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The Reservoir Methane Capture Mechanism introduces a "methane-as-a-service" model to capture methane from hydropower reservoirs, converting it into biogas for electricity and generating carbon credits. Managed via a special purpose vehicle (SPV), the mechanism aims to reduce risks for hydropower operators. A pilot project involving five plants is planned, with a long-term goal in Brazil to mobilize USD 3 billion in capital and avoid 6.8 million tons of CO2e emissions annually.

Signatories call on the UK government to revoke authorization for two CDM projects managed by Exportadora del Atlántico (a subsidiary of Grupo Dinant) in the Aguan and Lean regions of Honduras. The letter argues that the projects are linked to violent land conflicts, including the murder of peasants and the use of project sites by military forces. Additionally, it challenges the 'additionality' of the projects, noting that the company received millions in loans from the World Bank's IFC and the Inter-American Investment Corporation for biogas production, which was not disclosed in the project documentation.

The project aims to benefit approximately 182,850 people in Karnali Province, Nepal, by restoring 1,000 hectares of degraded forests and bringing 10,000 hectares under sustainable management. It focuses on reducing vulnerability to landslides, droughts, and floods while promoting climate-smart livelihoods through non-timber forest product (NTFP) micro-enterprises and alternative energy solutions. The initiative includes technical support for 30 municipalities to develop Local Adaptation Plans of Action (LAPAs) and the establishment of early warning systems in six high-risk municipalities.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accreditation Panel recommends the accreditation of the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) in Bangladesh for medium-sized projects with medium environmental and social risk. While IDCOL demonstrated strong capabilities in renewable energy and fiduciary management, the recommendation is conditional upon the adoption of several board-approved policies regarding internal audits, codes of conduct, project closure, and public disclosure.

The document outlines mandatory requirements and recommendations for various GCF funding proposals. General requirements for all proposals include signing a funded activity agreement (FAA), completing legal due diligence, and providing certification of the accredited entity's capacity. Specific conditions are detailed for several projects, including requirements for water reduction strategies in Barbados, technology procurement for pond water treatment in Bangladesh, and GHG emission analysis for cookstoves in Bangladesh. Additionally, the document provides recommendations for project implementation, such as ensuring O&M financing in Tajikistan and strengthening community knowledge management in Zambia.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accreditation Panel recommends the accreditation of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) in Nepal for 'micro' sized projects with 'minimal to no risk' (Category C) environmental and social risk. While the NTNC's policies and capacities generally meet GCF standards, the assessment identified gaps in its track record regarding the implementation of recently approved fiduciary and environmental and social management systems. Consequently, accreditation is recommended subject to several conditions, including the establishment of an independent Complaints Committee and the provision of evidence demonstrating the application of its financial, risk management, and monitoring frameworks over subsequent years.

The report argues that inequality and sustainability are deeply interlinked, with the wealthiest individuals contributing most to environmental degradation while the poorest bear the brunt of its impacts. Through case studies in the UK, India, and Kenya, and analysis of the energy, transport, waste, and food sectors, it identifies recurring patterns of 'double injustice' where marginalised groups are most vulnerable to climate change and pollution. The document highlights 'win-win' examples—such as distributed solar power in Bangladesh, Bus Rapid Transit in Bogotá, and insect farming in Thailand—to show that sustainable development can be designed to reduce inequality.

Global Witness calls for the EU to use the Ecodesign Directive to phase out the sale of new gas boilers by 2029, arguing that raising energy-efficiency thresholds will promote heat pumps and energy independence while preventing long-term fossil fuel lock-in.

The document details a 'closed loop' system where Cape Town Market diverts organic waste to Elgin Fruit Juice's anaerobic digester in Grabouw to produce electricity. The resulting digestate is transported back to Cape Town Market, where Ywaste uses it as a carbon-based additive to create compost for farmers. This synergy results in 1,400 tonnes of organic waste diverted from landfills annually, a reduction of 1,000 tonnes of fossil greenhouse gases, and an annual saving of R550,000 for Cape Town Market.

The document examines the deployment of container-based sanitation (CBS) in Cape Town, where the number of informal households is projected to reach almost 900,000 by 2040. It details the current use of portable flush toilets (PFTs) and shared container toilets, noting that while communities generally accept these as alternatives to full-flush systems, there are significant needs for improved durability and more reliable servicing. The brief also explores the potential for a circular economy by beneficiating excreta into products like fertilizers or fuel, highlighting regulatory shifts such as the 2019 liquid waste landfill ban and new organic waste treatment standards that may reduce barriers for local providers.

The guidelines establish standards for container-based sanitation (CBS), a system where toilets collect excreta in sealable containers for transport to treatment facilities. It defines a service chain comprising customer relations, design and operations (containment, collection, and transfer), and the commercialisation of reuse products. The document outlines 'Safe Minimum Standards' and 'Aspirational Standards' across the sanitation chain, including toilet design (in-home vs. standalone), servicing frequency (typically 2-3 times per week), container cleaning, and waste beneficiation into products like animal protein, biochar, and liquid fertiliser. It emphasizes the importance of user engagement, occupational health and safety (OHS) for workers, and the integration of CBS into broader waste management and urban planning, particularly for informal settlements where sewer infrastructure is not feasible.

The guideline outlines a three-step process for farmers to achieve energy resilience: conducting energy audits to identify efficiencies, evaluating alternative energy technologies based on specific production needs, and navigating the financial and quality assurance aspects of implementation. It highlights the critical role of energy efficiency as a prerequisite to reducing the capital requirements of renewable systems and provides detailed comparisons of technologies such as solar PV, biogas, and battery storage, alongside various South African financing mechanisms and tax incentives.

The document outlines a framework for energy management in South African wastewater treatment works (WWTWs), emphasizing the role of level 1 energy audits to identify high-demand areas. It details specific optimisation strategies for aeration, pumping, and sludge management, noting that these interventions can yield energy savings up to 75%. Additionally, it provides a menu of financing mechanisms, including grants and energy performance contracts, to support the adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

The document outlines energy efficiency (EE) strategies for pumps and motors in South African wastewater treatment works, noting that pumping can account for 4% to 30% of a facility's energy use. It categorizes interventions by payback period and energy savings potential, ranging from no-cost operational adjustments to capital-intensive retrofitting. Potential energy savings from these combined interventions can exceed 50%. The factsheet also details various financing options, including municipal budgets, grants, concessional loans, and energy performance contracts, to support the deployment of these technologies.

The document outlines specific power consumption (SPC) benchmarks for primary and tertiary wastewater treatment technologies in South Africa. It identifies that while these stages are not energy intensive, efficiency can be improved through peak demand management, equipment idling, and UV disinfection upgrades, with potential energy savings of up to 50% for UV systems.

The document outlines how municipal wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) in South Africa can reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints through optimized sludge management. It details specific technical interventions in primary sedimentation, dewatering, thickening, and stabilisation, while providing a business case for biogas production and a framework of financing mechanisms for implementing these energy efficiency projects.

The document advocates for the use of thermal hydrolysis as a pre-treatment for anaerobic digestion in wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) to increase biogas production and reduce sludge mass. It highlights that South African municipalities spend over R300 million annually on sludge disposal and suggests that thermal hydrolysis can improve digester efficiency, reduce carbon footprints, and provide a payback period of 2-5 years. The factsheet also outlines various financing mechanisms, such as municipal budgets, grants, and energy performance contracts, to support the adoption of these energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

The document identifies the secondary treatment stage as the highest energy consumer in wastewater treatment works, particularly in systems using activated sludge where aeration can account for 50% of process energy. It recommends benchmarking specific power consumption (SPC) and implementing interventions such as fine bubble aeration, dissolved oxygen control, and cascade aeration to reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Financing options for these projects include municipal budgets, grants, concessional loans, and energy performance contracts.

The document outlines how anaerobic digestion (AD) in South African wastewater treatment works can be leveraged via combined heat and power (CHP) systems to produce electricity and heat, reducing municipal energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It provides technical benchmarks, such as an average electrical yield of 70kWh per tonne of sludge, and financial estimates, noting that retrofitting existing AD systems with CHP can have a payback period of 5-15 years and an IRR of 18-30%. The factsheet identifies that projects are generally financially feasible for WWTWs with an inflow capacity exceeding 15 million litres per day.

The document details a project facilitated by the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) where Global Energy installed an anaerobic digestion plant at Rennie Farms. The project converts 1.5 tonnes of daily vegetable waste into biogas for combined heat and power, as well as digestate for soil enhancement and irrigation water. The initiative resulted in R319,740 annual savings in landfill fees and averted 876 tonnes of fossil greenhouse gas emissions per year.