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The World Resources Institute argues that the incoming Trump administration must continue investing in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure to drive economic growth and job creation. It emphasizes that the global transition to a low-carbon economy is inevitable, citing increased solar and wind projections and corporate commitments to science-based targets. Furthermore, it asserts that maintaining the U.S. commitment to the Paris Agreement is essential for preserving international trust and diplomacy.

The Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016, with 100 countries representing 67% of global greenhouse gas emissions having ratified it. COP22 and the first meeting of the CMA are tasked with developing operational rules for transparency, progress monitoring, and ramping up ambition to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius. Key points of contention include the verification of national commitments and the insufficiency of pledges to meet the $100 billion climate finance goal for developing countries by 2020. South Africa has ratified the agreement and set an emissions reduction target of 398–614 MtCO2e for 2025–2030, though this is largely conditional on external assistance and complicated by a continued reliance on coal and budgetary restraints.

Mighty Earth and an international coalition of civil society organizations have called on wind energy companies—including Siemens, Nordex, Suzlon, Iberdrola, and Gamesa—to stop sourcing wind towers from Korindo's subsidiary, KOUSA. The organization argues that the climate benefits of the wind energy generated by these towers are negated by the environmental damage caused by Korindo's deforestation and burning practices. In response, Gamesa, Siemens, and Nordex stated they are investigating the matter, while Clipper and Vestas confirmed they are not customers of Korindo.

The report introduces the FX Hedging Facility, a customizable currency hedging product designed to mobilize foreign investment for renewable energy in India. By splitting currency risk into a user-absorbed range (0-4.5% annual depreciation) and a donor-subsidized tail risk range (4.5% to P99.7), the facility aims to reduce hedging costs by approximately 30% compared to commercial cross-currency swaps. The instrument eliminates counterparty credit and liquidity risk premiums through upfront donor payments and offers an upside benefit if currency depreciation is lower than expected. Analysis suggests a leverage factor of approximately 9, with a greater than 50% probability that the donor subsidy will be fully recovered.

The briefing identifies three key indicators that would signal the G20's commitment to the post-Paris climate era: a clear target date for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, the promotion of green finance through climate-related financial risk disclosure, and the collective ratification of the Paris Agreement by the end of 2016.

The document outlines the growing demand for sustainable finance professionals to facilitate the transition to a sustainable economy. It identifies diverse career paths in the public sector (multilateral development banks, green banks), the private sector (consulting, financial institutions, clean tech), and NGOs (foundations, thought leadership organizations). It notes that while finance backgrounds are advantageous, the field welcomes professionals from law, policy, and management, and highlights recent initiatives like the Breakthrough Energy Coalition and the Catalytic Finance Initiative as evidence of the sector's growth.

The Secretary-General emphasizes the overwhelming global support for the Paris Agreement and calls for a radical transformation of the global economy. He highlights the pivotal roles of the United States and China, the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships across six high-value areas, and the need to accelerate the scale of climate response to mitigate rising temperatures and extreme weather.

The report analyzes the reallocation of IDR 211 trillion (USD 15.6 billion) in fuel subsidy savings in Indonesia during 2015. It finds that funds were primarily redirected toward ministries' budgets, capital injections for state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and regional transfer funds. The study concludes that this shift from consumption to productive investment is aligned with the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2015–2019, likely generating higher GDP and employment, and reducing the budget's vulnerability to international oil price volatility.

The FY 2017 budget proposal seeks to increase clean energy R&D funding to $12.8 billion by 2021, featuring a $10.25-per-barrel crude oil tax to fund sustainable transportation and significant increases for the Department of Energy's renewable energy and efficiency programs. It also includes $1.3 billion for the Global Climate Change Initiative and $291 million for Power Africa, while targeting a 83 percent reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The Union of Concerned Scientists views the D.C. Circuit Court's decision to keep the Clean Power Plan in effect as a victory for climate action, noting that many U.S. states are already making significant progress toward the plan's 2022 and 2030 carbon emission benchmarks.

The green bond market experienced substantial growth in 2016, with issuance on track to double from 2015 levels, driven largely by China and other emerging markets. While mitigation projects in clean energy and energy efficiency receive the majority of capital, adaptation financing is increasing, particularly through US municipalities. The private sector now accounts for 66% of issuance. To meet Paris Agreement targets, the report advocates for governments to develop green investment pipelines and implement five key actions: issuing demonstration bonds, applying green standards, enabling domestic verifiers, providing market infrastructure, and promoting international collaboration.

A group of 22 global business and civil society leaders is calling for a net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions goal by 2050 to be established at COP21. They argue that such a goal is necessary to mobilize private sector investment, innovate for global decarbonization, and protect the Sustainable Development Goals. To demonstrate feasibility, several signatory companies, including Unilever, Salesforce, and Virgin Group, have already committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 within their own operations.

The document is a sign-on letter from a broad coalition of organizations and officials requesting that the Obama administration prioritize offshore wind power development, specifically along the Atlantic coast. The coalition advocates for a bold development goal of 22 GW by 2030, increased federal incentives, and improved collaboration between federal agencies and state governments to support the Clean Power Plan.

The We Mean Business Coalition, representing over 6 million companies, argues that climate action is beneficial for business and essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. They urge governments to establish an ambitious agreement at COP21 in Paris that focuses on global decarbonization, transparency, carbon pricing, and climate resilience.

The document outlines the commitment of 93 companies to address climate change and support the transition to a low-carbon economy. The authors argue that climate change threatens business growth and a healthy economy, and that the private sector must use innovation and scale to reduce natural-resource use and invest in clean energy.

The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) outlines ten critical considerations for financing development in the context of climate change, emphasizing that climate action can enhance development outcomes. Key points include the potential for $5 trillion in transport spending to improve energy efficiency, the falling costs of clean energy, and the role of forest protection and climate-resilient agriculture in supporting livelihoods and ending hunger. The document also notes that disasters currently cost $100 billion annually, that financial institutions are beginning to manage climate risk, and that increased climate finance should not reduce aid for poor countries.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is calling on the South African Department of Environmental Affairs to formally publish the draft Strategy to Address Air Pollution in Dense Low-Income Settlements for public comment by 30 April 2015. The CER argues that residents in low-income settlements suffer disproportionate exposure to poor air quality from industrial sources and domestic fuel burning, leading to severe respiratory and cardio-vascular illnesses, particularly in children and the elderly. The document highlights that the strategy was a deliverable as far back as 2010 and is essential for local governments, such as the Nkangala District Municipality, to meet air quality compliance goals by 2020. The CER asserts that the state's failure to address these health risks violates constitutional rights to an environment not harmful to health and the progressive realisation of adequate housing.

The document examines the evolution of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in China, highlighting 2014 as a pivotal year due to a surge in official guidelines and a strategic shift toward market-led resource allocation. It identifies high local government debt and massive infrastructure needs for urbanization as primary drivers. However, it notes significant barriers, including political and regulatory uncertainties, poor risk allocation, and a lack of 'value for money' (VFM) evaluations. The paper recommends shifting the focus from PPPs as mere funding sources to tools for efficiency and innovation, advocating for performance-based specifications and life-cycle asset management to ensure sustainable development.

The document outlines a study designed to inform Indonesia's domestic fuel pricing policy by comparing international experiences. It aims to establish a baseline of Indonesia's current system, summarize global pricing knowledge for policy-makers, and identify viable policy options to manage fuel price volatility and enforce the pricing mechanism introduced in 2015.

The report identifies significant gaps in the communication and implementation of China's energy-saving and low-carbon policies. While high-energy-consuming enterprises (over 10,000 tonne-ce/a) show better energy management and target-setting, a large number of general manufacturing firms lack technical guidance, funding, and awareness of available incentives. Key barriers include complex administrative procedures, a lack of predictable rewards, and insufficient professional third-party support. The authors recommend strengthening mandatory supervision for key emitters, lowering reward thresholds for smaller firms, establishing a collaborative partnership between government and third-party agencies, and upgrading technical guidance systems.