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Webinar - Charcoal in Modern Cooking Transition

Organiser: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Of the 2.1 billion people without access to clean cooking, nearly 30% rely on charcoal. Its use remains persistent and is increasing in urban areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Policy measures to curb charcoal use have mainly consisted of bans, which have largely proven ineffective. Given the expected continued dependence on charcoal for cooking energy, innovations and investments that support the modernisation of its production and use are urgently needed.

IRENA’s report explores the policies, financing mechanisms, and innovations required to modernise the charcoal value chain, ensuring access to cooking energy, enhancing energy security, and protecting the livelihoods sustained by the charcoal value chain.

Featured speakers:

• Caroline Ochieng, Program Officer – Energy Access Policy, IRENA

You can find more information here and register via this link.

Webinar - China’s energy transition in numbers: 10 trends shaping the path ahead

Organiser: Agora Energiewende

China’s energy transition is entering a decisive new phase. As the world's largest emitter and a key driver of renewable energy deployment, the country made notable progress during the 14^th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) towards its dual goals of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

Yet the transition still faces complex structural challenges. Emissions are shifting towards new industrial sectors, efficiency gains are slowing and system bottlenecks – from renewable integration to limited just transition frameworks – are increasingly shaping the pace of change.

At this event, Agora Energy China and Agora Energiewende will present a new data-driven analysis of developments in 2025-2026 and the outlook for the 15^th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). Join us to hear from leading experts as we discuss key trends shaping China’s energy transition, including the expected peak in fossil fuel consumption, the shift from rapid renewable expansion to system integration and the growing role of carbon-based climate governance and regulation.

You can find more information here and register via this link.

Webinar - The future of petrochemicals: industrial electrification in South Korea and beyond

Organiser: Agora Industry

Around the world, the petrochemical sector is central to manufacturing and a major source of industrial emissions due to its reliance on fossil fuels. Today, the industry is undergoing rapid transformation, with leading players investing in electrification and other low-carbon technologies while adapting to shifting demand, trade dynamics and cost pressures. For countries such as South Korea, the challenge is to align industrial competitiveness with climate ambition.

Achieving deep emission reductions requires decarbonising high-temperature heat processes, particularly steam cracking. While hydrogen pathways remain costly in the Korean context, electrification is emerging as a promising alternative, especially where it can directly replace fossil fuel combustion. Scaling these solutions hinges on supportive policy frameworks, competitive electricity pricing and enabling infrastructure.

Co-organised together with NEXT group and Agora Energiewende, this event will bring together chemical and industrial experts to explore the evolving petrochemical landscape – both in Korea and globally – and the role of electrification in decarbonising the industry.

You can find more information here and register via this link.

Webinar - A Just Transition in Domestic and Community Care

Organiser: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)

 This webinar will focus on the domestic and community care chapter of the recently published report on Care Work in the Just Transition: An International Inquiry, focusing on the significance of the just transition strategy for domestic and community-caring workers. Just transition is a strategy originally developed by labour environmentalists and soon adopted by environmental justice organizations. The strategy called for public policies to ensure socially and environmentally just transitions for the workers and the communities affected by massive shifts in economic activities driven by environmental policies.  With the rise of climate politics the strategy came to focus on decarbonization and the workers and communities in the energy sector. While recognizing the significance of climate change and the need for a just energy transition, this report seeks to expand the scope of just transition to all workers and communities, particularly those in the care sector, which includes multiple forms of work, paid and unpaid, that are essential to human and nonhuman wellbeing.

You can find more information here and register via this link.

Webinar - EU ETS 2026 revision: what’s next?

Organiser: Florence School of Regulation (FSR)

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is entering a decisive phase, as the European Commission is preparing the 2026 review of the EU ETS to address pending issues from its last revision and align the EU ETS with the newly adopted 2040 climate target. The Commission has been mandated to assess the integration of carbon removals, the expansion of the system’s scope, carbon leakage in sectors not covered by the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the market stability reserve (MSR), the use of ETS revenues, and conditions for international linkages. The revision also offers a chance to address liquidity issues arising from the progressively declining cap (the so-called EU ETS endgame ).

Although taken for granted as the pillar of the EU’s climate policies, the EU ETS is standing at the top of the EU political agenda. Several countries and industrial actors have raised concerns over the economic risks of having high carbon costs. On 19 March, the European Council reaffirmed the essential role of the ETS in the climate and energy transition as a market-based price signal for carbon emissions that drives investment and innovation. The Council also invited the European Commission to include in the review to be published in July 2026 possible solutions to reduce the volatility of the carbon price and mitigate its impact on electricity prices, including related supply chain costs, and on diversion of activities.

This FSR Online Debate will examine the key aspects the reform must address to ensure the necessary emission reductions. It will touch upon the opportunities and risks arising from relying on the market stability reserve, international credits, and free allocations.

You can find more information here and register via this link. 

Webinar - International Townhall: CBAM in an International Context

Organiser: The European Roundtable on Climate Change and Sustainable Transition (ERCST)

As the EU CBAM entered its definitive phase and is impacting global climate and trade dynamics, this second report under the Border Carbon Adjustments in the EU – Phase VII workstream examines the subject’s  international implications. It situates the mechanism within a rapidly evolving landscape of third-country responses, emerging carbon pricing systems, and growing discussions on interoperability and cooperation.

This report will provide an analysis of how the EU framework interacts with international partners and the broader global landscape it is helping to shape. It will examine emerging responses and dynamics, as well as consider potential avenues for cooperation and engagement. The paper will conclude with reflections and recommendations aimed at supporting the CBAM’s  integration in an evolving international context.

This International Townhall will provide the outline of the paper and will bring together policymakers and stakeholders from government, industry and other services to examine the subject  as ERCST continues drafting the report. 

You can find more information here and register via this link.