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The document highlights that while medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) make up only about 10% of US on-road vehicles, they contribute over half of fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions. It reports an exponential increase in zero-emission MHDV registrations from under 1,000 in 2019 to over 27,000 in 2023. The analysis finds that over 85% of MHDVs travel fewer than 100 miles daily, making them suitable for current battery-electric technology. While operational costs for electric trucks are lower, up-front costs remain a barrier for larger models, necessitating continued state and federal policy support and the expansion of charging infrastructure along freight corridors.

Wind energy growth in Europe has been hindered by inflation, supply chain issues, and permitting delays, but is now showing signs of recovery through increased turbine orders and auction volumes. While onshore costs plateaued or rose slightly since 2021, offshore wind continues to see cost declines, and both remain cheaper than fossil gas generation. Despite this, a delivery gap remains between current forecasts and the 2030 EU targets, requiring further policy implementation and grid reforms.

The briefing highlights that iron production accounts for over 80% of steel supply chain emissions and argues that a common 'near-zero emissions' iron definition is necessary to guide investment and trade. It proposes a threshold of 350 kgCO2e/t iron to exclude coal-based production and suggests that hydrogen-based direct reduction (DRI) is the primary commercial pathway to achieve this. To overcome supply chain complexities, the document advocates for direct procurement and 'book and claim' systems, announcing that RMI will design and test a climate-credible book and claim system for iron and steel in 2025.

The North Sea is the world's largest offshore wind basin, with 30 GW of capacity across 101 operational wind farms. While the region leads in deployment, the report highlights that supply chain challenges and fragmented regulatory frameworks hinder further progress. It advocates for the standardisation of component sizes and the deployment of hybrid offshore assets to create a more secure, meshed grid. Additionally, the report emphasizes that the North Sea's potential as a 'green power plant' for Europe depends on the electrification of non-power sectors, as half of Europe's industrial energy consumption is located in North Sea bordering countries. Finally, it notes that offshore wind is helping stabilise electricity prices through Contracts-for-Difference (CfD) mechanisms, with recent projects delivering competitive strike prices compared to average European day-ahead power prices.

Copper is essential for renewable energy and electric vehicles, with demand projected to grow by at least 50% by 2050. While mining faces challenges like long lead times and decreasing ore quality, recycling copper—which is 100% recyclable—can save up to 85% of the energy used in extraction. Currently, recycled copper provides about one-third of the global supply, but doubling end-of-life recycling rates from 32% to 66% could recover over 6 million tons of copper from landfills annually by 2040. Scaling this requires improving collection systems, expanding high-standard processing capacity, and increasing market demand for recycled materials across the U.S., EU, and China.

The policy brief highlights how market concentration in African agrifood systems, particularly in inputs like fertilisers and poultry feed, inflates food prices and undermines the ability of smallholder farmers to adapt to climate shocks. It notes that nearly half of Sub-Saharan African countries lack functional competition laws. The document recommends a three-pillar reform agenda based on market intelligence, regional cooperation (such as through the COMESA Competition Commission), and international donor support to dismantle cartels and ensure fair market access, especially for women-led agribusinesses.

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the GSS+ debt market in H1 2025, highlighting a cumulative aligned volume of USD6.2tn. It examines the dominance of green bonds, the resurgence of social debt, and the growth of sustainability-linked bonds. The document also discusses the impact of the European Green Bond Standard, the rise of data-centre focused asset-backed securities, and strategic priorities for COP30, including methane abatement and the Tropical Forest Forever Fund.

The report details Brazil's GSS+ debt market, which reached USD 67.8bn in cumulative volume by June 2025, with a strong emphasis on green bonds and corporate issuance. It highlights the role of the upcoming Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy (BST) and the government's Sovereign Sustainable Bond Framework in driving market growth. Key sectors for investment include renewable energy, sustainable agriculture (AFOLU), and water sanitation, while noting a significant investment gap of USD 200bn to meet 2030 transition targets.

The South African EV market is in an early growth phase, with significant investment potential across four key sectors: passenger vehicles, public buses, freight and logistics, and last-mile delivery. While annual passenger EV sales have surpassed 1,000 units for the first time, the market is currently dominated by luxury models. Growth is supported by innovative financing like Electric-Vehicle-as-a-Service (EVaaS), rising fuel costs, and corporate ESG targets. However, adoption is hindered by high import duties, a lack of affordable models, and electricity grid constraints. The government is introducing manufacturing incentives in 2026 to stimulate local production.

The Chilean electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure market is currently highly concentrated, with three actors—Enel X Way, Copec-Voltex, and Enex Pro—controlling nearly 80% of the market. The author analyzes factors driving this concentration, such as economies of scale and high entry costs, while noting that international experience shows a similar trend where 2 to 5 companies typically dominate, particularly in DC fast charging. To mitigate the risks of reduced competition and higher prices, the document highlights the role of Chile's Interoperability Regulation in reducing switching costs and increasing transparency through a real-time information platform.

The document argues that green bonds are an under-utilised tool that could help Africa meet its estimated USD 2.8 trillion climate finance need by 2030. While the global green bond market reached approximately USD 2.8 trillion in 2023, Africa's share is less than 1%, representing only USD 5.1 billion. The paper highlights successful issuances in South Africa, Nigeria, and Zambia, while identifying key barriers such as low liquidity, inadequate regulation, and high transaction costs. It calls for stronger public-private collaboration and international support at COP29 to create enabling environments for green bond proliferation in Africa.

The report argues that hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs) are best suited for long-haul heavy-duty trucking due to superior payload capacity, range, and refueling speeds compared to battery electric trucks (BETs). However, adoption is currently stymied by a 'chicken-and-egg' infrastructure problem and high fuel costs, with public hydrogen in California costing approximately $25/kg compared to a diesel-competitive price of roughly $6.50/kg. While California is the primary driver of adoption due to regulations like the Advanced Clean Fleet and Advanced Clean Trucks rules, projections from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) suggest slow penetration unless significant interventions occur. The report recommends prioritizing the reduction of pump prices—even if it requires accepting higher carbon intensity in the short term—and streamlining infrastructure permitting to enable a transition away from diesel by 2030.

The world is on track to install 593 GW of solar power in 2024, a 29% increase over 2023. China remains the dominant market, projected to account for 56% of global additions. Growth is widespread, with significant surges in India and the US, and emerging markets like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia showing rapid increases in solar panel imports. This trajectory puts the goal of tripling renewable power capacity by 2030 within reach, provided grid and storage constraints are addressed.

The study finds that Estonia lacks the capacity to recycle textile waste, meaning even separately collected materials currently end up in landfills or incinerators. It estimates annual consumption of new clothing and home textiles at approximately 16,200 tonnes, noting that actual consumption may be 10–20% higher due to foreign purchases. To address these gaps, the report recommends establishing sorting capabilities, funding innovative recycling technologies, and implementing an extended producer responsibility system.

Three companies—GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, and Mitsubishi Power—control two-thirds of the global market for gas turbines in power plants currently under construction. While these firms are expanding through regional partnerships and promoting 'hydrogen-ready' technology, the report argues they face significant geopolitical and financial risks due to the rapid growth of renewables and the potential for gas power overcapacity.

The article examines the shift in India's renewable energy procurement toward Firm & Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) tenders introduced by SECI in 2023. It argues that these tenders require a move away from cost-centric models toward advanced risk management, as developers must now match hourly demand profiles. To remain competitive, the authors suggest developers must evolve into 'Developers 2.0' by enhancing trading capabilities and addressing challenges such as price cannibalization and volume uncertainty.

The guidelines establish a framework for GSS+ labelled financial instruments in Panama, aligning with international standards like ICMA and the Climate Bonds Standard. It details the requirements for use-of-proceeds instruments (green, social, sustainability) and general-purpose sustainability-linked instruments, emphasizing transparency, external reviews, and impact reporting. The document also highlights Panama's Sustainable Finance Taxonomy and the broader sustainable debt market trends in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mexico's sustainable debt market reached a cumulative GSS+ volume of USD 55.7bn by the end of 2023, with sustainability bonds emerging as the dominant instrument. The market is heavily driven by the public sector, particularly the federal government and development banks, though private corporate participation is increasing. The report highlights the introduction of the Mexican Sustainable Taxonomy in March 2023 as a key development to guide investments. While Mexico is a global leader in sustainability bond volume, challenges remain in the sustainability-linked bond (SLB) market regarding the credibility of GHG targets. Key opportunities for growth are identified in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and low-carbon construction, supported by trends such as US nearshoring.

Mexico's sustainable debt market (VSS+) reached a cumulative volume of $55.7 billion by the end of 2023, with $38.3 billion aligned with Climate Bonds methodology. The market is dominated by sustainable bonds (72% of aligned volume) and heavily driven by the public sector, including sovereign emissions and development banks like Banobras. While Mexico led the world in sustainable bond issuance in 2023, challenges remain in the alignment of sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) due to a lack of greenhouse gas (GHG) targets. The report highlights the 2023 launch of the Sustainable Taxonomy of Mexico as a key tool for guiding future investments in sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable construction, and agriculture.

The report outlines the development of updated eligibility criteria for agriculture production (crop and livestock) under the Climate Bonds Standard. It establishes a science-based framework for transition finance, focusing on absolute intensity pathways to reach net-zero by 2050. The document details mitigation strategies, including the reduction of methane and nitrous oxide and the enhancement of carbon sequestration, while introducing safeguards for adaptation, biodiversity, water, and animal welfare.