivity in East Anglia—skills mismatches, infrastructure gaps, governance fragmentation, and underinvestment in decarbonisation. It recommends regional coordination, targeted education reform, and stronger trade and AI adoption strategies. East Anglia is positioned as a testbed for inclusive, place-based growth aligned with net zero ambitions.
Unlocking First-of-a-Kind Projects through Clean Industrial Hubs
Author/publisher: Mission Possible Partnership / RMI
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Lessons from California and Texas in scaling early-stage clean industrial projects via regional hubs.
Category: Industrial Strategy
Tags: Clean Tech, Industrial Hubs, Decarbonisation, Innovation Ecosystems, Community Engagement
Summary: This report explores how regional hubs can de-risk and scale first-of-a-kind decarbonisation projects. Drawing on case studies from the US, it shows how infrastructure, policy, and partnerships create conditions for breakthrough innovation. Clean industrial hubs are positioned as accelerators for investment and public-private coordination. Lessons include building local ecosystems, fostering community trust, and sequencing regulatory frameworks to support rollout at scale.
UKRI: Providing Support through Grants
Author/publisher: National Audit Office
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Value for money and governance in UKRI's research and innovation funding.
Category: Science and Innovation
Tags: Public Investment, Innovation System, Grant Funding, Risk Management, Governance
Summary: This NAO report assesses UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s approach to awarding grants. It finds UKRI strategically uses high-risk/high-reward funding but needs better evaluation of impacts. A new grants management system is expected by 2026. Key recommendations include stronger alignment with the UK’s science missions, better data for evaluation, and a refreshed governance framework to manage nearly £10 billion in public R&D spend.
Delegation of Adult Education Functions – MoU with the GLA
Author/publisher: Department for Education / Greater London Authority
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Governance and funding agreement for delegated adult skills responsibilities in London.
Category: Skills and Employment
Tags: Adult Skills Fund, Devolution, Local Governance, Skills Planning, Education Reform
Summary: This updated MoU details responsibilities under the Adult Skills Fund (formerly AEB), reflecting recent policy changes including LSIPs and procurement reform. It sets out how the GLA and DfE will collaborate on commissioning, data-sharing, and learner protection. The agreement supports place-based skills delivery aligned with London’s strategic priorities while maintaining national consistency and accountability.
Toolkit: Delivering Social Wellbeing in Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods
Author/publisher: C40 Cities / Ramboll
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Embedding social wellbeing into urban design for sustainable, equitable neighbourhoods.
Category: Urban and Transport Policy
Tags: Place-Based Policy, Equity, Climate Adaptation, Health and Wellbeing, Community Engagement
Summary: This two-part toolkit (guidance + workbook) supports cities in integrating social wellbeing into neighbourhood-level climate and resilience planning. It introduces six practical steps—from context analysis to monitoring—each illustrated with case studies from Copenhagen to New York. Designed for planners, policymakers, and urban designers, the resource frames social wellbeing as both a goal and a pathway for inclusive urban transformation.
The Northern Arc Working Paper
Author/publisher: Northern Arc Partnership
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Economic growth potential of a pan-regional corridor from Liverpool to Leeds.
Category: Regional Development
Tags: Growth Corridors, Devolution, Innovation Ecosystems, Infrastructure, Productivity
Summary: This working paper outlines a vision for the “Northern Arc”—linking Liverpool, Greater Manchester, and West Yorkshire—as a high-growth industrial and innovation corridor. It argues that modest policy shifts could unlock £90 billion in GVA by 2040. Priorities include investment in transport, housing, and net zero industries, supported by a maturing mayoral infrastructure and a shared appetite for pan-regional collaboration.
A Global and Inclusive Just Labour Transition
Author/publisher: Environmental Defense Fund
Publication Date: August 2024
Focus: Labour market dynamics in just transitions across developed and developing countries.
Category: Just Transition
Tags: Just Transition, Labour Markets, Global Equity, Energy Transition, Inclusive Growth
Summary: This paper presents a comparative analysis of just labour transitions, focusing on challenges in both developed and developing nations. It explores compensation, reskilling, and employment strategies within low-carbon transitions, and introduces a Just Labour Transition Progress Scale. It highlights nascent partnerships and emphasises the need for international cooperation and tailored policy tools across jurisdictions.
National Governance Strategies for Net Zero (POST)
Author/publisher: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Strategic governance recommendations for delivering the UK’s net zero target.
Category: Climate Policy
Tags: Net Zero Strategy, System Change, Public Sector Innovation, Climate Finance, Equity
Summary: This horizon scanning brief summarises seven key governance attributes for an effective net zero transition, including equitable design, system-level coordination, and capital mobilisation. Contributors stress the need for mandatory climate disclosures across public bodies, national retrofit strategies, and alignment of climate objectives with economic justice. Regional vulnerabilities and adaptation gaps are highlighted as policy blind spots.
Green Jobs in Scotland
Author/publisher: Scottish Trades Union Congress / Transition Economics
Publication Date: April 2021
Focus: Projecting green job potential and policy levers for fair work in Scotland.
Category: Labour Market
Tags: Green Jobs, Fair Work, Industrial Strategy, Skills Provision, Worker Voice
Summary: This influential report estimates that with the right policies, Scotland could generate up to 367,000 green jobs, spanning energy, buildings, transport, industry, waste, and land use. It stresses the risks of precarious, low-paid work without state intervention and calls for a new public body—Climate Skills Scotland—to lead coordinated training. Fair work principles, investment planning, and sector-specific analysis anchor its recommendations.
Progress in Adapting to Climate Change – CCC 2025
Author/publisher: Climate Change Committee
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Independent statutory review of the UK Government’s adaptation progress.
Category: Climate Policy
Tags: Climate Risk, Adaptation Planning, Public Services, Resilience, Monitoring and Evaluation
Summary: This stark progress report finds UK adaptation to climate change “inadequate,” with most outcomes scoring poorly. It calls for clearer objectives, better integration across departments, sufficient resourcing, and an effective monitoring framework. The Committee criticises the piecemeal implementation of the Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) and urges urgent action to prepare for intensifying climate impacts and cascading system risks.
Climate Change Accounting – Supplementary Green Book Guidance
Author/publisher: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Guidance for policymakers on integrating climate risk into economic appraisal.
Category: Climate Policy
Tags: Climate Risk Appraisal, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Infrastructure, Monitoring, Economic Resilience
Summary: This update to HM Treasury’s Green Book offers practical advice on evaluating climate change in public investment decisions. It details climate risk assessments, cost-benefit analysis with warming scenarios, adaptation pathways, and flexible appraisal tools like Real Options Analysis. The aim is to improve policy value-for-money in a climate-constrained world—making resilience part of core decision-making.
New Energy Outlook 2025 – Executive Summary
Author/publisher: BloombergNEF
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Long-term projections for global energy transition
Category: Climate and Energy
Tags: Energy Forecasting, Electrification, Renewables, Net Zero, Transition Planning
Summary: This year’s BloombergNEF outlook foresees a plateau in fossil fuel demand and a surge in electrification driven by solar, wind, batteries, and electric vehicles. Hydrogen has a limited niche; carbon removals and CCS remain under-deployed. Net zero is possible, but not probable, without scaled policy and finance reform. The report highlights significant investment needs—especially in the Global South—and proposes new metrics to monitor transition credibility.
European Industry and the European Union’s Climate Policy in 2024–29
Author/Publisher: InfluenceMap / LobbyMap
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Corporate climate lobbying and policy alignment in the EU
Category: Climate Policy & Corporate Influence
Tags: Corporate Lobbying, Industry Associations, Science-aligned Policy, EU Green Deal, Policy Engagement, Trade Associations, Competitiveness Narrative, Transparency, Climate Advocacy, Policy Alignment
Summary: This briefing from InfluenceMap's LobbyMap platform examines the evolution of corporate and industry association engagement with EU climate policy from 2019 to 2025, and its implications for the 2024–2029 legislative cycle.
The Climate Paradox
Author/publisher: Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Reconciling ambition and delivery in climate politics
Category: Climate Policy
Tags: Political Strategy, Climate Credibility, Policy Realism, Growth Strategy, Public Support
Summary: This provocative analysis challenges the contradiction between bold climate targets and weak political delivery. It recommends pragmatic rebranding of climate action as “green growth,” investment in public service reform, and a shift away from abstract net-zero narratives. Without trust in delivery, the authors argue, the public will reject costly climate commitments.
Ecological Modernisation Theory in Debate
Author/publisher: Mol, Sonnenfeld, and Spaargaren (2000)
Publication Date: 2000
Focus: Theoretical review of ecological modernisation literature
Category: Research and Theory
Tags: Sustainability Theory, Modernisation, Green Capitalism, Environmental Sociology
Summary: This academic paper reviews the rise of ecological modernisation theory (EMT), which claims environmental reform is compatible with industrial development. It critiques EMT’s blind spots—especially regarding global inequalities and political economy—and proposes a more grounded approach to integrating environmental governance into societal reform.
Sociotechnical Transitions to Sustainability
Author/publisher: Markard, Raven & Truffer
Publication Date: August 2019
Focus: Frameworks for understanding sustainability transitions
Category: Research and Theory
Tags: Systems Change, Transition Studies, Innovation Theory, Regime Shifts
Summary: This foundational review introduces the multi-level perspective (MLP) on sustainability transitions, highlighting interactions between niche innovations, socio-technical regimes, and broader landscapes. It’s a useful primer for policymakers and practitioners seeking to understand how green change emerges—and why incumbent systems resist it.
A Tale of Two Towns
Author/publisher: common-wealth.org
Publication Date: November 2024
Focus: Regional inequalities and green transition readiness
Category: Place and Regional Strategy
Tags: Place-Based Policy, Just Transition, Inequality, Local Capacity, Skills and Employment
Summary: This comparative case study of two post-industrial towns—one transitioning towards green industry, the other stagnating—shows how local context, policy coherence, and civic infrastructure shape transition outcomes. It underlines that levelling up and net zero must be tackled together if spatial justice is to be realised.
A Better Life – The Green Route to Growth and Security
Author/publisher: Green Alliance
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Linking climate ambition with wellbeing and national security
Category: Green Economy
Tags: Inclusive Growth, Energy Security, Public Investment, Regional Development, Green Industrial Strategy
Summary: Green Alliance positions green investment as the solution to the UK’s economic insecurity and cost-of-living crisis. The report highlights the dual benefits of clean energy and home insulation, urges nature restoration for labour market resilience, and warns against false trade-offs between living standards and climate ambition. It frames a political case for social prosperity through environmental action.
AI, Robotisation, and Industrialisation
Author/publisher: Techniek Nederland
Publication Date: March 2025
Focus: Intersection of AI and the green industrial shift
Category: Digital and Future Skills
Tags: Automation, AI Governance, Labour Markets, Green Productivity, Ethical Innovation
Summary: This paper examines the twin challenge of accelerating industrial AI uptake while ensuring it complements sustainability and job quality. It highlights tensions between efficiency gains and equitable labour transitions, calling for integrated policies that align automation strategies with green economic development.
Realising Net Zero Emissions – Best Practices
Author/publisher: World Resources Institute
Publication Date: June 2023 (Version 1.1)
Focus: Strategic framework for national net zero implementation
Category: International Policy
Tags: Net Zero Pathways, Governance, Just Transition, Climate Finance, Policy Alignment
Summary: WRI lays out a comprehensive “Framework for Net Zero Climate Action,” organised around five enabling actions—from foundational decisions to sectoral policy integration. It stresses the importance of credible transition plans, inclusive governance, and targeted finance to bridge ambition and delivery, particularly in the Global South.
Entrepreneurs Not Emissions
Author/publisher: UK FIRES
Publication Date: October 2021
Focus: Entrepreneurial opportunities in a low-emissions economy
Category: Business and Innovation
Tags: Resource Efficiency, Electrification, SME Innovation, Green Growth, Industrial Strategy
Summary: UK FIRES argues that current policy underweights the role of entrepreneurs in driving zero-emissions innovation with today’s technologies. It identifies five key opportunity areas for new ventures—from reuse and repair to electrified transport—and proposes a practical, services-led model of green economic development. The report reframes climate action as an industrial opportunity, not a constraint.
Principles for an Inclusive and Sustainable Global Economy
Author/publisher: UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (G20 Brief)
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Governance frameworks for global economic reform
Category: International Policy
Tags: Global Governance, Public Investment, South Africa G20, Structural Reform, Just Transition
Summary: Mariana Mazzucato and colleagues propose four principles to reframe economic governance: mission-driven public purpose, new models of financing, capability-building states, and inclusive coalitions. This G20 policy brief links 2025’s key multilateral summits (G20, COP30, UN Summit of the Future) as a moment to pivot from extractive to regenerative systems.
Understanding Stellar Energy
Author/publisher: RethinkX
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: The disruptive potential of Stellar Energy (fusion-like clean power)
Category: Climate and Energy
Tags: Fusion Energy, Clean Energy Disruption, Energy Sovereignty, Tech Futures, Grid Transformation
Summary: RethinkX frames Stellar Energy as a paradigm-shifting innovation capable of decentralising and decarbonising global power systems. It outlines the societal, economic, and geopolitical impacts of energy abundance—comparing its effect to past revolutions in computing and communication.
AI and Energy Use and Emissions
Author/publisher: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publication Date: 2025
Focus: Energy and climate impacts of AI
Category: Digital and Future Skills
Tags: AI, Energy Demand, Data Centers, Tech Regulation, Emissions Transparency
Summary: This report synthesises expert input from a workshop on the growing carbon footprint of AI, especially large language models and high-performance computing. Participants call for increased transparency from technology companies and stronger policy oversight to reduce energy intensification.
Energy Sector Innovation with Absolute Zero
Author/publisher: UK FIRES / University of Cambridge
Publication Date: April 2022
Focus: Practical innovation strategies to meet ‘absolute zero’ targets
Category: Green Economy
Tags: Absolute Zero, Demand Reduction, Behaviour Change, Energy Systems, Innovation Policy
Summary: This technical note outlines a pathway to net zero without offsets or speculative technology. It emphasises electrification, reduction in demand, and changing consumption patterns. It critiques overreliance on carbon removals and proposes real-economy levers for sustainable transition.
Energy Industry Insights 2025
Author/publisher: DNV
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Global energy trends and market signals
Category: Climate and Energy
Tags: Energy Transition, Industry Trends, Cybersecurity, Electrification, Talent Shortage
Summary: DNV’s industry survey reveals growing momentum behind flexible grids, electrification, and digitalisation. It flags permitting bottlenecks, cyber threats, and workforce constraints as key risks. Investment confidence remains strong, but delivery pace is challenged by regulatory inertia.
Gas Decommissioning Policy Briefing
Author/publisher: UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources
Publication Date: February 2025
Focus: Strategic exit from fossil gas infrastructure
Category: Infrastructure and Housing
Tags: Gas Networks, Heat Transition, Infrastructure Decommissioning, Just Exit, Energy Policy
Summary: This policy paper explores how the UK might responsibly decommission its gas infrastructure. It discusses fairness, cost recovery, consumer protection, and governance. Without a clear strategy, the authors warn, infrastructure may be stranded and costs unfairly distributed.
Electricity Transmission Costs and Characteristics
Author/publisher: Mott MacDonald in conjunction with the IET
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Transmission infrastructure and cost structures
Category: Infrastructure and Housing
Tags: Grid Investment, Electricity Transmission, System Planning, Policy Reform
Summary: This modelling report investigates the cost drivers and delivery timelines of UK electricity transmission expansion. It supports anticipatory investment to enable renewable rollout and proposes reforms to address regional bottlenecks and cost imbalances across the network.
Funding and Financing Heat Networks in Scotland
Author/publisher: ClimateXChange
Publication Date: March 2025
Focus: Overcoming financial barriers to low-carbon heat
Category: Infrastructure and Housing
Tags: Heat Networks, Public Investment, Local Authority, Risk Management, Funding Gaps
Summary: ClimateXChange identifies five enablers for scaling heat networks in Scotland, including long-term investment signals, better capital access, zoning mechanisms, and local capacity-building. The briefing supports a whole-systems approach to decarbonising urban heat.
Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2025–2029
Author/publisher: SolarPower Europe
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Global PV deployment trends and forecasts
Category: Climate and Energy
Tags: Solar PV, Energy Markets, Grid Integration, Global Outlook, Investment Pipeline
Summary: This report forecasts record solar growth, with cumulative capacity surpassing 2 TW by 2029. It charts market expansion across regions, highlights grid and permitting constraints, and calls for more coordinated planning to unlock solar’s full potential.
Solutions for PV Cyber Risks to Grid Stability
Author/publisher: Smart PV Energy (SPE)
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Cybersecurity in distributed solar systems
Category: Digital and Future Skills
Tags: Cybersecurity, Grid Stability, Distributed Energy, PV Systems, Smart Infrastructure
Summary: SPE warns that increasing PV system integration creates new cyber vulnerabilities that threaten grid stability. It proposes standards, testing protocols, and incident response strategies to address threats in decentralised energy networks.
European Battery Outlook 2025
Author/publisher: SolarPower Europe
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Energy storage and battery market projections in Europe
Category: Energy Transition
Tags: Batteries, Clean Tech, Market Trends, Industrial Strategy
Summary: This report outlines Europe’s potential to become a global leader in sustainable battery production, provided it addresses gaps in supply chain resilience and innovation investment. It forecasts strong growth in demand driven by the electric vehicle and stationary storage sectors. Emphasis is placed on localising production, securing critical raw materials, and creating a robust recycling ecosystem. Policy alignment across EU member states is crucial to achieve circularity and climate targets.
An Industry Perspective on Localization
Author/publisher: GWEC
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Pro-business measures for local industrial development
Category: Industrial Strategy
Tags: Localisation, Manufacturing, Industrial Policy, Global Supply Chains
Summary: This position paper argues for a shift in industrial policy toward incentivising local value creation through skills development, regulatory stability, and public-private partnerships. It presents localisation not as protectionism, but as a strategic necessity for resilience and inclusive growth. Recommendations include streamlining permitting, reducing capital risk, and supporting regional supplier networks in both emerging and developed economies.
Agritech Pioneers in Africa
Author/publisher: Agritech Digest
Publication Date: 2025
Focus: Innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa’s agritech sector
Category: Sustainable Agriculture
Tags: Agritech, Africa, Innovation, Entrepreneurship
Summary: Highlighting startups and innovators across the continent, this newsletter showcases how digital platforms, data tools, and localised solutions are transforming African agriculture. Profiles include ventures addressing post-harvest losses, soil health, and climate resilience. Emphasis is placed on empowering youth, gender inclusion, and linking technology to real-world farming needs. Investment opportunities and scale-up pathways are also explored.
Agro-Food System Innovation without GHG Emissions
Author/publisher: UK FIRES
Publication Date: November 2024
Focus: Decarbonisation of agri-food systems
Category: Food Systems
Tags: Food, Climate, Innovation, Emissions Reduction
Summary: This report presents strategies to cut GHG emissions from agri-food systems without compromising productivity or livelihoods. It explores regenerative agriculture, dietary shifts, and innovations in fermentation and alternative proteins. Systemic change is the central message, requiring coordination from farm to fork, including finance and consumer behaviour. Emissions targets are mapped across supply chains with actionable timelines.
Industrial Biotech Innovation Catalyst – Greater Manchester
Author/publisher: Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst
Publication Date: 2025
Focus: Industrial biotech opportunities in Greater Manchester
Category: Innovation Ecosystems
Tags: Biotech, Regional Development, Innovation Clusters
Summary: This strategic document maps the industrial biotechnology landscape in Greater Manchester, identifying growth sectors such as bio-based chemicals, waste valorisation, and green pharmaceuticals. It proposes a new regional innovation hub to align public investment, research expertise, and SME engagement. Case studies underline the role of local infrastructure, skills pipelines, and anchor institutions in driving a bioeconomy.
Energy Efficiency in Buildings Working Paper
Author/publisher: State of Green
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Decarbonising the built environment through efficiency
Category: Built Environment
Tags: Energy Efficiency, Buildings, Retrofit, Carbon Reduction
Summary: This working paper advocates for policy and investment acceleration to unlock energy efficiency gains in buildings. It outlines best practices from Nordic countries, showing how integrated policies, funding mechanisms, and industry standards can achieve rapid retrofit uptake. Emphasis is placed on heat electrification, passive design, and data-driven energy management, especially in social and affordable housing.
Bringing Super-efficient Air Conditioners to Market
Author/publisher: Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Cooling efficiency and climate-smart appliances
Category: Energy Transition
Tags: Cooling, Efficiency, Appliances, Global South
Summary: This report presents a roadmap for scaling super-efficient air conditioning technologies in emerging markets. It highlights their potential to reduce electricity demand, cut emissions, and improve indoor comfort amid rising temperatures. Key policy levers include minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), financial incentives, and bulk procurement. The report also explores barriers such as cost, awareness, and infrastructure.
Circularity Gap Report 2025
Author/publisher: Circle Economy
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Global circular economy progress and material footprint
Category: Circular Economy
Tags: Resource Use, Circular Metrics, Systems Change
Summary: The 2025 edition finds that global circularity has declined from 9.1% to 7.2%, driven by increased material extraction and consumption. The report argues that current efforts are insufficient and offers a new "double loop" strategy combining reduced resource extraction with more circular production and consumption. It proposes interventions in housing, mobility, and food systems, tailored to different country income levels.
Proposals for a Circular Economy Act (CEA)
Author/publisher: Zero Waste Europe / Dr. Dominic Hogg
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Legislative proposals for EU Circular Economy Act
Category: Circular Economy
Tags: Policy, EU Law, Resource Autonomy, Externalities
Summary: This policy briefing proposes a suite of legislative changes to support a stronger Circular Economy Act in the EU. It critiques current measures for failing to reduce absolute resource use and offers detailed proposals, including expanding ETS/CBAM, taxing resource extraction, and mandating high-quality recycling. The report emphasizes the need for systemic change to internalise environmental externalities and promote strategic autonomy.
Transitioning to a Circular Economy: Québec’s Experience
Author/publisher: Québec Circulaire / Smart Prosperity Institute
Publication Date: May 2021
Focus: Circular economy implementation in Québec (2014–2020)
Category: Circular Economy
Tags: Case Study, Community Practice, Education, Research
Summary: This retrospective study documents Québec’s journey toward a circular economy, focusing on research collaboration, knowledge exchange, and stakeholder engagement. It highlights the role of the EDDEC Institute and Québec Circulaire in building interdisciplinary communities, mapping material flows, and embedding circular practices across sectors. Case studies include textiles, urban mining, and the Montréal food loop. The report is positioned as a model for wider adoption across Canada.
Buildings and Climate Report 2024
Author/publisher: GlobalABC / UNEP
Publication Date: April 2025 (release date of a meeting held in March 2024)
Focus: Buildings and climate change
Category: Infrastructure and Built Environment
Tags: Buildings, Climate Adaptation, Emissions, GlobalABC, Net Zero
Summary: This report underscores the critical role buildings play in global decarbonisation, accounting for 37% of energy and process-related CO₂ emissions. It tracks sector progress against climate goals and calls for urgent policy alignment, finance mobilisation, and uptake of low-carbon technologies. It highlights gaps in policy enforcement, slow retrofitting rates, and the lack of coherent roadmaps in many countries, while spotlighting emerging leadership in integrated building climate policies.
Construction Sector Innovation with Absolute Zero Report
Author/publisher: UK FIRES
Publication Date: November 2022
Focus: Absolute zero strategy for the construction sector
Category: Industry and Manufacturing
Tags: Construction, Emissions Reduction, Zero Carbon, Innovation, UK FIRES
Summary: This technical briefing explores how the UK construction sector can deliver emissions reductions without relying on future carbon capture or offsets. It advocates for material-efficient design, reuse of components, and substitution of high-carbon materials, under an “absolute zero” emissions philosophy. The report includes clear quantitative scenarios and implications for workforce skills, supply chains, and policy frameworks.
Greening Construction Jobs and Skills
Author/publisher: EDGE / Green Skills Project
Publication Date: March 2022
Focus: Green skills for the construction sector
Category: Workforce and Skills
Tags: Green Jobs, Construction, Vocational Training, Education Pathways
Summary: This policy briefing highlights how construction roles are shifting with the green transition. It maps key competencies needed in retrofitting, sustainable design, and material innovation, and outlines education and training initiatives aligned with emerging green construction demands. The report makes recommendations for vocational institutions, employers, and policymakers to integrate sustainability principles into core curricula and upskilling programmes.
Investing in the Green Economy 2025
Author/publisher: Grantham Research Institute, LSE
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Investment strategies for a green economy
Category: Finance and Investment
Tags: Green Investment, Just Transition, Economic Strategy, LSE
Summary: This paper examines the policy architecture required to mobilise private capital towards a green and inclusive economy. It analyses instruments such as climate disclosure mandates, carbon pricing, and mission-oriented public finance. It also proposes a UK Green Investment Plan that balances growth, fairness, and decarbonisation, with a strong emphasis on regional economic development and labour market inclusion.
Mobilising Bonds for the Just Transition
Author/publisher: LSE Grantham Research Institute / Impact Investing Institute
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Bonds and financing for a just transition
Category: Finance and Investment
Tags: Just Transition, Bonds, ESG, Impact Investment, Labour
Summary: This briefing introduces new tools and case studies for integrating social justice criteria into green bond issuance. It showcases frameworks for credible “Just Transition Labels,” social KPIs, and alignment with labour and regional development goals. Practical guidance is offered for investors, regulators, and issuers seeking to support decarbonisation with community and worker benefits.
The 13th National Risk Assessment: Climate, the Sixth C of Credit
Author/publisher: First Street
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Climate risk and credit assessments
Category: Finance and Investment
Tags: Credit Ratings, Climate Risk, Financial Institutions, Transition Finance
Summary: This 13th National Risk Assessment frames climate change as a “Sixth C of Credit,” joining capacity, character, capital, collateral, and conditions. It warns that unmanaged physical and transition risks could distort credit ratings, pricing, and insurance, and calls for robust scenario analysis, disclosure, and new stress testing methodologies.
Net Zero Report 2025
Author/publisher: South Pole
Publication Date: 2025
Focus: Net zero commitments by financial institutions
Category: Finance and Investment
Tags: Financial Institutions, Net Zero, Transition Planning, Fossil Fuel Exposure
Summary: Based on a global survey of 350 financial institutions, this report reveals tensions between long-term climate ambition and short-term investment inertia. While most institutions claim to be “on track” for net zero, three-quarters have no plans to reduce fossil fuel exposure in the next decade. Key barriers include unclear regulation and weak client transition plans. Despite this, engagement with portfolio companies is increasing, and transition plans are increasingly viewed as material to financing access.
Transition Finance Tracker
Author/publisher: MSCI Sustainability Institute
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Tracking credible transition finance
Category: Finance and Investment
Tags: Finance Taxonomy, Transition Pathways, ESG, Disclosure
Summary: This resource introduces a “Transition Finance Tracker” to help investors monitor alignment with credible net zero pathways. It reviews disclosure practices, asset-level performance, and sector benchmarks, highlighting the need for harmonised definitions and transition classifications. The tracker aims to prevent greenwashing while guiding investment towards transformative change.
Research Agenda for Climate Resilience
Author/publisher: NAP Global Network
Publication Date: 2025
Focus: Research priorities for climate adaptation
Category: Climate Adaptation
Tags: Resilience, Adaptation, NAPs, Climate Research
Summary: This agenda sets out a strategic framework to align academic research with national adaptation plan (NAP) priorities. It calls for co-produced, place-based knowledge to support implementation, and proposes priority themes such as risk governance, social equity, early warning systems, and private sector involvement. The agenda is intended as a living tool for researchers, funders, and practitioners.
Absolute Zero: Materials and Manufacturing
Author/publisher: UK FIRES
Publication Date: January 2022
Focus: Material supply chains under an absolute zero scenario
Category: Industry and Manufacturing
Tags: Materials, Absolute Zero, Decarbonisation, Circular Economy
Summary: Focusing on steel, cement, aluminium, and plastics, this report outlines how manufacturing can operate without fossil fuels. It models future scenarios of material use, recycling, and energy substitution, proposing demand reduction, reuse, and electrification strategies. It highlights the critical role of innovation and public procurement in scaling these low-carbon practices.
Unlocking the Economic Power of Natural Capital Solutions
Author/publisher: Sustainable Policy Institute (SPI)
Publication Date: October 2024
Focus: Nature-based solutions for climate and economic resilience
Category: Natural Capital
Tags: Natural Assets, Economic Value, Biodiversity, Infrastructure Planning, Private Finance
Summary: This policy paper argues for embedding natural capital into economic development strategies, showing how nature-based solutions (NbS) can drive long-term cost savings, job creation, and climate resilience. It emphasises valuation tools, green accounting, and case studies from both the Global North and South, calling for stronger policy mandates, investment vehicles, and market signals to mainstream nature as infrastructure.
US Steel: Pathways to Decarbonisation
Author/publisher: Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Decarbonising the US steel industry
Category: Industry Transition
Tags: Steel, Hydrogen, Industrial Decarbonisation, Demand Signals, Just Transition
Summary: RMI explores the viability of near-zero emissions steelmaking in the US, especially using hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (H2-DRI). The report highlights key levers: increasing green public procurement, enhancing demand-side signals from automakers and construction, and aligning subsidies with emissions intensity. It calls for cross-sector coordination to ensure economic viability and social inclusion during the transition.
Global EV Outlook 2025
Author/publisher: International Energy Agency (IEA)
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Global electric vehicle market and infrastructure trends
Category: Clean Transport
Tags: EVs, Batteries, Market Growth, Charging Networks, Minerals, Policy
Summary: IEA's flagship report projects strong EV market growth, with over 250 million EVs expected globally by 2030 under current policies. It explores infrastructure gaps, battery supply chains, grid readiness, and policy alignment. The report emphasises the importance of critical minerals, smart charging, and international collaboration, while flagging risks of supply bottlenecks and uneven access to clean mobility.
Call to Aviation Action: Transition Pathways for a Sustainable Future
Author/publisher: callaviationtoaction.org
Publication Date: May 2025
Focus: Decarbonisation strategies for aviation
Category: Clean Transport
Tags: SAF, Aviation Emissions, Hard-to-abate Sectors, Innovation Pathways, Global Governance
Summary: This extended briefing outlines priority actions for aviation decarbonisation, including rapid scale-up of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), operational efficiencies, and longer-term hydrogen and electric aircraft. It provides policy, financing, and international coordination recommendations, while acknowledging the sector’s difficulty in aligning with 1.5°C trajectories. The report also touches on equity in access and potential trade-offs in SAF supply.
Runways to Railways
Author/publisher: Campaign for Better Transport
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Modal shift from short-haul flights to sustainable rail
Category: Clean Transport
Tags: Modal Shift, Rail Investment, Aviation Emissions, UK Transport Policy, Climate Strategy
Summary: Green Alliance makes the case for redirecting infrastructure investment and subsidies from short-haul domestic flights to rail alternatives, arguing for higher-speed connections and better intermodal coordination. It estimates the carbon savings and economic returns of such a transition and critiques current aviation subsidies. Public awareness, ticketing reform, and integrated planning are highlighted as enablers.
Regulating for Investment and Outcomes in the Water Sector
Author/publisher: National Audit Office (NAO)
Publication Date: April 2025
Focus: Economic regulation and environmental performance in the UK water sector
Category: Infrastructure & Regulation
Tags: Ofwat, Climate Adaptation, Water Quality, Investment Planning, Performance Outcomes
Summary: The NAO evaluates the UK regulatory system’s ability to support investment and environmental outcomes in the water sector. It finds inconsistent delivery of performance targets and underinvestment in infrastructure, particularly in climate resilience and leakage reduction. The report calls for clearer accountability, long-term funding certainty, and better integration of net zero and adaptation in regulatory frameworks.