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The document assesses the current state and future trajectory of solar and wind energy in Colombia, noting a rise in installed capacity to 9% of the electricity matrix by 2024 and a target of 20,000 energy communities by 2026. It highlights a significant drop in renewable investment between 2022 and 2023 and identifies a funding gap of up to USD 92.4 billion to meet National Energy Plan goals, while emphasizing the need for justice and equity strategies for local communities.

Colombia saw a significant increase in solar and wind capacity to approximately 9% of its electricity matrix in 2024, driven primarily by solar expansion. While the government aims to establish 20,000 energy communities by 2026 and has approved substantial future capacity (13.5 GW solar and 2.8 GW wind for 2023-2033), the sector faced a nearly 70% drop in investment between 2022 and 2023. The transition is further complicated by the suspension of several major wind projects and the need for approximately USD 92.4 billion to meet long-term National Energy Plan targets.

The G20 is a consensus-seeking dialogue mechanism established in 1999 to address global financial crises, comprising 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union. It operates through a rotating presidency—with South Africa hosting in 2025—and is organized into Finance and Sherpa tracks. While it lacks a formal international mandate or binding decision-making power, it provides a platform for global economic coordination and civil society engagement via 'Engagement Groups' such as the C20.

The document argues that traditional consumer protection frameworks must be updated to address e-commerce challenges such as data privacy and cross-border enforcement. It notes that while the global B2C e-commerce market was valued at USD 5.47 trillion in 2023 and is growing, many developing countries lack the modern laws necessary to build consumer trust and manage technology-driven business models.

The document explains the increasing integration of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) into trade policy frameworks, such as market access, due diligence regulations, and free trade agreements. It argues that for VSSs to effectively support sustainable trade, governments must implement credibility criteria to assess standards and provide targeted financial and capacity-building support to producers, particularly those in developing countries.

The document analyzes the role of voluntary sustainability standards in the mining sector, categorizing them by focus (supply chain, performance, and principle-based) and scope. It argues that while these standards cannot replace robust regulation, they can complement it by filling regulatory gaps, providing a foundation for new laws, or serving as proof of compliance. The briefing highlights a trend toward harmonization, exemplified by the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI), and emphasizes the importance of third-party certification and multistakeholder governance for credibility. It concludes with recommendations for governments to engage in standards development and align national regulations with emerging sustainability issues to attract investment.

Mongolia possesses significant wind and solar potential, estimated at 2600 GW, yet renewable electricity production was only about 9% of the total as of 2023. The government aims for 30% renewable energy capacity by 2030 under its Vision 2050 strategy. While 12 utility-scale projects are operational with a total investment of USD 533 million, the sector faces challenges including a predominantly male workforce and a reliance on electricity imports from China and Russia (22.3% in 2023). Current regulations include USD-denominated tariffs capped in 2019 and various tax exemptions, with future plans focusing on competitive auctions and battery storage.

The document outlines the ongoing efforts by WTO members to expand the 2022 Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. It focuses on draft rules circulated on April 12, 2024, by the chair of the Rules Negotiating Group, aimed at preventing government financial support from creating excessive fishing pressure and harming marine resources.

The document outlines several key EV-related policies. In California, the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation targets light- and medium-duty vehicle OEMs, while the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule requires OEMs of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to sell ZEVs or NZEVs as an increasing percentage of sales from 2024 to 2035. The Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation mandates ZEV adoption for fleets with over 50 trucks, certain private companies, and public agencies. The Clean Miles Standard (CMS) requires ridehailing providers with over 5 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per year to reach zero emissions from passenger miles and 90 percent EV-powered VMT by 2030. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) uses a market-based mechanism to cap the carbon intensity of transportation fuels. At the federal level, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 provides incentives for EV procurement and infrastructure. Additionally, proposed EPA regulations aim to reduce emissions for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, with light-duty targets projecting an average of 82 grams/mile of CO2 by model year 2032.

Viet Nam has established a national M&E system to track 142 priority adaptation actions across seven sectors under its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2021–2030. The system, launched in January 2022 with support from the UNDP and Green Climate Fund, utilizes an online platform to coordinate reporting between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), other ministries, and provincial-level People’s Committees. The M&E framework is designed to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Key lessons from the rollout emphasize the importance of building on existing approaches, starting with a moderate number of indicators, investing in digital reporting tools, and providing continuous capacity building for local authorities.

Saint Lucia's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) is a 10-year participatory process led by the Department of Sustainable Development to build resilience across eight priority sectors. The process integrates various tools, including a Climate Financing Strategy and Private Sector Engagement Strategy, and has reached milestones such as the publication of the first NAP Progress Report in 2022 and Green Climate Fund project approval in 2023.

Colombia possesses significant wind and solar potential, particularly in the La Guajira region, though these sources represented only 1.5% of the capacity mix in 2022. The document details a robust framework of incentives—including tax deductions and VAT exemptions—and predicts that approved projects could increase the solar and wind share of the capacity mix to nearly 40% by 2027. It also examines financing mechanisms, environmental licensing, and the integration of social safeguards such as Free Prior Informed Consent and benefit-sharing schemes for Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) provides grants of up to USD 3 million to support developing countries in creating National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and other adaptation planning processes. As of October 2022, GCF had approved 87 such proposals valued at USD 193 million. The fund aims for a 50:50 balance between adaptation and mitigation in its portfolio, prioritizing vulnerable regions including Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and African States.

Kenya's NAP 2015-2030, led by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, seeks to integrate climate change adaptation into national development planning and budgeting to achieve a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. The process identifies key climate impacts such as sea level rise, floods, and drought, and prioritizes sectors including agriculture, health, water, and infrastructure. Implementation is supported by the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) II (2018-2022), which serves as the vehicle for delivering both the NAP and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The Somali National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, led by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, utilizes a participatory and gender-responsive approach aligned with peacebuilding. The process is currently supported by a Green Climate Fund-funded NAP Readiness Project implemented by the UNDP. Key adaptation priorities include sectors such as agriculture, water, health, and coastal zones, addressing impacts like severe droughts, flooding, and sea level rise. Significant milestones between 2018 and 2022 include the launch of the National Disaster Management Policy, the National Climate Change Policy, and the 2021 NAP Framework.

The document examines the role of fuel subsidies in Indonesia's marine fisheries sector, noting they are the second-largest and most consistent form of government support. It argues that these subsidies risk incentivizing overfishing and suggests that Indonesia's general experience with fossil fuel subsidy reform could provide a roadmap for reforming fisheries-specific support.

WWF is working with financial institutions to redirect capital from destructive activities toward sustainable ocean-based outcomes. Key efforts include developing science-driven criteria for seafood financing, launching the Fisheries Improvement Fund to catalyze $100 million by 2030, and exploring innovative financial products like blended finance and debt restructuring to support coastal communities and marine ecosystems.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) emphasizes that advancing gender equality is critical for a climate-resilient future, as women are disproportionately affected by climate change yet act as key agents of change. The GCF mandates gender mainstreaming across all interventions through its Governing Instrument and Gender Policy, requiring every project to include a Gender Action Plan. The Fund has committed to providing $10 billion annually in support designed to optimize co-benefits between climate action and gender equality. Specific examples of this approach include supporting women-led agricultural enterprises in Ghana, argan tree cooperatives in Morocco, clean energy enterprises in Mongolia, and off-grid renewable energy SMEs in Kenya and Rwanda via the KawiSafi Ventures Fund.

The report identifies over 60 mitigation policies adopted between July 2019 and August 2020, noting the highest activity in the energy and transport sectors. It highlights a lack of explicitly 'green' COVID-19 recovery measures in most assessed countries, except for the EU and Republic of Korea. Additionally, it tracks the progress of NDCs and LTS, noting that only Vietnam has officially revised its NDC target among the group, while the EU and Japan have submitted net-zero long-term strategies.

The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process is a strategic framework established in 2010 under the Cancun Adaptation Framework to help countries identify and address medium- and long-term climate adaptation priorities. Unlike the earlier National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) which focused on immediate needs, the NAP process aims to embed adaptation into standard development planning, budgeting, and decision-making. The process consists of three broad phases: planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). It is designed to be country-driven, gender-responsive, and multi-sectoral, ensuring that adaptation is not treated as a separate environmental issue but as an integral part of national development. The document highlights the NAP process's central role in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement, specifically Article 7 paragraph 9, and its synergy with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.