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The 2023 assessment by WWF reveals that while 31% of the 42 analyzed asset managers showed minor or moderate improvements in managing nature and biodiversity risks, specific action regarding the seafood sector remains low. Only one asset manager has publicly disclosed seafood-specific E&S expectations for investee companies. The report highlights significant gaps in expectations regarding sustainability certifications and supply chain traceability. It notes a positive trend in Japanese asset managers' progress, likely driven by national biodiversity and IUU fishing regulations. WWF recommends that asset managers formalize biodiversity risk statements into actionable policies, set time-bound sustainability targets, and develop targeted 'blue' financial products to support a sustainable blue economy.

The 2024 Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor finds that while the ambition of 51 major global companies has improved, their 2030 targets—with a median absolute emission reduction of 30% for full value chain emissions—remain insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C. The report highlights a reliance on 'false solutions' like CCUS and carbon removals over actual emission reductions, and criticizes the leniency of validation practices by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). It argues that the current voluntary accountability system is impaired by corporate influence and must transition to formal accountability.

The report finds that while many countries are reducing coal capacity, global operational capacity grew by 2% in 2023 to 2,130 GW, driven largely by China. While new construction reached a historic low outside China, it hit an eight-year high within China. Only 15% of global operational capacity has a retirement commitment aligned with the 1.5°C goal. In Latin America, capacity is gradually decreasing, though some countries like Colombia and Mexico lack concrete phase-out plans, and Brazil has seen some retirement dates postponed.

The report finds that global coal capacity reached a historic high in 2023, increasing by 48.4 GW to a total of 2,130 GW. While new construction starts reached a nine-year low outside of China, China saw an eight-year high in new starts. Only 15% of global operating coal capacity has commitments to close in line with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal. In Indonesia, the report highlights a surge in 'captive' coal plants supporting nickel smelting, noting that 27.5% of Indonesia's operating coal capacity is captive. Despite the US$20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), Indonesia's early retirement targets for coal plants shrank from 5.5 GW to 1.7 GW in late 2023.

The Living Planet Report 2024 documents a 73% average decline in monitored wildlife populations from 1970 to 2020, with freshwater species suffering the most (85%). The report warns that cumulative pressures from habitat loss, overexploitation, and climate change are pushing ecosystems toward irreversible tipping points, such as the potential collapse of the Amazon rainforest and coral reefs. It argues that current national commitments for biodiversity and climate are insufficient, and calls for a systemic transformation of the global food system (the leading cause of habitat loss), the energy system (the primary driver of climate change), and the financial system (which currently provides almost US$7 trillion annually in nature-negative flows).

Ember's analysis reveals that 97% of reported coal mine methane (CMM) emissions are based on emission factors rather than direct measurements, leading to widespread underreporting. The report finds that 22 countries may have more than double the emissions they officially report, with extreme discrepancies noted in South Africa, Indonesia, and Germany. Only 44 countries published CMM data for 2021, and many major producers, including China and India, have not reported recently.

Smallholder farms, particularly those between two and five hectares, produce 46% of the world's food and often exhibit higher land productivity and biodiversity than larger farms. While they are critical for global supply chains of products like coffee, cocoa, and tea, they face a 'yield gap'—ranging from 11% in East Asia to 76% in Sub-Saharan Africa—that could be closed through better access to modern agrifood chains and technology. In Africa, the adoption of climate-smart practices such as agroforestry and organic manure is heavily influenced by the availability of finance and credit. Smallholder agriculture is a primary economic driver in many developing nations, contributing 23% to the GDP of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The analysis finds that most net-zero portfolio commitments by large asset managers are unlikely to achieve global net-zero emissions by mid-century and often do not signal a shift toward serious climate action. The report highlights that intensity-based sectoral targets and absolute targets without re-baselining are ineffective for driving a low-carbon transition, while short-term investor focus hinders collective action. It recommends that financial institutions, particularly universal owners, shift focus toward systematically supporting the transition of economic actors to sustainable business models and calls for more stringent oversight to prevent greenwashing.

The report examines the potential for Southeast Asia to develop manufacturing capabilities in solar PV, batteries, and electric two-wheelers. It highlights the region's high vulnerability to climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% to 25% by 2030 to align with a 1.5°C pathway. The development of local low-carbon mobility and clean power manufacturing could generate USD 90 billion to USD 100 billion in revenues by 2030 and create 6 million jobs by 2050.

The assessment finds that data transparency in Asia is generally insufficient, with 24 out of 39 economies scoring poorly. While high-income nations and a few lower-middle income economies like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka show better transparency, the region overall struggles with publishing lags, geographical granularity, and time granularity. Only seven economies provide hourly data, and 75% of economies fail to make data available in a timely manner, hindering the analysis required for a renewable energy transition.

Urban trees in the U.S. provide critical benefits to the 80% of the population living in cities, which are otherwise prone to heat and flooding due to dense infrastructure. While an estimated 5.5 billion urban trees support city resilience, these forests require stewardship to survive the pressures of urbanization and a warming climate.

The report indicates that while global coal power is trending toward an end, the pace of phase-out is insufficient to meet Paris Agreement targets. China is a major outlier, with a surge in new plant approvals and construction that contrasts with a general decline in new projects outside its borders. In Japan, while new project scales are shrinking, operational capacity increased in 2022, and very few plants have confirmed closure dates.

New home construction in the US generates over 50 million tons of embodied carbon emissions annually. Analysis of 921 model homes across the US, Canada, and Europe indicates average cradle-to-gate emissions of 184 kg CO2e/m2. Reductions of 30% to 50% are achievable using existing, cost-parity materials by targeting concrete, insulation, cladding, and interior surfaces, which comprise over 70% of total emissions. Further reductions up to 140% are possible through low-emitting and carbon-storing materials.

The report finds that public financial flows have not aligned with Paris Agreement goals, with fossil fuel subsidies increasing significantly since 2015, reaching over USD 1 trillion in 2022. It argues that these subsidies incentivize emissions and hinder clean energy deployment, while recommending improved transparency, accountability, and national planning to transition these flows.

The paper examines 168 NDCs to determine if their methane-focused mitigation actions are sufficient to meet the Global Methane Pledge's goal of a 30% reduction in global anthropogenic methane emissions by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. While current implementation targets and timelines are insufficient, the authors find that if 476 identified mitigation actions are implemented to their maximum technical potential, global emissions could be reduced by approximately 31%.

The plastics industry contributes 3.4 percent of global carbon pollution, driven by a reliance on fossil fuels for production. Decarbonization requires improved carbon accounting, increased renewable energy use, and a transition toward a circular economy to reduce emissions from both production and end-of-life disposal.

The 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment reports that the world is off track to meet 2030 forest goals, with global gross deforestation reaching 6.6 million hectares in 2022. While over 50 countries are on track to eliminate deforestation, including sustainable reductions in Indonesia and Malaysia, these gains are offset by massive losses in other critical ecosystems. The report emphasizes a severe funding gap, noting that only 2.2 billion USD in annual government funding is allocated to forests, and criticizes the lack of corporate accountability and transparency. It calls for a radical shift away from 'business-as-usual' economic models toward those that value standing forests and support the land rights of indigenous and local communities.

The 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment reports that global deforestation remains significantly above the trajectory required to meet 2030 targets, with 6.6 million hectares of gross deforestation in 2022. While some countries like Indonesia and Malaysia have reduced deforestation, overall progress is undermined by insufficient public funding—only $2.2 billion annually—and a lack of corporate and financial accountability. The report emphasizes that private financial institutions provided $6.1 trillion in 2022 to companies likely to drive tropical deforestation. It calls for a radical shift in development models, increased transparency, and the direct funding of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to protect high-integrity forests.

The 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment reports that the world is off track to meet 2030 forest goals, with 2022 global gross deforestation reaching 6.6 million hectares. While over 50 countries are on track to eliminate deforestation, including progress in Indonesia and Malaysia, these successes are offset by massive losses in other regions. The report emphasizes a critical funding gap, noting that only US$ 2.2 billion in annual public funds are directed toward forests, and criticizes the lack of transparency and failure to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

The 2023 assessment of the Forest Declaration reveals that the world is failing to meet 2030 targets to stop deforestation, with 2022 gross deforestation reaching 6.6 million hectares. While some regions like tropical Asia show progress, massive losses continue in Latin America, Africa, and boreal/temperate forests. The report emphasizes a critical funding gap, noting that only $2.2 billion in annual public funds are directed toward forests, and highlights that private financial institutions provided $6.1 trillion in 2022 to companies risking tropical deforestation. It calls for a radical transformation of development paths and the prioritization of indigenous peoples and local communities as effective forest managers.