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The document argues that the global biodiversity finance gap—estimated at an annual need of USD 536 billion by 2050—cannot be closed by grants alone. It proposes a blended finance approach that integrates information, regulatory, economic, institutional, and financial instruments to de-risk investments and catalyze private capital. Using the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) portfolio as a basis, the paper demonstrates how combining instruments (e.g., pairing carbon credits with parametric insurance), sequencing them along a maturity-concessionality gradient (e.g., the Amazon Bioeconomy Fund), and establishing long-term partnerships (e.g., Project Finance for Permanence) can create sustainable financial models for nature-based solutions.

The CO2 Performance Ladder (CO2PL) is a carbon management system and procurement tool used by over 200 public contracting authorities in the Netherlands and Belgium to reward companies that reduce carbon emissions. It operates as a voluntary award criterion under the EU Procurement Directive, providing bidders with a 'fictitious discount' or bonus points based on their performance level (1 to 5). Compliance is verified by accredited third parties through either organization-wide CO2 Awareness Certificates or project-level statements. To ensure legal compliance with EU law, contracting authorities must accept equivalent means of proof and link the criteria to the subject matter of the contract. Non-compliance after winning a tender typically results in financial penalties exceeding the initial award advantage.

The Eswatini Environment Fund (EEF), managed by the Eswatini Environment Authority, provides small grants to community-led projects to promote environmental sustainability and climate resilience. The fund focuses on thematic areas including climate change adaptation, sustainable land management, and biodiversity protection. Case studies, such as the Lawuba and Shewula wetland projects, demonstrate how these investments improve water security, create alternative livelihoods for women and youth, and provide carbon sequestration co-benefits. The document argues for stronger synergies between the EEF and Eswatini's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to maximize the impact of limited finances through ecosystem-based adaptation.

The document examines air pollution in 16 Cambodian garment factories, finding that while particulate matter levels generally complied with national standards and WHO guidelines on the day of assessment, wood-burning factories were the most polluting. It highlights a significant gap in worker awareness, as 99% of interviewed workers perceived air quality as satisfactory despite all reporting symptoms related to air pollution. The brief emphasizes the gendered nature of the sector, where a predominantly young female workforce faces specific health risks, and recommends strengthening national air quality standards to align with WHO guidelines and implementing gender-inclusive occupational safety policies.

The document assesses air quality in 16 Cambodian garment factories, finding that while many meet national standards, some exceed WHO guidelines, particularly those using wood fuel. It highlights a significant gap in worker awareness, where most associate air pollution with temperature rather than chemical or particulate pollutants, despite reporting symptoms like coughing and headaches. The brief emphasizes the gendered nature of the sector, noting that 80% of the workforce are women, and calls for gender-responsive health and safety policies, especially for pregnant workers.

The document examines how inadequate waste management and unplanned urban growth in Bharatpur, Nepal, exacerbate biological hazards and disproportionately affect marginalized groups. It proposes the Framework for Integrating Rights and Equality (FIRE) to improve policy coherence across urban planning, public health, and disaster risk reduction.

The document examines occupational air pollution in southeast Asia, highlighting that 87% of the workforce is in the informal sector, where workers face higher exposure and fewer protections. Case studies from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, and Thailand reveal that gender, age, and class create differentiated risks, with men often facing higher direct exposure in some roles while women face confining indoor pollution in others. The report finds a widespread lack of awareness regarding health impacts and a critical gap in government accountability due to fragmented agency collaboration. It recommends updating labour laws to include informal workers, improving occupational safety awareness, and establishing a single responsible agency for national air pollution monitoring and control.

The report examines the lifecycle of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery, from its 2012 formation via private equity and public subsidies to its 2019 explosion and subsequent closure. It highlights how a reliance on discounted Bakken crude, high regulatory costs, and private equity management contributed to financial instability. The author argues that the lack of proactive city planning and community capacity left Philadelphia unprepared for the refinery's demise, resulting in a bankruptcy auction that determined the land's fate with minimal public input. Key lessons include the need for technical resources for community oversight, the importance of honest engagement with labor unions for worker transitions, and the increased operational risks associated with financially distressed refineries.

The document is a collection of research papers and reports focusing on the intersection of media literacy, audience engagement, and media accountability. It examines how these elements can counter political polarisation and fake news in India, prevent extremist violence in the United States, and support peace-building in Colombia. It also analyzes structural challenges to media accountability in Africa and Latin America, specifically highlighting gender inequalities in Argentine media and the role of audience ombudspersons in Mexico. Additionally, it discusses the digital divide and the need to decolonize digitality in Asia.

In Datinakhali, Bangladesh, frequent extreme weather events like cyclones and flash floods have trapped residents in a debt cycle with loan sharks. To counter this, World Vision established the Samabay Samiti, a cooperative fund committee where female members save weekly to access low-interest microloans and receive business training. The initiative has enabled members, such as Swapna Parvin, to establish diversified livelihoods in cosmetics and build household assets, leading to the program's expansion and a trial collaboration with BRAC.

The GCF is the largest multilateral climate finance contributor to African states, but its portfolio is heavily weighted toward mitigation (59%) over adaptation (41%), despite urgent regional needs. While the GCF has effectively leveraged co-financing, particularly through Multilateral Development Banks, it faces significant challenges in direct access, with only 18 Direct Access Entities (DAEs) accredited across 13 countries. The evaluation highlights cumbersome and rigid procedural barriers, including an English-only policy and high transaction costs, which hinder access for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) states. Gender-related co-benefits are growing, but engagement with indigenous peoples remains limited. The report recommends shifting the portfolio toward adaptation, streamlining accreditation and fee structures, and increasing regional presence in Africa.

The author distinguishes the 'right to communication' from the 'right to information,' arguing that while the latter focuses on the flow of data, the former emphasizes reciprocal human dialogue, participation, and the collective management of media. The text traces the historical evolution of this concept from the MacBride Report and the work of Jean D’Arcy, positioning it as a tool for social change and the inclusion of marginalized groups. It highlights Latin American experiences with community media and provides a detailed examination of Bolivia's 2009 Constitution and Law 223, which legally guarantee communication rights for the general population, indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.

RMI outlines how inclusive Solarize campaigns—community bulk-purchasing programs—can help low- and moderate-income (LMI) households overcome financial and outreach barriers to solar adoption. Drawing on support provided to over 20 US local governments in 2021 and 2022, the briefing highlights the importance of partnering with community-based organizations, securing dedicated LMI funding, and using trusted messengers to ensure equitable access to residential solar.

The Longship project is a Norwegian industrial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) network designed to decarbonize heavy industries where electrification is not feasible. The project consists of two initial capture sites—a cement plant in Brevik and a waste-to-energy plant in Oslo—and the Northern Lights transport and storage infrastructure. The Norwegian government is funding approximately two-thirds of the first phase, which exceeds 3.5 billion CAD, with the goal of creating a commercially viable cross-border storage service for European emitters. The document highlights the importance of holistic government support, including regulatory streamlining and increasing carbon pricing, while noting criticisms regarding the use of public funds to support the oil and gas sector.

The document analyzes the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) approach to clean hydrogen through investment and production tax credits, evaluating their economic benefits and limitations to inform Canadian policy. It details the IRA's emission-based credit tiers and emphasizes the need for Canada to integrate its existing carbon pricing and focus on the entire hydrogen ecosystem to remain competitive.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), Australia's green bank, uses an endowment-based model to provide concessional loans and equity to low-carbon projects. Since 2012, it has committed A$10.8 billion, leveraging a private-finance rate of 242 per cent and achieving over 200 megatonnes of CO2e reductions. While successful in crowding-in private investment and maintaining profitability, the CEFC faces risks of political interference via government-appointed boards and lacks specific targets for climate justice. The document suggests Canada's Canada Growth Fund and Canada Infrastructure Bank should adopt clear mission-driven mandates, target strategic institutional partners, and prioritize technical institutional knowledge.

The document examines the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), Australia's 'green bank', which uses public capital to crowd-in private investment for low-carbon technologies. It details the CEFC's financial instruments, its success in generating a positive return on investment and significant emission reductions, and its vulnerability to political shifts. The analysis concludes with strategic recommendations for Canada's Canada Infrastructure Bank and Canada Growth Fund based on the CEFC's ten-year experience.

Longship is a Norwegian megaproject designed to create a full-chain carbon capture and storage network, linking industrial capture sites to offshore storage in the North Sea. The Norwegian government is funding approximately two-thirds of the first phase, valued at over C$3.5 billion, to overcome high upfront costs and regulatory barriers. The project includes two initial capture sites—a cement factory in Brevik and a waste-to-energy plant in Oslo—and the Northern Lights transport and storage facility. While phase one is heavily subsidized, phase two aims for commercial viability by providing storage services to industrial emitters across Europe. The document highlights the importance of addressing non-financial barriers, such as regulatory red tape, and leveraging existing national expertise to jumpstart a regional CCS market.

In Banishanta village, Khulna district, farmers have formed the Banishanta Weather Club to combat the impacts of cyclones, floods, and high salinity. Supported by the NGO Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) and the Delta Research Initiative (DRI), the community uses digital tools, smartphone apps, and a Facebook messenger group called 'Banishanta Climate School' to access weather forecasts and agro-advisories. This locally led adaptation approach allows farmers to make informed decisions on sowing and irrigation, reducing the economic costs of climatic disasters and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers and the Banojibi community.

The pilot project in Bassa, Nigeria, utilized Okra's mesh-grid technology to create a 'Hub-and-Spoke' topology, allowing high-powered prosumers and businesses to share excess renewable energy with low-powered residential households. This configuration reduced the average CAPEX cost per connection from an initial estimate of $642 to $450 and enabled the energization of 46 more households than originally planned. The network currently maintains over 99% up-time, though the actual Average Revenue per User (ARPU) of ₦3,500 Naira is ₦500 lower than the ₦4,000 Naira target. Following the pilot's success, Creeds Energy is seeking funding for a 1,000-household scale-up across 18 additional locations.