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The document examines voluntary and mandatory digital traceability systems used to track timber and fish from harvest to consumer. It argues that while these systems can flag anomalies to deter crime, they are vulnerable to 'garbage in, garbage out' scenarios where initial data is falsified through corruption. Mandatory systems are viewed as having higher potential due to government enforcement, but their success depends on the political will to act on red flags. The authors recommend linking voluntary and mandatory systems and increasing transparency to reduce corruption risks.

The report evaluates the impact of SO2 emissions from large solid fuel combustion installations in South Africa, primarily those operated by Eskom and Sasol. It concludes that implementing stricter emission standards is technologically feasible and economically beneficial for society due to significant reductions in public health costs, despite the high capital costs for plant operators. The panel recommends a flexible regulatory approach where emission limits are tailored to the remaining lifetime of each plant, suggesting that plants operating beyond the mid-2030s should meet stricter limits of 250 mg/Nm3 or 500 mg/Nm3, while those retiring sooner may be granted more lenient limits of 1000 mg/Nm3. The report highlights that 'expedited retirement' of older coal capacity could reduce retrofit costs by approximately 25% and minimize electricity tariff increases.

The report identifies a structural boom in copper prices driven by the global shift toward carbon-neutral growth, specifically the demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy. It posits that as high-grade deposits deplete, Zambia's lower-grade copper deposits will become increasingly attractive. However, the authors warn that sustained returns require investors to move beyond a 'policy taker' role to become 'development partners' who strengthen state institutions and adhere to strict ESG standards to avoid legacy issues like lead poisoning and corruption.

The document examines how developing countries can leverage the electric vehicle (EV) battery boom, specifically regarding lithium and cobalt. It highlights Chile's potential for revenue generation and value addition and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's risk of overinvestment due to its cobalt monopoly. The brief argues that capturing value requires coordinated policy, stakeholder engagement, and the reinvestment of revenues into infrastructure and governance.

The document examines the tension between using trade policy to maximize local economic benefits from clean energy investments and the risk of increasing costs that could hinder the renewable energy transition. It notes that while global components like solar modules often face lower tariffs in low-income countries, tariffs on components suited for local production—such as bulky wind towers—can stimulate domestic capacity. The author argues that international efforts to liberalize environmental goods and services must be paired with incentives for competitive local production to maintain political and economic support for the transition.

The report finds that fossil fuel subsidies in India significantly outweigh those for clean energy, with the disparity increasing from 7 to 7.3 times the size of renewable subsidies between FY 2019 and FY 2020. While electric vehicle subsidies more than doubled by FY 2020, renewable energy subsidies fell nearly 45% from their FY 2017 peak. Additionally, seven major energy public sector undertakings invested 11 times more in fossil fuel projects than in renewable energy projects in FY 2020.

The document identifies a history of disappointing outcomes in private sector partnerships within the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, often due to the private sector being viewed solely as a funding source and a general lack of trust between stakeholders. It argues that meaningful partnerships must be based on mutual benefit, clearly defined roles, and a recognition of the diverse nature of private sector actors, ranging from micro-enterprises to multinational firms. The briefing supports the adoption of the Strategic Framework for Private Sector Partnership for the Western Indian Ocean Region and suggests exploring a regional platform to facilitate innovation and coordination between government, private sector, and civil society, potentially modeled after the Consortium for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO-C).

The document argues that Canada needs to design a border carbon adjustment (BCA) mechanism to prevent emissions from being transferred to unregulated foreign competitors as its carbon price is legislated to rise to CAD 170/tonne by 2030. It notes that while the EU will implement a BCA (CBAM) by 2023, and the US and UK intend to do the same, such systems are complex, politically sensitive, and potentially conflict with trade rules. The report provides recommendations on eight design elements for a Canadian BCA and examines how Canada should respond to the schemes of its major trading partners.

The NewClimate Institute developed a methodology to assess the design of NDCs based on four criteria: increased mitigation ambition, comprehensiveness, implementation plans, and transparency. Applying this to 20 diverse NDCs, the analysis found that while most countries meet requirements for comprehensiveness and transparency, less than half demonstrated higher mitigation ambition compared to their first NDC, and many lack clear implementation plans.

Canadian governments provided over CAD 23 billion in support to oil and gas pipelines between 2018 and 2021, with CAD 10 billion allocated after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This support, which includes loans and loan guarantees, is argued to undermine Canada's net-zero goals and international commitments to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

The report assesses the feasibility of a trading system to combat eutrophication in the Baltic Sea, arguing that current approaches are too slow to meet EU Water Framework Directive targets.

The Chinese green bond market issued USD 44bn in 2020, a 21% decrease from 2019, partly due to the pandemic and a shift toward social-themed 'Pandemic Prevention and Control' bonds. While China remains a global leader, a significant portion of its issuance (USD 20.2bn) is not aligned with Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) standards, primarily because local regulations allow proceeds to fund general working capital. However, the 2020 Green Bond Catalogue consultation draft marked a shift toward international alignment by removing 'clean coal' projects. Non-financial corporates, led by Beijing Jingneng Clean Energy, are becoming more prominent issuers, and there is a substantial pool of unlabelled climate-aligned debt, particularly in the transport sector, that presents refinancing opportunities.

The report examines Ghana's progress in localising the SDGs, highlighting the use of its decentralised planning system to align global goals with local development plans. While it finds robust institutional and legal frameworks, it identifies significant challenges in funding and data collection.

The report identifies significant climate risks to Canadian infrastructure, including permafrost degradation in the North and flooding in coastal and urban areas. It recommends a whole-of-society approach combining climate-informed planning, structural changes, and natural infrastructure solutions. While federal initiatives like the Climate Lens and the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund provide a foundation, the report argues for greater investment to close an infrastructure gap estimated up to CAD 1 trillion and the adoption of more diverse sustainable finance mechanisms.

The report identifies that Canada's physical infrastructure is the country's most significant climate risk zone, facing threats from extreme weather, permafrost degradation, and sea-level rise. It details specific vulnerabilities across transport, buildings, water, wastewater, maritime, and energy/ICT sectors, proposing a combination of structural modifications, improved monitoring, and nature-based solutions. The document evaluates federal initiatives like the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, while highlighting a significant infrastructure deficit, particularly for First Nations communities. It advocates for an integrated, whole-of-society approach that combines scientific data with Indigenous knowledge and diversifies financing through sustainable and risk-based investments.

The report finds that the complete removal of fossil fuel consumption subsidies across 32 modelled countries could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 6.09% by 2030. When combined with a 'subsidy swap' (reinvesting savings into energy efficiency and renewables) and a 10% energy tax, the average national emission reduction increases to 11.84%. The analysis highlights that while some countries like Venezuela see reductions over 30%, G20 nations provide the largest absolute reductions due to their economic scale. Financially, fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) alone could generate USD 2.99 trillion in cumulative savings by 2030, offering a cost-effective mechanism for a 'green recovery' from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report finds that fossil fuel subsidies in India increased relative to clean energy in FY 2020, with electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) remaining the largest subsidy category. While electric vehicle (EV) subsidies grew, renewable energy support stagnated. The authors argue that India's energy PSUs remain heavily skewed toward fossil fuel investments and lack clear decarbonization roadmaps. The report recommends a 'second generation' of clean energy support focusing on storage, green hydrogen, and offshore wind, alongside reforms to DISCOM finances and a strategic shift in PSU capital expenditure.

The report finds that Canadian governments provided over CAD 23 billion in support for oil and gas pipelines between 2018 and 2020, with over CAD 10 billion provided after the onset of COVID-19. This support, which includes loans, loan guarantees, and equity investments, is argued to undermine Canada's climate commitments and expose taxpayers to significant financial risk due to cost overruns, legal challenges, and declining private sector interest in fossil fuel infrastructure.

The report argues that the NGFS's second set of 1.5°C scenarios are not aligned with the Paris Agreement and are unsustainable due to an over-reliance on fossil fuels, biomass, and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). It finds that these scenarios fail to account for the need to end fossil fuel expansion and rely on unproven technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) to justify slower phase-outs of oil, gas, and coal.

The report analyzes how a $55 billion annual federal investment in clean energy and land restoration could generate nearly 260,000 rural jobs and $21.7 billion in annual value added for rural US economies. It identifies seven priority investment pathways: renewable energy, energy efficiency, grid modernization (transmission, distribution, and storage), environmental remediation of fossil fuel sites, tree restoration on federal and non-federal lands, and wildfire risk management. The analysis emphasizes that nearly 45% of these jobs would benefit economically disadvantaged rural counties. The document provides specific state-level data and proposes federal policy vehicles, such as tax credits and grant programs, to catalyze these investments.