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The Congo Basin, the world's second-largest tropical forest and a critical carbon sink, experienced an increase in deforestation in 2021, reaching 636,000 hectares. While historically low, current trends show that only Gabon and the Republic of the Congo are aligned with the 2030 goal of zero deforestation. Primary drivers include small-scale subsistence agriculture combined with road construction, though industrial mining and logging pose severe risks to intact forest landscapes. Despite the existence of legal frameworks and international funding commitments—such as $1.5 billion from COP26 donors—implementation is hindered by poor governance, land tenure insecurity for indigenous peoples, and a lack of intersectoral policy alignment. The report emphasizes the need for stronger community land rights and more transparent, quantifiable financial mechanisms to protect this vital ecological region.

The document provides a multi-faceted analysis of how trade policies impact environmental and social sustainability. It highlights the new environmental provisions in the USMCA/T-MEC/CUSMA, the European Union's leadership in circular economy product policies, and the vulnerability of small island states' tourism sectors post-COVID-19. It also warns of rising non-tariff protectionism and discusses India's potential as a hub for electric vehicle battery recycling, while detailing the complexities of trade agreements in Latin America and the EU's proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism.

In 2018, global coal-fired power capacity growth continued a three-year decline, with new construction and commissioning falling significantly. While the US led a high rate of retirements, China saw a paradoxical trend: a sharp drop in new approvals but a rise in under-construction capacity as previously halted projects resumed. India also saw a historic low in new approvals as solar and wind power became more cost-competitive. The report emphasizes that current operating coal plants are incompatible with IPCC goals to limit warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius.

The 2019 report by Global Energy Monitor, Sierra Club, and Greenpeace indicates a three-year decline in major growth indicators for coal-fired power generation. While global project pipelines and new licenses in China and India have dropped significantly, China remains a critical factor due to its financing of international projects and potential policy shifts regarding its domestic capacity ceiling. The United States led the world in coal plant retirements in 2018, despite political efforts to maintain aging plants. The report emphasizes that current operational coal capacity exceeds the limits required to meet IPCC climate goals of 1.5°C or 2°C warming.

The briefing identifies a structured pattern of wildfire-related disinformation on social media, where 'core' narratives like arson deflection and government mismanagement serve as gateways to more extreme conspiracy theories and climate denial. It highlights how these narratives have spread across different regions, including Chile, Spain, Greece, Canada, and Hawaii, often leveraging the 'attention economy' of Big Tech platforms to undermine the link between climate change and increasing wildfire intensity.