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The report finds that while net zero commitments from private financial institutions have grown substantially, representing 32% of global private financial assets, there are significant gaps in the credibility and coverage of interim targets. Most commitments originate from OECD countries, and there is a notable lack of detailed climate data and commitments in developing economies, particularly in Asia. The analysis highlights that only a small fraction of institutions have externally verified plans, and many interim targets cover only a portion of their total assets under management.

The document analyzes the climate impact of commercial aviation, noting that while aircraft efficiency has improved, the rapid growth of the industry—particularly in developing nations—continues to drive up total emissions. It details the contributions of CO2 and non-CO2 effects like contrails, the regulatory landscape including ICAO standards, and the projected recovery of air traffic following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The document reports that atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane levels continue to rise, with CO2 expected to break records in May 2022 and methane seeing its largest annual increase in 2021. It identifies the energy sector as the largest global emitter (34%) and the transportation sector as the largest U.S. emitter (27%), arguing that rapid and deep emission cuts across all sectors are necessary this decade to limit warming to 1.5C or below 2C.

In Q1 2022, the cumulative GSS+ labelled debt market reached USD3tn, though quarterly issuance fell nearly 30% year-on-year to USD202.2bn due to market volatility and rising interest rates. While green and social bond volumes declined, sustainability and sustainability-linked bonds saw growth. The period was marked by the first sovereign sustainability-linked bond from Chile and the first public sector sustainability-linked bond from the City of Helsingborg. The report also highlights the role of the IPCC WG3 report and the war in Ukraine in underscoring the urgency of the energy transition, while noting the emergence of transition bonds in Japan.

The document analyzes the trajectory of sustainable urban development, noting that while urban populations are projected to reach 68% by 2050, cities contribute significantly to global carbon emissions and biodiversity loss. It highlights a divide between the Global North's focus on infrastructure transformation and the Global South's need to 'jump start' sustainable development. The paper identifies key trends such as nature-based solutions, multimodal transportation, and a growing emphasis on equity and inclusive planning to address environmental racism and green gentrification.

An analysis of 150 U.S. weather stations shows that 90% experienced an increase in hourly rainfall intensity between 1970 and 2021, with an average increase of 13%. These intensifying rainfall extremes, which contribute to flash flooding and landslides, affect both wet and dry regions, with the most significant increases observed in locations such as Fairbanks, Alaska, and El Paso, Texas.

Climate Central's analysis of 150 U.S. weather stations shows that 90% experienced an increase in hourly rainfall intensity between 1970 and 2021, with an overall average increase of 13%. This trend is linked to the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, where warmer air holds more moisture, increasing the frequency and intensity of heavy downpours. Such extremes contribute significantly to flash flood risks, accounting for approximately one-third of U.S. flood damages ($73 billion) from 1988 to 2017. Future projections suggest that U.S. flash floods could intensify by 8% by 2100 under high-emission scenarios, with the Southwest and central U.S. identified as high-risk areas.

The report finds that while many countries are committing to end coal power, global capacity increased by 18.2 GW in 2021, driven primarily by China. While OECD countries and several non-OECD nations are cancelling projects, China's continued expansion and the use of unproven 'clean coal' technologies in some developed nations hinder alignment with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target.

In 2021, wind and solar generated over 10% of global electricity for the first time, but record-high electricity demand led to a record rise in coal power and the largest absolute increase in power sector CO2 emissions ever recorded.

In 2021, wind and solar power reached a record 10.3% of global electricity generation, but this growth was insufficient to offset a historic surge in electricity demand. Consequently, global coal generation and power sector CO2 emissions both hit all-time highs, with coal meeting 59% of new demand. While 50 countries now derive over 10% of their power from wind and solar, the report warns that the global energy transition is significantly off track from the IEA's net-zero pathway, which requires wind and solar to grow by 20% annually through 2030.

In 2021, global electricity demand grew by 5.4%, the fastest rate since 2010. While solar and wind generation continued to rise, coal generation reached an all-time high, leading to a 7% increase in power sector CO2 emissions. This resulted in the first increase in global electricity carbon intensity since 2011, moving the sector further away from the IEA's 1.5 degree pathway.

Between 1970 and 2021, growing degree days (GDD)—a measure of heat accumulation used to track plant and pest development—increased at 97% of 246 analyzed stations across the contiguous U.S. The average increase was 525 GDD, with the most significant rises occurring in the West, Southwest, and South. While some plants may benefit, increased GDD is linked to higher water and heat stress, altered agricultural schedules, and longer pollen seasons that exacerbate health issues like asthma and hay fever.

The report analyzes 2021 renewable energy generation in the continental U.S., estimating a total of 606,000 GWh from wind (73%) and solar (27%). It highlights Texas as the leader in raw wind generation and California in raw solar generation, while also examining generation normalized by land area and population. The document compares these figures against the Net Zero America Project's 2030 target of 2.2 million GWh per year, concluding that while current growth is accelerating, the U.S. needs to nearly double its annual increase in generation to stay on track for net-zero emissions by 2050.

The report examines the status of women in the Australian large-scale mining sector from 2010/11 to 2020/21. It finds that while women's participation is increasing, the sector remains heavily male-dominated, with significant gender gaps in technical roles, pay, and leadership. Women are over-represented in clerical roles and part-time employment, and they face barriers such as the remoteness of mine sites and a lack of support for care responsibilities. The study highlights a significant gender pay gap and the underutilisation of STEM-qualified women. It recommends organisational policy reforms, targeted capacity building in mining technology, and improved gender-disaggregated data collection to foster a more inclusive industry.

The document identifies a substantial increase in protests in the Global South after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, driven by food and energy insecurity. Analyzing ACLED data, the authors found food protests in 32 countries and fuel protests in 37 countries. While many protests are isolated, in some nations—such as Paraguay, Guatemala, and Peru—these grievances constituted a significant portion of all unrest events. The report argues that such protests serve as warnings of household hardship and can lead to severe political consequences, citing the flight of Sri Lanka's president as an example.

The 6th edition of the Progressing National SDGs Implementation report analyzes 42 voluntary national review (VNR) reports and 17 civil society reports from 2021. It finds that while reporting on the 'Leave No One Behind' principle and COVID-19 impacts on vulnerable populations has increased, most reports ignore the shrinking of civic spaces and attacks on human rights and environmental defenders. Additionally, while general implementation information remains consistent, the report notes backslides in budgeting and awareness-raising activities.

Analysis of 19 Winter Olympic host cities shows an average February warming of 4.8 °F since 1950, with some cities like Oslo warming by 9.8 °F. A University of Waterloo study indicates that under a high-emissions scenario, only one host city (Sapporo) would reliably provide safe and fair outdoor snow sports conditions by the 2080s. The Paralympic Games face higher risks due to their typical March scheduling, which coincides with warmer temperatures and a higher probability of rain.

The 2021 gas crisis caused a paradigm shift in the EU's electricity transition, with skyrocketing prices making fossil gas more expensive than coal and enhancing the competitiveness of renewables. For the first time in Europe, combined wind and solar generation (547 TWh) exceeded gas (524 TWh). While solar growth is surging in countries like Spain and the Netherlands, it remains stagnant in others such as Italy, Czechia, and Romania. Additionally, the structural decline of nuclear power in the EU has slowed decarbonisation, as a significant portion of renewable growth has replaced lost nuclear output rather than fossil fuels.

In 2021, EU-27 electricity demand nearly returned to 2019 levels, with renewables reaching a record 1068 TWh and accounting for 37% of production. A critical shift occurred in the second half of 2021 when soaring gas prices made fossil gas more expensive than coal, leading new renewable output to predominantly replace gas rather than coal. While wind and solar output hit record highs (547 TWh), overall power sector emissions fell by an average of 2.5% per year since 2019, which is less than half the 6% annual decline required to align with a 1.5C pathway. Nuclear power continued a long-term structural decline, accounting for 26% of production in 2021.

The European Electricity Review 2022 identifies a 'paradigm shift' in the EU power sector where soaring gas prices in 2021 led new renewable energy to replace fossil gas instead of coal. While wind and solar reached record generation of 547 TWh in 2021, overall power sector emissions declined at less than half the rate required to meet 1.5°C targets. The report highlights that coal phase-outs are stalling in some regions, such as Poland, and that the structural decline of nuclear power is further slowing decarbonization by forcing renewables to replace lost nuclear capacity rather than fossil fuels.