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The report examines the necessity of international cooperation to prevent the uncoordinated proliferation of divergent Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) mechanisms, which could increase transaction costs and hinder climate diplomacy. It evaluates three emerging cooperation models: the G7 Climate Club, the Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminium (GASSA), and the OECD's Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches (IFCMA).

The report evaluates South Africa's REIPPPP, noting its success in attracting over R300 billion in infrastructure investment and selecting over 120 preferred bidders. However, it identifies critical bottlenecks, including limited grid capacity and high transaction costs for bidders. The author argues that maximizing the programme's potential requires improving programme design, enhancing transmission infrastructure, and developing local financial solutions to prevent global funds from crowding out domestic investors. The report also highlights the role of government tax incentives, such as Section 12B of the Income Tax Act, and the importance of integrating battery energy storage systems (BESS) and gas-to-power to stabilize the energy mix and reduce reliance on coal.

The paper argues that current climate financing models, particularly the "Billions to Trillions" agenda, prioritise private sector interests over development goals and human rights. It proposes a fair climate finance regime based on a state-led approach that prioritises public investments and green infrastructure to avoid the risks associated with overreliance on private actors. The author calls for a research agenda to bridge the gap between international human rights norms and the actual implementation of climate finance investment plans.

The document argues that industrialisation is essential for improving living standards and creating youth employment in Africa, but notes a lack of focus on this goal during the 2022 and 2023 G20 summits. It identifies a productivity gap where large firms fail to generate sufficient employment and small firms lack productivity. The author recommends that the G20 adopt a unifying theme of industrialisation to support structural transformation, agricultural productivity, and the integration of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) into global value chains.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) views Canada's new oil and gas emissions cap framework as a necessary foundation for a sector-specific cap-and-trade system, but warns that the proposed 2030 reduction target of 16-20% relative to 2005 levels is insufficient compared to the broader economy-wide goal of 40-45%. The IISD expresses concern over compliance flexibilities, such as carbon offsets and decarbonization fund payments, which it argues may undermine actual emissions reductions. To align with the 2022 Emissions Reduction Plan, the IISD recommends strengthening the 2030 target toward a 40% reduction and minimizing the use of offsets.

The document highlights the critical need for timely financing to decarbonize heavy industry in emerging and developing economies, noting that steel and cement production alone account for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It argues that IFIs can accelerate the transition to net zero by providing concessional capital to de-risk investments and offering technical assistance for national and corporate roadmaps. However, IFI engagement is currently in its early stages due to barriers such as misaligned financing mandates, the massive scale of required investments, and competing country priorities.

A coalition of civil society organizations urges CETP signatories to bridge the gap between fossil fuel divestment and clean energy investment. While signatories shifted an estimated USD 6.5 billion away from fossil fuels in the first year, clean energy financing increased by only USD 5.2 billion. The statement demands that signatories set targets to match these levels by 2024, prioritize low-income countries and small island developing states, and ensure financing is rights-based and community-led.

The Climate Action Tracker finds that warming projections have not improved since 2021, with current government 2030 targets leading to 2.5°C of warming. The briefing argues that 'abated' fossil fuel strategies and techno-fixes like CCS are insufficient, calling instead for a full fossil fuel phase-out and specific 'must haves' for 2035 NDCs, including tripling renewables and cutting fossil fuel production by 40% by 2030.

The report evaluates the alignment between international climate commitments and national transport policies in China, India, and Vietnam, highlighting the need for better cross-sectoral coordination and financing to achieve decarbonization.

The report analyzes the limited scale of climate-related on-lending from multilateral development banks (MDBs) to national development banks (NDBs) and the divergence in their approaches to Paris alignment. It identifies operational frictions, such as currency risks and capacity gaps, and recommends strengthening collaboration through concessional support, clarified mandates, and shared institutional expertise.

Reclaim Finance challenges the claim that French banks are leaders in the ecological transition, noting that their financing ratio of sustainable electricity to fossil fuels (0.94:1) is far below the 6:1 ratio required by the IEA's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario for 2030. The document highlights continued exposure to coal and hydrocarbons, specifically criticizing BPCE for lacking commitments to limit fossil fuel expansion and Crédit Agricole for supporting TotalEnergies' Papua LNG project.

The EU aims to import 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen by 2030 to decarbonize heavy industry and transport, as domestic production is expected to fall short of demand. The report identifies the US Gulf Coast, Australia, and other regions with low renewable energy costs as key potential suppliers. To activate this trade, the EU needs to invest in port infrastructure (ammonia terminals and crackers), clarify certification schemes, and provide €15 billion to €20 billion in public support to offset green premiums over blue hydrogen. While Northwest Europe will rely heavily on imports, Southern Europe (Spain and Portugal) is expected to become more self-sufficient by the mid-2030s.

The IISD welcomes the Emirates COP28 Leaders Declaration as a historic first for food systems at a COP, praising its commitment to integrate food and land use into national climate and biodiversity plans by 2025. While the IISD supports the declaration's focus on financial support and the interlinkages between climate and biodiversity, it argues that the document should have explicitly called for the urgent phase-out of fossil fuels within food systems to align with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target.

The report examines the potential for international cooperation to mitigate the risks of unilateral border carbon adjustments (BCAs), such as 'green protectionism' and trade retaliation. It evaluates the G7 Climate Club, GASSA, and the OECD's IFCMA using a framework of 'input legitimacy' (inclusiveness and institutional strength) and 'output legitimacy' (effectiveness in achieving five specific goals). The analysis finds that while none are currently ideal for BCA cooperation, the IFCMA shows the most promise due to its focus on data and comparability. The report warns that domestic political priorities and existing policy path dependencies, such as the EU's established CBAM, hinder the creation of a unified international approach.

The report finds that climate-related financial cooperation between MDBs and NDBs is currently limited, with approximately USD 7 billion in tracked flows from 2015 to 2022. There is significant divergence in how these institutions approach Paris alignment, with MDBs generally possessing more standardised targets and dedicated energy policies, while NDBs often anchor their goals in national NDCs. Key barriers to increased cooperation include currency risks, differing institutional mandates, and gaps in technical capacity. The authors recommend that MDBs optimise on-lending models, promote local currency instruments, and share expertise through platforms like Finance in Common to scale up climate investment.

The analysis by Ember and Initiative Klimaneutrales Deutschland finds that Bavaria's wind energy capacity could be significantly increased by relaxing the '10H' distance rule. Reducing the minimum distance to 800 meters could increase capacity to 15 GW, allowing the state to replace 14 TWh of gas-based electricity generation and reduce annual gas consumption by 28 TWh, potentially saving between 1.3 billion and 3.4 billion euros annually.

The REIPPPP has successfully added 6,308.68 MW of renewable electricity to South Africa's grid and supported local industry, but it has been hindered by policy uncertainty, grid capacity bottlenecks, and a six-year gap between Bid Windows 4 and 5. The document argues that for the programme to reach the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 goals for solar PV and wind by 2030, South Africa must unbundle Eskom, establish an Independent Systems Market Operator (ISMO), and optimise transmission infrastructure. It recommends streamlining bid windows, enhancing regulatory transparency, and leveraging the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM) to promote strategic localisation and job creation.

The December 2023 update finds that global warming projections have stalled, with current policies leading to 2.7°C of warming by 2100. Even the most optimistic scenario, including all announced targets, results in 1.8°C, exceeding the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal. The report highlights a growing implementation gap and warns that reliance on carbon capture and storage (CCS), e-fuels, and carbon offsets are 'false solutions' that delay necessary deep emission cuts. It urges governments to submit 1.5°C-aligned 2035 targets by February 2025 and to commit to a complete phase-out of fossil fuels.

The report finds that asset managers largely fail to use their voting power to oppose fossil fuel expansion, often supporting the governance and strategies of climate-hostile companies. Despite public commitments to climate action, the analysis reveals that most asset managers' voting policies lack robust, action-oriented criteria and that their actual voting records show high support for the re-election of directors and remuneration of executives at companies pursuing expansion plans incompatible with a 1.5°C scenario.

The report identifies significant barriers to 'stacking' (combining) multiple financial incentives for US residential energy retrofits, including complex application processes, inconsistent performance standards, and funding gaps for health and safety repairs. It analyzes the interaction between Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits and rebates, noting that while clean energy retrofits can be more affordable than fossil fuel alternatives after incentives, low-income households often lack the 'tax appetite' to benefit from tax credits. RMI recommends that state program administrators prioritize funding for pre-electrification upgrades, consolidate application processes, and increase allocations for underserved communities and multi-family housing.