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The report finds that the EU ETS region is increasingly importing electricity from non-EU neighbors with high carbon intensities, effectively importing emissions and creating 'offshore carbon havens'. In 2019, the EU ETS region imported 26 million tonnes of CO2, with a net import of 20 million tonnes. The authors argue that the disparity in carbon pricing gives a competitive advantage to high-carbon generators in countries like Turkey, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans. To combat this, the report recommends a border carbon adjustment (BCA) on gross electricity imports to protect the integrity of EU climate policy and incentivize decarbonization in neighboring states. It also warns that planned increases in interconnection capacity (31% by 2030) and new coal power projects (up to 57GW) in connected non-EU countries will exacerbate the problem.

The paper finds a significant gap between the necessity of integrating climate risks and actual investor practice in Southeast Asia's power sector. While physical risks are generally well-understood and factored into due diligence, transition risks—including policy, technology, and reputational risks—are often ignored or superficially addressed. Investors frequently use long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to shift climate-related liabilities to state-owned utilities. The study identifies institutional habits, the need to deploy large amounts of capital quickly, and limited financial governance as primary barriers to shifting investment from fossil fuels to renewables.

The document argues that while there are signs of a transition to green economies—such as accelerating renewable energy deployment in China and India and the adoption of wellbeing budgets in New Zealand—the 'brown economy' still dominates. It highlights that fossil fuel subsidies (US$ 5.2 trillion) nearly equal the investment needed for Sustainable Development Goals (US$ 5-7 trillion). The report calls for a systemic shift from extraction to restoration and from GDP-centric measures to wellbeing and natural capital accounting, providing specific recommendations for governments, businesses, and civil society to accelerate a just transition.

The 2020 Global Green Economy Barometer evaluates the shift toward sustainable and equitable economic systems. While it notes accelerating energy transitions, a rise in green bonds, and the emergence of wellbeing budgets in countries like New Zealand, it argues that the 'brown economy' still dominates. The report highlights that fossil fuel subsidies reached US$ 5.2 trillion in 2017 and that global energy intensity is declining at only 0.4% per year, far below the 4-10% needed for mid-century decarbonization. It calls for systemic reforms to move beyond GDP, value natural capital, and ensure a just transition for marginalized populations.

Rwanda has significantly improved its electricity access and investment landscape through robust policy frameworks, including the expansion of off-grid solutions and the restructuring of utilities. While the country has seen rapid progress in electrification rates and the attraction of private investment, it still faces challenges in energy efficiency, gender mainstreaming, and the inclusion of informal settlers in its energy plans.

The report finds that while all surveyed infrastructure investors use ESG scoring frameworks, integration is most prevalent in qualitative evaluation and post-investment monitoring, with less emphasis on valuation modelling. Key drivers for ESG integration include financial returns, risk management, and brand reputation. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and physical climate risks are the most integrated factors, particularly in the energy, utilities, and transport sectors, whereas biodiversity remains the least integrated due to quantification challenges. The report notes a shift from simple negative screening toward a more nuanced approach where investors may acquire unsustainable assets to finance their transition to sustainability.

The document argues that because fossil fuel combustion drives both climate change and air pollution, well-designed carbon pricing—such as taxes, emission trading systems, and the removal of subsidies—can reduce both greenhouse gases and local pollutants. It emphasizes that the short-term health benefits of improved air quality often outweigh the costs of climate policy, which can help build broader political support. The author advocates for a holistic policy approach across all sectors and governance levels, involving multidisciplinary research to avoid unintended consequences, such as chemical reactions caused by partial pollutant reduction.

Feike Sijbesma, CEO of Royal DSM, advocates for the adoption of meaningful carbon pricing to drive private sector innovation and investment in clean technology. He notes that while some jurisdictions already use carbon pricing, current levels are often too low to be effective, suggesting that prices between $50-$100 per ton are needed by 2030 to meet Paris Agreement commitments. Sijbesma highlights that Royal DSM uses an internal carbon price of €50 per ton to future-proof growth and encourages governments to combine carbon pricing with net-zero 2050 targets and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies.

The commentary asserts that bold climate action is not a trade-off with economic growth but an engine for it, potentially delivering $26 trillion in net global economic benefits by 2030. It advocates for 'people-centered climate action' that uses inclusive processes to unlock benefits for marginalized groups, such as recycling carbon pricing revenues to support low-income households. The text provides sector-specific opportunities in energy, urban planning, and food systems, while emphasizing that adaptation investments of $1.8 trillion could yield $7.1 trillion in benefits. It highlights real-world examples from Indonesia, Canada, and Spain to demonstrate how low-carbon transitions can reduce poverty and create millions of green jobs.

The We Mean Business coalition asserts that the Marrakech Partnership is a crucial platform for integrating business, city, and civil society innovation into the UNFCCC regime. As the partnership's mandate expires at the end of 2020, the coalition emphasizes that public-private collaboration is vital for countries to submit and implement revised nationally determined contributions (NDCs) aligned with the 1.5°C goal and a net-zero economy by 2050.

The briefing examines the shared origins of air pollution and climate change, primarily fossil fuel combustion, and advocates for integrated policy frameworks. It details the significant health and economic burdens of air pollution, particularly in urban areas and for vulnerable groups. The text demonstrates that the health co-benefits of climate mitigation, such as carbon pricing, often outweigh the policy costs. It provides examples of coordinated efforts in Chile, California, the EU, Madrid, and London, while warning that uncoordinated policies—such as incentivizing diesel vehicles for lower CO2 or installing SO2 filters that reduce plant efficiency—can create counterproductive outcomes.

The document examines the transition from Kyoto-era carbon credits to ITMOs under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, detailing the two primary cooperation avenues (Article 6.2 and 6.4) and the remaining challenges in establishing a rulebook. It categorizes potential project types, analyzes Canada's preparations—including waste sector partnerships in Chile and LNG exports—and highlights the economic potential of Article 6 to reduce NDC implementation costs by half by 2030 if properly regulated to avoid double counting and 'hot air'.

The We Mean Business Coalition asserts that a transition to a zero-carbon economy is achievable but requires stronger government intervention to accelerate. The document highlights corporate commitments across power, transport, the built environment, heavy industry, and land use, while calling for policies such as carbon pricing, the removal of fossil fuel subsidies by 2025, and the implementation of robust Article 6 rules under the Paris Agreement to drive systemic change.

Mars advocates for a transition to a net-zero carbon economy, urging businesses to adopt science-based targets across value chains and calling on governments to implement carbon pricing and clean energy infrastructure.

The author contends that the EU must integrate shipping into its carbon market by 2023 because the IMO has postponed concrete actions, such as slow-steaming. The text highlights the significant emissions of the shipping sector and suggests that carbon pricing, potentially as a tax, could effectively reduce CO2 emissions and generate revenue for research and development.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) outlines a comprehensive strategy for the U.S. to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century. Key recommendations include restoring CAFE standards, investing in sustainable aviation fuels and electric aircraft, establishing national energy efficiency and renewable portfolio standards, and targeting net-zero energy for new buildings by 2050. The report emphasizes environmental justice, calling for a national climate bank and increased funding for the Rural Energy Savings Program. It also advocates for carbon pricing with border tax adjustments, the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, and a transition to a circular economy to reduce plastic pollution.

British Columbia provided CAD 830 million in fossil fuel subsidies during 2017–2018, with a significant portion consisting of royalty credits for producers. The report argues that these subsidies, including support for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry via the BC-LNG Canada Agreement, undermine the 2018 CleanBC plan and hinder the province's ability to meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

The document highlights the success of Brazil's monitoring and enforcement strategy, specifically the DETER system, in reducing Amazon deforestation. It provides evidence that these measures avoided significant forest loss between 2007 and 2016 without harming agricultural productivity. The brief warns that proposed budget cuts to these systems could lead to a 45% increase in deforestation and urges the federal government to restore financial and institutional support.

The policy brief highlights the success of Brazil's DETER satellite monitoring system and IBAMA's law enforcement in reducing Amazon deforestation. It argues that these tools are cost-effective, do not harm agricultural production, and are essential for meeting emission reduction goals, warning that proposed budget cuts to these services could significantly increase forest loss.

The report analyzes the dependence of BRICS governments on fossil fuel revenues and the risks posed by the clean energy transition, including asset stranding and revenue loss. It provides 2017 data on revenues and subsidies, highlighting Russia's high fiscal exposure and the potential for 'fossil fuel to clean energy subsidy swaps' to fund a just transition.