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The report details the results of the BONUS RETURN project, which identified and evaluated ecotechnologies for recovering nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon from wastewater and agriculture in the Baltic Sea Region. While agricultural waste recovery often showed positive net present value, wastewater technologies typically required expensive infrastructure, leading to negative net present values. The project emphasizes that transitioning to a circular nutrient economy requires shifting away from linear 'silo' thinking, harmonizing EU regulations for phosphorus, and adjusting fertilizer pricing to account for environmental externalities.

The 2020 Energizing Finance report finds a widening gap between actual and required investment for universal energy access, with funding failing to reach the countries with the greatest need. In 2018, only USD 16 billion of the required USD 41 billion for residential electrification was tracked in high-impact countries, and clean cooking finance remained far below the USD 4.5 billion annual requirement. The report highlights a concerning shift toward fossil fuel-generated electricity and a lack of private sector investment in clean cooking, urging a move away from business-as-usual approaches toward coordinated, sustainable financing.

Agnisumukh develops flameless, radiant heat gas burners for commercial kitchens in India, reducing fuel consumption by approximately 30% and eliminating carbon soot. Founded in 2014 by Hari Rao, the company provides alternatives to traditional firewood and inefficient LPG burners, serving over 100 clients in 500 kitchens, including the President of India and the Prime Minister’s Office. The company's innovations have resulted in carbon savings of approximately 7,337 tons and the preservation of 469,201 trees.

The guide outlines seven exercises for the LEAP 2020 software. It covers basic energy demand and supply modeling, the creation of baseline and policy scenarios, cost-benefit analysis, the inclusion of non-energy greenhouse gas emissions, transportation-specific analysis, and least-cost electricity generation optimization. The exercises use a fictional case study, Freedonia, to demonstrate how to enter data, use functions like interpolation and growth rates, and analyze results through tables and charts.

The document highlights a significant gap in climate action and finance regarding sanitation, noting that while the IPCC identifies sanitation as a key measure for reducing climate vulnerability, it is largely absent from Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and climate funding. It examines how sanitation systems contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane from anaerobic decomposition, and suggests that shifting from pit latrines to composting toilets or biogas systems can mitigate these impacts. The brief recommends improving research on climate-sanitation links, adapting planning frameworks like the WHO Sanitation Safety Planning approach, and increasing the capacity of sector stakeholders to mobilize climate finance.

The report inventories organic waste in Naivasha, Kenya, identifying significant potential for resource recovery from wastewater, faecal sludge, municipal solid waste, and agro-industrial residues. It highlights existing initiatives such as biogas production at Gorge Farm Energy Park and briquette manufacturing by Sanivation, while noting critical data gaps and stakeholder conflicts in waste collection.

The report examines Rwanda's bioeconomy by modelling biomass flows and land-use changes through 2050. It finds that while population growth and urbanization will drive a significant increase in biomass demand in a baseline scenario, a sustainable resource use scenario—focused on clean cooking and fuel-switching—could reduce wood requirements by approximately 5 million tonnes by 2050. The study highlights the unsustainable nature of urban charcoal reliance in Kigali and suggests that shifting wood fuel sourcing to smallholder and agroforestry plantations can preserve state forests.

The report refutes the claim that fossil gas alternatives (FGAs) can decarbonize buildings, asserting that their limited supply and high costs make them an inefficient choice compared to electrification. It highlights that FGAs can only replace a small fraction of gas demand and may exacerbate pollution and health risks. The document further alleges that the gas industry uses FGAs as a rhetorical tool and employs 'front groups' to stall the transition to all-electric buildings to protect its financial interests.

The report demonstrates that the S’Ena Arrubia and Corru S’Ittiri-Marceddì-San Giovanni wetlands provide substantial economic value through ecosystem services and the support of local aquaculture, tourism, and agriculture. It finds that a 'continued degradation' scenario would lead to significant losses in labour income and ecosystem service value, while a circular business model for reusing livestock manure could generate net benefits of EUR 81.3 million for S’Ena Arrubia and EUR 124.2 million for Corru S’Ittiri-Marceddì-San Giovanni. The analysis argues that the cost of maintaining these wetlands is far lower than the cost of replacing their functions with built infrastructure.

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is seeking funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to prepare a national Water Reuse Programme (WRP) in South Africa. The country faces a projected 17% water deficit by 2030, exacerbated by climate change. The proposed WRP consists of two main components: the establishment of a national water reuse programme office to support municipalities in project preparation and the creation of a blended finance solution using project bonds to establish water reuse as a new asset class. The project preparation phase will include technical and climate impact assessments, the design of financial architecture, and gender and social studies. The total indicative cost for the full programme is estimated between USD 3 billion and 5 billion, with a request for USD 153.4 million in GCF funding.

The report details a five-day event in February 2020 focused on waste sector climate mitigation in West Africa. It highlights the development of national biogas and compost strategies in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, shares biodigester success from Burkina Faso and waste recovery projects from Madagascar, and outlines a technical training program on GHG MRV systems to ensure transparency in NDC implementation.

The workshop, supported by the Government of Canada, UNEP, and SEI, focused on the waste sector's role in achieving NDCs in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. Key activities included the development of national biogas and compost strategies and training on MRV systems to ensure transparency in GHG emission reductions. The event also featured experience sharing from Burkina Faso, Madagascar, and the ECOWAS Commission, emphasizing the need for private sector involvement, circular economy models, and regional harmonization of climate policies.

The document details a February 2020 event supported by the Government of Canada to help Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal reduce greenhouse gas emissions through waste management. It covers national strategies for composting and biogas, regional perspectives from ECOWAS, and a technical training program on MRV systems to ensure transparency in climate action.

The Słupsk Bioenergy Cluster, managed by Słupsk Waterworks, integrates wastewater treatment, biogas generation, and waste recycling to provide stable, low-cost renewable energy to local businesses and facilities. By utilizing a self-sufficient distribution network to bypass coal-based energy suppliers, the cluster demonstrates a decentralized approach to the circular economy. Key outputs include the BIOTOP phosphorus-rich fertilizer and a renewable energy sharing system linking 20 businesses and city facilities. The document argues that national policy changes and faster implementation of EU directives are necessary to scale such models and overcome barriers posed by traditional energy companies.

The document examines two policy options recommended by a 2018 Swedish Government inquiry: a total ban on sewage sludge reuse or a limited ban allowing application only if strict quality standards are met. It highlights that while both aim to reduce environmental risks and improve phosphorus recycling, a total ban would render existing investments in certification programs like REVAQ obsolete and necessitate costly transitions to incineration and ash-based phosphorus recovery. Using Uppsala as an example, the brief argues that a limited ban is preferable as it protects upstream pollution reduction efforts and preserves the value of organic matter in sludge.

The document examines a 2020 Swedish government inquiry into sewage sludge management, which weighed a complete ban on agricultural reuse against continued use under stricter quality requirements. While the inquiry focused on recovering phosphorus, the authors argue that this narrow focus ignores the significant potential for recovering nitrogen and potassium, which could reduce Sweden's dependence on imported fertilizers and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The brief highlights the role of the REVAQ certification programme in controlling contaminants and discusses alternatives such as incineration with ash-based phosphorus recovery and source-separation of blackwater and urine.

Elgin Fruit Juice installed an anaerobic digester to convert organic waste into electricity and thermal energy, achieving 30-40% operational energy savings. To address low energy demand during the off-crop season (July-December) and the lack of a grid-feed-in license, the company formed Elgin Bio-digestion to use excess biogas as a coal replacement in boilers, saving R2.2 million annually and reducing carbon emissions.

The document outlines the scale of food loss and waste in South Africa, noting that 27% of produced and imported food was wasted in 2011. It emphasizes a shift in the Western Cape toward mandatory organic waste diversion from landfills by 2027. The brief identifies key drivers for beneficiation, such as the Carbon Tax Act and Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, while detailing barriers including lack of source separation and liability fears regarding food donations. It proposes 29 solutions across prevention, recovery, and recycling categories and advocates for the adoption of the World Resource Institute's FLW Standard for better data recording.

The report identifies significant economic potential in diverting waste from landfills in South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape. Key opportunities are highlighted in the organics, plastics, e-waste, and construction sectors, driven by dwindling landfill airspace, rising disposal costs, and emerging regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the Carbon Tax Act. The Western Cape is positioned as a greentech hub, with the City of Cape Town generating the majority of the region's waste and offering the highest market value for beneficiation.

The report examines the South African urban water sector, highlighting a projected 17% gap between water supply and demand by 2030. It identifies significant investment opportunities in the agri-processing sector (estimated at R6 billion) and the municipal sector, including wastewater reuse (theoretical potential of R50 billion) and biogas/energy efficiency projects. The document details the regulatory landscape, including the National Water Act and municipal by-laws, and discusses barriers such as low water tariffs, capacity constraints in municipalities, and public perception of reclaimed water.