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The report assesses South Africa's natural gas value chain, identifying a current energy mix contribution of 2.6% with a target of 15.7% by 2030. It evaluates domestic reserves in basins such as the Orange and Outeniqua, regional supply options from SADC countries—particularly Mozambique—and global LNG markets. The document prioritizes gas-to-power projects as anchor demand to stimulate infrastructure growth, while also exploring industrial and transport applications like CNG for taxis and buses. It concludes with a PESTEL and SWOT analysis to inform a national roadmap for gas sector reforms.

The report outlines a strategic framework for zero-carbon investing in China, identifying seven priority technology areas—resource recycling, energy efficiency, demand-side electrification, zero-carbon power generation, energy storage, hydrogen, and digitalization—with a projected market size of nearly ¥15 trillion (US$2.32 trillion) by 2050 and total infrastructure investment of approximately ¥70 trillion (US$10.8 trillion) between 2020 and 2050.

The report highlights Malaysia's leadership in sustainable finance, particularly through the issuance of green sukuk, and identifies a significant pipeline of green infrastructure projects. It emphasizes the need for private capital to meet a cumulative infrastructure investment requirement of roughly USD 460bn from 2016-2040. Key opportunities are detailed in renewable energy (especially solar and biomass), low-carbon transport (rail and EVs), sustainable water management, and waste-to-energy projects.

The Japanese green bond market grew by a third in 2020, reaching a cumulative issuance of USD 26.15 billion. Issuance is led by financial corporates and government-backed entities, with proceeds primarily allocated to buildings, transport, and energy. The report highlights a strong record of external reviews and post-issuance reporting, while identifying significant opportunities to scale up the market through the refinancing of unlabelled climate-aligned debt, particularly in the transport sector. Additionally, it outlines Japan's policy shift toward net-zero emissions by 2050 and the resulting development of green growth strategies and ESG disclosure frameworks.

The report analyzes the issuance of labeled sovereign bonds based on dialogues with 19 issuers across developed and emerging markets. It identifies that ministers are the primary decision-makers and that curbing climate change and stimulating local markets are the main drivers for issuance. The document details the operational steps from decision-making and framework development to roadshows and pricing, noting that GSS bonds often achieve a 'greenium' (lower yields) and attract a more diverse investor base. It concludes that sovereign bonds are critical for catalyzing the broader transition to a low-carbon economy by setting standards and increasing market liquidity.

The report analyzes the issuance of sovereign green, social, and sustainable (VSS) bonds based on a survey of 19 issuers from developed and emerging markets. It finds that these instruments are primarily driven by climate mitigation goals and the desire to catalyze local green bond markets. The report details the decision-making process, which is typically led by ministers and supported by inter-ministerial working groups, and the preparation phase, which often involves 'budget tagging' to identify eligible expenditures. Key findings indicate that VSS bonds often attract higher demand and can achieve a 'greenium' (lower yields) compared to vanilla bonds, while diversifying the investor base. The document concludes that sovereign VSS bonds serve as a catalyst for broader market growth and provides a seven-step framework to propel the market toward the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

The report analyzes the issuance of sovereign GSS bonds based on a survey of 19 countries, finding that these instruments often attract a broader investor base and can price with a 'greenium' (lower yield) compared to vanilla bonds. It highlights that most issuers use GSS bonds to support national climate strategies and local market growth, typically managing the process through internal working groups and budget tagging of existing expenditures.

The document details the three-phase development of the Water Infrastructure Criteria, which aim to prevent 'greenwashing' in the green bond market by providing scientific standards for water-related investments. It covers built, nature-based, and hybrid infrastructure, with a specific focus on the newly added desalination criteria. The framework emphasizes a process-based approach to climate vulnerability assessments and sets a carbon intensity threshold of 100gCO2/kWh for desalination plants to align with the Paris Agreement.

The global GSS+ debt market reached a cumulative volume of USD 2.8 trillion by the end of 2021, with new issuance in 2021 alone surpassing USD 1 trillion. Green bonds remain the largest segment, while sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) showed the fastest year-on-year growth. The report highlights the dominance of developed markets, particularly Europe, and the emerging role of sovereign issuers and taxonomies in standardising the market.

The briefing examines the critical role of cold chains in COVID-19 vaccine distribution, highlighting the gap between current infrastructure and the requirements of new vaccine candidates, some of which need ultra-low temperatures (-70C to -80C). It identifies significant barriers in low- and middle-income countries, including unreliable energy access, outdated equipment, and high upfront costs. The report argues that achieving herd immunity requires a massive expansion of sustainable, energy-efficient cold chains and proposes strategies such as 'Cooling as a Service' (CaaS), public-private partnerships like Project Last Mile, and a 'last mile' planning approach to ensure equitable access.

The document examines the potential for green bonds to drive the decarbonisation of Mexico's building sector. It highlights that while only 10.6% of green bond proceeds from Mexican issuers were allocated to low-carbon buildings as of September 2020, there are significant opportunities, including a USD 18bn potential in Mexico City's housing growth. The briefing details the use of international and local certification proxies, such as EcoCasa, to identify eligible assets under the Climate Bonds Standard and discusses alternative financial instruments like CKDs, CERPIS, and FIBRAS that could be labelled as green.

The report assesses the nascent green bonds market in Africa, noting that while it is gaining traction as a tool for climate mitigation and adaptation, it remains underdeveloped. The market is currently dominated by a few states and represents less than 1% of global issuance volumes. Key barriers to growth include institutional incapacity, a lack of national frameworks, and low awareness, although prospects for expansion are high as more states plan issuances or develop national guidelines.

The report identifies a significant green investment gap in China, estimating an annual requirement of RMB3tn-RMB4tn (USD424bn-USD566bn) by 2030. It highlights the role of green bonds and the impact of local green finance pilot zones in bridging this gap. The document analyzes the regulatory framework, the potential for 'new infrastructure' projects post-COVID-19, and the need for global harmonization of green definitions to attract international capital.

The report assesses China's green investment potential, highlighting a need for 3 to 4 trillion RMB annually by 2030. It examines the role of green bonds as a primary financing tool, the impact of regional green finance pilot zones, and the necessity of aligning domestic green definitions with international standards to attract global capital. It also explores opportunities in 'new infrastructure' post-COVID-19 and the transition of high-emission 'brown' industries.

The sustainable debt market in H1 2020 was characterized by a shift in composition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a surge in pandemic and social bonds offsetting a significant decline in green bond volumes. While green bonds historically dominated, H1 2020 saw a more even split between themes, with pandemic-related investments likely financing around half of the total sustainable debt market. The report highlights the emergence of pandemic bonds, primarily in China, and the role of supranationals in sustainability issuance. Policy-wise, it examines the 'build back better' agenda, the development of taxonomies in the EU and China, and the increasing involvement of central banks and stock exchanges in integrating climate risk into financial systems.

The report examines the global soybean market, noting that production is highly concentrated in the US, Brazil, and Argentina, with demand driven by meat consumption and Asia. It highlights significant environmental and social risks, including deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes and the use of GM crops. While voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) aim to mitigate these risks, their adoption remains low, representing only 1.8% of global production in 2018. The report identifies potential for VSS growth in LHDCs like Nigeria and Benin, though challenges such as mechanization and market competition persist.

The document supports Governor Gavin Newsom's September 23, 2020, executive order to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in California by 2035. It contends that this move signals a market shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), ensuring the US remains competitive with China and the EU. The author asserts that EVs, acting as mobile batteries, can enhance grid reliability and resilience through a "transactive grid" enabled by digital technologies and FERC order 2222, provided that grid capacity is expanded to accommodate new loads.

The Sub-national Climate Finance Initiative (SnCF) is designed as a blended finance private equity fund paired with a grant-funded Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) to support mid-sized sustainable infrastructure in developing countries. The Fund targets a total raise of USD 750 million, consisting of a USD 150 million concessional tranche and USD 600 million in commercial capital, aiming to invest in sustainable energy, waste and sanitation, and nature-based solutions. The TAF, targeting USD 28 million, focuses on project preparation, impact certification via Gold Standard, and local government capacity building. The initiative aims to mobilize up to USD 3.8 billion in total finance, with a target of 35-50 projects across up to 20 countries. Key target markets identified include Chile, South Africa, North Macedonia, Mexico, and Jordan. The Fund projects a net IRR of 9.4% for commercial investors and 5.4% for the concessional tranche, with a goal to avoid 77 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent over the infrastructure lifetime.

The PEARL project aims to protect the livelihoods of approximately 550,000 farmers and value-chain actors in Cambodia's Northern Tonle Sap Basin (NTSB) from climate-driven droughts and floods. By shifting focus from conventional rice to high-value, drought-tolerant crops like cashew, mango, organic rice, and vegetables, the project seeks to increase adaptive capacity and income. The strategy employs Public-Social-Private Partnerships (PSPPs) to remove barriers to premium markets, utilizing certification schemes (e.g., CamGAP, GI, organic) and introducing advanced agro-hydrometeorological early warning systems. The project is budgeted at US$ 40.635 million, with US$ 34.485 million requested as a grant from the Green Climate Fund.

The report examines the impact of COVID-19 on insurance regulators across sub-Saharan Africa, noting a shift toward remote supervision and a balancing act between providing regulatory relief and maintaining prudential soundness. It highlights that while the pandemic disrupted operations and exacerbated existing market vulnerabilities—such as high expense ratios and fragmented competition—it also created opportunities for digitalisation, the adoption of regtech and suptech, and responsible market consolidation to enhance long-term efficiency and consumer protection.