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This executive summary of the 2021 State of Urban Climate Financing report, produced by the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance with World Bank contributions, analyzes global urban climate investment flows, identifies significant funding gaps—particularly in developing nations—and proposes a framework of 'enabling conditions' to mobilize the trillions of dollars needed for low-carbon and climate-resilient urban development.

This executive summary of the 2021 report 'État du financement climatique des villes' analyzes the current state of urban climate investment, identifies significant funding gaps—particularly in developing nations and for adaptation efforts—and proposes frameworks to mobilize the trillions of dollars required for low-carbon, resilient urban development.

This executive summary of the 2021 report 'O Estado do Financiamento Climático das Cidades' (The State of City Climate Finance), produced by the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA), analyzes current urban climate investment levels, identifies barriers to funding, and proposes frameworks to mobilize the necessary capital for low-carbon and resilient urban development.

This executive summary of the 2021 State of Cities Climate Finance report, produced by the Alliance for Leadership in City Climate Finance with World Bank contributions, analyzes global urban climate investment flows, identifies barriers to funding, and proposes frameworks to mobilize the trillions of dollars needed for low-carbon and resilient urban development.

The FAST-Infra Sustainable Infrastructure Label (SI Label) is a voluntary, globally applicable framework designed to identify infrastructure projects with significant positive sustainability performance. It aims to transform sustainable infrastructure into a mainstream, liquid asset class by providing a standardized set of requirements for developers and operators to demonstrate positive impacts and attract investors.

The IAI Scientific Agenda, adopted in June 2021, establishes a framework for research on Global Environmental Change (GEC) in the Americas. It focuses on transdisciplinary science to support regional sustainability, aligning research with strategic areas such as poverty reduction, food and water security, and climate adaptation.

This research paper examines the quality of climate adaptation knowledge produced through a co-design process in Sweden, arguing that traditional knowledge quality criteria are insufficient for understanding how knowledge is actually applied by decision-makers.

The Taxonomy Roadmap for Chile, published by the Climate Bonds Initiative in May 2021, provides a strategic framework for the Chilean government to develop a national sustainable classification system. The report recommends a phased approach—adopting, adapting, and leading—to align Chile's green finance with international standards (such as the EU and China taxonomies) while addressing local economic specificities, particularly in the mining sector. It outlines governance structures, priority sectors for decarbonization, and the application of the taxonomy to green debt instruments to mobilize capital for Chile's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines agroecology as a science-based alternative to the industrial food system, which it describes as unsustainable and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The document details the environmental, social, and economic benefits of agroecological practices, while identifying systemic barriers—such as skewed government subsidies and limited research funding—that hinder its global scaling.

This policy brief examines how the European Green Deal can foster cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) across six priority areas: energy transitions, circular economy, trade, agricultural adaptation, climate diplomacy, and financial instruments. It emphasizes the need to align EU ambitions with African priorities, such as poverty reduction and climate adaptation, while avoiding the creation of new trade barriers for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

This working paper examines the experiences and challenges of climate change practitioners in the global South as they transitioned to online engagement during the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on a 2020 CDKN survey and interviews across Africa, Asia, and South America, the document analyzes the impact of the digital divide, evaluates various communication platforms, and provides lessons for organizing inclusive virtual events for marginalized and remote populations.

The Hydropower Criteria, published by the Climate Bonds Initiative in March 2021, establishes the technical and environmental requirements for hydropower assets and projects to be eligible for certification under the Climate Bonds Standard. The criteria focus on two main components: climate mitigation (GHG emissions and power density) and climate adaptation and resilience (ESG gap analysis).

This report presents the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Transport and Mobility Development Plan 2021-2035 (TLAK) in Estonia. The assessment evaluates how the plan's strategic goals—focused on reducing the environmental footprint of transport and improving mobility—align with national and international environmental targets and identifies potential environmental impacts across various sectors, including climate, air quality, and biodiversity.

A statement from Manish Bapna of the World Resources Institute analyzing China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), noting that while it confirms key climate pledges and sets specific energy targets, it lacks detailed implementation paths for achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the role of National Development Banks (NDBs) in financing climate-smart urban infrastructure. It identifies significant gaps in current NDB mandates and capacities, proposing a 'maturity model' with twelve dimensions across strategic, financial, business, and operational parameters to help NDBs better support local governments in implementing low-carbon and climate-resilient projects.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides a comprehensive overview of climate change, detailing the drivers of global warming, its environmental and health impacts, and the strategies for mitigation and adaptation. It emphasizes the role of human activity—specifically fossil fuel combustion and agriculture—in increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and outlines the current state of U.S. and international policy efforts, including the Paris Agreement.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute argues that the current disaster risk finance architecture is inadequate for developing countries facing 'compound shocks'—simultaneous or sequential disruptive events such as pandemics, economic crises, and climate-driven natural disasters. The authors propose systemic reforms to the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) and the Global Risk Financing Facility (GRiF) to shift incentives from post-disaster relief toward pre-disaster resilience and preparedness.

This policy brief examines the critical role of peri-urban ecosystems in India, highlighting how rapid urbanisation and ambiguous administrative boundaries lead to the neglect of these areas. It argues that preserving peri-urban ecosystems is essential for city resilience, food security, and climate adaptation, and recommends integrated, participatory planning to bridge the rural-urban divide.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines the first five years of the NAP Global Network's efforts to support developing countries in implementing National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes to address the climate crisis.

This report presents recommendations from civil society and Indigenous Peoples experts regarding the creation of a new UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change. Based on six regional consultations involving 157 participants from 55 countries, the document outlines the rationale for a dedicated mandate to address the holistic impact of climate change on human rights and the potential role of such a rapporteur in increasing accountability and supporting vulnerable communities.