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The Philippines utilizes a nationally driven approach to climate adaptation, where the National Adaptation Plan is envisioned as a derivative of the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2011–2028. The process is led by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) using a "whole of nation approach" that integrates stakeholders from government, academia, business, and civil society, while aligning with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan and the Philippine Development Plan.

The brief finds that while 66% of EU cities have climate plans, there is significant disparity based on city size and national legislation. National mandates in countries like Denmark and the UK significantly increase the likelihood of cities having plans, while many cities in Spain and Italy rely on international networks like the Covenant of Mayors due to a lack of national guidance.

The global green bond market reached a cumulative issuance of USD 521bn by 2018, with USD 167.6bn issued in 2018 alone. The USA, China, and France emerged as the leading national markets. The report highlights a significant increase in issuance from financial institutions, particularly commercial banks, and a growing trend toward shorter-dated bonds. While Europe remains the largest overall market, the Asia-Pacific region saw the highest year-on-year growth at 35%. The market is also diversifying into other labelled instruments, including sustainability, social, and blue bonds, and expanding into emerging markets through the adoption of regional standards like the ASEAN Green Bond Standards.

The authors critique current integrated assessment modelling (IAM), specifically as used in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15), for being biased toward market-based policies and global cost-optimization while ignoring local priorities and institutional barriers. They propose a 'fit-for-purpose' paradigm where models are selected based on stakeholder-defined questions and indicators, rather than fitting questions to existing models. This bottom-up approach is presented as essential for creating inclusive, voluntary low-carbon transitions, particularly in complex environments like cities and coastal areas. The brief suggests that this shift in process—not necessarily in the models themselves—is required for future IPCC reports and the Paris Agreement's Global Stocktake.

The Socio-Climate Benefits Fund (SCBF) is designed to combat small-scale deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon by providing long-term investment and technical training to smallholders for the implementation of agroforestry systems. The instrument operates through an investment vehicle that establishes a company to manage Rural Partnership Agreements, providing upfront capital and inputs in exchange for a share of the harvest. The fund aims to increase smallholder income by at least 58% for 1-hectare implementations and 234% for 4-hectare expansions, while storing ten times more carbon than current degraded pasture vegetation over 20 years. The financial structure requires a total of $13.1 million, comprising a $1.5 million grant, $5 million in commercial equity, and $6.6 million in concessional debt across first-loss and senior tranches.

The report evaluates global forest landscape restoration (FLR) ambitions by tracking pledges under the Bonn Challenge and commitments within Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the UNFCCC. While the 150 million hectare milestone for 2020 was surpassed in May 2017, actual implementation data remains scarce, with reported achievements representing less than 10 percent of the 2020 goal. The document also highlights the role of regional initiatives and new data tools like the Bonn Challenge Barometer and ROAM in improving monitoring and planning.

The 2018 Progress Assessment for Goal 5 indicates that Bonn Challenge pledges have reached 168.9 million hectares, surpassing the 2020 milestone in terms of pledges. However, actual implementation remains difficult to aggregate, with a five-country sample showing 13.4 million hectares under restoration. Analysis of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) reveals that while 127 of 165 NDCs include forest landscape restoration (FLR) commitments, only 30% are quantifiable. When combining official NDC targets with non-target ambitions, 114 million hectares are reflected, representing one third of the 2030 target.

The Q4 2018 Risk Dashboard indicates that the Green Climate Fund's portfolio concentration and liquidity remain within approved risk tolerance levels. As of 31 December 2018, the fund reported no non-performing loans for the eighth consecutive quarter and maintained a foreign exchange commitment risk buffer of USD 33 million equivalent. The portfolio consists of 93 approved funding proposals with a geographic distribution led by Africa (39%) and Asia-Pacific (34%), and a funding balance favoring mitigation (39%) over adaptation (25%).

As of 30 June 2018, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) managed a portfolio of 76 approved funding proposals (FPs) with a total approved amount of USD 3.7 billion. Funding is distributed across mitigation (43%), adaptation (29%), and cross-cutting projects (28%), with the highest regional concentrations in Africa (33%) and Asia-Pacific (33%). The fund reports a projected liquid asset portfolio of USD 4.1 billion for the following 12 months and confirms there are no non-performing loans in its portfolio. Integrity and redress mechanisms recorded several closed allegations and a withdrawn request for reconsideration from Argentina.

The Tonga Green Climate Fund Country Programme identifies 29 priority initiatives—comprising 12 adaptation, 4 mitigation, 9 cross-cutting projects, 3 readiness support initiatives, and 1 project preparation grant—with a total estimated cost of USD $486.33 million. The programme focuses on critical vulnerabilities including sea-level rise, tropical cyclones, and drought, aligning with the Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 and the Second Joint National Action Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (JNAP 2). Key priorities include renewable energy expansion, coastal resilience, climate-smart agriculture, and the climate-proofing of urban infrastructure in Nuku’alofa.

The document positions India's MSME sector as a critical engine for inclusive and green growth, noting its role in employing 60 million people and contributing 45% of manufacturing output. It highlights significant barriers to growth, including a severe skill gap where only 2% of workers are formally skilled and limited access to institutional finance. While the Union Budget 2018 provided tax cuts and credit support, the brief argues that there is insufficient focus on 'greening' MSMEs to meet climate targets, suggesting a need for targeted investment in sectors like decentralized renewable energy and waste management.

The report details discussions between Canadian government officials, academics, and civil society on reforming international investment law. It argues that traditional investment treaties, focused on investor protection, often conflict with sustainable development goals and human rights. Key proposals include shifting the focus of treaties toward sustainable development, conducting broad impact assessments, and reforming or eliminating investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms to protect the state's right to regulate in the public interest, particularly for climate change objectives.

The report details a two-day training workshop held in Lima in September 2018 for 21 regional communicators from across Peru. The event focused on translating technical climate change concepts and the 2018 Framework Law on Climate Change into accessible public narratives. Participants identified gaps in current media coverage, such as a tendency toward alarmism and a lack of political focus on climate issues, and proposed the creation of a National Network of Communicators on Climate Change to institutionalize environmental reporting. The workshop included a visit to the 'Voces por el Clima' ecological park and a press conference with the Minister of the Environment.

The report documents a two-day workshop in September 2018 designed to train 21 journalists and communicators from across Peru on climate change and the Climate Change Framework Law (Law N° 30754). The event, supported by the US Government and implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), aimed to improve the dissemination of climate information and integrate regional perspectives into the law's regulatory framework. Key activities included technical presentations, group work on personalizing climate news, and a visit to the 'Voces por el Clima' ecological park. Findings highlight a tendency for regional media to use alarmist or sensationalist tones because climate change is not perceived as a 'hot news' item, and participants expressed a strong need for a permanent National Network of Communicators on Climate Change to maintain direct access to technical experts.

The Book of Abstracts compiles nearly seventy research proposals focused on the sustainable harnessing of the Blue Economy. The submissions are organized into four primary thematic areas: sustainable use of resources, climate action resilience, global connectivity and transportation, and blue economy and sustainable cities, with an additional focus on human resource capacity. The abstracts cover a diverse range of topics, including marine spatial planning, aquaculture development in Africa and Asia, the economic impacts of ocean acidification, and the role of scientific research in informing policy and investment. Geographically, the research spans global contexts with specific case studies from Kenya, Canada, Ireland, Bangladesh, Israel, China, and various Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The document argues that communication and information poverty—characterized by lack of access to platforms, media misrepresentation, and low media literacy—undermines the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It specifically analyzes the intersections between communication rights and SDGs 5, 9, 16, and 17, while providing recommendations for a rights-based approach to communication. The report highlights the need to democratize media systems, increase digital media literacy, and address the specific needs of marginalized groups, particularly Indigenous peoples, which it claims are insufficiently addressed in Agenda 2030.

The document analyzes how biophysical climate impacts and international trade shifts threaten employment in South Africa's chemicals sub-sector, while identifying job creation potential through mitigation and adaptation interventions.

The South African mining sector is highly vulnerable to job losses driven by biophysical climate impacts and international trade responses, with coal, gold, and platinum being the most at risk. While biophysical impacts could lead to 14,700 job losses across all sectors, international trade responses could cause between 9,400 and 52,800 losses by 2030. The report highlights that coal and lignite mining is particularly vulnerable, with expected job losses of approximately 6% by 2030. However, the transition to a low-carbon economy creates opportunities for job growth in the extraction of minerals required for clean energy technologies, such as manganese and platinum group metals. To manage this transition, the report recommends a two-pronged approach to inventory and match transferable skills to non-mining sectors and new mining sub-sectors.

The document analyzes climate change as a 'threat multiplier' that exacerbates global instability and poses direct risks to U.S. military infrastructure and operations. It details how the Department of Defense (DOD) and other agencies like the DHS and CIA integrate climate risk into planning, focusing on issues such as mass migration, water scarcity, and the opening of the Arctic. The brief also outlines specific energy and resilience initiatives across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, while noting the tension between military adaptation needs and Congressional fiscal priorities.

The GCF Board's 18th meeting in Cairo focused on operationalizing the fund's implementation phase. Key outcomes include the approval of multiple funding proposals across various regions, the accreditation of five new entities, and the adoption of a Simplified Approval Process (SAP) pilot for small-scale activities. The Board also approved a new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Policy and a revised administrative budget and staffing target of 250 employees for 2018. However, consensus was not reached on a risk management framework or the selection process for a Permanent Trustee.