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Between 1970 and 2021, 97% of 244 analyzed U.S. stations experienced shrinking winter cold snaps, with an average reduction of six days. The most significant decrease occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada, where cold snaps shortened by three weeks. These trends contribute to broader ecological and economic risks, including increased pest populations, reduced snowpack for water supplies, and threats to winter recreation and crop growth requiring winter chill.

Turkey's coal generation declined for the third consecutive year in 2021 due to high import costs, but overall carbon intensity of power has not significantly improved in 30 years. While non-hydro renewables doubled since 2017 and wind and solar reached a record 13.6% share of generation in 2021, a drought-induced decline in hydropower was largely offset by an increase in gas generation, which rose from 23% to 33% year-over-year.

In 2021, Turkey's non-hydro renewable generation overtook hydropower for the first time, with wind and solar reaching a record 44.6 TWh. While coal generation declined for three consecutive years between 2018 and 2021 due to high import costs, gas generation increased to compensate for drought-induced hydropower losses, pushing the fossil fuel share to 65% in 2021. Despite the growth in renewables, the increase in production (+58 TWh since 2011) failed to keep pace with the surge in power demand (+95 TWh), resulting in a carbon intensity of power that has not significantly improved in at least 30 years.

The document reports that winter is the fastest warming season for most of the U.S., leading to a general decrease in fall and spring snowfall between 1970 and 2019. It details regional impacts, such as a 15-30% reduction in snow-derived freshwater in the Western U.S. since 1955, a shift toward rain over snow in the Northeast, and a shortened lake effect snow season in the Great Lakes region. These changes threaten water security for agriculture and municipalities, increase wildfire and drought risks, and negatively impact the winter recreation industry.

The report identifies six groups of Americans based on climate change attitudes: Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive. As of September 2021, the Alarmed segment is the largest at 33%, having nearly doubled in size over five years. Combined, the Alarmed and Concerned make up 59% of the population, while the Doubtful and Dismissive comprise 19%. The document notes a general trend of increasing public worry and support for climate solutions, though it emphasizes that the Concerned and Cautious groups still lack a full understanding of climate threats and urgency.

The document reports that 2021 was the 4th hottest year on record for the U.S., characterized by 20 billion-dollar disasters totaling $145 billion in damages. It highlights a long-term warming trend from 1970 to 2021 and a significant increase in the frequency of high-cost disasters compared to historical averages.

The briefing outlines five trends for climate-aligned finance in 2022: the substantiation of net-zero commitments through interim targets, the publication and assessment of credible transition plans, a shift toward real-economy impact over paper alignment, the adoption of forward-looking data and metrics, and the expansion of sectoral alignment agreements for high-emitting industries.

The report finds that while global climate finance almost doubled between 2011 and 2020 to a cumulative USD 4.8 trillion, current growth rates are insufficient to meet climate goals. Renewable energy dominates mitigation finance, while adaptation and sectors like agriculture and industry remain severely underfunded. A significant barrier is the continued high level of fossil fuel subsidies, which exceeded total climate finance during the decade. The report emphasizes the need for a 20% annual increase in finance by 2030, reaching USD 4.3 trillion annually, and calls for holistic sectoral strategies and a shift in the financial paradigm to mobilize private capital.

The report finds that climate finance for AFOLU sectors is severely underfunded, representing only 2.5% of total tracked climate finance in 2019/20. While overall trends were positive between 2013 and 2020, a 20% drop occurred between 2017/18 and 2019/20. The sectors require an estimated USD 423.4 billion annually by 2030 to align with the Paris Agreement, a nearly 26-fold increase over 2019/20 levels. Finance is dominated by public sources, with significant gaps in private investment and a stagnation in adaptation funding. Geographically, East Asia and the Pacific are the primary recipients, followed by Sub-Saharan Africa.

The report analyzes global conflict dynamics, noting that state-based conflicts reached historic highs in 2019 and 2020. It highlights the significant role of the Islamic State (IS) in driving conflict numbers and the rise of non-state conflicts, particularly in the Americas and Africa. The document also tracks the declining success rates of non-violent resistance campaigns and the prevalence of conflict-related sexual violence, which is most frequently recorded in Africa.

This report section analyzes the growth of the rural poor population lacking access to cooling across 54 high-impact countries in 2022, highlighting the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in increasing extreme poverty despite improvements in electricity access.

The report finds that while countries are making incremental progress in strengthening their NDCs, the current pace and scale of ambition are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement goals. By September 2022, 139 new or updated NDCs had been communicated, aiming for a 2030 emissions reduction of 5.5 GtCO2e more than initial commitments, which represents a 7 percent reduction from 2019 levels—far below the 43 percent reduction required for the 1.5°C target. The analysis highlights that 77 percent of NDCs include GHG reduction targets, 86 percent include adaptation components, and 53 percent estimate finance requirements totaling nearly $4.3 trillion.

The Living Planet Report 2022 documents a severe decline in global wildlife populations and emphasizes the interlinked nature of the biodiversity and climate crises. It advocates for a global 'nature-positive' goal by 2030, requiring transformative shifts in economic systems, production, and consumption to move beyond current conservation efforts and address the root drivers of environmental degradation.

The fossil fuel industry is the most litigious sector in the ISDS system, accounting for 20% of all known cases. These disputes often result in awards favoring investors, with an average award of over USD 600 million, which is nearly five times higher than in non-fossil fuel cases. The report argues that this system creates a major obstacle for countries attempting to implement climate measures and phase out fossil fuels.

The briefing discusses the sharp increase in agricultural and mining commodity prices since 2020, noting that while a 'supercycle' is debated, the trend threatens the Glasgow climate agreement's deforestation goals and food security in low-income countries. It highlights the critical role of scarce commodities like copper for electrification and warns that high fertilizer costs may impact 2022 harvests.

Analysis of 246 U.S. locations from 1970 to 2021 shows that 98% experienced an increase in average winter temperatures, with the Great Lakes and Northeast regions seeing the most significant warming. Winter is the fastest-warming season for 38 out of 49 states. While extreme cold events still occur, warming winters threaten regional economies through reduced snowpacks in the West, lower fruit yields, and the migration of disease-carrying pests.

Climate Central analysis shows that 72% of 246 evaluated U.S. locations have seen an increase in the amount of rain falling on their annual wettest day since 1950, with the most significant increases occurring in the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic. The document links these trends to rising temperatures, noting that for every 1°F increase, the atmosphere holds approximately 4% more moisture. It highlights the severe impacts of these events, including $43 billion in flood damages from 2016-2020 and disproportionate risks for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poor communities, particularly in redlined areas where flood risk is 25% higher.

In 2020, IDFC members committed $185 billion in green finance, representing 20% of their total new commitments. While total green finance declined by 6% due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cumulative commitments since 2015 surpassed $1 trillion. Climate finance dominated at $178.5 billion, with adaptation finance growing by 42% to $27.5 billion. For the first time, the report separately tracked biodiversity finance, which totaled $14 billion. The majority of climate and biodiversity finance was provided by non-OECD institutions and directed toward the East Asia and Pacific region.

The State of Climate Action 2021 evaluates 40 sectoral indicators to measure progress toward a zero-carbon world, finding that none are currently on track to meet 2030 targets despite exponential growth in wind, solar, and electric vehicles.

The sustainable debt market saw record-breaking growth in H1 2021, with combined labelled issuance reaching USD 496.1 billion. Green bonds led the growth, particularly in developed markets, while sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) emerged as a rapid growth segment for corporates. The report also highlights the nascent state of transition bonds and the need for standardized, ambitious definitions to avoid 'transition-washing'.