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LITTLETON, Colorado - The ongoing tussles at the COP28 climate conference over the pace of fossil fuel use reduction has brought sharp focus on the world's largest polluters, and the steps they may or may not be taking to clean up their act.
To help participants stay informed on the topic, a slew of companies and organisations have developed capabilities to monitor key facets of climate change and energy transition efforts, ranging from the mix of power sources used in electricity generation to real-time emissions from land fills.
Below are some of the powerful tools analysts and policy makers use to help inform the debates surrounding global energy transition and pollution reduction efforts.
BIG PICTURE
Several organisations track renewable energy and fossil fuel consumption for power generation, transport and industry across varying timelines and projections, much of it for free.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) offers a searchable data catalogue covering annual deployment of renewable energy by type and country, as well as profiles on member countries and regions.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) collates datasets across the energy spectrum, from country use of each energy type to the emissions intensity of different industries and the import and export flows of key energy commodities. The IEA also publishes detailed reports on energy transition progress and key technologies and policies driving the energy sector.
Energy think tank Ember produces comprehensive data tools covering the global electricity system, which allows users to monitor the evolving power mix and emissions levels across several countries and regions. Ember also tracks country-level progress towards climate targets.
PAY WALL BEHEMOTHS
Given the widespread impact of the energy transition and climate change, major financial data companies are building monitoring and analytical capabilities to help investors, traders and analysts assess sectoral risks and opportunities. Much of this content is only available to subscribers.
Financial data company LSEG offers its subscribers, mainly financial professionals, access to suites of data-rich content spanning the corporate, energy, commodities and shipping sectors.
Its flagship product, LSEG Workspace, allows users to track pollution levels by company, see forward power prices for key countries, and track projected renewable energy capacity by key region beyond 2030.
BloombergNEF, part of the Bloomberg financial organisation, produces datasets, models and reports on several facets of the energy industry, and the major sectors impacted by the ongoing energy transition.
SECTOR SPECIALISTS
Several companies provide tools and analysis on certain specific elements of the climate change and energy transition arenas, some of it free to access.
Global Energy Monitor (GEM) produces datasets that track the development of fossil fuel power plants in different countries, and the sources of finance behind them.
Enerdata compiles datasets spanning a range of energy transition-related sectors, including companies engaged in building out the hydrogen sector, energy use by type in key countries, and emissions forecasting tools.
The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) compiles data and produces reports on factors that affect air quality in key regions, including air pollution monitoring tools.
Climate technology company Kayrros uses satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to produce the Methane Watch map, which allows users to identify and track the world's largest sources of methane emissions.
GHGSat uses high-resolution satellite images and sensors to track all greenhouse gas emissions, and can monitor pollution from specific industrial sites.
Climate Trace offers an interactive global mapping tool to visualise the location and scale of various emissions by type and specific industrial plant.
Climate Action Tracker tracks the progress of specific governments towards climate goals.
Our World in Data allows users to chart datasets related to emissions, renewable energy use.
Electricity Maps allows users to map energy flows across electric grids and determine the carbon intensity of the power source.
Investing firm iClima Earth has created indices of companies engaged in enabling the global energy transition, and producers detailed research notes and tools that track their performance.
All of these tools, and more, are being deployed by COP28 attendees to further the debate over the global energy transition and ongoing efforts to limit further climate change.
(Reporting by Gavin Maguire; Editing by Richard Chang)