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The document argues that current ISDS compensation practices are complex, inconsistent, and create legal uncertainty, which can lead to 'regulatory chill' and hinder states' ability to take climate action. The authors advocate for a legally binding multilateral treaty to standardize compensation, the restriction of speculative valuation methods like Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), and the consideration of investor conduct and public interest when determining awards. They further suggest exploring the role of domestic courts in assessing damages and increasing the transparency of expert opinions.

The We Mean Business Coalition calls on COP26 participants to align policies and finance with a 1.5°C trajectory, strengthen Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to halve global emissions by 2030, and finalize robust rules for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to prevent double counting of emissions reductions.

The document examines DARPA's contribution to U.S. national security through high-risk, high-reward research, specifically highlighting its role in enabling COVID-19 vaccine development via earlier mRNA investments. It identifies internal risks—such as leadership gaps in biological expertise and high personnel turnover—and proposes structural reforms. Key recommendations include lengthening Program Manager terms, creating a discretionary 'seedling' budget for innovative ideas, expanding the search for international performers, and renaming the Biological Technologies Office to the Biological Sciences Office to broaden its scope. The authors argue that DARPA must better align its aggressive timelines with the inherent constraints of biological research and improve transitions to commercial or military partners to avoid the 'Valley of Death'.

The document examines the challenges ride-hailing drivers face when switching to electric vehicles in the US, Europe, and Canada, noting that EV adoption in this sector often lags behind the general vehicle stock. It proposes targeted interventions, including reducing up-front costs, expanding affordable charging infrastructure for renters and low-income communities, and improving driver education. The research utilizes data from Uber and a WRI methodology to evaluate 10 cities via scorecards.

Carbon Market Watch argues that the European Commission's EU ETS revision proposal is inadequate, specifically citing an insufficient emission reduction target and a failure to implement the polluter pays principle through the continued use of free emission allowances. The organization proposes increasing the 2030 emission reduction target to 65% or 70%, reforming the Market Stability Reserve, phasing out free allocations, and expanding the scope of the ETS to include municipal solid waste incineration and full shipping emissions.

The briefing outlines five key strategies for engaging national oil companies (NOCs) in the energy transition: recognizing their role within national government ambitions, addressing cognitive biases regarding economic risks, supporting economic diversification to protect vulnerable populations, tailoring strategies to the specific characteristics of different NOCs, and cautiously evaluating NOC investments in renewable energy to avoid crowding out other actors.

ClientEarth argues that the recast Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) must remove support for fossil-fuel technologies, including natural gas and high-efficiency cogeneration, to avoid carbon lock-in. The organization recommends raising the 2030 EU energy efficiency target to at least 45% and making national contributions legally binding. It further advocates for the 'Energy Efficiency First' (EE1st) principle to be extended to all planning and investment decisions, not just 'major' ones, and calls for a more robust role for energy communities in achieving energy savings.

The briefing argues that the EMFAF is designed for outdated purposes and fails to address the climate and biodiversity crises. It urges EU Member States to use their discretion in operational programming to shift funding away from large-scale industrial fleets and toward small-scale fishers and marine restoration. The author proposes a 'FAIR' framework—Fair, Ambitious, Innovative, and Revitalising—to ensure the 6 billion euro fund supports a transition to low-impact fisheries and enhances the ocean's role as a carbon sink.

The briefing argues that the EMFAF is designed for outdated purposes and fails to address the climate and biodiversity crises. It urges EU Member States to use their discretion in operational programs to shift funding away from industrial fleets and toward small-scale fishers and ocean restoration. The author proposes a 'FAIR' framework (Fair, Ambitious, Innovative, Revitalising) and lists 15 specific recommendations, including allocating at least 25% of national budgets to marine conservation and improving traceability through digitalization.

The document asserts that only hydrogen produced from 100% renewable electricity is a true climate solution, though it remains energy-intensive and costly. It warns that current hydrogen production is dominated by fossil-fuel-based steam methane reformation and that 'blue' hydrogen may have a higher greenhouse gas footprint than burning natural gas or coal for heat. The author recommends prioritizing direct electrification for transportation and buildings, reserving green hydrogen for maritime shipping, aviation, high-heat industrial processes, and long-distance trucking.

The policy brief examines the conflict between the OECD's Pillar Two Global Minimum Tax and 'fiscal stabilization' clauses, which are common in developing economies and can lock in tax incentives for decades. It argues that these clauses risk exposing governments to international arbitration if they raise taxes to meet the 15% minimum. The author recommends that OECD model legislation explicitly state that the global minimum tax applies regardless of stabilized incentives and that Inclusive Framework members agree that good-faith adjustments to align with GloBE rules do not constitute breaches of international law or investment treaties.

The report presents a business case for investing in community-based water monitoring (CBWM) in Canada, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and scientific rigour compared to conventional public sector monitoring. It identifies a critical data gap, noting that 100 of Canada's 167 sub-watersheds lack sufficient data to report on health. Through case studies in the Lake Winnipeg basin, the Kaska Dena ancestral territory, and the Annapolis River, the document demonstrates that CBWM can reduce costs (e.g., a 3.4:1 expense difference in the Lake Winnipeg case) and integrate Traditional Knowledge. The author argues that the current 'non-profit starvation cycle'—driven by short-term, competitive grants—is incompatible with the long-term nature of environmental monitoring and recommends a 5-year core funding model to ensure data continuity and support Canada's climate and conservation targets.

The report advocates for a shift from short-term project-based funding to long-term core funding for community-based water monitoring (CBWM) in Canada. It highlights that 100 of 167 Canadian watersheds lack sufficient data for quality scoring, creating a gap that CBWM can fill more cost-effectively than professional government monitoring. Through three case studies—the Lake Winnipeg Foundation, the Kaska Guardians, and the Clean Annapolis River Project—the document demonstrates that CBWM can achieve a return on investment exceeding 3:1 and up to 11.6:1 in some instances. The report recommends the creation of a five-year pilot project and the use of a proposed Canadian Water Agency to coordinate these efforts to improve environmental governance and climate adaptation.

The document outlines the role of major soy traders in driving deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado, critiquing current sustainability policies and certification schemes as insufficient. It recommends that financial institutions make financing contingent on traders adopting a January 2020 cut-off date, full traceability, and robust monitoring, with a timeline for suspending or ceasing services for non-compliance by 2023 and 2024.

The report finds that while Swedish development practitioners value research, they struggle to find and implement it due to time constraints and a communication mismatch with researchers. It recommends bridging this gap through co-creation, better communication formats, and institutionalized networks.

The document argues that EU trade policy must be consistent with the Green Deal, Farm to Fork, and animal welfare standards to prevent the externalisation of environmental and social impacts. It proposes ten structural reforms for EU Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including the introduction of enforceable sustainability obligations, conditional preferential tariffs, penalty mechanisms for TSD violations, and mandatory ex-ante sustainability impact assessments.

Ember expresses concern that the mainstream model of BECCS—adding carbon capture to biomass power plants—may not generate negative emissions because burning wood for power is increasingly viewed as a net emitter of CO2. The submission highlights the high risk associated with the Drax power station project, noting it could cost UK energy bill payers over £30bn while potentially failing to deliver negative emissions. Ember recommends that the UK’s Biomass Strategy 2022 prioritize scientific research and independent monitoring of supply chains over the premature promotion of BECCS projects.

The document presents recommendations from African stakeholders to improve the quantum and quality of climate finance. Key priorities include establishing a global goal for adaptation finance, streamlining access to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and creating national regulatory environments to unlock private investment. It emphasizes the need for grant-based finance to avoid exacerbating debt crises and calls for a broader definition of return on investment for adaptation projects.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) testifies that manufactured housing, which comprises 6.3% of the U.S. housing stock, is increasingly owned by private equity firms and institutional investors. These owners leverage the limited mobility of residents—who often cannot move or sell their homes without significant loss—to increase rents and fees. PESP highlights YES! Communities as a primary example of aggressive eviction practices, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The document calls for rent regulations, 'good cause' eviction laws, and paths toward resident or public ownership to preserve affordability and safety.

The United Arab Emirates is the first Gulf state to announce a national drive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with plans to invest $163 billion in renewable energy. The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) suggests that the UAE can leverage its technical capacity to scale low-carbon hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) to decarbonize its energy exports and support global climate targets. Key recommendations include expanding wind and solar power, developing both blue and green hydrogen, joining the Global Methane Pledge, and establishing international frameworks for clean fuel certification.