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The report identifies 23 financial transaction mechanisms and 35 enabling frameworks aimed at protecting and restoring nature. It categorizes these mechanisms into fiscal interventions, regulatory instruments, new government-enabled markets, traditional market-based instruments, and hybrid mechanisms. The authors argue that while innovation is high in identifying revenue streams, most mechanisms lack scale due to a reliance on public funding, a need for high private-value-capture potential, and a lack of performance certainty for large capital providers.

The research develops a model to calculate the investment needs for nine Swedish cities to reach climate neutrality by 2030. Using five 'strategy mixes' and three emission forecasts, the study assesses the financial feasibility of these transitions. Preliminary results indicate that while targets are achievable and financially viable, they require significant shifts in food consumption and substantial investments from private citizens, governments, and industry. For example, in Malmö, total mitigation reductions could range from 17% to 51%, with annual per capita investments between 19,790 and 23,765 SEK.

The document examines the Colombian financial sector's integration of climate change into decision-making, highlighting that while some green finance initiatives exist, most private flows remain inconsistent with a low-carbon economy. It identifies significant risks of 'stranded assets' in Colombia's coal mining and power sectors, citing the cases of Prodeco and Cerrejón. The brief argues that financial institutions must move beyond symbolic commitments to tangible phase-out plans and provides examples of international banking policies that restrict coal financing to guide the Colombian sector toward a just transition.

The Sustainable Landscape Finance Coalition, a partnership between WWF South Africa and Wilderness Foundation Africa, employs a four-stage 'Finance Solution Approach' to bridge the funding gap for biodiversity and landscape conservation. The Coalition has launched six incubators investigating tools such as biodiversity tax incentives, carbon payments, and green bonds, while scaling existing successes like the Section 37D tax deduction, which is projected to release R1.4 billion into protected areas by 2026.

The report examines the emerging role of the TCFD framework in South Africa, noting that while awareness is growing, actual implementation remains low. It highlights that the banking and extractive resource sectors are leading adoption due to investor pressure, while pension funds and private equity investors are lagging. Key barriers include 'first mover fear', reporting fatigue from multiple frameworks, and a lack of technical skills for scenario analysis. The document argues that TCFD adoption is critical for South Africa's economic resilience given its high reliance on coal and vulnerability to extreme weather.

The document argues that African nations should leverage the post-COVID-19 recovery to 'build back better' by adopting green finance mechanisms. It identifies green bonds as a primary tool for raising large-scale capital and emphasizes the need for targeted public finance to de-risk investments and attract private capital. The briefing details several pathways for a green transition, including the establishment of environmental funds, the deployment of renewable energy as an economic stimulus, and the implementation of green fiscal reforms such as carbon taxes. It also highlights the critical role of central banks in 'greening' the financial sector through macroprudential regulation and the development of green taxonomies to reduce information asymmetries.

The study examines the link between green bonds and climate targets for the twenty largest European green bond issuers in 2018. It finds a disconnect between these issuers' climate targets and their green bond frameworks, alongside deficiencies in post-issuance reporting. The author concludes that there is minimal pressure for issuers to align bond proceeds with ambitious science-based targets, suggesting a need for policy intervention to prevent greenwashing and align the market with planetary boundaries.

The report examines the potential for green bonds and other sustainable financial instruments to drive the decarbonization of Mexico's construction sector, highlighting existing certifications, market examples, and regulatory goals.

The document examines the potential for green bonds to drive the decarbonisation of Mexico's building sector. It highlights that while only 10.6% of green bond proceeds from Mexican issuers were allocated to low-carbon buildings as of September 2020, there are significant opportunities, including a USD 18bn potential in Mexico City's housing growth. The briefing details the use of international and local certification proxies, such as EcoCasa, to identify eligible assets under the Climate Bonds Standard and discusses alternative financial instruments like CKDs, CERPIS, and FIBRAS that could be labelled as green.

The green bond market saw record third-quarter issuance in 2020, totaling USD 69.4 billion, driven by strong policy signals and corporate adoption. The USA led in 2020 issuance, while the Luxembourg Stock Exchange remained the most popular listing venue. JP Morgan was the top global underwriter for the first three quarters of the year.

FSD Africa reports that between 2012 and 2020, it reached over 5.47 million people and 3.2 million MSMEs through financial inclusion and capital market projects. Key achievements include catalysing £1.53 billion in long-term capital, supporting 27,000 jobs, and effecting approximately 130 regulatory changes. The organization is now transitioning to 'FSD 2.0', shifting focus toward 'sustainable futures', jobs, and basic services, with a particular emphasis on green finance and Covid-19 recovery.

The report examines the 'adaptation gap,' noting that annual costs for adaptation in developing countries could reach USD 500 billion by 2050, while current flows remain insufficient and skewed toward mitigation. It analyzes how MDBs are transitioning from stand-alone climate projects to a 'Paris alignment' paradigm where all development finance is climate-resilient. Key barriers identified include a lack of technical expertise in developing countries, the high upfront costs of climate-proofing (10-20% of finance), and the difficulty of attracting private sector investment due to a lack of immediate revenue streams. The document recommends increased technical assistance for National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and the use of innovative blended finance instruments to catalyze private capital.

The document examines the role of climate finance in Mexico, highlighting the risks posed by the elimination of the Fondo para el Cambio Climático (FCC) and the heavy concentration of public funds in the energy sector via the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). It provides specific recommendations for the public sector to strengthen governance and technical capacity, and for the private sector to adopt green taxonomies and innovative financing mechanisms like impact investing and carbon bonds to meet Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The Budget Justice Coalition (BJC) argues that South Africa's National Treasury has implemented a regressive austerity budget since 2012, prioritising debt reduction over essential social spending. This approach has led to systemic underinvestment in health, education, and social security, which the BJC claims was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, 'Imali Yesizwe', advocates for a transition to a human rights-based budget that focuses on progressive tax reform, the introduction of a Universal Basic Income Grant (UBIG), and increased investment in the care economy and clean energy. It specifically criticises the use of Zero Based Budgeting (ZBB) as a tool for cuts and calls for greater fiscal transparency and public participation in the budgeting process to ensure the progressive realisation of constitutional rights.

The report assesses the nascent green bonds market in Africa, noting that while it is gaining traction as a tool for climate mitigation and adaptation, it remains underdeveloped. The market is currently dominated by a few states and represents less than 1% of global issuance volumes. Key barriers to growth include institutional incapacity, a lack of national frameworks, and low awareness, although prospects for expansion are high as more states plan issuances or develop national guidelines.

The document examines the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and urban inequality, proposing six priority solutions to build climate-resilient and equitable cities. It highlights how the pandemic exposed systemic vulnerabilities, particularly for the urban poor in informal settlements, and argues that adaptation investments offer high benefit-cost ratios (2:1 to 10:1) and local job creation. Proposed solutions include upgrading poor settlements, building water resilience, advancing nature-based solutions, creating knowledge networks, enhancing devolved funding, and fostering peer-to-peer city collaboration.

The report identifies a significant green investment gap in China, estimating an annual requirement of RMB3tn-RMB4tn (USD424bn-USD566bn) by 2030. It highlights the role of green bonds and the impact of local green finance pilot zones in bridging this gap. The document analyzes the regulatory framework, the potential for 'new infrastructure' projects post-COVID-19, and the need for global harmonization of green definitions to attract international capital.

The report assesses China's green investment potential, highlighting a need for 3 to 4 trillion RMB annually by 2030. It examines the role of green bonds as a primary financing tool, the impact of regional green finance pilot zones, and the necessity of aligning domestic green definitions with international standards to attract global capital. It also explores opportunities in 'new infrastructure' post-COVID-19 and the transition of high-emission 'brown' industries.

The sustainable debt market in H1 2020 was characterized by a shift in composition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a surge in pandemic and social bonds offsetting a significant decline in green bond volumes. While green bonds historically dominated, H1 2020 saw a more even split between themes, with pandemic-related investments likely financing around half of the total sustainable debt market. The report highlights the emergence of pandemic bonds, primarily in China, and the role of supranationals in sustainability issuance. Policy-wise, it examines the 'build back better' agenda, the development of taxonomies in the EU and China, and the increasing involvement of central banks and stock exchanges in integrating climate risk into financial systems.

The Land Transport Criteria Version 2 establishes a framework for certifying green bonds in the transport sector, focusing on quantitative emissions thresholds and the exclusion of fossil-fuel-intensive assets. It prioritizes zero-direct-emissions vehicles and infrastructure, while setting specific benchmarks for passenger and freight transport to align with the Paris Agreement and the EU Taxonomy. The document details eligibility for various assets, including rail, road transport, and supporting infrastructure, while explicitly excluding biofuel vehicles and dedicated fossil fuel transport.