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As of May 2017, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has engaged with 105 countries on 165 readiness requests, committing or spending a total of USD 34.3 million. The programme focuses on strengthening National Designated Authorities (NDAs), developing country programmes and project pipelines, and supporting the accreditation of direct access entities. Key achievements include the provision of in-kind accreditation support to 102 entities across 55 countries and the development of strategic frameworks in various regions. The report details specific activities in countries such as Tonga, Djibouti, and Namibia, and outlines the establishment of no-objection procedures in 34 countries. Additionally, it highlights regional structured dialogues in Asia and Eastern Europe and Central Asia to facilitate project pipelines and knowledge sharing.

As of March 2017, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has engaged with 111 countries on 172 readiness requests, committing a total of USD 27.4 million. The programme focuses on strengthening national designated authorities (NDAs), supporting the accreditation of direct access entities, and assisting with adaptation planning and strategic frameworks. While 83 requests have been approved (USD 24.2 million), only 48 have seen disbursements (USD 4.5 million). The GCF plans to process approximately 160 new requests in 2017 and is automating its administration through the Fluxx system.

As of November 2016, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) had approved 74 readiness and preparatory support requests for 61 countries, totaling USD 21.9 million. The programme focuses on strengthening national designated authorities (NDAs), supporting the accreditation of direct access entities, and facilitating adaptation planning. While cumulative commitments from 2014-2016 totaled approximately USD 24.6 million, projected demand for 2017 is expected to rise significantly to over USD 120 million, driven by increased interest in national adaptation plans and strategic frameworks. The GCF is also expanding its support for direct access entities and coordinating with international partners to streamline readiness support.

The GCF Secretariat is developing a request for proposals (RFP) for REDD+ results-based payments (RBPs) and guidance for early-phase engagement. Drawing on a COP 22 dialogue and existing frameworks like the Warsaw Framework for REDD+, the Secretariat is analyzing key operational elements including the scale of intervention, access modalities, carbon pricing, and the reconciliation of Cancun safeguards with GCF environmental and social safeguards. The report outlines a process for gathering further technical and stakeholder input to finalize these instruments.

The document reports on Arctic sustainability research as part of the ICARP-III process, highlighting the region's vulnerability to climatic and socio-economic changes and the need for prioritized research agendas.

The AgWater Challenge, launched in October 2016 by WWF and Ceres, engages food and beverage companies in reducing water risks in their supply chains. The inaugural cohort of seven companies committed to measurable goals across five stewardship 'ingredients': risk assessment, sustainable policies, time-bound goals, watershed collaboration, and farmer support. While companies showed progress in risk assessment and policy setting, supporting growers remains a significant challenge. Key participants like PepsiCo, Diageo, and Kellogg have implemented specific targets for water efficiency and sustainable sourcing, emphasizing the need for senior management buy-in and holistic risk management.

The report evaluates the early progress of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4.5 to 8.8 billion tonnes by 2030. While it notes positive trends such as the inclusion of deforestation targets in the Sustainable Development Goals and increased funding for clean cookstoves, it highlights that overall progress remains slow. Key challenges include the lack of a coordinated effort to reduce non-agricultural deforestation, slow disbursement of REDD+ funds, and ongoing violence against forest-dependent communities.

This executive summary introduces a monitoring framework for the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) and provides an initial assessment of its ten goals one year after their signing. While noting the creation of new initiatives and commitments, the report concludes that global progress has been slow and urgent action is required. Key findings include a lack of deceleration in natural forest harvesting, significant gaps in sustainable certification for soy and beef, and a lag between REDD+ funding commitments and actual disbursements.

The report evaluates the first year of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), noting that while new initiatives and commitments have emerged, overall progress remains slow. Key achievements include the integration of a zero-deforestation goal into the UN Sustainable Development Goals and increased funding for clean cookstoves. However, the report finds no evidence that the rate of natural forest clearing is slowing, and significant gaps remain in forest restoration targets and the protection of indigenous land rights.

The report evaluates the first year of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), noting that while new initiatives and commitments have emerged, overall progress toward eliminating natural forest loss by 2030 remains slow. Key achievements include the inclusion of a deforestation goal in the Sustainable Development Goals and increased funding for clean cookstoves, which reached USD 260 million in 2014. However, the report finds no evidence that the annual rate of natural forest deforestation is decreasing. Progress in agricultural commodity supply chains is mixed, with certified sustainable palm oil growing by 18% globally, while certified sustainable soy represents only 2% of the market. Restoration efforts are underway, with 62.59 million hectares committed via the Bonn Challenge, though this is only 42% of the 2020 target. Financial flows for forest emission reductions have increased, with bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) rising from an annual average of USD 365 million (2002-07) to USD 744 million (2008-13), but actual REDD+ disbursements lag behind the USD 3 billion in commitments made between 2008 and 2014.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) reports progress on its Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, which aims to assist developing countries in accessing Fund resources. Between 28 April and 18 June 2015, the total number of nominated national designated authorities (NDAs) or focal points rose to 127, and the total number of readiness requests reached 74. The Secretariat finalized grant agreements totaling US$ 1.9 million for seven countries: Comoros, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Rwanda, Thailand, and Togo. The programme operates across five activity areas, including NDA strengthening, strategic framework development, accreditation support, project pipeline creation, and information sharing. Capacity-building efforts include regional workshops in El Salvador and South Korea, with future events planned for Fiji and Egypt, as well as headquarters visits for delegations from Mongolia and Fiji. The GCF is also coordinating with partners such as UNDP, UNEP, and the African Development Bank to ensure complementarity in readiness support.

The GCF readiness programme aims to empower developing countries to access climate finance through five activity areas: strengthening National Designated Authorities (NDAs), developing strategic frameworks, supporting accreditation of implementing entities, building project pipelines, and information sharing. As of April 2015, 70 countries expressed interest, with over 120 NDAs nominated. The Fund provides up to US$ 1 million per country annually, with a minimum of 50% allocated to particularly vulnerable nations. The Secretariat has standardized work packages for NDA strengthening and strategic frameworks, each budgeted up to US$ 150,000, and is coordinating with partners like UNDP, GIZ, and the African Development Bank to avoid duplication of efforts.

The Green Climate Fund reached operational effectiveness in May 2015 after securing signed contribution agreements totaling US$ 5.47 billion, exceeding the 50 per cent threshold of its US$ 10 billion in pledges. The Fund has accredited seven initial entities and is implementing a Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme to assist over 120 developing countries in nominating national designated authorities and developing climate strategies. It has also established initial investment, risk management, and results management frameworks to begin funding mitigation and adaptation projects by its third meeting in 2015.

The report details WWF's efforts to transform commodity markets through the promotion of credible certification schemes, corporate engagement, and policy influence. It highlights the growth of standards like RSPO and MSC, the integration of small-scale producers into sustainable supply chains, and the increasing commitment of major retailers and financial institutions to sustainable sourcing. The document argues that while significant progress has been made in moving sustainability from a niche to a mainstream requirement, further work is needed to scale these impacts and integrate them into national policies and landscape-level management.

The Green Climate Fund Secretariat has developed proposed guidelines for a 'fit-for-purpose' accreditation approach that scales fiduciary and environmental and social safeguard (ESS) requirements based on the nature and risk of proposed activities. To ensure coherence with other institutions, the Secretariat conducted a gap analysis comparing the Fund's standards with those of the Adaptation Fund, Global Environment Facility, and EU DEVCO, as well as an assessment of private sector best practices in consultation with the Private Sector Advisory Group.

The IAI Executive Committee has established an ad hoc committee to draft terms of reference for a new Advisory Committee on Science-Policy Liaison, aimed at integrating global change science into decision-making. The EC is also exploring strategies to increase member country involvement and funding, including reviewing the IAI Strategic Plan. Additionally, the IAI participated in the ENSOCIO-LA consortium to foster EU-Latin American cooperation on climate change and resource efficiency, and co-organized a World Climate Research Program (WCRP) conference in Montevideo to define a regional research agenda for climate services.

The Implementation Committee reports on the transition to a tripartite structure for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The Integrated Operations and Finance Directorate in Montevideo, Uruguay, is largely operational following the ratification of its host country agreement on December 13, 2013. The Science-Policy Liaison Directorate in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has renovated office space, though staffing for the Director and Assistant Director positions has been delayed by administrative and diploma legalization issues. The establishment of the Science Development Directorate in São José dos Campos, Brazil, remains pending due to ongoing negotiations over the host country agreement, specifically regarding whether the agreement should cover the IAI as a whole or only the specific directorate.

The document outlines the transition from an Interim to an independent Secretariat, focusing on securing privileges and immunities, adopting administrative policies based on the Asian Development Bank's model, and preparing the headquarters in Songdo, Republic of Korea. It details a phased approach to implementing human resources and financial guidelines, the search for administrative service providers, and a comprehensive ICT service roadmap spanning 2013 to 2015.

The document details the transition of the IAI to a tripartite structure with directorates in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. It reports that the Science-Policy Liaison Directorate in Buenos Aires is operational, while the Integrated Operations and Finance Directorate in Montevideo awaits parliamentary ratification and the Science Development Directorate in Brazil is under review. Additionally, it notes a failed attempt at electronic voting for SAC vacancies due to lack of quorum and warns of a looming membership continuity crisis in the SAC. The report also mentions the IAI's participation in the ENSOCIO-LA project and the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The draft report outlines the initial administrative and operational steps taken by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board, including the election of Co-Chairs, the selection process for a host country, and the establishment of an Interim Secretariat. It details the role of the World Bank as Interim Trustee and provides a financial snapshot of the Fund's trust fund as of September 2012. The report also maps GCF's progress against specific guidance provided by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC.