Climate policy and UN Cop meetings
Overview
Argus provides key insights on how global climate policies will affect the global energy and commodity markets. We shine a light on decisions made at UN Cop meetings, which have far-reaching effects on the markets we serve. Progress at Cop 30 in Brazil will be crucial in transforming ambitions into actions aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Countries must produce new climate plans this year.
Follow the key developments in energy transition field with our Net zero page and keep up to date with ongoing coverage of these issues by following Argus Media on LinkedIn and on X.
News
Italy to push back coal plant phase out to 2038
Italy to push back coal plant phase out to 2038
London, 30 March (Argus) — Italy is looking to push back a deadline for the phase-out of coal-fired power plants to 2038 from an original date of 2025, according to legislation before parliament. The measure is one of a series of amendments to a government decree designed to lower energy bills for consumers and businesses. The decree was approved by the government earlier this year and must be converted into law by 21 April. "It will be possible to keep these plants operational as a strategic reserve," Riccardo Molinari said, a top official of the governing coalition Lega party that championed the amendment. Italy originally pledged to phase out coal-fired generation by the end of 2025 as part of EU climate commitments. But the government wants to keep some coal plants on standby beyond 2025 in case of emergencies. Rome is looking to have the plants classified as strategic assets to secure exemption from state-aid rules and pay the utilities the costs of keeping the plants idling. It currently has coal capacity of around 4.65GW, including Enel's two large plants in Civitavecchia and Brindisi. Energy minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin has previously indicated that Civitavecchia and Brindisi could be reactivated if gas prices consistently exceed €70/MWh. The government has called a vote of confidence on the package in the lower house tomorrow. It will then go before the Senate. By Stephen Jewkes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Q&A: Energy security to drive marine fuels transition
Q&A: Energy security to drive marine fuels transition
Singapore, 27 March (Argus) — Argus spoke to Torben Norgaard, chief technology and analytics officer at the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) conference and exhibition in Singapore from 25-27 March. Norgaard spoke about the impact of the current geopolitical turmoil on energy transition and what it means for the maritime decarbonisation. With current geopolitical disruptions, how is the industry balancing energy security and decarbonisation? The climate agenda has moved slightly down the global agenda, and instead we are seeing terms like energy resilience, energy diversity and energy security becoming more prominent in shaping energy policy. At first glance, one might expect this shift to slow down the energy transition. But when we look at investment flows into transition technologies and new energy systems, they are increasing year on year — quite aggressively. Countries that are not self-sufficient in fossil fuels are looking to secure energy through domestic resources, such as biomass or renewable electricity. So, while multilateral climate action may be weakening, a more regional and security-driven approach is emerging. Paradoxically, this is sustaining — and in some cases accelerating — investment in the energy transition. Are alternative fuels reliable enough today to support shipping at scale, from both a supply and investment perspective? From a technical standpoint, we have high confidence in the fuels being considered — bio-based fuels, methane, ammonia, methanol and other alcohols. The challenge now is not technology, but mobilisation. The maritime sector needs to be able to compete for these fuels in broader energy markets, and that depends heavily on maritime regulation. Investments in low-emission fuels are not made for shipping alone. These are part of broader energy systems that serve multiple industries. What we are tracking is where these energy systems are developing, and how shipping can position itself to participate in those markets. The first wave of fuels entering maritime will be those that use existing infrastructure and technology. These include bio-oils for conventional vessels and biomethane for LNG-fuelled vessels. These upstream investments are relatively robust because they serve multiple sectors and make use of existing infrastructure. The second wave — such as methanol, ammonia and other synthetic fuels — is more complex and higher cost. These pathways still lack clear market structures and demand signals, which is why they are progressing more slowly. Given current uncertainty, how are shipowners making investment decisions? Shipowners recognise that the industry is becoming more complex. We see two main pathways emerging — a liquid fuel pathway and a gaseous fuel pathway. The choice between them depends on factors such as geography, trading routes and vessel type. The next decision is how "future-ready" to make a vessel. We know the transition is coming, but the exact timing is uncertain. Shipowners, therefore, need to balance investing now versus preparing for future retrofits. The key focus is building optionality — ensuring vessels can operate under multiple future scenarios. Will the energy transition slow down or accelerate in the next three to five years? The transition is continuing to accelerate. If you look at total emissions from maritime activity, they have remained relatively stable, even as trade has grown. This means emissions per unit of cargo have decreased significantly by around 30pc over the past decade. In the next 3-5 years, we will see increased uptake of fuels that are already viable and compatible with existing infrastructure — primarily biofuels and biomethane. Has the deferment in IMO's NZF (International Maritime Organization's net zero framework) set back the transition? The status on IMO's NZF, I would not call it a setback, but the IMO session in October 2025 was a missed opportunity for taking a step forward. Not adopting the framework delayed progress, but it did not reverse it. The industry would benefit from global regulation rather than a patchwork of regional rules. Is Asia well-positioned to support this transition? Asia is very well positioned from a technology and readiness perspective. Most vessels are built here, and much of the innovation, testing and pilot activity for new fuels is taking place in Asia. However, what Asia lacks is a strong regulatory framework that enables shipping to compete for low-emission fuels. In this respect, Europe is currently ahead, with more developed regulation that creates demand and supports fuel uptake. What role can Singapore play in the transition? Singapore already plays an important role, particularly in de-risking the operational aspects of new fuels through pilots and testing. There is an opportunity for Singapore to go further — not just as a maritime fuel hub, but as a broader energy hub. That means taking a systemic view, integrating multiple industries and creating demand across sectors. However, there is also a structural challenge. Future energy systems may shift towards producing energy closer to where it is consumed, rather than transporting it globally. By Mahua Mitra Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Germany presents new climate action programme
Germany presents new climate action programme
Berlin, 25 March (Argus) — Germany's cabinet today presented a climate action programme with a strong focus on renewable power and industry electrification, encompassing 67 measures designed to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 27mn t/yr of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) until 2030, although the country's climate experts warned that it is unlikely to achieve these reductions. The measures will plug the 25mn t CO2e annual reduction gap flagged in last year's official forecasts, environment minister Carsten Schneider said. The forecasts have since been superseded by data presented by federal environment office UBA earlier this month indicating a 42mn t/yr CO2e gap. The main drivers of the action programme are additional tenders for onshore wind power capacity over 12GW, and an extra €2.9bn of subsidies for industry electrification projects. The additional wind installations are expected to achieve emissions reductions of 6.5mn t CO2e in 2030 and lower wholesale power prices by €6/MWh, Schneider said. The majority will be installed in the relatively wind-poor but energy-hungry south of the country, or in priority areas, so it will not be affected by potential future legislation limiting grid access, Schneider said. Industrial electrification subsidies are expected to lead to emissions reductions of 4.3mn t CO2e in 2030. And Schneider stressed that his ministry expects the transport and buildings sectors, which have been lagging behind in recent years, to accelerate decarbonisation in the late 2020s. A €3bn subsidy scheme with income-based support will allow for the purchase of about 800,000 electric vehicles, leading to emissions savings of 1mn t CO2e in 2030. And the government expects the planned road transport GHG reduction quota now under parliamentary scrutiny to yield emissions reductions of 6.3mn t CO2e in 2030, while funding for new heat grids will save 2.3mn t CO2e in 2030. Germany's land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector will receive €4.7bn across 23 measures including the rewetting of peatlands and conversion of forests, although the effects will be felt mainly after 2030, Schneider said. Proposals by the economy ministry , which would take pressure off fossil fuel heating systems, are likely to be counterbalanced by the current energy crisis, Schneider said, as homeowners buying a new heating system are now likely to think differently about investing in another gas-fired system. The climate action plan will make Germany "more modern and more independent of oil and gas", Schneider said, reducing its natural gas consumption by almost 7 bcm³ in 2030 and its petrol consumption by about 4bn litres — down by 9pc on current annual levels, Schneider said. The government was legally obliged to present a climate action programme under the country's climate action law, and it must also be scrutinised by parliament. Germany aims to cut its emissions by 65pc in 2030 compared with 1990 levels. They stood 48pc below 1990 levels last year. The country's council of experts on climate change ERK, tasked with scrutinising the programme, said today that it lacks novelty and ambition and is unlikely to achieve the expected reductions. The ERK, which said it was commenting subject to a more detailed review, criticised the government's strong focus on the energy sector and its insufficient relief for households on low and middle incomes, particularly in the heating sector, even though the need for social measures to accompany climate change policy will continue to grow. The ERK urged the government to look at more innovative measures such as "white certificates" for energy efficiency or a bonus-malus system for cars. It is "questionable" whether the programme's measures "adequately" address the challenge of restructuring Germany's fossil fuel-dependent "capital stock", Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research chief economist Ottmar Edenhofer said. It lacks "credible" policy instruments providing "clear incentives" to switch to technologies such as electric cars or heat pumps, added Edenhofer, who is also chair of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. Germany's solar association BSW flagged the "gap between aspiration and reality", given the economy and energy ministry's plans to axe support for small-scale rooftop solar systems. And German wood industry association HDH warned against restrictions to forestry management, which it said will limit the supply of raw materials for climate-friendly timber construction. Environmental group DUH announced it will once again sue the government for the programme unless it is improved, particularly regarding the transport sector. DUH won a case against the government's previous climate action programme in January . The climate action programme stands on "shaky ground", think-tank Agora Energiewende director Julia Blaesius warned, given that it is based on outdated data and in light of planned legislation changes. Blaesius emphasised the importance of a "reliable" carbon price to provide planning and investment security to households and companies, as well as revenues for Germany's climate and transformation fund, which finances much of the programme's measures. By Chloe Jardine Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India commits to 47pc emissions intensity cuts by 2035
India commits to 47pc emissions intensity cuts by 2035
Adds India's targets updated in 2022 Edinburgh, 25 March (Argus) — India has committed to reduce its emissions intensity by 47pc by 2035, compared with 2005 levels, and to lift the share of "non-fossil-fuel-based" power capacity to 60pc of total capacity by the same year. The targets are in line with India's goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2070, the environment ministry said. They form part of the country's new 2035 climate plan, or nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris agreement. Countries party to the Paris agreement were due to submit their 2035 NDCs to the UN climate body, the UNFCCC, in February 2025, but the deadline was pushed to the end of September 2025. The Paris agreement aims to limit global temperature rises to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursues a 1.5°C threshold. India's 2035 targets compare with an original emissions intensity goal of a 33-35pc reduction by 2030 and a 40pc share of installed "non-fossil-fuel-based" capacity — a target the country said it has already met. The original emissions intensity reduction target was met between 2005 and 2020, with a recorded 36pc cut, while power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources has reached around 53pc as of February, according to the ministry. India's targets were updated in 2022 to 45pc cut in emissions intensity and 50pc of non-fossil fuel energy sources. "India's climate strategy is implemented through a series of measures including those on large-scale renewable energy expansion, battery storage systems, and green energy corridors, cleaner manufacturing, ensuring reliable and sustainable infrastructure across the country," the ministry said. India, the world's third-largest crude oil importer and a major LPG consumer, also aims to create 3.5bn-4bn t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in carbon sinks through forest and tree cover by 2035, from 2005 levels. "India has already created 2.29bn of CO2e by 2021," the ministry said. "Afforestation and ecosystem restoration efforts continue to contribute towards India's carbon sink targets while supporting rural livelihoods," it said. By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Analysis
Adapting the global approach to climate change
Adapting the global approach to climate change
Washington's withdrawal sets back multilateral policy but economic impetus for cleaner energy remains, writes Georgia Gratton London, 30 January (Argus) — The world's approach to "climate multilateralism" must evolve in response to "geopolitical tensions", Brazilian diplomat and president of the UN Cop 30 climate summit Andre Correa do Lago said this week. Correa do Lago remains Cop president until he formally hands over the title in November to Turkish climate minister Murat Kurum at Cop 31. Cop 30 "shed light on the limitations of climate multilateralism and of formal consensus decision-making", Correa do Lago said, and "to keep pace with global warming, multilateralism must learn to operate at more than one institutional speed". He suggests a "two-tier" approach. The first tier should be based on the key tenet of climate talks such as Cops — consensus — while the second should focus on implementation, including through "coalitions of the willing", he said. Almost every country in the world is signed up to UN climate bodies the UNFCCC and IPCC, and the Paris climate accord. His call came in the same week that the US' second exit from the Paris agreement took effect, while President Donald Trump has also said the country will leave the UNFCCC and IPCC . But this would not preclude US businesses, states and cities from acting on climate change, the Brazilian Cop 30 presidency suggested this week. "We will be able to work with the other entities in the US," Cop 30 chief executive Ana Toni said. And Correa do Lago's vision echoed views from business leaders and governments that were put forward at the World Economic Forum (WEF) earlier this month in Davos, Switzerland. Most acknowledged a recent slowdown in effective climate policy, centred on the US volte-face, although the majority were sanguine on the "implementation" aspect — the progress of the global energy transition. India's new and renewable energy minister, Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, cited "the unstoppable march of renewables". Chinese vice-premier He Lifeng pointed out that his nation "has put in place the world's largest renewable energy system", and firmly reiterated China's support for climate action. "I see a climate policy recession, but not a recession in the energy transition," former US vice-president Al Gore said in Davos. "The advantages of renewable energy have become so obvious everywhere around the world," he added. Shutting out the noise Danish biotechnology company Novonesis chief executive Ester Baiget spoke in Davos about "decoupling noise from facts" — looking past a rhetoric that rails against climate change action and instead at data showing that a global energy transition is well under way. Global renewable power capacity additions grew by 22pc to almost 685GW in 2024 — a record high for both additions and installed capacity — energy watchdog the IEA said in October . Renewable power capacity is forecast to grow by 4.6TW by 2030 — double the deployment in 2019-24 — driven by solar installations, the agency found. Much of the transition is being driven by plummeting costs for renewables. "We are so far down the road that the economics have taken over… the cost of a lot of the technologies has come down so much that it is simply economic sense to keep investing," director of clean power at the UK's energy ministry, Ben Golding, told UK lawmakers this month. Future costs are another factor, Davos speakers agreed. "I'm absolutely convinced that it will cost to be an emitter," either through taxes, purchasing emissions certificates or "paying for the cost of climate change", Swedish utility Vattenfall's chief executive, Anna Borg, said. Keeping focus further ahead is key, Cop 30 chief executive Toni said this week. "We know elections are short term, climate change will unfortunately be with us long term." Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EV flip-flopping has hampered the west: WEF
EV flip-flopping has hampered the west: WEF
London, 21 January (Argus) — Inconsistent policies and political turmoil have hampered western progress on electric vehicles (EVs), while China's longer-term stable approach has benefited industry winners such as BYD, speakers at a World Economic Forum (WEF) panel in Davos, Switzerland, said on Tuesday. China's lead in EVs is less about a single technological breakthrough and more about policy consistency. That was the clear message from executives and policymakers at the WEF panel on the global EV race, where China's long-term industrial alignment was repeatedly contrasted with stop-start policymaking in the US and Europe. Speaking early in the discussion, BYD executive vice-president Stella Li said China's EV successes "start from the government policy", arguing that Beijing's approach has been defined by consistency rather than constant revision. "In the past 20 years they never changed, but some countries went back and forth, and this will confuse manufacturing," Li said. "Once the government gives a very clear line, then manufacturing goes to work on the competition." This clarity, she argued, allowed companies to commit capital, concentrate on research and development and scale production without hedging against political reversals, something she suggested remains a structural disadvantage for western automakers. Industrial reality versus political instability Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, whose state accounts for more than a fifth of US car production, echoed this assessment from a US perspective, saying policy uncertainty has slowed decision-making across the industry. "The back and forth policies at the national level have made it more difficult for industry to throw all in," Whitmer said, adding that long-term investments were increasingly being delayed. "Chaos is really bad for business." The result, she added, is that manufacturers are forced to pursue multiple drivetrain strategies simultaneously, rather than committing fully to electrification. Former General Motors chief economist Elaine Buckberg said that a disconnect between political timeframes and industrial reality is critical. Automakers, she noted, plan vehicles years in advance, while democracy can change government policy over smaller time periods. "The typical planning process is five years before a vehicle comes into market, and you're planning to keep it there for six years," Buckberg said. "Keeping those incentives stable is really powerful." Alternatively, shifting incentives and short-term subsidies can distort demand. Li warned that poorly designed support schemes risk delaying purchases altogether. "Sometimes subsidies are more like a drug," she said. "Consumers just wait and the market stops. That is not sustainable." As competition between the US, China and Europe intensifies, the panel's message was that in the EV race, consistency may matter more than speed. By Thomas Kavanagh Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Fossil fuels shift talks to continue outside Cop
Fossil fuels shift talks to continue outside Cop
Developed countries struggled to lead, and oil producers pushed back, but a roadmap may emerge away from Cop, write Caroline Varin and Georgia Gratton Edinburgh, 28 November (Argus) — The UN climate Cop 30 summit in Belem, Brazil, ended last week without an agreement to establish a roadmap on how to shift away from fossil fuels that some countries had hoped to see, but the discussion will not stop there. Just over 80 countries , including EU member states, the UK, Australia, countries in Latin America and Africa, and island states had pushed for the overarching Cop 30 text to address the transition away from fossil fuels, the largest contributor to climate change, but language on a roadmap did not make the final decision. Opposition from major oil-producing countries proved too strong to push the roadmap through, European ministers said. Parties instead agreed on the launch of a "global implementation accelerator (GIA)", and the "Belem Mission to 1.5". These voluntary initiatives are aimed at "enabling ambition and implementation" of countries' climate plans and at keeping the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature rise limit within reach. This refers to the more ambitious goal of the Paris accord — to hold the global rise in temperature to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and preferably to 1.5°C. "Although text addressing the response [to a lack of climate ambition] was watered down, there are hooks to build on within the GIA and the Belem Mission to 1.5°C," environmental think-tank E3G said. By the end of the summit, 119 countries — accounting for 74pc of global emissions — had submitted new commitments in nationally determined contributions (NDCs), non-profit group WRI noted. But these plans, if delivered, only account for 15pc of the emissions cut required by 2035 to limit the rise to 1.5°C. As a consolation prize, the Brazilian Cop 30 presidency pledged to deliver roadmaps on the transition away from fossil fuel and on halting and reversing deforestation. This echoed Cop 29's outcome, when a roadmap was promised, for scaling up climate finance to $1.3 trillion/yr by 2025 for developing countries that were left disappointed. The roadmaps "will be led by science and they will be inclusive", summit president Andre Correa do Lago said. Brazil holds the presidency until Cop 31 in Turkey next year. In the interim, the country plans to convene high-level talks with key international organisations, fossil fuel-producing and consuming countries, workers and civil society, do Lago said. He also noted that the presidency would "benefit from the first international conference for the phase-out of fossil fuels", to he held in Colombia in April. Having the roadmap in the Cop 30 text would have sent a much stronger signal, as "the main text is an obligation for all", EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said as the summit closed. But the presidency's work on a roadmap, high-level dialogues and the event in Colombia will create further milestones for climate discussions on the transition from fossil fuels, observers said. The presidency's roadmap could create momentum for the start of a plan on fossil fuels from willing countries, even though it sits outside official Cop negotiations. Fault lines The pushback from major oil and gas producers on cutting emissions by reducing fossil fuel use — evident at Cop 29 last year — grew firmer in Belem, and shows no sign of abating. The achievement at Cop 30 was not to renege on the Cop 28 consensus, French climate minister Monique Barbut said. Almost 200 countries pledged at Cop 28 in Dubai in 2023 to transition away from fossil fuels "in a just, orderly and equitable manner… so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science". The Cop 28 outcome also called for renewable energy capacity to triple and energy efficiency to double by 2030 and for "accelerating efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power". The main Cop 30 text does not mention the transition away from fossil fuels, and only makes two references to the Cop 28 deal — dubbed "the UAE consensus". Even pointing to the energy package within the Dubai deal agreed two years ago proved too much for some oil-producing countries. "The [UN climate body] UNFCCC's consensus-based process, as well as the lack of a concrete proposal to create the framework for developing countries to phase out fossil fuels, hindered the adoption of a roadmap in the Cop cover decision text," the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative said. The final day of Cop 30 — which ran more than 24 hours over time — saw decisions swiftly adopted. But Colombia spoke out against one, objecting that it included no language on the transition away from fossil fuels. "We are demanding the minimum necessary," Colombia's representative said, to "allow language already agreed under [Cop 28] consensus to be discussed here". Confounding the consensus Correa do Lago suspended the plenary while the Cop 30 presidency sought a solution. Decisions adopted at Cop summits cannot be revoked. But Correa do Lago said countries will be able to discuss issues in June next year in Bonn, Germany, at interim climate talks hosted annually by the UNFCCC. Colombia's intervention prompted pushback from Saudi Arabia and a furious response from Russia. The latter told countries objecting to "refrain from behaving like children". India's representative said reopening discussions would be "fundamentally unfair" and "inconsistent" with UNFCCC process. Russia, India and Saudi Arabia throughout the summit opposed the addition of wording on fossil fuels, according to Barbut. Saudi Arabia reiterated throughout Cop 30 that the focus should be on reducing emissions, not on specific fuels. And the climate-sceptic stance taken by US president Donald Trump's administration emboldened major oil-producing countries to stand their ground more firmly this year, many negotiators and observers said. Developed nations were not forceful, at least in the first week of the negotiations, in their support for a roadmap to shift away from fossil fuels. The EU called it a "difficult topic" and was caught in controversial domestic discussions on its own targets and environmental ambitions before heading to the summit, which may have weakened its claims to leadership. Australia, which will preside over Cop 31 negotiations in Turkey next year, at first could not see a space for discussing the roadmap in Belem. And even though over 80 countries had thrown their weight behind the topic by the midpoint of the summit, details on what it would look like were lacking. China, the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, remained largely quiet on the topic outside negotiating rooms, redirecting attention towards renewable energy — a huge market for the country. Discussions on the transition away from fossil fuels were not expected to take centre stage at Cop , until Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for this during the leaders' summit that preceded the talks. Leadership came from developing nations, notably Colombia. And there has been an eye-catching change at this Cop in how some developing countries are reframing rhetoric around fossil fuels and economic development. Some, including those with oil projects such as Kenya and Sierra Leone, are increasingly pushing for plans to shift away from fossil fuels — in a just, equitable and orderly manner — and highlight the importance of drastically increasing energy access through the transition. A Cop 30 decision addressing "the just energy transition" was broadly well-received. The text drew links between cutting emissions and ensuring climate resilience and positive economic development. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Mexico climate pledge clashes with refinery push
Mexico climate pledge clashes with refinery push
Houston, 13 November (Argus) — Mexico's updated climate pledge sets its most ambitious emissions target, but the plan sits in sharp contrast to the government's push to increase crude processing and fuel output at state-owned Pemex's refinery system. Mexico submitted its new nationally determined contribution (NDC) ahead of this month's UN Cop 30 summit in Belem, Brazil, committing for the first time to an absolute cap on greenhouse gas emissions of 364–404mn t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) by 2035, or 332–363mn t CO2e with international support. The target represents a cut of more than 50pc from a business-as-usual trajectory, according to the environment ministry, and aligns with Mexico's long-term commitment to reach net zero by 2050. But while Mexico promises steep emissions reductions, it is simultaneously doubling down on a fossil-heavy industrial strategy centered on reviving its aging refining system, boosting domestic output of gasoline and diesel and limiting private-sector participation across the downstream chain. Mexico's refineries — most of which regularly run at below 50–60pc of capacity — remain among Mexico's largest stationary emitters, with high rates of flaring, residual fuel oil production and energy inefficiency. The government has also poured billions of dollars into the new 340,000 b/d Olmeca refinery and continues to prioritize increasing crude throughput at the legacy system, even as maintenance shortfalls, outages and unplanned shutdowns remain common. Pemex processed about 950,000 b/d of crude across its seven domestic refineries in September, up by 8pc from a year prior and 57pc higher than the 604,300 b/d processed in September 2018, before former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office. Mexico's refining-heavy strategy took shape under Lopez Obrador, who made fuel self-sufficiency the centerpiece of his administration after years of under-investment and declining output at Pemex's refining system. His government moved away from the 2014 energy reform and proposed constitutional changes that would free Pemex from its obligation to operate as a "productive state company." The shift enabled greater political influence over Pemex's operations and reinforced a nationalistic focus on refining, even as the company posted financial losses and saw its crude output fall to 40-year lows. President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration has continued that trajectory. Backed by a congressional supermajority that allows her party to advance Lopez Obrador's reforms, Sheinbaum has maintained the emphasis on fuel self-sufficiency and continued to expand Pemex's role through increased state support. Mexico's NDC frames climate policy as compatible with economic development, job creation and "just transition" principles. But the plan is still vague on specific mitigation actions for the refining sector. "Mexico's ambition is clear, but delivering on these goals will require deep structural transformation and a clear, sustained investment strategy," said Francisco Barnes Regueiro, executive director of the environmental non-governmental organization the World Resources Institute in Mexico. Meanwhile, the government maintains policies and proposed reforms that favor Pemex and state utility CFE over private-sector companies, limiting private investment in cleaner fuels and renewable electricity. The lack of incentives for low-carbon technologies, combined with an aggressive push to increase domestic production of gasoline and diesel, contradicts the technical requirements implied by the emissions cap, according to market sources. The contradiction becomes more pronounced as Mexico prepares for the Cop 30 negotiations. Mexico, which now joins more than 50 countries that have updated their NDCs, will likely face scrutiny over how its energy agenda fits within its climate ambitions. For now, the gap between Mexico's stated targets and its refining-focused policy framework remains wide. Without clear measures to reduce emissions from Pemex's refining system, expand low-carbon fuels and introduce stronger regulatory incentives, the new NDC risks becoming another aspirational document. Pemex's crude throughput '000b/d Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Country focus
Dutch government focuses on power grids
Dutch government focuses on power grids
London, 2 February (Argus) — The new Dutch government is focusing on power grid congestion as its "top priority" for energy and climate, according to its coalition agreement released last week. The government will create a grid congestion "crisis act" to accelerate permitting and intervene if construction stagnates, it said. It has committed to a target of 40GW of offshore wind by 2040, with contracts for difference to be rolled out to support this goal, on the higher end of the 30-40GW range the previous government mooted in July to replace a goal of 50GW. And the SDE++ programme of subsidies for renewable generation is being extended, with six new tender rounds to come. The coalition document represents a compromise between the positions of the partners , left-wing D66 and centre-right CDA and VVD. D66's proposals to increase the country's carbon tax was not adopted, with the tax to be scrapped. But no more gas extraction permits are to be issued for the Wadden Sea, in line with the party's manifesto. The giant Groningen gas field, which shut down in October 2024, will remain closed. The coalition agreement includes a role for "blue" hydrogen made from gas in "scaling up the Dutch hydrogen supply chain" and commits to building at least four new nuclear power plants. Dutch grid operator association Netbeheer Nederland and energy association Energie Nederland welcomed the coalition document's focus on grids, but both warned that a focus on green electricity supply needed to be paired with an increase in demand. The coalition government holds 66 out of 150 seats in the lower house of parliament and will need the support of other parties to implement its agenda. By Rhys Talbot Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Climate ‘superfund’ bill revived in Rhode Island
Climate ‘superfund’ bill revived in Rhode Island
Houston, 30 January (Argus) — Rhode Island lawmakers are making another attempt at passing legislation that would establish a climate "superfund" to hold large oil, natural gas and coal companies responsible for their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their associated harms. The bills, H7004 and S2024, were introduced to both houses of the state General Assembly earlier this month, state senator Linda Ujifusa (D) and representative Jennifer Boylan (D), the sponsors of the proposal, said on Thursday. The legislation would direct the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to identify and issue payment requirements to obligated entities within 18 months of its passage. Obligated entities would include fossil fuel companies that are responsible for at least 1bn metric tonnes of GHG emissions from 2000-2025 but would not include any that do not have "sufficient connection with the state." Entities covered under the bill would have to make the required payment within six months of being notified, though they could choose to do so in installments. Late payments would result in a penalty totaling to 10pc/yr of the unpaid amount. The bills, which are virtually identical, would also establish a "climate superfund account" where the payments would be deposited, which would then be used to fund any eligible projects identified by DEM. The agency as well as the attorney general's office would be given the authority to enforce the requirements under the proposal. The Rhode Island legislature considered a similar climate superfund bill last year , but it died in committee. Rhode Island is part of a growing number of states that have introduced or restarted efforts to establish a climate superfund law this year. New Jersey lawmakers introduced a bill earlier this month while Maine lawmakers advanced their own climate superfund bill on Wednesday. Vermont and New York remain the only states that have enacted climate superfund laws. Both are currently facing lawsuits from the federal government. By Ida Balakrishna Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's Lula eyes draft to step away from fossil fuels
Brazil's Lula eyes draft to step away from fossil fuels
Sao Paulo, 8 December (Argus) — Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for the country's own draft roadmap for a "just and planned" energy transition, focusing on the move away from fossil fuels, after leading efforts for such an international plan. Brazil's energy, environment and finance ministries, as well as the chief of staff, must draft a resolution by 60 days from 5 December, or by 3 February, according to a presidential decree published in the official gazette on 8 December. Lula called for the creation of an international roadmap to move away from fossil fuels during a leaders' summit only a few days before the UN Cop 30 climate summit. That led to over 80 countries supporting a call for a roadmap to be included in final agreements at Cop 30. But the proposal did not make it to the summit's final decision. Instead, the Cop 30 presidency pledged to create a roadmap on the issue outside of official negotiations. Cop 30 president Andre Correa do Lago said recently that an initial draft of roadmap could be ready by April , when Colombia is set to host a global summit on the topic . Energy transition fund Lula also requested the creation of a draft resolution to "propose financing mechanisms to implement an energy transition policy", which would include creating an energy transition fund financed "by a portion of government revenues from oil and gas exploration". The ministries and chief of staff will also have 60 days from 5 December to draft this resolution. Lula had also asked oil and mining firms to pay their fair share of climate financing during a speech at Cop 30. This comes after similar efforts at previous climate summits. An initiative from the Cop 29 presidency called for a climate fund, capitalized with voluntary contributions from oil, coal and gas-producing countries and companies, to support developing economies in addressing climate change. But the fund was never set up and the topic slid from the agenda. Brazilian state-controlled oil firm Petrobras did not answer Argus ' requests for comments on the topic. Mining giant Vale declined to comment. But Brazil's oil, gas and biofuels institute IBP "recognizes the importance of creating a fund to finance energy transition and climate change projects and understands that the oil and gas sector can and should be part of the solution for this process", it told Argus . Brazil's oil and gas sector contributes with R325bn ($60.85bn)/yr in taxes and "part of this amount should be directed towards climate finance and a fair and efficient energy transition process", IBP said. But for that it is necessary to maintain oil and gas production, it said. Brazil has been steadily increasing its oil production. It produced 4.03mn b/d of crude in October , a 23pc increase from the same month in 2024, data from hydrocarbons regulator ANP show. The country has plans to expand oil production to 5.3mn b/d by 2030, according to energy research bureau Epe, hinging on new exploratory frontiers such as the southern Pelotas basin and the environmentally sensitive equatorial margin. IBP also argues that Brazil's oil sector already faces a large tax burden, with 66pc of all crude destined for the payment of taxes, fees and royalties. "We want to and will contribute, but it's necessary to point out that there's no way to create more burdens on the sector's supply chain", it said. The group argues that the fund's financing should come from the redistribution of current government oil and gas revenues. "Increasing taxation on oil and gas exploration and production could make future projects unfeasible," it said. By Lucas Parolin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Cop: Denmark commits to new 2035 climate target
Cop: Denmark commits to new 2035 climate target
London, 17 November (Argus) — Denmark has committed to a new, "very ambitious" climate target for 2035, to cut emissions by 82pc by 2035, from 1990 levels, the country's climate minister Lars Aagaard said today at the UN Cop 30 climate summit. Denmark was expected to communicate a 2035 target this year. It has a legally-binding target to reduce emissions by 70pc by 2030, from the same 1990 baseline. This new target for 2035 will be "binding", Aagaard said today. Independent advisory body the Danish Council on Climate Change previously found that under the country's current climate policy, projections indicate that Denmark would achieve emissions reductions of 78pc by 2035, from 1990 levels. Denmark's new target for 2035 goes beyond the EU's aim for the same timeframe. The bloc earlier this month finally reached agreement on climate goals for 2035 and 2040. It plans to cut emissions by 66.25-72.5pc by 2035, from 1990 levels. Denmark holds the rotating EU Council presidency until the end of the year. Aagaard has thus overseen much of the bloc's discussions of and decisions on new climate targets. Signatories to the Paris climate agreement are expected to establish new climate goals and submit plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), every five years, under the terms of the accord. Countries and jurisdictions are currently submitting NDCs for 2035, although these lack ambition to hit Paris-aligned targets . By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.