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The briefing by Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) examines the legal framework for private railway exploration in Brazil, specifically MP No. 1.065/2021 and PL No. 261/2018. It argues that while the authorization regime simplifies investment, it lacks procedural clarity and transparency, which may undermine the assessment of socio-environmental impacts. The authors identify critical gaps in the requirement for technical studies, the ambiguity of decision-making authority between the Ministry of Infrastructure and the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), and the absence of mandatory publication for project documents, georeferencing, and financing conditions.

The briefing analyzes pathways from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), National Grid, and Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) to demonstrate that the UK power sector can be nearly fossil-free by 2035. It argues that phasing out unabated gas will reduce reliance on expensive imports, lower electricity bills, and stimulate a green industrial revolution. While the models differ on the roles of nuclear and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), they agree on the centrality of wind and solar power and the need for increased energy storage and hydrogen capacity.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), and IKEA are creating a guide for businesses to develop air pollutant emission inventories for their value chains, intended for publication in 2022. The initiative addresses a gap in comprehensive guidance for the private sector, aiming to align air pollution reporting with existing greenhouse gas (GHG) standards to leverage existing corporate resources. The guide will cover pollutants including particulate matter, black carbon, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, providing a framework to identify emission sources and quantify them using activity-based methods. The business case for this action includes meeting customer demands, reducing legal and financial risks—highlighted by multimillion-dollar fines for companies like Toyota and ExxonMobil—and improving operational efficiency.

RMI proposes a framework for 'climate intelligence' based on four pillars: emissions visibility, standardized accounting, digitized infrastructure using distributed ledger technology, and the scaling of these standards in markets. The document highlights the need to harmonize over 250 existing GHG accounting methodologies to create a 'digital schema' for carbon attribution. A key initiative mentioned is Horizon Zero, funded by a $10 million grant from the Larsen Lam Climate Change Foundation, which aims to apply digital disclosure models from the cryptocurrency industry to heavy industrial sectors like steel and cement. The author contends that digitization will make GHG and ESG disclosures as seamless as financial accounting, aligning with emerging regulatory trends in the EU and US.

Methane is a potent warming agent and health hazard that leaks frequently from oil and gas systems, coal mines, landfills, and livestock. RMI advocates for the use of remote sensing and the MiQ voluntary standard to create a market for low-methane gas and eventually establish mandatory standards to achieve a 1.5-degree future.

The document advocates for the use of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in Africa to bridge the gap between biodiversity protection and community livelihoods. It highlights that while traditional protected areas often displaced local populations, OECMs allow for diverse governance—including community and private partnerships—that can deliver both conservation and economic gains. Through case studies in South Africa and Kenya, the briefing demonstrates how these models can generate income via tourism, sustainable ranching, and ecosystem services. It concludes that African governments should collectively advocate for community-centred conservation in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, provided that rights-based approaches, innovative financing, and context-specific research are prioritised to avoid elite capture and ensure equitable benefit distribution.

The Brazilian sustainable debt market has grown to a cumulative USD 10.8bn, with green bonds dominating at 84% of the market. Land use is a primary driver of this growth, representing 67% of total volume across green, sustainability, sustainability-linked, and transition labels. Forestry is the leading agriculture-related theme with USD 6.4bn in funding, followed by agriculture (USD 848m) and bioenergy (USD 832m). While non-financial corporates lead issuances, financial institutions and government-backed entities are increasingly entering the market. The document highlights the emergence of performance-linked instruments like Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs) and transition bonds, though it notes concerns regarding transparency and the need for science-based transition pathways to avoid greenwashing.

The briefing argues that the EU-Mercosur trade deal was concluded without a complete sustainability impact assessment (SIA), which the European Ombudsman identified as maladministration. It highlights concerns that the agreement could increase deforestation in Mercosur countries, particularly Brazil, and criticizes the European Commission's attempt to seek pre-ratification commitments rather than renegotiating the text. Furthermore, the document opposes any effort by the Commission to 'split' the trade and political components of the agreement to bypass the requirement for unanimity in the Council and ratification by the 27 EU Member State parliaments, asserting that such a move would violate the original 1999 mandate and principles of sincere cooperation.

The document argues that the European Union can legally eliminate fuel tax exemptions for vessels, including fishing boats, even in international waters. It refutes claims that such a move violates UNCLOS Article 89 by asserting that EU-flagged vessels remain under flag-state jurisdiction and non-EU vessels can be linked to the EU via the port where they refuel. Furthermore, it concludes that UNCLOS lacks the 'direct effect' necessary for individuals or companies to legally challenge these tax changes in court. The briefing also notes that while the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is slow to implement global levies, strong EU regulation often accelerates international consensus.

The document details the Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Project, an initiative led by the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). It describes how over 35 CSOs collaborated to produce a governance report covering 12 key areas, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The briefing provides a set of recommendations for other countries, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity, non-partisan coordination, and the use of ICTs to facilitate civic engagement in governance reviews.

The document argues that deaf, blind, and deafblind individuals in sub-Saharan Africa faced heightened health risks, economic instability, and systemic exclusion from vital information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on consultations in Cameroon, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, the authors find that government responses often relied on a 'charity model' rather than a rights-based approach, ignoring the agency of disabled persons. Key barriers included the use of non-transparent masks hindering lip-reading, a lack of Braille information, and the loss of informal livelihoods. The brief emphasizes the critical role of self-organized disability organizations in championing rights and calls for research into the cultural and political structures of discrimination to improve future disaster preparedness.

The document argues that adaptation and mitigation should be treated as complementary processes rather than separate tracks. It emphasizes that integrated planning increases political support, reduces costs, and improves stakeholder dialogue. The text highlights challenges in sectoral understanding—specifically that mitigation-focused sectors often underestimate adaptation needs—and the difficulty of measuring resilience and combining reporting for both approaches. It suggests integrating Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) components into national measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems and calls for international cooperation to share data and case studies on integrated planning.

The document argues that climate change impacts are not equal and are influenced by intersectional factors such as race, gender, power, and poverty. It provides examples of coalitions uniting debt activists, homeless advocates, racial justice groups, indigenous leaders, women's rights organisations, and labour unions to address systemic inequalities alongside the energy transition. These collaborations range from demanding unconditional debt cancellation for the Global South and vaccine equality to promoting 'carbon banks' for Black farmers in the US and integrating trans rights into environmental movements. The briefing highlights that integrating a social justice lens—recognising interacting systems of oppression—is essential for a diverse and effective climate movement.

The briefing outlines six funding models—sales taxes, retail taxes, fossil fuel production taxes, electricity consumption taxes, climate bonds, and resilience bonds—that US cities have implemented to fund climate action. It highlights specific examples from cities like Denver, Portland, and Miami, emphasizing that integrating equity into the design of these funding streams is essential for success, particularly for Black, Indigenous, Latino, and low-income communities who are disproportionately affected by pollution and climate change.

The document identifies significant value gaps between Peruvian export data and the import data of its primary trading partners, suggesting patterns of under-invoicing and over-invoicing. These discrepancies serve as red flags for tax evasion, money laundering, and the abuse of export subsidies, all of which facilitate the illegal timber trade and deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon.

The document outlines a briefing session from the Congressional Climate Camps series, which explores the intersection of carbon reduction, climate resilience, and social equity. It highlights specific thematic areas including coastal nature-based solutions, agricultural practices, mass timber for sustainable buildings, and the role of building codes in efficiency. The text presents a series of questions posed to experts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Furman University, Vaagen Timbers, the New Buildings Institute, and the NAACP regarding the implementation and socio-economic impacts of these climate strategies.

The document argues that agroecology, a science-based set of practices and social movement, offers a sustainable alternative to industrial agriculture, which accounts for up to 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It highlights that approximately 30% of global farms have already adopted agroecological principles, leading to increased crop yields, higher farmer incomes, and improved biodiversity. However, the briefing notes that scaling up these practices is hindered by governance and finance systems that heavily subsidize industrial agriculture, with only 1%-1.5% of agricultural and aid budgets currently supporting agroecological approaches. To overcome these barriers, the document recommends reorienting public funding, integrating agroecology into research and education, and increasing the participation of small-scale producers in food governance.

The European Commission has opened formal investigations into compensations provided to RWE (EUR 2.6 billion) and LEAG (EUR 1.75 billion) for the closure of lignite plants in Germany by 2038. The Commission preliminarily concludes these payments constitute state aid and expresses doubts regarding their proportionality, specifically whether the calculations for foregone profits and mine rehabilitation costs are realistic or lead to overcompensation. ClientEarth argues that the aid may violate the 'polluter pays principle' regarding mine recultivation and that declining market conditions and rising CO2 prices make the assumed long lifespans of the plants unrealistic.

The document discusses the confirmation of Michael Regan as EPA head, highlighting his experience in clean energy and environmental quality. It argues that the EPA must now focus on stricter chemical pollution standards, restoring the National Environmental Policy Act, and leading an equitable transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy.

The briefing highlights the vulnerability of India's power sector to climate-induced extreme weather, citing the Tapovan Vishnugad hydropower plant disaster. It argues that current infrastructure is insufficient for future needs and calls for a shift toward flexibility, decentralized renewables, and higher design standards for grid hardening to protect critical services and social resilience.