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The report assesses the GCF's adaptation portfolio, finding it generally aligned with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) but lacking in areas like human health. It identifies a critical need for standardized guidelines on 'climate rationale' to distinguish adaptation from general development and recommends a flexible three-tier costing approach (total, incremental, and beyond incremental cost). The study also highlights the under-utilization of diverse accredited entities and the limited role of the private sector in adaptation projects.

The briefing examines the intersection of poverty eradication and climate action, arguing that the "leave no one behind" (LNB) principle is essential for ensuring that the poorest populations—who are most vulnerable to climate impacts—benefit from and participate in the energy transition. It outlines four key implications for climate policy: including the poor in decision-making, targeting them as implementers of adaptation and mitigation, maximizing direct benefits for them, and providing compensatory measures to offset regressive impacts like carbon taxes. The author notes that while many Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) mention inequality, few contain concrete measures to realize these benefits, suggesting that upcoming NDC updates provide a critical opportunity to integrate LNB principles.

The document examines the environmental integrity risks—specifically baseline determination, additionality, permanence, and leakage—and social safeguards associated with using forest-related mitigation credits in international carbon markets like Article 6 and CORSIA. It notes that while transfer-based finance could increase funding for forest protection, it introduces risks such as credit oversupply and volatility in market prices.

The Bangkok Climate Change Conference focused on operationalizing the Paris Agreement through the PAWP, covering mitigation, adaptation, finance, and transparency. While some technical progress was made in streamlining negotiating texts, overall progress was characterized as "uneven," with significant deadlocks remaining over climate finance (Article 9.5) and the principle of differentiation in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The report evaluates the role of cities, regions, companies, and investors in climate mitigation. While the potential for these actors to reduce emissions is vast—potentially up to 15-23 GtCO2 e per year by 2030—their current contribution remains limited. The document highlights a lack of consistent reporting and data, and calls for improved transparency, quantifiable targets, and stronger government support to scale up these efforts.

The document analyzes energy efficiency (EE) and productive efficiency in 106 Brazilian industrial sectors. It finds that while the efficiency of typical firms improved between 2003 and 2015, the market share of the most efficient firms declined. The analysis suggests that resource reallocation—particularly correcting capital distortions—could significantly increase total factor productivity, far exceeding the gains from energy efficiency improvements alone. It argues that Brazil's EE policies have historically been reactive and focused on residential use, neglecting the industrial sector, which is the largest energy consumer.

The Smallholder Forestry Vehicle (SFV) is a proposed financial instrument designed to scale smallholder forestry in Africa by aggregating tree production contracts into a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). By separating the high-risk establishment and harvest phases from the lower-risk growth phase, the SFV aims to lower the cost of capital and attract institutional investors. A proof-of-concept facility targeting US$ 35 million in coastal Kenya is proposed to restore 5,000 hectares of degraded land and provide climate-resilient savings to over 16,000 households. The analysis suggests that with concessional debt and first-loss equity, the vehicle can achieve a gross internal rate of return (IRR) of 11.1%. Long-term goals include expanding into Greater East Africa and mobilizing up to US$ 8.5 billion in initial investment to meet regional land restoration targets.

The document highlights how climate change threatens energy infrastructure through extreme weather and shifting environmental conditions, which can jeopardize the financial viability of projects. It advocates for a resilience-based approach—focusing on robustness, resourcefulness, and recovery—and suggests a combination of technological, green, behavioural, and financial strategies to safeguard energy systems and support NDC mitigation goals.

Carbon Market Watch advocates for a single mechanism under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to replace Kyoto Protocol mechanisms and prevent the use of CDM credits post-2020. To ensure the aviation sector's use of offsets does not hinder global mitigation, the organization proposes a ratchet mechanism on NDC scope, rules to prevent double counting via corresponding adjustments, and a 50% discount rate on offset credits. Additionally, it recommends establishing detailed rules for local stakeholder consultations and a grievance mechanism to protect communities from project-related adverse impacts.

The Waste Management Flagship Programme seeks USD 1,359,719 in preparatory funds to transition South African municipalities from landfill-based disposal to a circular economy. The programme focuses on five organic waste treatment technologies: open windrow composting, in-vessel composting, decentralized containerized composting, anaerobic digestion (AD), and biomass pre-treatment. The PPF phase will conduct full feasibility studies and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) for six pilot municipalities—Rustenburg, Emfuleni, uMhlathuze, Msunduzi, Mbombela, and Mangaung—while developing standardized blueprints, procurement documents, and a due diligence framework to scale the model to 24 additional municipalities. The overall programme aims to reduce methane emissions by 572,800 t CO2 eq per annum and create 938 jobs during construction and operation.

The author suggests that the Talanoa Dialogue should be used as a platform for countries to share and replicate successful low-carbon policies. Based on a specific scenario, replicating successful policies in sectors covering 65% of global emissions could reduce emissions by approximately 10 GtCO2e by 2030 compared to current policies, effectively halving the reductions needed to keep temperature rise below 2 °C.

The report examines the role of economic instruments in leveraging private investment for clean energy in India, Mexico, and Indonesia. It analyzes the impact of India's GST reform, Mexico's Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) market, and Indonesia's fossil fuel subsidy reforms, concluding that economic policies must be aligned with international climate commitments to effectively signal and incentivize private sector investment.

The document outlines a proposal by the Project for Advancing Climate Transparency (PACT) to assist climate negotiators in creating cohesive implementing guidelines for the Paris Agreement. It focuses on the cycle of planning, implementing, and reviewing climate actions, identifying core requirements for elements such as common timeframes and cooperative processes to ensure accountability and sustainable development.

The Life After Coal Campaign (LAC) argues that new coal-fired power plants in South Africa are irrational, costly, and contrary to international climate obligations. The campaign highlights the severe water externalities of coal, the health risks associated with the proposed Khanyisa power station, and the financial risks of stranded assets as global investment shifts away from thermal coal. LAC advocates for a just transition that prioritizes renewable energy, protects workers' livelihoods, and ensures Eskom's active role in a sustainable energy system.

The document provides specific wording suggestions to ensure that the Paris Agreement's rights-based vision is reflected in the guidelines for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Transparency Framework, the Global Stocktake, and Article 6 mechanisms. It emphasizes that these guidelines should promote the integration of human rights, gender equality, and indigenous rights without creating new obligations for Parties or new conditionalities for climate finance.

The 2018 Talanoa Dialogue, facilitated by the Fijian and Polish presidencies, aims to raise climate ambition by taking stock of progress toward the Paris Agreement and informing 2020 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The process uses a non-adversarial, story-based methodology to foster consensus. NHRIs and civil society are encouraged to provide actionable, positive inputs that link climate action to human rights, including gender equality, indigenous peoples' rights, and just transitions. The dialogue consists of preparatory phases (online submissions and in-session dialogues) and a final political phase at COP-24 in Katowice, Poland.

The document proposes replacing traditional carbon offsetting with a results-based climate finance (RBCF) system under a unified Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM). It argues that while the aviation sector currently relies on offsets via CORSIA, this should be a transitory arrangement phased out by 2030 through a 'ratchet mechanism' on Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) scope. To ensure environmental integrity and avoid double counting, the author recommends a 50% discount rate on offsets, mandatory corresponding adjustments by host countries, and a transparent international registry. Additionally, the SDM should incorporate stakeholder consultation rules, grievance mechanisms, and restrictions on harmful technologies like coal to foster genuine sustainable development.

The report analyzes the role of economic instruments in mobilizing private investment for clean energy in Indonesia, Mexico, and India. It examines specific mechanisms such as Indonesia's fossil fuel subsidy reforms, Mexico's Clean Energy Certificates (CELs), and India's Goods and Services Tax (GST), highlighting how these policies can either facilitate or obstruct the transition to renewable energy.

The document defines alignment as a process to identify synergies among policy processes with common objectives to increase coherence, efficiency, and effectiveness. It argues that aligning the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is essential for climate-resilient development because these agendas share goals of strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability. The brief outlines a continuum of alignment—from informal collaboration to systematic alignment—and notes that success depends on political will, government capacity, and the influence of coordinating actors, such as ministries of planning or central leadership.

The document argues that aligning national policy processes—specifically those related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies—increases coherence, efficiency, and effectiveness in achieving climate-resilient development. It defines alignment as the identification of synergies between policies with common goals, distinguishing it from 'mainstreaming' (the integration of climate considerations into a single plan). The briefing outlines a progression of alignment from informal collaboration to systematic alignment, noting that success depends on political will, institutional arrangements, and the capacity of government actors. It emphasizes that while national governments lead these processes, implementation occurs primarily at the subnational level, necessitating a coordinated approach to avoid overburdening local authorities.