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The 2021 NYDF Progress Assessment finds that national climate pledges for forests meet only 50% of their mitigation potential, and annual government investments of USD 2.4 billion represent only 0.5–5% of the required funding. While some progress in reducing forest loss has been noted, global deforestation and degradation continue, necessitating a whole-of-society approach and the integration of forest goals into macroeconomic policy.

The report evaluates the ambition, investment, and strategic implementation of forest-related climate goals across governments. It finds that national targets in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) significantly underutilize the mitigation potential of forests, and that current financial investments are insufficient compared to the funding required for forest protection and restoration.

The report evaluates progress toward the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) and the Paris Agreement, concluding that current efforts are insufficient to end forest loss and greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It argues that forest mitigation goals are fundamentally conflicted with an economic system based on unlimited production and consumption. To address this, the document outlines six key strategies for governments: strengthening land governance, securing indigenous and local community rights, aligning financial incentives, supporting multi-stakeholder collaboration, improving forest monitoring, and implementing demand-side measures in importing countries.

The report finds that while the Paris Agreement has confirmed the role of forests in the international climate agenda, global efforts to end forest loss and greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 remain insufficient. It argues that current economic systems incentivize forest exploitation and that existing government initiatives—such as REDD+ programs and monitoring systems—have not been enough to counter these drivers. To realize forests' mitigation potential, the authors recommend that governments increase ambition in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), massively scale up domestic and international finance, and implement six specific strategies: strengthening land governance, securing Indigenous Peoples and local communities' (IPLCs) rights, aligning fiscal incentives, promoting multistakeholder collaboration, ensuring robust monitoring, and expanding demand-side measures in importing countries.

The report concludes that while the Paris Agreement has confirmed the role of forests in the international climate agenda, global efforts remain insufficient to stop deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It argues that current economic systems, driven by infinite production and consumption, contradict climate goals. To address this, the report proposes six core strategies: strengthening land governance, securing indigenous and local community rights, aligning fiscal incentives with mitigation, promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration, ensuring reliable forest monitoring, and implementing demand-side measures in importing countries.

The report finds that while Goal 7 of the NYDF—integrating forests into the international climate agenda via the Paris Agreement—has been achieved, overall progress in ending forest loss and associated greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 remains insufficient. It argues that current mitigation efforts are undermined by an economic system driven by infinite production and consumption of forest-risk commodities. To address this, the document proposes six core strategies for governments: strengthening land-use governance, securing Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) rights, aligning financial incentives with mitigation goals, promoting multi-stakeholder jurisdictional collaboration, ensuring robust forest monitoring, and expanding demand-side measures in importing countries.

The report finds that while the Paris Agreement has integrated forests into the international climate agenda, current national actions are insufficient to stop forest loss and greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It argues that governments must increase the ambition of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), align financial flows with climate goals, and implement six core strategies: strengthening governance, protecting indigenous land rights, aligning incentives, promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration, ensuring robust monitoring, and implementing demand-side measures in importing countries.

The report finds that while the Paris Agreement has integrated forests into the international climate agenda, national ambitions in NDCs remain insufficient and often lack quantitative targets. Public finance for forest climate goals is a small fraction of the required amount, with 'grey' finance for deforestation-driving sectors vastly outweighing 'green' investments. While many countries have established REDD+ programs and robust monitoring systems, implementation is hindered by weak governance, widespread illegality, and a lack of secure land tenure for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). The report recommends scaling up domestic and international finance, strengthening land rights, and expanding demand-side regulations in consumer countries to curb illegal deforestation.

The document argues that while Africa requires significant investment for climate mitigation and adaptation—including an estimated $3 trillion for NDC implementation by 2030—private sector investment remains low. It identifies key barriers such as political, regulatory, and project risks, as well as a lack of 'bankable' projects. To overcome these, the authors recommend creating supportive regulatory environments, utilizing credit enhancement mechanisms through blended finance, and providing technical grant-based funding to help borrowers reach the bankability stage. Special attention is given to the need for catalytic public finance to unlock private investment in adaptation and nature-based solutions.

The document outlines a framework for South African climate diplomacy, emphasizing the need to move beyond the UNFCCC to engage with the G7, G20, WTO, and IMF. It argues that the current global climate finance architecture is unfit for the needs of emerging economies, particularly regarding coal phase-outs and adaptation. The authors recommend a whole-of-government approach to secure 'package deals' that link higher emission reduction targets to concrete financial support, debt relief, and intellectual property waivers for green technology.

Based on a quantitative mapping of OECD data from 2014 to 2018, the document identifies five primary failures in climate adaptation finance for Africa: insufficient funding levels compared to mitigation and actual needs, a lack of strategic targeting toward the most vulnerable countries, over-concentration in agriculture and water sectors, low disbursement rates of committed funds, and an over-reliance on loans rather than grants.

The report examines the application of just transition principles across various sectors in developing and emerging economies to ensure social justice and sustainable development. It specifically analyzes the impacts of policy instruments on employment and identifies ways for the German Development Cooperation to support these efforts. The study covers sectors including coal phase-out, fossil fuel subsidy reform, renewable energy, circular economy, and sustainable agriculture, utilizing case studies from countries such as Bangladesh, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and South Africa.

The document argues that cross-cutting climate projects perform better in impact and efficiency than isolated ones. It recommends using design-thinking processes, joined dashboards for indicators, and economic modelling to identify synergies and manage trade-offs between adaptation and mitigation. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need to align Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) with long-term development strategies to streamline financial flows and mobilize non-environmental stakeholders.

The YOUNGO Health Working Group emphasizes the critical link between planetary and human health, citing climate change as the greatest global health threat of the 21st century. The authors highlight the role of youth as frontline health workers and activists, calling for governments to integrate youth perspectives into UNFCCC and G20 preparations and to recognize climate change as a health emergency within their Nationally Determined Contributions.

The Subnational Climate Fund (SnCF), approved by the GCF in 2020 and running through 2028, aims to mobilize USD 750 million to support approximately 40 subnational projects with deal sizes between USD 5 million and 75 million. The fund utilizes a Technical Assistance Facility and USD 150 million in concessional equity from the GCF to attract USD 600 million in commercial equity, targeting subnational governments that lack fiscal autonomy or the ability to borrow from international capital markets. The fund involves 42 countries, including 16 in Africa, and focuses on projects aligned with NDCs that incorporate Nature-based Solutions.

The project aims to reduce coastal flooding risks in Egypt's North Coast and Nile Delta through the installation of 69 km of sand dune dikes and the development of an integrated coastal zone management plan. Co-financed by the Green Climate Fund (USD 31.4 million) and the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (USD 73.8 million), the initiative targets direct benefits for 768,164 people. Implementation involves multiple Egyptian ministries and the UNDP as the Accredited Entity, while the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency serves as the National Designated Authority.

The Adaptation Benefits Mechanism (ABM) is a results-based financing tool that uses grants to repay commercial investors based on third-party valuations of adaptation benefits. Launched in 2019 and running through 2023, the pilot phase aims to deploy USD 50 million, with the African Development Bank leading implementation. The mechanism is particularly suited for land use and forestry projects and requires the involvement of project beneficiaries in design and monitoring. While applicable globally, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are identified as the most supportive countries for proposing pilot projects.

The document describes Cooling as a Service (CaaS) as a pay-per-service model that removes upfront costs for customers by having service providers own and maintain energy-efficient cooling equipment. It highlights the role of sale-leaseback arrangements with banks to scale financing and identifies Nigeria's ColdHubs as a practical application for solar-powered cold storage. The text also notes the importance of legal frameworks, national energy efficiency policies, and the potential for CaaS implementation in 21 countries that prioritized urban planning in their NDCs.

The YOUNGO Health Working Group advocates for youth participation in a green post-COVID-19 recovery and UNFCCC negotiations, highlighting the link between planetary health and human health. The authors call for governments to treat climate change as a health emergency and increase their Nationally Determined Contributions to meet Paris Agreement objectives.

The document provides a comprehensive guide to adaptation communications (ADCOMs), which are voluntary reports used by countries to share climate adaptation priorities and needs. It outlines the four primary goals of ADCOMs: increasing the visibility of adaptation, strengthening support for developing countries, providing data for the global stocktake, and enhancing global learning. The text details flexible submission methods—standalone, in conjunction with, or as a component of other documents like NDCs or NAPs—and lists optional content elements ranging from national circumstances to gender-responsive actions. Finally, it explains how countries can leverage existing NAP processes to develop their ADCOMs, even if a final NAP document is not yet complete.