Welcome to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
We are an independent research organisation focused on revealing the trends, causes, and health impacts, as well as the solutions to air pollution.
Health-harming pollutants from burning fossil fuels are responsible for at least 3 million air pollution deaths per year. However, rapid advances in modern, clean energy technologies are a key opportunity to improve air quality and protect public health.
We use scientific data, research and evidence to support the efforts of governments, companies and campaigning organizations worldwide in their efforts to move towards clean energy and clean air. We believe that effective research and communication are the key to successful policies, investment decisions and advocacy efforts.
Recent publications
CREA is looking to expand its team, if you are passionate about fighting climate change through data, tracking pollution and supporting organisations to enable the energy transition please consider applying for one of the following jobs.
Latest news
EU countries with cleanest energy mix will save 58% more on bills than counterparts still hooked on fossil fuels
China Energy and Emissions Trends – March 2026 Snapshot
Global fossil power generation fell after the Hormuz closure due to solar and wind growth
Latest publications
Unmasked: The health and economic cost of delaying coal phase-out in South Africa
Indonesia’s nickel: Aimed at EVs, but still parked in stainless steel
Reclaiming credibility in China’s steel industry: Climate ambition, financial resilience, and market trust
CREA @X
⚕️🇿🇦 NEW | HIA: Cost of delaying coal phase-out in South Africa
⚠️☠️ Keeping coal plants open beyond planned retirement dates to cause estimated 32,000 deaths from 2026-2050
💡Yet South Africa has +220GW of renewable energy planned⤵️
w/@Greenpeaceafric
https://energyandcleanair.org/publication/unmasked-the-health-and-economic-cost-of-delaying-coal-phase-out-in-south-africa/
🇪🇺 NEW | Analysis: EU countries with cleanest energy mix to save 58% more on bills than those hooked on fossil fuels
5 countries with highest clean energy share in electricity mix to save up to EUR 8.5 bn in 2026, compared to those w/ dirtiest energy mix
https://energyandcleanair.org/eu-countries-with-cleanest-energy-mix-will-save-58-percent-more
🇨🇳 📣 WEBINAR | CHINA STEEL
💡TODAY: Join CREA experts for deeper dive into H2 2025 China steel report
🗓 Friday, 17 April 2026
🕘 9:30–10:30 BST / 10:30-11:30 CEST / 16:30–17:30 CST/Beijing
📍Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_89x3VRdQSbaZD9OTL1CHNQ#/registration
📄 Find report here:
https://energyandcleanair.org/publication/reclaiming-credibility-in-chinas-steel-industry/
🇨🇳 NEW | #China #Energy and #Emissions Trends – March 2026 Snapshot | EN & CN
🪨📈 Weaker wind and nuclear output, combined with a low base a year earlier, drove a coal & gas-fired generation rebound in March, leading to a seasonal rise in power sector emissions
🚗📈NEV production returned to growth but remained weak for Q2 overall; exports of new energy passenger vehicles far outpaced conventional fuel vehicles
🇨🇳 CREA's March 2026 China Energy and Emissions Trends is now available in EN & CN👇
http://energyandcleanair.org/china-energy-and-emissions-trends-march-2026-snapshot/
🇮🇩 NEW | BRIEFING - Branded as an #EV-driven boom, 83% of #Indonesia’s 2025 #nickel production was absorbed by stainless steel
Only 17% goes into the EV battery supply chain, a major mismatch between ‘green nickel’ marketing & actual market demand
Full briefing 🧵⤵️
http://energyandcleanair.org/publication/indonesias-nickel-aimed-at-evs-but-still-parked-in-stainless-steel/
🌐 NEW | Analysis: Global fossil power generation fell in March after Hormuz closure due to solar & wind growth
⚠️ Fall in gas-fired generation offset by large increases in solar & wind power, not coal
w/CREA's @laurimyllyvirta
https://energyandcleanair.org/fossil-power-fell-in-march-after-hormuz-blockade/
🇨🇳 NEW | OP-ED: China’s air pollution control enters ‘deep water’ phase
Progress to depend less on conventional reductions, more on structural changes: electrifying heavy industry & transport, clean power generation growth & reduction in coal consumption
https://dialogue.earth/en/pollution/chinas-air-pollution-control-enters-deep-water-phase/
🇷🇺 NEW | Monthly analysis of Russian fossil fuel exports & sanctions
In Mar 2026, Russia’s monthly fossil fuel export revenues rose to their highest levels in 2 years, to EUR 713mn/day
Early estimates show a 114% MoM rise in Russia’s Mineral Extraction Tax revenues, ~EUR 7.4bn
🏛️ CREA reiterates the need to practice strong enforcement of the price cap policy & address attestation fraud to adequately crunch Russian revenues
❗ In March 2026 alone, full enforcement of the USD 44.1 per barrel price cap would have reduced revenues by EUR 6.62 bn
🇷🇺 CREA’s March analysis on fossil fuel exports from Russia is now available here in EN & 🇺🇦 UA soon to follow:
Find all related CREA data here:
http://energyandcleanair.org/financing-putins-war/
Financing Putin’s war: Fossil fuel imports from Russia during the invasion of Ukraine – Centre for...
energyandcleanair.org
🇨🇳 NEW | #China #AirQualityTrends | March 2026 | EN & CN
⚠️💨 Air quality worsened in 15 of China’s provincial capitals in Mar 2026, with 18 failing the tightened annual PM2.5 standard, up from 6 in Feb
Monthly PM2.5 and ozone levels rose YoY in over half of those cities
🔴 Worst PM2.5: Harbin in Heilongjiang, followed by Changchun in Jilin, & Shenyang in Liaoning
🔴 Worst ozone: Kunming in Yunnan; Lhasa in Tibet; & Jinan in Shandong
🔴 Worst NO2: Shenyang; Tianjin, & Harbin
🇨🇳 CREA's March 2026 China Air Quality Trends is now available in EN & CN👇
China Air Quality Trends – March 2026 Snapshot – Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
energyandcleanair.org