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The analysis of 25 countries reveals a gap between international climate targets and national policy implementation, noting that many countries increase their NDC ambition without adopting the necessary policies to achieve them. This disconnect is particularly evident in oil- and gas-producing states and countries reliant on fossil fuels for economic growth, which undermines the Paris Agreement's goal of bridging current efforts with long-term climate targets.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice advocates for a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) in South Africa over targeted grants. It contends that targeting often fails to reach the most needy due to administrative barriers and unreliable data, citing research where some targeted programs had exclusion errors exceeding 90%. The document asserts that a universal system is more efficient, prevents people from falling through the cracks, and allows households to pool resources more effectively. It suggests that a transition to a universal system could begin by targeting specific demographics before expanding to all adults.

The document compares Universal Basic Income Guarantees (UBIG) with targeted social assistance, asserting that targeted systems often fail to reach the intended poor due to administrative complexity and high exclusion rates. It suggests that a UBIG, provided as a right to all adults of working age, reduces administrative burdens, promotes social cohesion, and is more effective at reducing poverty than high-value targeted grants. For South Africa, the author recommends a transition starting with those in greatest need and expanding to all working-age adults, supported by progressive taxation to ensure the wealthy contribute.

The report examines parental leave policies in the mining sector across 12 countries, comparing national laws with corporate policies. While many mining companies provide benefits that meet or exceed legal requirements, the report identifies a 'leaky pipeline' where women leave the industry between ages 35 and 44. This suggests that formal policies are undermined by workplace cultures that create anxiety around pregnancy disclosure and a lack of support for the transition back to work. The document advocates for normalizing paternity leave for men and improving awareness of reproductive rights to foster a more inclusive environment.

The report examines Ecopetrol, Petrobras, YPF, and EP Petroecuador, finding that while some have stated ambitions for unrelated diversification, these efforts are not a priority compared to decarbonizing existing fossil fuel operations. The authors argue that these NOGCs face significant institutional, financial, and technical barriers that limit their capacity to transition away from their core hydrocarbon businesses.

The report evaluates hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and hydrogen combustion engines for heavy-duty freight. It finds that while FCEVs offer range and weight advantages, they are significantly less energy-efficient than battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and suffer from high fuel costs. The document highlights that most hydrogen is currently produced from natural gas, leading to life-cycle emissions similar to diesel trucks, and warns that hydrogen combustion engines still emit harmful air pollutants. Consequently, the author concludes that FCEVs will likely remain niche solutions for specific long-haul applications where BEVs are infeasible.

The authors argue that the Norwegian Arts Council's 2023-2030 strategy exhibits 'klimablindhet' (climate blindness) by failing to use the word 'climate' once, despite the urgent global climate crisis. They contrast this with the proactive approaches of the Danish Arts Foundation (Statens Kunstfond) and Arts Council England, which provide CO2 calculations, training, and strategic environmental programs. The authors claim that Norwegian cultural actors fear losing public support if they engage in climate critique, particularly regarding Norway's oil policy, and call for the Arts Council to acknowledge the climate crisis and support the sector's role in a just transition.

RMI highlights that the perceived climate benefit of substituting coal with natural gas is undermined by methane leakage. The briefing notes that leakage rates as low as 0.2% can make gas emissions equal to coal, depending on the specific resources involved. To address this, RMI has developed a calculator for site-specific emissions parity analysis. The document advocates for immediate methane mitigation through technology and policy, noting that wind and solar are already more economically attractive and avoid the methane risks associated with gas.

In the first half of 2023, global power sector emissions plateaued (+0.2%) as emissions declines in the US and EU offset a 7.9% jump in China. China led global renewable growth, accounting for 67% of wind and solar increases, but severe droughts caused a 22% drop in hydropower, forcing a record high in coal generation. In the US, power sector emissions fell 8.6% due to a 27% drop in coal generation driven by coal-to-gas switching and a 3.4% decline in electricity demand. The EU also saw a 17% drop in power sector emissions resulting from falling demand and increasing renewables.

The report examines how international taxonomies and the national policies of the US, China, and Germany handle fossil fuels to inform the development of a Canadian taxonomy. It finds that while most taxonomies exclude new oil and coal capacity, fossil gas is often treated as a transitional fuel with strict emission limits and phase-out dates (typically 2030–2035). The document highlights the critical role of fugitive methane emissions in determining the actual climate impact of natural gas, arguing that lifecycle assessments are necessary to avoid 'carbon lock-in'. It concludes that Canada's main trading partners are using economic incentives and regulations to reduce hydrocarbon consumption, suggesting that a science-based taxonomy is essential for attracting private capital for decarbonization.

The report finds that companies purchasing voluntary carbon credits are generally climate leaders who outperform non-buyers in emissions transparency, target ambition, and direct decarbonization investments, suggesting credits are used as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, internal emissions reductions.

The research compared seven machine learning and deep learning models using three data arrangement methods to predict soil moisture and the Palmer drought severity index (PDSI) in Sweden. The study found that the temporal ARIMA model was most effective for local-scale soil moisture prediction, while the multi-features Random Forest (RF) model performed best for national-scale predictions. Overall, soil moisture was easier to predict than PDSI, with previous-year average monthly soil moisture identified as the most critical feature for prediction and mapping.

The analysis finds that most net-zero portfolio commitments by large asset managers are unlikely to achieve global net-zero emissions by mid-century and often do not signal a shift toward serious climate action. The report highlights that intensity-based sectoral targets and absolute targets without re-baselining are ineffective for driving a low-carbon transition, while short-term investor focus hinders collective action. It recommends that financial institutions, particularly universal owners, shift focus toward systematically supporting the transition of economic actors to sustainable business models and calls for more stringent oversight to prevent greenwashing.

The document evaluates four carbon credit rating agencies (BeZero, Calyx Global, Sylvera, and Renoster), finding that while their frameworks generally support higher market integrity, significant discrepancies exist in how they assess additionality, non-permanence, and leakage. These differences can lead to starkly contrasting ratings for the same project, potentially confusing buyers and risking the legitimization of low-quality credits. The brief recommends that agencies adopt a 100-year reversal risk period, incorporate safeguards into overall quality scores, and increase transparency of their frameworks. It further advises buyers to move away from 'carbon neutrality' claims and instead use ratings to understand the specific trade-offs and nuances of the credits they purchase.

The report evaluates the methodologies of four carbon credit rating agencies (BeZero, Calyx, Renoster, and Sylvera) to determine if they deliver on claims of increasing market transparency and integrity. Using the Carbon Credit Quality Initiative (CCQI) as a benchmark, the analysis finds that Calyx employs the most stringent approach, while BeZero and Sylvera are rated as adequate. Renoster's data-centric, algorithmic approach is deemed incomparable to the others. Key findings highlight significant differences in how agencies treat additionality as a limiting factor, the inclusion of leakage in overall scores, and the transparency of their rating justifications. The report recommends greater alignment with financial rating standards, mandatory inclusion of leakage in final scores, and increased public disclosure of project-specific frameworks.

The report evaluates the methodologies of carbon credit rating agencies BeZero, Calyx, Renoster, and Sylvera, highlighting a systemic lack of standardised quality assessment in the carbon market. It notes that while these agencies aim to increase transparency and mitigate risk, their approaches vary significantly, particularly in the use of algorithmic analysis versus direct testing and the treatment of additionality and leakage.

The 2023 Clean Air NDC Scorecard reveals a significant gap in the integration of air quality and health into national climate plans, with an average score of 3.5/15 across 170 analysed NDCs. Low- and middle-income countries generally outperform high-income countries, with Colombia and Mali achieving the highest scores (12/15). Conversely, several high-emitting nations, including Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, scored 0/15. The analysis highlights a critical disconnect in countries with high air pollution mortality, such as North Korea and the Solomon Islands, where NDCs fail to recognise the links between climate action and healthy air.

The executive summary evaluates climate adaptation policies in the Nordic region, highlighting a gap between the ability to identify risks and the lack of comprehensive monitoring systems. It notes that while adaptation is mainstreamed across public bodies, it suffers from low political priority, insufficient funding compared to mitigation, and a lack of economic incentives for the private sector. The document recommends reframing adaptation as transformation, improving knowledge generation for transboundary risks, and strengthening political mandates through Nordic collaboration.

The report assesses the alignment between the Colombian and EU taxonomies, finding a high degree of similarity in technical screening criteria for climate change mitigation, particularly in the energy and manufacturing sectors. While both frameworks share guiding principles and a focus on decarbonisation, the EU Taxonomy is generally more detailed regarding climate change adaptation and minimum safeguards. The Colombian Green Taxonomy offers more specific criteria for land-use sectors (AFOLU) and certain waste management activities, reflecting its regional context. Currently, the EU Taxonomy mandates disclosure for large companies and financial participants, whereas the Colombian framework remains primarily voluntary.

Global power sector emissions plateaued in the first half of 2023, increasing by only 0.2%. While wind and solar generation grew and increased their share of the global power mix, a historic decline in hydropower due to droughts—particularly in China—prevented a more significant emissions drop. Low electricity demand in high-income economies further suppressed emissions growth.