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This research paper examines the necessity of integrating peatland science into Earth System Models and Integrated Assessment Models to improve climate change predictions, noting that peatlands are predicted to transition from carbon sinks to carbon sources within the current century.

Earthjustice issued a statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture, outlining priorities for the role including climate change mitigation, the restoration of forest protections, and the creation of a sustainable food system.

This filing notice and updated practice note, submitted by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) on December 8, 2020, outlines an appeal in the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria). The appeal challenges a Water Tribunal decision that dismissed a previous appeal against the granting of a water use licence (WUL) to Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

An analysis by Ember reveals that the first German national auction to accelerate the hard coal phase-out awarded €317 million in compensation to 11 plants, many of which were already economically unviable. The report argues that the German government is using public funds to close plants that would likely shut down due to market forces, while potentially accelerating the closure of newer, more efficient units over older ones.

This policy brief analyzes the history of global climate governance, highlighting the transition from the Kyoto Protocol's rigid mandates for developed nations to the Paris Agreement's universal, bottom-up approach. It emphasizes that while the Paris Agreement achieved universality by evolving the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, current national pledges remain insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the UN Climate Change Dialogues 2020, which served as a virtual bridge to COP 26. It evaluates the effectiveness of the virtual format, the progress made on outstanding Paris Agreement issues, and the tension between stated national ambitions and scientific requirements for emissions reductions.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative/Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the role of rural credit policy in Brazil as a tool for increasing agricultural productivity while reducing deforestation. It argues that improving the efficiency and sustainability alignment of rural credit can allow Brazil to expand food production without further area expansion, leveraging existing cleared lands.

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2021 evaluates 57 of the world's highest greenhouse gas emitters, finding that no single country is currently on a path compliant with the Paris Agreement goals. While the European Union improved its ranking to 16th place, the report highlights a stark divide between leading nations and G20 members like the USA, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, who are rated 'very low'.

The 2020 NDC Update report by the NewClimate Institute evaluates the preparedness of countries to increase climate ambition during the first NDC update cycle, drawing on a survey of 98 policy makers and experts from 83 countries. The report highlights the tension between the urgency of the Paris Agreement goals and the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that while some countries may use green stimulus to accelerate transition, many others face economic constraints that threaten structural climate change.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute argues for a robust decision on long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies at COP26 in Glasgow. It outlines the benefits of these strategies, their intersection with pandemic economic recovery, and six specific functions a COP26 decision should fulfill to maintain international momentum and align long-term visions with short-term Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This document is Ember's response to a UK government call for evidence on greenhouse gas removals (GGRs). It specifically critiques the reliance on Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), arguing that the assumption of biomass carbon neutrality is flawed and that the land, environmental, and financial costs of scaling BECCS are prohibitive compared to other GGR methods or direct decarbonisation.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues for a shift from tokenistic youth engagement to meaningful participation in climate-related policymaking across Africa. It emphasizes the need for intersectional approaches, curriculum reform, and the recognition of youth as key stakeholders and implementing partners rather than mere beneficiaries.

This report by the NewClimate Institute examines methods for implementing sustainable development impact assessments within climate change mitigation mechanisms, specifically focusing on project-level indicators for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) in voluntary and mandatory carbon markets.

This guide provides recommendations for decision-makers on developing and revising Long-Term Strategies (LTS) for low-emission development, aligned with the Paris Agreement's goals of limiting global temperature increases to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.

This report by the NewClimate Institute examines methods to strengthen the role of sustainable development and safeguarding provisions within the design of mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, drawing on experiences from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), voluntary markets, and non-UNFCCC multilateral institutions.

This research paper examines the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on Kenya's informal sector and the resulting strain on the country's fiscal social contract. The authors argue that a lack of fiscal legitimacy, driven by corruption and poor service delivery in healthcare, discourages the informal sector from participating in direct taxation, while government fiscal relief measures primarily benefited formal taxpayers.

The report advocates for 'social-ecological transformation' in Asian cities—defined as the simultaneous pursuit of social justice and ecological protection—to meet global climate targets. It emphasizes the need for inclusive decision-making and structural shifts in the built environment, transport, and public participation sectors to move beyond short-term projects toward long-term sustainability.

This research paper analyzes the declining economic value of Uganda's planned oil industry in the Albertine Basin, specifically examining the oilfields, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, and the Hoima oil refinery in the context of a low-carbon transition.

This document provides guidelines for a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) issued by the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and GEF’s Challenge Program for Adaptation Innovation. The initiative seeks to identify and scale innovative financial mechanisms that support private sector resilience solutions in Fragile and Conflict-Prone Least Developed Countries.

The 2020 Special Report on the Production Gap by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the discrepancy between planned fossil fuel production and the levels required to meet the Paris Agreement temperature goals of 1.5°C or 2°C.