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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.

The document argues that aligning national policy processes—specifically those related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies—increases the coherence, efficiency, and effectiveness of climate-resilient development. It defines alignment as the identification of synergies between policies with common goals and presents a continuum of alignment ranging from informal collaboration to systematic alignment. The briefing emphasizes that while alignment is often hindered by administrative barriers between government ministries, it is essential for reducing the burden on subnational actors and improving overall development outcomes.

The document details the rising trends of heat waves and heat stress in the US, attributing recent increases to human-caused climate change and projecting more severe events by 2100 unless emissions are stabilized.

The document outlines the process for developing long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies, emphasizing their role in guiding near- and medium-term actions and avoiding stranded assets. It details essential design elements, including long-term visions, sectoral pathways, and the critical role of the energy sector. The paper also discusses the use of modeling, scenarios, and qualitative inputs to inform these strategies, while highlighting the importance of transparent communication and just transitions.

The author proposes using border carbon adjustments (BCAs) as a strategic response to U.S. protectionism. By targeting U.S. goods based on carbon intensity, countries can signal their climate commitments and potentially pressure the U.S. to reconsider its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and its rollback of domestic climate policies.

The document details how climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves across the United States, leading to severe health risks and societal disruptions. It highlights the vulnerability of specific populations, such as the elderly and outdoor workers, and the role of the urban heat-island effect. The text argues that stabilizing carbon emissions and adhering to the Paris Agreement can significantly reduce the projected increase in extreme temperatures and the frequency of heat waves by mid-century.

The report evaluates 22 trade-related policy options to support climate action, categorising them into general trade system support, border carbon adjustments, and fossil fuel subsidy reform, while assessing their political feasibility across short, medium, and long-term horizons.

The briefing proposes using border carbon adjustments (BCAs) to levy carbon charges on imports, thereby creating a level emissions playing field between domestic and external manufacturers and incentivizing trade partners to adopt low-carbon products.

The document asserts that reducing fossil fuel supply is essential to keeping global warming well below 2°C, despite the Paris Agreement's silence on the matter. It suggests that countries can use existing Paris Agreement architecture and mechanisms to articulate and report actions aimed at curtailing fossil fuel supply, which would enhance the ambition and effectiveness of climate mitigation efforts.

The author contends that the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is outdated, focusing on industrial productivity and short-term gains while ignoring public health crises and environmental degradation. The text proposes a 'Common Food Policy' that integrates various sectors (health, education, trade), coordinates local and EU-level governance, shifts from 'productivism' to sustainability, adopts long-term strategic planning, and incorporates 'food democracy' by involving citizens to counter the influence of agribusiness lobbying.

The study argues that current national climate plans are insufficient and would necessitate disruptive changes after 2030. By implementing a global roll-out of regional regulatory policies across energy, transport, buildings, industry, and land use, global CO2 emissions could be reduced by an additional 10 GtCO2eq by 2030. While these policies are less disruptive than immediate global carbon pricing, they result in higher economic impacts, suggesting they should complement rather than replace carbon pricing to achieve the Paris goals.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute criticizes a June 30, 2018, EPA report for omitting a comparative analysis between biofuels and petroleum. The statement asserts that biofuels generally offer better environmental and health outcomes than fossil fuels and highlights the role of cellulosic fuels in reducing methane emissions and waste. It further argues that biofuels are essential for meeting Paris Climate Accord goals, particularly in hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation and shipping.

The Climate Bonds Taxonomy is a science-based guide published by the Climate Bonds Initiative to identify assets and projects compatible with a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy aligned with the Paris Agreement's 2-degree Celsius warming target. It provides a 'traffic light' system to categorize assets as automatically compatible (green), potentially compatible (orange), incompatible (red), or requiring further work (grey), serving as the basis for the Climate Bonds Standard certification process.

The report evaluates 22 options to make the international trade system more supportive of climate action, categorising them into general WTO reforms, border carbon adjustments (BCAs), and fossil fuel subsidy reforms. It concludes that legal changes at the WTO are currently unfeasible due to geopolitical tensions and the requirement for consensus. Instead, it identifies 'low-hanging fruit' such as procedural changes, including the integration of climate expertise into dispute panels and enhanced coordination between the WTO and UNFCCC. The report also highlights the role of regional trade agreements (RTAs) and plurilateral initiatives, like the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA), as more viable paths for like-minded countries to advance climate objectives.

The document advocates for the European Union to lead the 'Mission 2020' initiative, which aims to bend the global emissions curve by 2020 to stay within the 2-degree Celsius limit of the Paris Agreement. It argues that the EU can use its existing institutional frameworks, specifically regional cohesion and structural funds, to support a just transition toward low-carbon economies. The text emphasizes a shift from centralized energy production to decentralized, community-based renewable energy systems to empower local actors and counteract populist movements. It cites historical industrial transitions in regions like the Ruhr Area as evidence that such structural changes can be managed. Additionally, it highlights the role of bottom-up movements, such as the Transition Town Movement and the fossil fuel divestment movement, in driving decarbonization.

In 2017, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) reached a record $35.2 billion in climate finance commitments, with all six banks increasing their contributions. However, the report identifies critical gaps: adaptation finance grew slower than mitigation, private investment mobilization remains below 2015 levels, and vulnerable nations like SIDS and LDCs received only 10.5% of total funding. Additionally, the author notes a lack of transparency regarding project-level data and the need for MDBs to align their entire portfolios with the Paris Agreement.

The report exposes the Ngoki oil project in the Republic of Congo as a high-risk venture characterized by corruption, environmental negligence, and potentially exaggerated oil reserves. It highlights the project's threat to the world's largest tropical peatlands in the Cuvette Centrale, which store 30 billion tonnes of carbon. The investigation reveals that the project is controlled by businessman Claude Wilfrid Etoka, who has close ties to President Sassou-Nguesso's family and whose company, SARPD Oil, was dropped by BNP Paribas due to corruption risks. Furthermore, the report argues that the project's Environmental Impact Assessment is "unfit for purpose" as it predates the discovery of the peatlands. It also notes that oil majors Total and ENI have interests in the region, and calls for donors to the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) and financial institutions to halt support for oil exploration in these sensitive ecosystems.

The study identifies that high financing costs in Tunisia, driven by power market, counterparty, and political risks, inflate the cost of renewable energy. By implementing targeted public derisking measures, Tunisia could significantly lower generation costs for wind and solar PV, catalyzing over EUR 1.6 billion in private investment and reducing carbon emissions by 32.2 million tonnes of CO2 over 20 years. The analysis concludes that the economic savings from lower capital costs outweigh the public expenditure required for these instruments.

Manish Bapna addressed the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology to challenge the Trump administration's claims on climate economics, highlight the ongoing momentum of the Paris Agreement, and urge Congress to provide clear policy signals to the private sector.