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The report finds that 16 of the 25 major emitting countries and regions analysed are not on track to meet their self-determined NDC targets. While some countries like Brazil, China, and India are likely to achieve their targets with current policies, others, including the US, EU, and Canada, require additional measures. Furthermore, current policies are projected to fail to prevent emissions from increasing up to 2030 relative to 2010 levels in both developing and OECD nations, with only Japan and the EU projected to see further decreases.

The report examines the discrepancy between the frequent WTO litigation of renewable energy subsidies and the absence of cases against fossil fuel subsidies. It argues that while political factors and the 'undercapture' of consumer subsidies by WTO law play a role, producer subsidies may still be actionable if sufficient evidence of adverse trade effects is provided. Through five G20 case studies, the authors highlight the difficulty of proving 'adverse effects' and the lack of transparency in subsidy notifications. The report recommends five avenues for reform: technical assistance, enhanced transparency, subsidy reform pledges, political declarations, and expanding the category of prohibited subsidies.

The document proposes a feebate system for India—where inefficient vehicles pay a fee and efficient ones receive a rebate—as a market-based alternative to static fuel economy standards. It argues that such a policy could help India reach its goal of 100 percent electric vehicle adoption by 2030 without relying on public funds. Drawing on case studies from Norway, France, and Ontario, the authors suggest a three-phase implementation strategy: establishing a professional design body, implementing a revenue-neutral point-of-sale feebate, and eventually expanding to other vehicle segments and the used car market.

The document analyzes the intersection of G20 economic governance and African development priorities. It finds a strong alignment between the UN 2030 Agenda, AU Agenda 2063, and recent G20 initiatives, particularly in infrastructure, food security, and energy. However, it highlights significant gaps in the implementation of these goals and criticizes the 'Compact with Africa' for lacking sufficient African consultation and failing to address diverse national contexts. The authors recommend that South Africa and other G20 members better resource AU and NEPAD representation and create stronger linkages between isolated G20 initiatives for Africa.

The document evaluates the progress of WTO commitments made at the 10th Ministerial Conference (MC10) in Nairobi, specifically regarding agriculture and least-developed countries (LDCs). It highlights significant implementation gaps, such as the lack of a permanent solution for public stockholding for food security and the slow pace of eliminating agricultural export subsidies. The paper notes a fundamental disagreement between developed and developing nations over whether to prioritize the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) or introduce new 21st-century trade issues. For South Africa, the authors recommend aligning with the Africa Group on regional integration and industrialization, supporting the G33 proposal on public stockholding, and backing the ACP proposal on fisheries subsidies to support its own ocean economy.

The 2017 AdaptationWatch report argues that the Paris Agreement has shifted climate policy into an era of implementation, yet significant gaps remain in adaptation finance and transparency. It highlights that adaptation funding is overwhelmingly lower than mitigation funding and is often difficult for the most vulnerable nations to access due to complex accreditation processes and a lack of clear definitions distinguishing adaptation from general development. The report examines regional experiences, noting that while Latin American and Caribbean countries have made progress in institutional frameworks and GCF Readiness, Southeast Asia faces a disconnect between global finance scales and local needs. It also identifies a critical lack of compliance and standardized methodology in the Biennial Update Reports (BURs) of non-Annex I Parties, which obscures the actual amount of finance received. The document concludes with ten recommendations, emphasizing the need for increased adaptation finance, co-designing actions with local communities, and reorienting capacity building toward long-term, in-country ownership.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds that EVs are significantly cheaper to fuel and maintain than gasoline vehicles, with median annual fuel savings exceeding $770. While purchase prices are generally higher, federal and state incentives can make EVs competitive or even cheaper than comparable gasoline cars. The report emphasizes the role of time-of-use (TOU) electricity rates in reducing costs and recommends policies to expand charging infrastructure and maintain purchase incentives to accelerate the transition to electric mobility.

The report finds that electric vehicles (EVs) are significantly cheaper to fuel and maintain than gasoline vehicles in the US. Analysis of 60 electricity providers across the 50 largest US cities shows that at least one rate plan in every location makes EV driving cheaper than the average new gasoline vehicle, with median annual fuel savings exceeding $770. While the initial purchase price of EVs is typically higher, federal and state incentives, along with declining battery costs, are increasing affordability. The report recommends policies to expand charging infrastructure, particularly DC fast charging in urban areas, and the implementation of time-of-use (TOU) electricity rates to further reduce costs and emissions.

The United States produces over 70 million tons of organic waste annually, yet utilizes less than 20 percent of its biogas potential. By employing anaerobic digestion to process livestock manure, food waste, and crop residues, the U.S. could add 13,500 new biogas systems, creating over 350,000 total jobs and significantly reducing methane emissions. Biogas can be used for on-site heat and power or refined into renewable natural gas (RNG) for pipelines and vehicles, with the potential to replace 10 percent of U.S. natural gas. Key policy drivers include the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and various USDA and DOE funding programs, though some face appropriation reductions.

The United States produces over 70 million tons of organic waste annually, yet only 2,200 biogas systems are currently operating, representing less than 20 percent of the total potential. Biogas, produced via anaerobic digestion, can be used for heat, electricity, or upgraded to renewable natural gas (RNG) for pipelines and vehicles. The document highlights that expanding to 13,500 additional systems could create over 335,000 construction jobs and 23,000 permanent jobs while significantly reducing methane emissions. Key feedstocks include food waste, landfill gas, livestock manure, wastewater sludge, and crop residues. Federal support is provided through the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the Farm Bill, and agency programs like AgSTAR and the Landfill Methane Outreach Program.

The research note analyzes four implementation scenarios for the DOE's Grid Resilience Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR), which would compensate coal and nuclear plants for costs not recovered in wholesale markets. The analysis finds that annual customer costs could range from $311 million to $10.6 billion, with a high concentration of benefits accruing to a small number of companies, particularly in the PJM region.

The report identifies a $895 billion climate-aligned bond universe as of mid-2017, consisting of $221 billion in labelled green bonds and $674 billion in unlabelled bonds from pure-play issuers. Transport and energy are the dominant themes, with China Railway Corp being the largest single issuer. The document highlights the growing importance of municipal and sovereign green bonds, particularly in the US and Europe, and provides a detailed analysis of Brazil's potential to expand its green finance market to meet its Paris Agreement targets. It concludes by advocating for a global green bond issuance target of $1 trillion per year by 2020.

The report identifies a $895 billion universe of climate-aligned bonds, including $221 billion in labeled green bonds. It highlights the dominance of the transport and energy sectors and the critical role of sovereign and sub-sovereign issuers, particularly in China and the US. The document argues for a massive acceleration of green bond issuance to reach $1 trillion annually by 2020 to support Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The report finds that EU Member States have failed to effectively implement fisheries enforcement frameworks, characterized by delays in adopting penalty point systems, a lack of harmonized definitions for 'serious infringements', and sanctions that are neither deterrent nor transparent.

The report finds that fisheries enforcement in France is characterized by declining inspection rates, low levels of sanctions that lack deterrent effect, and a failure to implement the EU penalty point system. It highlights a legal contradiction where imprisonment is prohibited for infringements committed beyond the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea, and notes significant inconsistencies in official data reporting across different government agencies.

The report finds that while the Netherlands rapidly integrated EU fisheries control requirements into national law, practical implementation is undermined by resource shortages and low sanctions. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has seen a decrease in staff and funding, and the report notes a potential conflict of interest due to the NVWA's dual role as an inspection and certification authority. Furthermore, sanctions applied by courts are often not deterrent, with repeat offences and the capture of endangered species like the European eel frequently resulting only in community service. Between 2012 and 2014, only 16 penalty points were attributed, suggesting the penalty point system is not widely applied in practice.

The report finds that Ireland has largely failed to implement the EU Control Regulation, specifically regarding the penalty point system for fishing licence holders and masters, and the establishment of a national register of infringements. Enforcement relies almost exclusively on criminal proceedings, which the study argues are too infrequent and the resulting fines too low to serve as an effective deterrent. The document highlights a lack of transparency in public reporting and a lack of guidance on defining 'serious infringements,' which undermines the ability to apply proportionate and dissuasive sanctions.

An analysis of 5,563 Brazilian municipalities by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and PUC-Rio reveals that distributed solar PV adoption is driven primarily by demand factors rather than natural resource availability. The study finds that municipalities with higher GDP, larger populations, and higher electricity tariffs have more PV units, while those with the highest solar radiation often have fewer. As of June 2017, only 1,478 municipalities had at least one distributed PV unit, with the highest concentration in Rio de Janeiro. The authors recommend that climate risk mitigation policies incorporate demand-side incentives and target poorer regions with high solar potential.

The Climate Smart Cattle Ranching (CSCR) initiative proposes a 'New Company' to address barriers to sustainable beef production in Brazil, specifically targeting mid-sized ranchers in the Amazon who lack formal land titles. The model uses a blended finance approach—initially through a Participations Investment Fund (FIP) involving grants, concessional debt, and impact equity—to co-invest in pasture restoration and the adoption of Embrapa’s Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). By providing long-term capital (up to 10 years) and continuous technical assistance, the instrument aims to increase productivity from 0.5-0.7 to up to 4 Animal Units per hectare, potentially reducing emissions intensity by 90-95% per kg of beef. The strategy includes a phase-out of concessional capital in favor of commercial investment via a Credits’ Rights Investment Fund (FIDC) once a track record of receivables from deforestation-free beef off-take agreements is established.

The report examines how domestic DFIs in Brazil, Mexico, and Chile can mobilize investment for their NDCs. While these institutions committed over US$11 billion in climate finance in 2015, the vast majority (98%) targeted mitigation, primarily in renewable energy, leaving a significant gap in adaptation and urban infrastructure. Key barriers include a lack of long-term low-cost capital, perceived poor risk-adjusted returns, and limited technical capacity to structure complex climate projects. The report recommends that governments provide clearer mandates and that multilateral development banks (MDBs) support NDBs through risk-mitigation instruments, technical assistance, and improved climate finance tracking.