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The document evaluates the state of governance in Africa using indices such as the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) and the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG). It finds that while some progress has been made in 'voice and accountability', overall governance trends have remained static or declined since 1996. The analysis suggests that while APRM members are statistically more likely to show governance improvement than non-members, the number of reviews undergone does not definitively correlate with better scores. The author argues that both the APRM and the AGR suffer from a lack of implementation of their recommendations and that the AGR risks duplicating the APRM's efforts.

A Climate Central analysis of 239 contiguous U.S. locations from 1979 to 2022 shows that 201 locations experienced an increase in annual days with a heat index of 90°F or higher, averaging 10 additional days. The most significant increases occurred in the South, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest, with McAllen, Texas, seeing the highest increase of 32 more days. The report emphasizes that high humidity multiplies heat risks by limiting the body's ability to cool through sweating, leading to preventable but serious illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations including children, seniors, and low-income communities.

A Climate Central analysis of 241 U.S. locations shows that 195 (81%) have experienced an increase in the annual number of extremely hot days since 1970, with an average increase of 11 days. The report highlights that extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the U.S. and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and people of color living in urban heat islands. Specific cities like Austin, Texas, and San Angelo, Texas, have seen significant increases of 47 and 39 additional extremely hot days annually, respectively.

The report finds that while there is a growing shift toward electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking, the transition is too slow to meet IEA Net Zero by 2050 targets. Asia, particularly India and China, remains the hub for new coal-based blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) capacity. This continued investment in carbon-intensive technology, alongside persistent global overcapacity, creates a significant stranded asset risk estimated up to US$ 554 billion.

Since 1970, average summer nighttime temperatures have increased in 95% of 241 analyzed U.S. locations, warming by an average of 3°F. These 'sweltering nights' are warming faster than daytime highs and increase heat stress, particularly for vulnerable populations and low-income households lacking air conditioning. The document highlights that the western U.S. has experienced the greatest warming, with Reno, Nevada, seeing the highest increase at 17.4°F.

The Net Zero Stocktake 2023 analyzes net zero pledges across over 4,000 entities, finding that while the number of corporate targets is growing rapidly and national targets are increasingly underpinned by policy, many subnational and corporate entities still lack emission reduction targets or robust strategies, and no major producer has committed to a fossil fuel phase-out.

The Net Zero Stocktake 2023 finds that while the number of entities with net zero targets has grown to 1,475, a significant portion of sub-national governments and large companies still lack any emission reduction targets. While national targets are increasingly underpinned by legislation, there is limited improvement in the robustness of corporate and sub-national strategies, particularly regarding Scope 3 emissions and the use of offsets. Notably, no major fossil fuel producers have committed to phasing out fossil fuels despite having net zero pledges.

The report examines how developing countries can use the results of their National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes to create Adaptation Communications (AdComs) under the Paris Agreement. It analyzes trends in AdCom submissions, provides case studies of countries at different NAP stages, and offers lessons on consultation and strategic alignment to boost the visibility of adaptation needs and progress.

The report provides guidance and analysis on leveraging National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes to develop Adaptation Communications (AdComs). It details flexible submission options, analyzes trends among developing countries—particularly regarding gender integration and climate finance—and shares lessons from the NAP Global Network's support of 22 partner countries to streamline reporting and enhance the visibility of national adaptation priorities.

The report provides guidance for developing countries to align their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) with Adaptation Communications (AdComs) under the Paris Agreement. It analyzes trends among the 56 countries that have submitted AdComs, noting that most developing nations use either standalone documents or their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as vehicles. The document outlines how countries at different stages of the NAP process—early stage, finalizing, or implementing—can use AdComs to consolidate information, advocate for support, or share lessons learned. It also highlights trends in gender integration, adaptation costing, and the use of case studies to demonstrate resilience.

The document analyzes conflict patterns in Asia from 1989 to 2022, noting that while state-based battle-related deaths declined in 2022 due to the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, violence escalated in Myanmar following its 2021 military coup. It details the prevalence of state-based conflicts as the deadliest type in the region, the emergence of interstate tensions between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and the rise of communal non-state violence in Papua New Guinea. The brief also highlights persistent one-sided violence against civilians by both state and non-state actors in Myanmar, Afghanistan, India, and the Philippines.

The document asserts that the world is in the midst of a 'renewable revolution' characterized by exponential cost declines and adoption rates for solar, wind, batteries, and electric vehicles. It identifies China as the current leader of this transition, which is sparking a global race to the top. The report claims that global fossil fuel demand peaked in 2019 and will enter terminal decline after 2025. By 2030, the authors predict that renewables will dominate sector sales and be significantly cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives, creating a 'renewable supercycle' for investors and a necessity for petrostates to reform. The report also highlights the potential for the Global South to leapfrog old technologies and the ability of renewables to drastically reduce air pollution deaths and environmental pressure compared to fossil fuels.

The document evaluates the impact of AU governance tools, finding that while APRM members are statistically more likely to show governance improvements than non-members, neither the APRM nor the AGR has fundamentally reversed a general trend of stagnation or decline in African governance since 1996. It highlights a lack of resilience in governance scores following shocks and argues that the focus of these mechanisms must shift from providing recommendations to ensuring their implementation.

The document identifies a sharp decline in Chinese infrastructure lending to Africa since 2016, driven by debt sustainability concerns, China's domestic economic contraction, and global shocks. In response, three trends have emerged: a diversification of lenders and partners, a shift toward 'small is beautiful' projects with smaller loans and shorter repayment windows, and the adoption of new funding models like build-operate-transfer (BOT) and integrated investment, construction and operation (IICO) to reduce sovereign debt loads.

The Net Zero Stocktake 2023 reveals that while net zero targets now cover 92% of global GDP and 88% of global GHG emissions at the national level, the momentum for new national and subnational targets has slowed. In contrast, corporate target-setting continues to grow, with 929 Forbes Global 2000 companies now having targets. However, the report highlights a critical 'integrity gap': fewer than 5% of subnational and corporate targets meet the minimum 'starting line' criteria of the Race to Zero campaign. National targets have seen a significant shift toward formalization, with the share of targets enshrined in law or policy documents rising from less than 10% in December 2020 to 75% in 2023. The analysis also finds that no major fossil fuel producing countries or companies have committed to a full phase-out of fossil fuel extraction or production, and there is a growing but potentially problematic reliance on carbon dioxide removals (CDR) to meet targets.

Analysis of 241 U.S. locations shows that 95% have experienced summer warming since 1970, with an average increase of 2.4°F. The West, Southwest, Northwest, and western Texas saw the most heating, with Reno, Nevada, recording the highest increase at 11.1°F. Additionally, 58% of analyzed locations now experience at least two more weeks of above-normal summer days than in 1970. The document highlights that excessive heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. and disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and people of color living in urban heat islands.

Climate Central's analysis of 242 U.S. locations from 1979 to 2022 shows that 71% of these sites experienced an increase in annual mosquito days, averaging a rise of 16 days. The Southeast and South currently have the highest number of mosquito days, while the Ohio Valley and Northeast saw the largest region-wide increases. The report links these trends to warming spring and fall temperatures and discusses the expanding risk of mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and dengue, as suitable habitats shift northward and the season length for transmission increases.

The health system in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is characterized by a near-collapse due to conflict and mismanagement, with a high reliance on non-state actors and significant out-of-pocket costs for households. While life expectancy and mortality rates for infants and mothers have improved since 1990, the DRC continues to lag behind other low-income countries and is projected to miss 2030 Sustainable Development Goals for maternal and infant mortality. Severe child malnutrition remains a critical issue, with 43% of children under five suffering from chronic malnutrition. The country is expected to undergo an epidemiological transition in 2030, shifting from a dominance of communicable diseases—such as malaria, which causes 80% of deaths in children under five—to non-communicable diseases. Government health spending remains extremely low, at less than 4% of GDP as of 2017.

Algeria has seen significant improvements in infant mortality since 1970 and is projected to reach a life expectancy of 80 years by 2040. However, the health system faces pressure from an ageing population, a rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and shortages of healthcare professionals. While maternal mortality is on track to meet SDG targets by 2033, the country is not expected to meet the 2030 SDG goal to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five under current policies.

Algeria has achieved universal primary education and high STEM enrolment, but faces significant challenges with secondary school completion rates, educational quality, and a mismatch between graduate skills and labour market demands.