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The Inflation Reduction Act invests $369 billion in climate solutions and environmental justice, aiming for a 40% emissions reduction by 2030. Key investments include $60 billion for clean energy manufacturing, billions for zero-emission transportation (including the US Postal Service fleet and port equipment), and over $20 billion for sustainable agriculture. The law also provides consumer incentives, such as a 30% tax credit for residential solar and up to $7,500 for electric vehicles. However, the document notes critical compromises, including tax credits for carbon capture and sequestration and mandates to offer Gulf of Mexico and Alaska lands for oil and gas development.

The document expresses a mix of support and concern regarding the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. While praising the $369 billion investment in clean energy, environmental justice, and health affordability, the signatories criticize the bill's continued support for fossil fuel leasing and its reliance on carbon capture and nuclear energy. The organizations call for further executive action to freeze oil and gas permits and the passage of the Environmental Justice for All Act to protect frontline communities.

The report examines the Indian EV ecosystem, noting success in incentivizing two- and three-wheel vehicle demand while highlighting the need to scale four-wheel vehicles and buses. It identifies significant growth potential in domestic battery manufacturing to reduce reliance on China, though it warns that insufficient charging infrastructure, consumer financing gaps, supply chain vulnerabilities, and labor skill gaps remain critical obstacles to scaling growth.

Tracked green finance in India averaged INR 309 thousand crores (~USD 44 billion) per annum in FY 2019-20, which is less than 25% of the annual amount required to meet the country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While flows increased by 150% from FY2017/18 to FY2019/20, the report highlights a critical shortfall in adaptation funding and a heavy reliance on public sector finance for clean transportation. The study recommends the development of a green taxonomy, improved data disclosure, and the scaling of capital markets to mobilize the trillions of dollars needed for India's 2030 and 2070 Net-Zero goals.

The report examines the supply and demand sides of digital payments in Sudan to help humanitarian actors like the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) transition from cash to digital transfers. It identifies systemic barriers, including political instability, low digital literacy, and the prevalence of informal airtime credit transfers. The analysis segments beneficiaries by digital readiness, highlighting a significant gender divide and the high cost of handsets as primary barriers. Recommendations include subsidizing devices, providing digital capability training, and advocating for the recognition of refugee IDs for KYC purposes.

The document examines the challenges African countries face in accessing sustainable finance for regional infrastructure, noting a significant financing deficit and a lack of bankable projects. It highlights the disparity between climate mitigation and adaptation finance, arguing that adaptation is more critical for Africa's vulnerability. The brief analyzes the ASEAN regional approach—specifically its sustainability taxonomies and the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility—as a model for Africa. It evaluates current AU initiatives, such as the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa and the Green Infrastructure Corridor for Intra-African Trade, and recommends integrating sustainability more deeply into AfCFTA protocols to attract investment and enhance climate resilience.

The document examines the governance of nuclear safety and security in Africa, highlighting the roles of the Pelindaba Treaty, the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It notes that while South Africa is currently the only operator of a nuclear power reactor on the continent, Egypt is constructing one and 16 other nations are investigating nuclear programmes. The brief identifies risks including radioactive waste management, the vulnerability of materials during transit, and the potential for human error, citing specific incidents at South Africa's Koeberg and Pelindaba facilities and Namibia's Rössing Uranium Mine. It recommends increased cooperation with the IAEA, ratification of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), and prioritising human resource training to prevent accidents.

The report evaluates the climate action plans and policies of Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire using the UCS Resilience Gap Framework. It identifies a regional trend where mitigation and adaptation efforts remain siloed and equity goals are often articulated in policy but poorly implemented. Maine and Vermont are highlighted as regional leaders in alignment with the framework, while New Hampshire is noted for having an outdated plan and a lack of state leadership. The assessment reveals a widespread failure across all six states to account for maladaptation in their planning.

The document outlines the current state of South Africa's solar PV market, noting that while the Integrated Resource Plan targets 10% solar PV generation by 2030, local manufacturing remains limited. It identifies specific opportunities across the value chain—from mineral extraction of chromium and manganese to the assembly of modules and inverters—and recommends policy certainty, concessional finance, and skills development to foster a domestic industry.

The EU is facing an implementation gap where high renewable energy targets are not translating into on-the-ground deployment. By 2026, combined annual wind and solar additions are forecast to be only 38 GW, half of the 76 GW required for 1.5C alignment. Only four EU countries—Finland, Croatia, Lithuania, and Sweden—are on track for required wind capacity. A primary barrier is the permitting process; onshore wind permitting times in 18 analysed countries all exceeded the EU's two-year limit, with some taking up to 120 months. The report argues for enforcing the Renewable Energy Directive's permitting limits and streamlining administrative processes to enhance energy security and meet climate goals.

The document examines Scotland's efforts to implement a just transition, particularly within its significant North Sea oil and gas sector. It details the establishment of the Just Transition Commission in 2019 and the subsequent creation of a national Just Transition Planning Framework. While Scotland has ambitious targets—including net zero by 2045—the paper notes contradictions, such as the lack of a planned phase-out for oil and gas exploration. It highlights regional economic challenges in areas like Aberdeenshire and discusses various policy responses, including the Green Jobs Fund and 'green freeports'. The analysis concludes with lessons for Canadian governments on defining just transition, making concrete job commitments, and establishing accountability frameworks.

Methane is the second largest contributor to climate change, with a global warming potential 28 times higher than carbon dioxide over 100 years. A proposed EU regulation targets methane emissions from oil, gas, and coal installations through monitoring, reporting, and restrictions on venting and flaring. While the proposal includes information requirements for importers of fossil energy, NGOs and lawmakers have raised concerns regarding the discrepancy in obligations between EU-based operators and foreign suppliers, as well as the absence of binding reduction targets.

The document argues that developing a bioeconomy in Eastern Africa can transform biobased sectors by applying scientific research and innovation to produce value-added products from local bioresources. With over 65% of the population depending on biological resources, the region has significant potential to reduce waste and create jobs. This development is supported by the East African Community Bioeconomy Strategy, launched in November 2021, which aims to catalyse the sustainable use of bioresources for inclusive growth.

The report finds that while electricity demand in the 'ASEAN 5' (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam) grew by 22% from 2015 to 2021, clean energy only met 39% of this increase. Solar and wind generation remains low at 4% of the region's electricity supply, lagging behind China and India. Current national plans project solar and wind will reach 11% of the total supply by 2030, which the authors argue is insufficient to meet the 1.5-degree pathway or keep pace with rising demand, potentially leading to further reliance on coal.

The report argues that land transport infrastructure is a primary driver of deforestation in the Amazon, noting that until 2006, approximately 95% of deforestation occurred within 5.5 km of a road. To address this, the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) proposes a roadmap based on three pillars: anticipating socio-environmental analysis in decision-making, improving the quality of socio-environmental studies, and increasing transparency. Key recommendations include introducing a pre-feasibility phase, utilizing a 'market access' approach to define indirect areas of influence, and creating a single publicly available georeferenced database for infrastructure projects. The report highlights systemic failures, such as the fact that 57% of primary documents for ten analyzed federal concessions were unavailable and that no analyzed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) completely complied with its terms of reference.

The document examines how the Russia-Ukraine war has destabilized energy markets, undermining Russia's role as an 'energy superpower' and creating significant economic pressure on the Global South. It presents three scenarios: 'Stable high' prices, 'Persistent volatility', and 'Business as usual', analyzing how each affects national budgets, regional stability in the Middle East and Africa, and the global transition to renewable energy. The authors argue that while the crisis may incentivize some decarbonization, it also risks locking in fossil fuel production in the Global South and prioritizing immediate energy security over Paris Agreement goals.

The report finds that while Estonia's total greenhouse gas emissions fell from 18,687.4 kt CO2e in 2018 to 11,555.8 kt CO2e in 2020, significant gaps remain across all sectors to reach 2050 neutrality. The energy sector shows a positive trend in renewables, but wind capacity investment is lagging. The buildings sector lacks incentives for non-residential renovations, which are identified as highly cost-efficient. The LULUCF sector transitioned from a carbon sink to an emitting sector in 2020. Transport emissions are decreasing, but a modal shift toward public transport and cycling has not been achieved. Agriculture emissions continue to rise slowly, and the sector faces limited reduction potential without impacting food production. The report highlights the contradiction of government support for a new shale oil refinery, which is viewed as a step away from climate neutrality.

The British Columbia Low Carbon Fuel Standard has reduced annual transport emissions by an average of 6% from 2010 to 2020 and is projected to meet 31% of the province's 2030 reduction goals. The author proposes two main modifications: expanding the scope to include aviation and marine fuels—which are expected to represent 51% of transport emissions by 2050—and allowing compliance credits for direct air capture with permanent storage. To succeed, the document argues the province must address incentive gaps that currently favor renewable diesel over low-carbon jet fuels, account for indirect land-use change in carbon footprint calculations to support advanced biofuels, and expand the geographic eligibility of direct air capture projects beyond provincial borders to accelerate deployment and reduce costs.

The GCF has approved USD 2.73 billion in forest finance, split between REDD+ (USD 851.1 million) and JMA (USD 1.73 billion). The report highlights that these two approaches are complementary, with significant overlap in readiness and implementation phases. The GCF aims to leverage both public and private finance to scale up deforestation-free supply chains and high-quality carbon credits.

The report concludes that Tunisia's economic potential is currently stagnated by a protective regulatory environment, corruption, and a large informal economy. To unlock growth, the authors argue for comprehensive reforms including opening the economy to competition, reforming labour policies to address inequality, improving education quality, and implementing strategies for water management and food security to mitigate climate change impacts.