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The World Resources Institute (WRI) calls on Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, to demonstrate a commitment to the Paris Agreement and U.S. climate leadership upon his appointment as Secretary of State. WRI warns that withdrawing from the Paris Agreement would damage U.S. international relations and allow China to lead in green technologies and jobs.

The GCF Board's fourteenth meeting resulted in the approval of 10 funding proposals totaling approximately USD 788 million and the accreditation of 8 new entities. Key outcomes include the appointment of Mr. Howard Bamsey as Executive Director, the adoption of a strategy for accreditation prioritization, and a performance review of the World Bank as Interim Trustee, which highlighted a challenge regarding direct cash transfers to non-accredited executing entities.

The Rwanda Dairy Competitiveness Program II (RDCP II) successfully reduced the GHG emission intensity of milk production in Rwanda, with extensive systems seeing a 60% decrease and intensive systems a 47% decrease. However, because productivity interventions increased herd size and cow weight, total annual GHG emissions in the project area rose by an estimated 12% compared to business-as-usual practices. Despite this absolute increase, the growth in milk output proportionally exceeded the increase in emissions, indicating a shift toward more efficient and sustainable production patterns.

Manish Bapna, representing the World Resources Institute and the Open Government Partnership (OGP), argues that while open government cannot solve all global crises alone, it is a necessary prerequisite for solving them. He identifies a failure of governance evidenced by the rise of populism, extreme poverty, and climate change. To combat this, he proposes five steps: protecting civic space, fostering citizen-centered governance, pursuing transformational rather than incremental change, improving tangible quality-of-life outcomes (such as clean air and water), and reinvigorating political leadership to deepen the impact of OGP commitments.

As of 31 October 2016, the GCF pipeline consists of 46 funding proposals requesting USD 3.2 billion and 169 concept notes requesting USD 7.9 billion. The portfolio includes 27 approved projects, with varying levels of progress in fulfilling conditions for the execution of Funded Activity Agreements (FAAs). The document also tracks the progress of direct access entities and a pilot programme for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which has shortlisted 7 concept notes for funding up to USD 100 million.

Friends of the Earth International issued a statement from its 2016 Biennial General Meeting in Indonesia rejecting the election of Donald Trump. The organization condemns his rhetoric against marginalized groups and his 'climate denialism', which they argue threatens global progress on climate action. The statement links the rise of such political trends to the failures of neo-liberalism and corporate globalization, while expressing solidarity with progressive resistance movements in the United States.

The document details a screening process to identify champion Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices in Nepal, utilizing a combination of on-farm trials, household surveys, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The methodology evaluates technologies based on three pillars—food security, adaptation, and mitigation—alongside Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI). The process resulted in a final list of 17 champion CSAs, with specific allocations for the high-hill, mid-hill, and Terai regions. Findings indicate that farmers prioritize food security above all other criteria, and that packaging multiple technologies is more effective for building resilience than standalone practices.

ClientEarth argues that the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines has the jurisdiction to investigate the Carbon Majors because climate change threatens fundamental civil and political rights. The brief asserts that there is a linear causal relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, and that the Carbon Majors' emissions have contributed significantly to this process. It recommends that the Philippine government ratify the Paris Agreement and that the Carbon Majors publish business plans aligned with a warming limit of well below 2 degrees Celsius, in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The We Mean Business coalition advocates for the use of the Global Climate Action Agenda and Technical Expert Meetings (TEMs) to break down barriers to low-carbon transition before 2020. The coalition highlights its role in facilitating over 1,000 climate commitments from businesses and investors and promoting the RE100 initiative to help companies procure 100% renewable energy.

The document explains that the Paris Agreement requires a detailed "rule book" to provide operational guidance on transparency, accountability, and the review of collective efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 - 2 degrees C. It identifies key challenges in designing these rules, including the need for "build-in flexibility" for countries with differing capabilities and the risk of double-counting emissions reductions. The briefing expects COP22 in Marrakech to establish a roadmap for finalizing these rules by 2018, operationalize capacity-building initiatives, and set the stage for more ambitious nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by 2020.

The 2016 UNEP Emissions Gap Report assesses the gap between projected 2030 global emissions under Intended Nationally Determined Contributions and the levels required to limit global temperature increases to well below 2°C or 1.5°C. It evaluates pre-2020 mitigation actions, the potential of non-state action and energy efficiency to increase ambition, and the relationship between the Sustainable Development Goals and climate mitigation.

The document examines how different voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) operate within the cotton sector to drive mainstream sustainability. It identifies a tiered approach where Organic and Fairtrade raise the 'sustainability ceiling' through rigorous standards, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) raises the 'sustainability floor' via accessible programs for continuous improvement, and Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA) ensures inclusivity for farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The report highlights the potential for sustainable cotton to offer low-carbon alternatives to synthetic fibers and contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly for smallholder farmers.

The policy brief examines the mismatch between the 'top-down' institutional architecture of the UNFCCC and the critical role subnational governments play in implementing climate mitigation and adaptation. It highlights how rapid global urbanisation increases the importance of cities, yet these entities often lack the legal mandate, finance, and direct access to international negotiating tables. The author discusses the role of transnational actors like ICLEI and C40 in bridging this gap and recommends moving toward a 'co-production' model of governance between national and subnational levels.

The document examines why traditional multilateral development banks struggle to meet the needs of middle-income countries, citing bureaucratic loan processes, rigid procurement rules, and stringent safeguards. Using the African Development Bank (AfDB) as a case study and analyzing experiences in Nigeria and Botswana, it argues that MICs are increasingly turning to private finance, bilateral donors like China, and domestic markets. It recommends that the NDB adopt a leaner operational model, utilize 'use of country systems' (UCS) for procurement, focus on 'green' sustainable infrastructure, and improve gender representation in governance to avoid the pitfalls of established MDBs.

The report evaluates the early stages of SDG implementation in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), analyzing 11 countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, and Sweden. It finds that while the region performs well in areas like poverty reduction, renewable energy share, and corruption, it struggles significantly with domestic material consumption and energy intensity. Implementation is currently fragmented, with varying institutional responsibilities and a general reliance on existing administrative structures. The report emphasizes a critical need for improved monitoring systems and stronger political leadership at the parliamentary level to ensure the 2030 Agenda is integrated across all government sectors.

A joint submission by 20 organizations arguing that the Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM) must avoid the systemic failures of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) by implementing strict human rights safeguards, ensuring a net decrease in global emissions, and establishing robust grievance and participation processes.

The document details a two-day workshop held in October 2016 in Dakar, Senegal, involving over 25 participants from seven West African countries. It examines the implications of the Paris Agreement, specifically Article 6 and carbon markets, while highlighting the failures of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the challenges of accessing the Green Climate Fund. The workshop concluded with the 'Dakar Declaration,' which provides six specific recommendations for West African negotiators at COP22 to ensure the new sustainable development mechanism prioritises human rights, the least developed countries, and a shift from market-based offsets to climate finance.

The document outlines five primary strategies for integrating climate compatible development into local political agendas: establishing cross-party consensus, linking climate action to development goals, aligning climate measures with sectoral objectives, utilizing local and national 'champions', and designing initiatives to benefit marginalized groups. It emphasizes that finding innovative, non-climate-specific entry points—such as energy security or economic alternatives—can lead to more enduring policy success. Examples include Uruguay's cross-party agreement on renewable energy, the use of 'water walks' in Madurai, India, and the integration of low-emission strategies into Bogor's municipal development plan.

The report updates global climate finance data for 2013 and 2014, finding an annual average of USD 367 billion. It highlights the dominance of renewable energy and domestic investment, while noting a shift where developing countries began receiving more investment than developed countries in 2014. The document also identifies significant data gaps in adaptation and energy efficiency tracking.

The document analyzes how neoliberal trade and investment frameworks, characterized by 'mega-regional' agreements and bilateral investment treaties, prioritize corporate profitability over human rights and ecological sustainability. It contrasts the 'agro-industry' model—which emphasizes large-scale production of 'flexible crops' for export and financial gain—with 'agroecology,' which focuses on small-scale producers, biodiversity, and the social function of land. The report highlights the role of the European Union in driving this industrial model, particularly in Africa, and recommends a systemic shift toward policies that protect small-scale farmers, recognize land as a common good, and hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights violations.