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The document provides a glossary of terms for COP22, covering basic UNFCCC structures, the mechanisms of the Paris Agreement, and specific financial and operational goals like the $100 billion climate finance target.

The 2016 UNEP Emissions Gap Report assesses the gap between projected 2030 global emissions under Intended Nationally Determined Contributions and the levels required to limit global temperature increases to well below 2°C or 1.5°C. It evaluates pre-2020 mitigation actions, the potential of non-state action and energy efficiency to increase ambition, and the relationship between the Sustainable Development Goals and climate mitigation.

The document introduces COP 22, held from November 7–18, 2016, in Morocco, emphasizing the urgency for negotiators to establish the modalities of the Paris Climate Change Agreement before 2020.

The document outlines how aligning the UNFCCC and Montreal Protocol regimes can help the refrigeration, air conditioning and foam (RAC&F) sector contribute to the Paris Agreement's temperature targets. It highlights that rising demand for cooling, driven by urbanization and population growth, increases CO2 and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions. The guide emphasizes the importance of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which aims to phase down HFCs to avoid significant temperature increases.

The policy brief explores how truth commissions, traditionally used for political reconciliation, could provide a pragmatic middle path between ignoring historical climate harms and pursuing legal liability. It evaluates three structural options: internal UNFCCC processes, external but linked mechanisms, and entirely external processes such as the International Court of Justice. The author concludes that a high-profile, neutral commission created by NGOs or a coalition of Parties is the most politically feasible approach for trust-building and documenting lived harms, though it must be accompanied by concrete action to avoid alienating supporters.

The policy brief examines the mismatch between the 'top-down' institutional architecture of the UNFCCC and the critical role subnational governments play in implementing climate mitigation and adaptation. It highlights how rapid global urbanisation increases the importance of cities, yet these entities often lack the legal mandate, finance, and direct access to international negotiating tables. The author discusses the role of transnational actors like ICLEI and C40 in bridging this gap and recommends moving toward a 'co-production' model of governance between national and subnational levels.

The document defines loss and damage as the "residual impacts" that occur when climate change impacts exceed the limits of adaptation. It notes that while the concept is grounded in science—citing examples such as sea-level rise submerging territory or the loss of Arctic ice—political views within the UNFCCC remain varied. The briefing specifically focuses on four traits: the unavoidability of some impacts, the potential for irreversible and intolerable harm, and the attribution of these impacts to human-driven climate change.

The policy brief assesses the suitability of the Monitoring Mechanism Regulation (MMR) as a foundation for a new EU Governance Instrument. It argues that while the MMR provides a basis for reporting, it lacks the compliance mechanisms, prescriptive planning requirements, and public transparency needed to effectively drive the 2030 Energy Union objectives. The authors recommend that the new instrument include direct corrective provisions for non-compliance, consistent methodologies for projections in NECPs, and structured processes for stakeholder participation to move beyond a 'technical box-ticking exercise'.

The 2016 SPAC report proposes a strategic framework to increase the visibility of global change research among decision-makers in the Americas. The plan focuses on four key areas: developing an outreach plan to diffuse research results, coordinating with the Science Advisory Committee (SAC) to refine the science agenda, improving engagement with public and private sector decision-makers, and identifying diverse financial mechanisms for research. Key recommendations to the Conference of the Parties include strengthening the IAI directorate's capacity, training scientists in policy communication, and increasing linkages with international environmental conventions such as the UNFCCC and CBD.

The document provides a synthesis of challenges and lessons learned from the preparation of intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) by UNFCCC Parties prior to the Paris Agreement. It aims to support the implementation and development of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by improving clarity and ambition. The findings are based on NewClimate Institute research, including two surveys of developing country representatives, and incorporate examples from GIZ's work with over 30 partner countries to address thematic challenges.

The report details the Co-Chairs' activities from November 2015 to March 2016, highlighting the organization of an informal Board dialogue in Cape Town and preparations for the twelfth Board meeting (B.12) in Songdo. Key focus areas include the development of the 2016 Work Plan, the GCF Strategic Plan, and the goal to meet a US$ 2.5 billion funding approvals target by the end of 2016. The document also notes challenges regarding the execution of Accredited Master Agreements (AMAs) and the need for increased Secretariat staffing to support portfolio development.

Dr. Daniel A. Reifsnyder describes the iterative process of drafting the Paris Agreement, emphasizing the shift toward a 'Party-driven' approach and the breakdown of the 'firewall' between developed and developing nations. He highlights the importance of the October 5 non-paper as a template for the final deal and details the agreement's core goals, including temperature limits and a robust transparency system.

The document presents the Transnational Climate Impacts (TCI) Index, which measures country-level exposure to climate risks transmitted across borders. It identifies four primary risk pathways—biophysical, finance, people, and trade—and argues that globalization makes even wealthy, low-vulnerability countries susceptible to transnational climate shocks. The authors advocate for integrating these risks into national adaptation plans and UNFCCC processes to enhance global cooperation and adaptation finance.

The document examines the tension between treating fossil fuel suppliers as polluters and recognizing extraction as a sovereign right for development. It argues that meeting Paris Agreement targets requires leaving a majority of proven reserves in the ground, which would disproportionately impact lower-income regions through the loss of significant resource rents.

The document describes REDD+ as a voluntary framework for developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation while enhancing forest carbon stocks. It details the five core activities, the three phases of implementation (readiness, implementation, and results-based finance), and the requirements for receiving results-based payments, including national strategies and monitoring systems. The report also outlines how the 2015 Paris Agreement integrates REDD+ into the global climate architecture, specifically regarding Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and transparency frameworks.

The document clarifies that the outcome of the Paris climate talks will likely be a 'package' of instruments with varying legal forms, including a core legal agreement, UNFCCC decisions, and potential political declarations. It emphasizes that the legal force of the agreement is determined by its specific content and prescriptive language rather than its name (e.g., treaty, protocol, or accord). The text further explains that the agreement can contain a mix of binding and non-binding provisions and that the domestic ratification processes of participating countries will vary according to their own legal systems.

The author contends that international aviation and shipping, which together account for approximately 5% of global CO2 emissions, are being overlooked in Paris negotiations despite projected emission growth of up to 270% by 2050. The text criticizes the removal of references to the '2C objective' and levy schemes for the Adaptation Fund from draft texts and calls for the ICAO and IMO to provide transparent annual emissions data.

The document addresses the rise of climate change initiatives operating outside the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It proposes that the UN process can maintain a leading position by shifting its role toward institutional orchestration and complexity management rather than pursuing traditional high regulatory ambitions.

The document identifies a research gap regarding the impact of non-state actors—such as cities, regions, and companies—on Germany's greenhouse gas emissions projections. It argues that these independent mitigation activities are not comprehensively reflected in the national projections used for GHG targets. The study seeks to quantify how these non-state initiatives affect the 2020 emissions gap and longer-term targets up to 2050.

WRI Climate Director Jennifer Morgan frames COP21 as a transformational moment to shift the world toward a sustainable economic model. While noting that over 160 countries have submitted climate action plans (INDCs) and major economies are increasing renewable energy supply, the document warns that current efforts are insufficient to meet the 2 degree C limit. It proposes three essential components for the Paris agreement: clear long-term and short-term signals to catalyze investment and decarbonization, a solidarity package providing finance and tools to developing countries, and a global system of transparency and accountability.