Federal stimulus investment is critical for cities to effectively recover from the covid-19 pandemic and economic downturn, says Rocky Mountain Institute. It outlines five strategies. Firstly, strengthen, automate and streamline permitting to build efficient, affordable housing, and rehabilitate abandoned properties. Secondly, improve energy security, tripling the number of jobs compared with fossil fuels and revitalising communities. Third, support public transit and transport modes for safer mobility, less pollution and increased access. Fourth, enhance resilience for communities and infrastructure, improving preparedness for climate change while creating jobs. Finally, create more green urban spaces, mitigating CO₂ and other pollutants.

Consultancy Ember and NGO Climate Action Network examine the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of 18 EU member states that are still using coal for electricity generation. It finds that 11 of the NECP plans do not phase out coal by 2030 inline with the Paris Agreement. Total installed coal capacity across seven countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Romania and Slovenia) falls by just 42% in the next decade. Around 52GW of coal capacity is expected to be operational after 2030, roughly 90% of which is in Czechia, Germany and Poland.

The latest, revamped version of the IEA’s Energy Technology Perspectives report analyses over 800 technology options to support the shift to a zero-carbon economy. As well as increased electrification, the IEA also predicts a significant rise in hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and synthetic fuel technologies in order to reach net zero emissions by mid-century. By 2050, electricity, hydrogen, synthetic fuels and bioenergy will make up a similar level of energy demand that is supplied by fossil fuels today. Achieving net-zero depends on how the emissions from long-lasting carbon-emitting assets is managed.