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The report argues that 'net zero' targets are a 'smokescreen' allowing corporations to maintain fossil-fuel-based business models through carbon offsetting and 'nature-based solutions'. It contends that these mechanisms lead to land grabbing, the dispossession of Indigenous and peasant communities, and the co-option of agroecology. The document specifically highlights the risks of soil carbon farming as a means for agribusiness and IT companies to harvest farm data and exert control over land use. It concludes that real climate justice requires a transition to food sovereignty and a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels rather than reliance on unverifiable carbon credits.

The document identifies critical gaps in the support system for Local Green Entrepreneurs (LGEs) in South Africa, specifically highlighting that while SMMEs contribute to carbon reduction, they face significant 'green funding gaps'. It argues that current policies, such as the Draft SMME and Cooperative Funding Policy, fail to explicitly recognize LGEs. The brief identifies five 'signature issues', including the limited risk appetite of funders and compliance-driven ESG requirements. To address these, it recommends the development of a Green Economy Framework, the use of credit guarantee schemes like the sefa Innovation Fund, and the reduction of bureaucratic 'red tape' in certification processes to foster a more inclusive green recovery.

A 50-state survey by Global Energy Monitor reveals that major U.S. corporations in the tech, banking, and insurance sectors frequently employ lobbyists who also represent fossil fuel interests. This creates a paradox where companies with public net-zero pledges provide political cover and credibility to lobbyists promoting continued fossil fuel dependence. The report highlights specific companies—such as Amazon, State Farm, and Bank of America—and notes that weak state disclosure laws and the absence of a national database hinder accountability.

The report examines the impact of global decarbonisation on Africa's natural gas sector, distinguishing between existing and emerging producers. It argues that faster global transitions to net-zero emissions will reduce LNG demand and prices, creating 'external' climate transition risks that threaten the viability of future projects. The analysis suggests that domestic demand is an insufficient hedge against these risks due to regulated low prices and the increasing competitiveness of renewable energy. Emerging producers are identified as particularly vulnerable due to weaker sovereign credit ratings and the timing of their infrastructure investments.

The paper argues that public development banks lack a published approach to ensure that unearmarked loans provided for policy and institutional reforms—known as policy-based operations (PBOs)—are aligned with the Paris Agreement. It proposes that PBOs are Paris-aligned if they do not undermine a just transition to climate neutrality by increasing exposure to climate risks and, where possible, promote long-term macro-fiscal resilience.

Reclaim Finance expresses skepticism regarding Climate Finance Day 2022, arguing that major French banks and insurers are failing to align with scientific recommendations to end oil and gas expansion. While 15 investors have adopted exclusion policies, heavyweights like BNP Paribas and AXA are criticized for relying on decarbonization targets or limited exclusions rather than full exits from new fossil fuel projects.

The document contends that Canada's oil and gas industry, bolstered by windfall profits, should fund its own decarbonization rather than relying on public subsidies. It highlights that current government supports, such as those for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), often fail to yield meaningful emissions reductions and may even enable increased production. The author argues that public funds would be more effectively spent on proven low-carbon technologies like renewable energy and grid electrification to meet Canada's 2030 climate targets and ensure long-term energy security.

One year after COP26, progress on climate pledges is described as "mixed at best," with some advancements in renewable energy and net-zero targets countered by a resurgence in fossil fuel reliance due to the Russia-Ukraine war. While 24 countries updated their emissions targets and renewable capacity reached new heights, global fossil fuel subsidies nearly doubled in 2021. Financial commitments remain unmet, with developed nations still $17 billion short of the $100 billion annual goal for 2020. Efforts to curb methane and deforestation have seen expanded participation, but accountability for city-level net-zero pledges remains low due to a lack of reported emissions data.

ClientEarth proposes a 'methane reduction alliance' consisting of the world's largest gas importers—including the EU, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and China—to implement a performance standard that caps and reduces methane emissions in the gas supply chain. The proposal argues that by prioritizing gas purchases from countries with similar regulations and applying fees to emissions exceeding the standard, importing nations can drive global methane abatement. The report highlights that capturing wasted methane could provide nearly 210 billion cubic metres of gas, offering a way to bolster supply without expanding gas fields. It also critiques voluntary industry schemes for lacking independent verification and failing to include national oil companies, which hold over half of global gas assets.

The report finds that public financial institutions are lagging behind private counterparts in setting credible climate targets. While some Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) show leadership, national and subnational development banks, as well as institutions in non-OECD countries, have very few Paris-aligned or net-zero commitments. Key barriers include a lack of government guidance and insufficient accountability mechanisms within global coalitions.

The methodology brief describes a framework for tracking public financial institutions' climate commitments, categorizing them into targets and pledges (such as Paris-aligned, net zero, and exclusion policies) and institutional strategies. It details a data collection process involving automated scraping of institutional websites, news articles, and the analysis of over 120 sustainability and annual reports for 70 entities representing USD 20.4 trillion in assets.

A joint statement by ClientEarth, ECOS, Carbon Market Watch, and EEB proposing stricter EU regulations on 'greenwashing' and product durability. The authors argue for the prohibition of environmental claims based on offsetting, the requirement for science-based interim targets for future performance claims, and the banning of environmental advertising for fossil fuel products. They also propose measures to combat obsolescence by mandating transparency regarding repairability, software updates, and the availability of necessary spare parts.

The document contends that the Canadian oil and gas industry has sufficient windfall profits to fund its own decarbonization and that public subsidies for the sector, particularly for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), create significant opportunity costs. It highlights that previous government supports have sometimes increased overall emissions by enabling higher production. The authors advocate for shifting public investment toward proven low-carbon technologies like wind, solar, and energy efficiency to meet Canada's 2030 climate targets.

The report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5C requires a rapid decline in oil and gas production, with a minimum 65% reduction by 2050. It argues that developing new oil and gas fields is incompatible with this goal and would likely create stranded assets. To replace fossil fuels, the world must significantly scale up wind and solar deployment; the annual investment gap for these technologies is estimated at USD 450 billion until 2030, a sum that could be covered by redirecting funds currently slated for new fossil fuel exploration (USD 570 billion annually). The report also examines the 'dash for gas' in Europe following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, concluding that existing infrastructure can meet medium-to-long-term demand if consumption is reduced. Finally, it highlights legal risks from investment treaties, which could cost governments up to USD 340 billion in compensation claims, and criticizes the lack of transparency and ambition in corporate net-zero targets.

The 2022 Scorecard finds that while insurance for new coal power plants outside China has largely dried up, the industry is only beginning to shift away from oil and gas. Most of the 30 assessed insurers scored poorly on oil and gas policies (1.1/10) compared to coal (3.3/10). The report identifies Allianz as a leader in underwriting policies and SCOR as a leader in divestment, while naming Berkshire Hathaway, Everest Re, PICC, Sinosure, and Starr as laggards. It also criticizes the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) for failing to comply with UN Race to Zero requirements to phase out unabated fossil fuels.

The guide defines Climate Transition Action Plans (CTAPs) as forward-looking, near-term action plans distinct from backward-looking ESG disclosures. It establishes four core components for a comprehensive CTAP: emissions reduction strategies, governance and business strategy integration, public policy advocacy, and just transition. To support implementation, the document provides a foundations checklist, a CTAP template, and a progress template, emphasizing that these plans must be iterative and grounded in science-based targets to ensure corporate climate credibility.

The cement industry is China's third largest emitter, accounting for 13 percent of total carbon emissions. While current efforts focus on equipment and energy efficiency, achieving net-zero emissions requires a multifaceted approach including reduced consumption, low-carbon cement varieties, fuel substitution, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). The transition also necessitates institutional support through carbon pricing and a systematic approach integrating the entire value chain, including fuel, concrete, and construction.

The report examines the potential for accelerating the phase-out of oil and gas production in the Danish North Sea, specifically questioning the economic impacts and the point at which these activities become unprofitable for the state.

The European Central Bank (ECB) introduced criteria on September 19, 2022, to decarbonize its corporate asset purchases starting October 1, but Reclaim Finance contends these measures are inadequate. The ECB's scoring grid, based on climate reporting and targets, allows for 'tilting' rather than exclusion, meaning fossil fuel developers and massive emitters can still be included in purchase programs. The document highlights a lack of transparency regarding Paris Agreement benchmarks and compares the ECB's approach to a similar, unsuccessful methodology used by the Bank of England in 2021. The author concludes that the ECB is prioritizing market neutrality over carbon neutrality and failing to align its actions with EU climate goals.

The document argues that Indonesia can technically achieve a net zero power sector by 2040, which would accelerate the broader national net zero target to 2050. This transition requires phasing out unabated coal, significantly increasing annual electricity investment to USD 40 billion this decade and USD 80 billion in the next, and addressing grid flexibility and inter-regional connectivity. While the transition would result in a net gain of 265,000 jobs, it would cause 230,000 losses in coal mining, necessitating just energy transition policies. The author notes that Presidential Regulation No. 112/2022 is a positive step toward attracting renewable investment and retiring coal plants.