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Analysis of Global Trade Alert (GTA) data indicates that while the COVID-19 pandemic increased the total volume of commercial policy interventions, it did not fundamentally alter the long-term trend of trade policy mix. The share of interventions favoring domestic firms remained stable between 0.80 and 0.85 since 2009. However, the pandemic saw a sharp spike in export bans—at least 50 times the 2015-2019 average—and an increase in corporate subsidies, while harmful import restrictions on market access actually declined. The author argues that these export curbs disrupted supply chains and should lead to tighter WTO rules on exceptions.

Between May and August 2022, the EU generated a record 12.2% of its electricity from solar power, totaling 99.4 TWh. This generation helped the EU avoid the purchase of an additional 20 bcm of fossil gas, resulting in potential cost savings of €29 billion based on average daily gas prices for that period. Solar share records were broken in 18 of 27 EU countries, with the Netherlands achieving the highest share at 23%. The report argues that while solar deployment is accelerating, permitting bottlenecks must be addressed to meet 1.5C and REPowerEU targets, which include a proposed 45% renewable energy target for 2030.

The report finds that air quality is severely underfunded, accounting for only 0.5% of international development funding and less than 0.1% of philanthropic spending between 2015 and 2020. While 72% of development funding for air quality also addresses climate change, only 2.2% of international public climate finance explicitly targets air pollution. The analysis highlights a critical misalignment in priorities, noting that international development funders committed $46.6 billion to projects prolonging fossil fuel use between 2015-2021, more than four times the amount spent on air quality. Geographically, funding is concentrated in Asia, the US, China, and India, leaving Africa and Latin America underserved; in Africa, funding for fossil fuel-prolonging projects was 36 times higher than for clean air measures from 2015-2021.

The 10th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) failed to produce an outcome document due to Russian objections regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. While the NPT remains relevant, it faces a credibility crisis as recognized nuclear weapons states modernize arsenals and fail to abide by treaty stipulations. The author argues that the NPT must adapt by strengthening enforcement, establishing a clear timeline for complete nuclear disarmament, and leveraging the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to increase its effectiveness.

The report highlights the high energy and feedstock intensity of the EU's plastic production industry, noting its significant reliance on Russian fossil fuels. It argues that reducing plastic production, particularly packaging, is a critical but overlooked lever for enhancing EU energy security and meeting climate goals.

The document reports that despite China's climate goals, investment in high-carbon coal power and blast furnace steel capacity remains high. While renewable energy and electric arc furnace (EAF) investments are growing, the continued approval of coal plants and high-emission steel projects creates significant stranded asset risks. The report argues that power shortages in provinces like Sichuan are caused by rigid grid management and fuel costs rather than a lack of capacity, suggesting that further coal expansion is unnecessary if grid reforms are implemented.

The document finds that while China has seen record clean energy installations and a decline in coal-fired power generation, government permitting for new coal plants and investments in blast furnace capacity accelerated in early 2022. This trend creates a risk of significant stranded assets—estimated at $8.5 billion for power and $15-22 billion for steel—and complicates the economic and political transition to low-carbon energy. The report highlights that power shortages in provinces like Sichuan were driven by rigid grid management and high fuel prices rather than a lack of capacity, and recommends reforming grid operations and including the steel sector in the emissions trading system.

The report examines the global coffee market, highlighting the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change and price volatility. It analyzes the impact of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs), noting that while VSS-compliant production grew significantly between 2008 and 2019, it has recently faced a decline due to oversupply and a shift toward corporate sustainability programs. The document argues that sustaining the sector requires internalizing environmental costs, increasing demand for sustainable coffee in producing countries, and implementing living income reference prices to ensure fair compensation for farmers.

Malawi is not on track to meet its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals due to climate change, economic shocks, and high poverty. The report argues that an additional annual public investment of USD 543 million is required to end hunger, double smallholder incomes, and transition 14 million people to healthier diets while meeting climate commitments. Key priorities include on-farm investments in irrigation and livestock, nutrition education, and building climate resilience for vulnerable groups, particularly women.

Cyprus currently relies heavily on fossil fuels and suffers from energy isolation and high electricity costs. The report proposes a 'green pivot' involving grid interconnectivity via projects like the EuroAsia Interconnector, the liberalisation of the electricity market through the 'Net Pool' model, and increased investment in solar power and energy storage. By comparing Cyprus to the successful Nordic model, the authors suggest that physical interconnectivity and market transparency could reduce CO2 emissions and lower annual electricity bills for the average consumer by approximately €200.

The document analyzes the role of major US banks in financing the global coal industry, highlighting a gap between their public climate pledges and their actual financial activities. It argues that weak corporate financing policies allow funds to continue flowing to coal developers despite net-zero commitments.

The AfCFTA aims to create a $3.4 billion economic bloc to foster structural transformation through agricultural upgrading, light manufacturing growth, and the deepening of regional value chains (RVCs). While initial tariff offers show potential for significant gains, the document notes that the liberalisation of services has lagged, with a new deadline of December 2023. Implementation is supported by mechanisms like the Afreximbank Adjustment Fund and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, though the authors highlight a critical weakness in accountability: private parties cannot access the AfCFTA's dispute settlement mechanism. The brief concludes that while the project is long-term and potentially 'oversold' to the private sector, it remains a vital instrument for overcoming the limitations of smaller regional economic communities.

The document examines the intersectional impacts of air pollution on informal workers in three craft villages in Hanoi, Viet Nam. It finds that gender norms, age, and migrant status create unequal exposure to pollutants, with women often confined to indoor facilities and young men undertaking the most hazardous tasks. The brief highlights a lack of specific national and local regulations for craft villages and recommends holistic policy amendments, the formalization of labor contracts, and the establishment of specific occupational hygiene criteria to protect vulnerable informal workers.

The report argues that the US can achieve a 98% reduction in transportation CO2 emissions by 2050 through a combination of rapid vehicle electrification, improved energy efficiency, and the use of low-carbon liquid fuels for hard-to-decarbonize sectors. It presents a 'Core' scenario where all new light-duty vehicles are zero-emission by 2035 and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by 2040. The analysis emphasizes that while technological shifts are necessary, a truly equitable transition requires behavioral changes to reduce overall energy demand, such as increased use of public transit and active transportation. The report concludes that these pathways are economically viable, with net costs of less than 1% of GDP, and would yield significant public health and climate benefits.

The three largest Japanese banks—Mizuho, MUFG, and SMBC—are criticized for slow progress toward net-zero goals, specifically for continuing to finance companies expanding coal, oil, and gas capacities despite their membership in the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.

The report by Reclaim Finance criticizes Mizuho, MUFG, and SMBC for their continued role as major financiers of the coal industry. While the banks have introduced restrictions on project financing for new coal, the document asserts these are insufficient because the vast majority of financing occurs through corporate loans and underwritings. Between January 2019 and November 2021, these banks provided billions of dollars to coal developers, including entities like China Huaneng Group and Adani Group. The author concludes that the banks are lagging behind international peers and must adopt stricter corporate-level exclusion criteria to align with the Net-Zero Banking Alliance and IEA pathways.

RMI's analysis of historical data reveals that the US federal government grossly underfunds the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), with funding needing to increase 10 to 20 times above 2021 levels to cover all eligible families. Significant gaps in service exist, particularly in California and Texas, driven by both funding shortages and barriers to access such as lack of awareness and complex application procedures. While recent legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act provides targeted funds for weatherization and efficiency, RMI argues for a comprehensive approach that centers community-based organizations to resolve underlying energy justice issues.

The report examines agricultural water investments by international financial institutions (IFIs) from 2010 to 2019, focusing on the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. It explores how these investments impact food security, poverty, and climate resilience, while emphasizing the importance of governance in improving water productivity and protecting ecosystem services.

The Inflation Reduction Act is framed as a national security win that reduces U.S. carbon emissions, enhances energy resilience against fossil fuel volatility, and lowers the cost of clean energy technologies for global partners. It specifically supports Department of Defense decarbonization goals in aviation and heavy industry while strengthening U.S. geopolitical influence relative to China.

The briefing highlights how the Delhi government, in collaboration with RMI and the Dialogue Development Commission of Delhi, accelerated the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) for final-mile deliveries. Through a combination of fiscal incentives, a technology-agnostic charging infrastructure strategy, and the Deliver Electric Delhi pilot, EV sales in Delhi rose from 3.3% to 10% of new vehicle registrations within just over a year. The program demonstrates that electrifying delivery fleets can significantly reduce PM and NOx emissions and lower fuel costs for operators.