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The report analyzes 35 climate and energy policies for China using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), comparing a Reference Scenario (RS) with a Low Carbon (LC) and an Accelerated Low Carbon (ALC) scenario. It finds that carbon pricing, renewable energy standards, and enhanced building codes are among the most effective tools for reducing CO2e emissions. While the LC scenario aims to peak CO2 emissions between 2025 and 2030, the ALC scenario focuses on cost-effectiveness to peak CO2 as soon as possible, achieving a peak in 2022. The analysis highlights that regulatory policies generally drive the majority of emissions reductions, though carbon pricing has the highest overall abatement potential. The report recommends a carbon price of at least 60 RMB per ton, increased renewable energy targets beyond 30% by 2030, and the adoption of MOHURD One Star as the minimum building code standard.

The report evaluates the role of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) in the current climate finance environment, arguing that its programmatic approach, risk appetite, and partnership with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) provide unique value. It highlights the CIF's success in deploying concessional finance and attracting private investment, while recommending that the fund remain operational to bridge investment gaps as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) scales up. The study suggests strengthening the CIF's unique characteristics and pursuing complementary synergies with the GCF to support the implementation of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).

The report evaluates the feasibility of ICAO's 'carbon neutral' goal for international aviation growth from 2020 onward. It finds that a selective approach to carbon offsets—focusing on high-integrity projects like methane avoidance—could meet 70–90% of projected demand (3.3–4.5 Gt CO2e) between 2020 and 2035. Including medium-confidence projects would further increase supply to 5.1 Gt CO2e, with REDD+ potentially adding 2.4 Gt CO2e. Alternative biofuels offer lower cumulative reductions (0.1–0.3 Gt CO2e) and face significant challenges regarding land use change and sustainable development, particularly with oilseed crops.

The authors find that while all EU Member States have implemented car labeling schemes, they lack uniformity in design and metrics, and often underrate yearly fuel costs by several hundred euro per car. They recommend adopting a uniform label based on the EU energy label, using data that reflects real-world consumer observations, and implementing a scale that differentiates between hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The report analyzes the reallocation of IDR 211 trillion (USD 15.6 billion) in fuel subsidy savings in Indonesia during 2015. It finds that funds were primarily redirected toward ministries' budgets, capital injections for state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and regional transfer funds. The study concludes that this shift from consumption to productive investment is aligned with the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2015–2019, likely generating higher GDP and employment, and reducing the budget's vulnerability to international oil price volatility.

The Breede Water Stewardship Programme, implemented by WWF-SA in partnership with retailers and agencies, focused on transitioning from on-farm actions to collective catchment-scale stewardship. Key initiatives included the formation of the 'Witzenberg Water Savers' to address urban water pollution in Prince Alfred Hamlet and Nduli, and a collective invasive alien plant clearing project near Wolseley funded by Woolworths. The project also tested the AWS Standard with volunteer farmers, finding that while the 2015–2016 drought drove significant improvements in water-use efficiency, farmers struggled with catchment-scale data and information disclosure. The report advocates for a collaborative extension model and the harmonisation of the AWS Standard with existing agricultural certifications to scale water stewardship across South Africa.

The report analyzes international climate finance for land use in Indonesia, finding that while international support is well-targeted toward building 'enabling environments' (capacity building and policy), it is significantly smaller than domestic funding and often bypasses local government institutions. The authors recommend longer project durations, better coordination through a centralized government database, and capacity building for local organizations to access international funds directly.

The document examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to 'Africanise' its maritime domain through AIMS 2050, specifically by proposing a continental cabotage regime to reduce foreign dominance in intra-African shipping. While proponents argue this would create jobs and economic independence, the paper identifies significant barriers, including inadequate port infrastructure, a lack of skilled seafarers, and limited political will, as evidenced by the low ratification rates of the African Maritime Transport Charter. It further analyzes the legal complexities regarding World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations and concludes that the proposed regime is currently 'ahead of schedule' due to the absence of necessary industrial and governance preconditions.

The document details how palm oil production, primarily in Indonesia and Malaysia, drives deforestation and releases significant carbon and methane emissions, particularly through the draining and burning of peatlands. It notes that while Indonesia and Malaysia have implemented some protections and the RSPO seeks to improve sustainability, RSPO standards remain insufficient. The text highlights a shift in the supply chain, with over 60 percent of globally traded palm oil covered by deforestation-free commitments as of 2016, while warning that future expansion in countries like Brazil and Colombia must be managed to protect forests.

The report analyzes pathways for California, Oregon, and Washington to reduce transportation petroleum use by 50% by 2030. It identifies a 'Half the Oil' (HtO) Pathway that distributes reductions across travel demand management, vehicle efficiency, and alternative fuel deployment. While existing policies are projected to reduce consumption by 24% in California and 8% in Oregon and Washington by 2030, achieving the 50% target requires extending and accelerating these measures. The analysis finds that relying on a single category of strategy is insufficient to meet the target, and that Washington faces greater challenges due to a lack of enforceable alternative fuel and zero-emission vehicle policies.

Friends of the Earth International concludes that the Paris Agreement fails to provide climate justice, citing a lack of binding emissions targets for developed nations, insufficient financial commitments for developing countries, and the absence of concrete mechanisms for loss and damage reparations. The organization criticizes the agreement for not mentioning renewable energy or energy efficiency and for leaving the door open to 'false solutions' like carbon markets and geoengineering.

The paper evaluates Namibia's progress toward Vision 2030 and NDP4 targets using the International Futures (IFs) model. It identifies physical capital—specifically electricity, sanitation, and transportation—as the primary constraint on economic growth. Through three scenarios (Current Path, Infrastructure Access, and Leave No Namibian Out), the author demonstrates that while heavy infrastructure investment improves health and GDP, it can detract from education spending. The analysis concludes that Namibia is unlikely to meet its aggressive GDP growth and infant mortality targets by 2030, and that deep-seated structural issues like inequality and extreme poverty will persist across all modeled paths.

The paper argues that South Africa has failed to translate its mineral wealth into inclusive growth due to a combination of historical structural inadequacies, policy incoherence, and rent-seeking by political elites. While the country shows symptoms of 'Dutch disease', the author finds this inadequate to explain manufacturing decline, which is instead attributed to import penetration and a lack of 'nearby' capabilities in the product space. The document strongly critiques the government's focus on downstream beneficiation—forcing mining companies to subsidise local processing—as economically inefficient and potentially harmful to investment. Instead, it advocates for developing upstream linkages and technology-laden capital equipment. Furthermore, it highlights how mineral rents continue to benefit politically connected insiders and traditional leaders through the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) deals, often at the expense of rural communities.

The document evaluates the Open Government Partnership (OGP) against other peer-review mechanisms like the APRM, UPR, and OECDA, highlighting the OGP's flexibility, civil society involvement, and potential for harmonisation with existing governance reviews to benefit African states.

The study finds that approximately 75% of Joint Implementation (JI) offsets likely did not represent additional emission reductions, potentially increasing global GHG emissions by 600 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The analysis highlights systemic failures in additionality testing, the prevalence of retroactive crediting, and the lack of international oversight in Track 1 projects, particularly in countries with significant Assigned Amount Unit (AAU) surpluses like Russia and Ukraine.

The report documents a significant decline in power plant-related health impacts and emissions in the U.S. and the RGGI region between 2004 and 2012, attributing these gains to stringent emission controls, the transition from coal to natural gas, and renewable energy policies.

The document evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), noting that while it has successfully provided a platform for citizen engagement and reviewed 17 countries, it is currently 'under stress'. The authors identify critical failures in leadership, funding, and political will, specifically noting that no Country Review Reports have been produced since early 2013. To remain relevant to Agenda 2063, the APRM must reform its administrative structure, establish a 'knowledge hub', and implement a more sustainable funding model based on GDP to ensure its autonomy and effectiveness.

This executive summary examines the effectiveness of auctions versus feed-in tariffs as project allocation mechanisms for achieving India's 2022 renewable energy targets, concluding that while auctions are generally cost-effective, they have not yet resulted in adequate deployment.

The report examines China's transition from a flat residential electricity pricing system to a tiered electricity pricing (TEP) system. It analyzes the reform's design, the role of provincial governments in setting price ladders, and the resulting impacts on different income groups. The document highlights the challenges of balancing operational feasibility with accuracy, the need for transparency in cost structures, and the use of compensation measures for the poorest households.

This executive summary by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the costs associated with India's goals to install 60 GW of wind and 100 GW of solar power capacity by 2022. It compares the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of these renewables against imported coal, evaluates the cost of current support mechanisms like accelerated depreciation, and proposes alternative financing models to reduce government expenditure.