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The document argues that the concept of "shrinking space" is often used to depoliticize the targeted repression of radical social movements. It identifies ten trends of repression, including philanthropic protectionism and the criminalization of human rights defenders, and contends that these tools are applied selectively by states to maintain power. The author suggests that the focus should shift from a generic "civil society" lens to one of political marginalization and solidarity with those on the margins.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) argues that South Africa's 2021 NDC update is insufficient to meet the 1.5°C global warming limit and fails to reflect the country's 'fair share' of global mitigation efforts. The CER highlights that the use of an emissions range allows for a higher upper limit that is inconsistent with safe climate pathways, potentially leading to domestic temperature increases of 4 to 6°C. The document requests the government clarify if it will revisit its 2030 targets as requested by the Glasgow Climate Pact and asks for details on the mechanisms used to monitor and track greenhouse gas emission reductions.

The document critiques the draft National Land Policy of Mozambique for its limited scope, lack of clarity on land tenure, and failure to integrate climate change strategies and human rights protections. It advocates for the adoption of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), stronger protections for customary land rights, and a coordinated inter-sectoral approach to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from the oil and gas industry. The authors emphasize the need for gender equality in land access and the establishment of clear mechanisms to combat corruption and land grabbing.

Canada committed in 2009 to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, a goal it recently accelerated to 2023. However, the lack of a clear, shared definition of 'inefficient' remains a barrier. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that Canada should adopt the World Trade Organization's definition of subsidies and apply four specific criteria—alignment with climate commitments, support for the low carbon economy, just transition consistency, and the effectiveness of the policy goal—to identify which subsidies are inefficient. The brief highlights that federal subsidies totaled at least CAD 1.91 billion in 2020, with additional billions provided at the provincial level.

ClientEarth warns EMR Capital that financing the proposed Whitehaven coal mine in West Cumbria poses significant climate-related financial risks and may breach fiduciary duties to investors. The letter highlights the mine's incompatibility with the 1.5°C warming limit and the likelihood of it becoming a stranded asset due to declining demand for coking coal in the UK and EU steel industries. ClientEarth further asserts that the investment contradicts EMR Capital's status as a UN PRI signatory and its own ESG policy, potentially exposing the firm to legal challenges and accusations of greenwashing.

The document discusses the potential of the EU's CSRD and CSDDD to hold corporations accountable for their negative sustainability impacts through a 'double materiality' approach. It warns that the International Sustainability Standards Board's (ISSB) focus on financial materiality poses a risk to these ambitions and outlines Reclaim Finance's recommendations to EFRAG for strengthening climate-related reporting standards.

Comparing 2021 and 2015 projections, G20 absolute emissions for 2030 are now expected to be 15% lower, with average annual growth rates slowing from 1.2% to 0.3%. Despite these improvements, collective emissions are still projected to increase until 2030, leaving the G20 off track to meet the 1.5 °C warming limit of the Paris Agreement.

The SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration 2022 outlines youth-led demands for climate justice and sustainable development, specifically targeting South Africa's energy transition and the Global South's vulnerabilities. It calls for the urgent implementation of the Just Transition Framework, the removal of the 100MW limit for renewable energy supply from Independent Power Producers, and the integration of youth and marginalized genders into policy writing. Beyond climate, the declaration advocates for the decolonization of African educational curricula, the protection of informal workers, and the eradication of the 'pink tax'. It concludes with pledges from both youth and educators to foster leadership and civic engagement to achieve a more equitable society.

An assessment of 29 Dutch companies and financial institutions reveals that none achieved a high or reasonable integrity rating for their climate targets. The 21 'real economy' businesses commit to an average emission reduction of only 19% by 2030, failing to meet the 50% reduction needed for a 1.5°C pathway. None of the assessed companies provided concrete, publicly accessible plans aligned with the Paris Agreement, and all eight financial institutions continue to finance fossil fuel value chains.

A coalition of civil society organisations condemns the UNDP's signing of an MoU with the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) in South Africa. The letter argues that the MMSEZ is a coal-dependent project that would generate approximately 1 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent over its lifetime, jeopardising South Africa's Paris Agreement commitments and exacerbating water insecurity in the Limpopo region. The authors further claim that the UNDP's grievance mechanisms, specifically the Stakeholder Response Mechanism (SRM) and the Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU), are inadequate because they are reactive and do not cover non-binding MoUs that lend legitimacy to flawed projects.

The document proposes six pathways to 'green' Aid for Trade (A4T), emphasizing that developing countries must lead the prioritization of resources to ensure a just transition. It highlights a significant gap between reported environment-related A4T and projects with clear environmental purposes, while calling for updated monitoring systems and increased financing to align trade policy with the UN SDGs and the Paris Agreement.

The report analyzes 21 international taxonomies to provide a framework for a potential Canadian transition taxonomy, emphasizing the need for science-based thresholds to avoid greenwashing in a resource-dependent economy.

ClientEarth argues that the TPT framework must mandate absolute emissions reductions aligned with a 1.5°C scenario, including Scope 3 emissions, and prohibit reliance on offsets. The organization emphasizes the need for transition plans to be integrated into financial statements and for named directors to be held accountable for delivery. It specifically calls for the prioritization of high-emitting sectors and the inclusion of 'financed emissions' for financial institutions to ensure real-world decarbonization.

ClientEarth argues that the current UK listing regime allows carbon-intensive companies to list on the LSE despite business models incompatible with the Paris Agreement, creating systemic financial risk. The paper recommends that the FCA make demonstrable Paris-alignment a condition for listing, treat climate-exposed applications as 'high risk' for heightened scrutiny, and issue authoritative technical guidance to the market and sponsors.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) developed a mapping framework and findings template to evaluate VLRs. The methodology is based on UN DESA's Global Guiding Elements and adapted to include Canadian-specific priorities, such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and OCAP principles. The framework consists of 11 categories and 101 sub-components. Pilot applications to VLRs from Kelowna, Winnipeg, Espoo, and Malmö indicate that while Canadian cities are making strides in reporting on Indigenous populations, there are significant gaps in disaggregated data and the description of specific local-level efforts to 'leave no one behind'.

The document examines how the Russia-Ukraine war has destabilized energy markets, undermining Russia's role as an 'energy superpower' and creating significant economic pressure on the Global South. It presents three scenarios: 'Stable high' prices, 'Persistent volatility', and 'Business as usual', analyzing how each affects national budgets, regional stability in the Middle East and Africa, and the global transition to renewable energy. The authors argue that while the crisis may incentivize some decarbonization, it also risks locking in fossil fuel production in the Global South and prioritizing immediate energy security over Paris Agreement goals.

The document examines the operationalisation of the Paris Agreement's Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), which mandates that all countries submit biennial transparency reports by December 31, 2024. It highlights the shift toward standardised reporting and review processes to increase accountability for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While the ETF aims to build trust and facilitate ambitious climate commitments, the author notes that developing countries face significant barriers in technical capacity, particularly in greenhouse gas accounting and measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV). The brief advocates for integrating climate tracking into national budgets, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and increasing capacity building for adaptation and loss and damage reporting, particularly in Africa.

The We Mean Business Coalition argues that the 2022 G7 Summit missed a critical opportunity to provide the clear policy signals and concrete actions needed to accelerate the energy transition. While acknowledging the reaffirmation of power system decarbonization by 2035 and the welcome of the International Sustainability Standards Board, the Coalition warns that emergency responses to replace Russian gas must not lock nations into new fossil fuel infrastructure. The statement calls for specific measures, including 70% renewable power by 2030, increased energy efficiency, and the scaling of heat pump technology, to align with Paris Agreement objectives.

IISD experts assert that the modernized Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) fails to align with climate ambitions, specifically noting that the European Union and United Kingdom have agreed to maintain investment protections for existing fossil fuel assets for at least 10 years after the treaty enters into force. This allows fossil fuel investors to continue filing investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims, potentially hindering the phase-out of oil and gas required to limit warming to 1.5°C. Consequently, several EU member states have announced plans to withdraw from the treaty, leading the European Commission to propose a coordinated EU-wide exit to avoid fragmented unilateral withdrawals.

The document details the re-accreditation reviews for three international entities: the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). All three entities are recommended for re-accreditation without conditions. ADB and EBRD are recommended for 'large' project sizes and 'high risk' (Category A/I-1) environmental and social (E&S) risk categories. UNEP is recommended for an upgrade to 'medium' project size and maintains a 'medium risk' (Category B/I-2) E&S category. The assessments cover fiduciary standards, E&S safeguards, gender policies, and the entities' overall climate portfolios, noting that all three have aligned their strategies with the Paris Agreement and GCF's 2020–2023 Strategic Plan.