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The RECAF project seeks USD 35 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and USD 32.434 million in loans from IFAD to reduce GHG emissions by 6.68 MtCO2-eq over 12 years. The project focuses on five provinces: Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Lam Dong, and Ninh Thuan. It aims to transform 145,000 hectares of forestland into agroforestry systems and protect 500,000 hectares of natural forests. Key strategies include upgrading the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS), establishing public-private-producer partnerships (4Ps) for deforestation-free commodities like coffee and pepper, and implementing a performance-based Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanism. The project targets 420,000 direct beneficiaries, with a strong focus on ethnic minorities and women, to improve livelihoods and climate resilience.

The South Coast Water Reclamation Project (SCWRP) in Barbados aims to transform the existing South Coast Sewage Treatment Plant (SCSTP) into a modern Water Resource Recovery Facility (SCWRRF). The project focuses on producing high-quality reclaimed water to reduce dependence on potable groundwater, which is under threat from droughts and seawater intrusion. Key infrastructure includes a 25 km irrigation pipeline for 160 hectares of farmland and a system of injection wells for aquifer recharge in the Christ Church aquifer. The project also includes the restoration of the 33-hectare Graeme Hall Swamp and the installation of a 7 MW solar PV plant with battery storage to provide energy redundancy and reduce GHG emissions. Financially, the project employs an innovative 'Debt-for-Climate Conversion' (DfCC) mechanism, using savings from restructured sovereign debt to fund the investment. The total financing is USD 110 million, with USD 70 million requested from the Green Climate Fund (USD 40 million grant and USD 30 million loan) and USD 40 million in co-financing from the Inter-American Development Bank.

The document argues that sanitation systems are both vulnerable to climate change and contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, yet remain poorly integrated into national climate and sanitation policies. This disconnect leads to missed synergies between Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 13 and results in sanitation initiatives receiving minimal climate finance. The authors analyze NDCs and sanitation plans to provide recommendations for integrating climate-resilient water, sanitation and health (WASH) initiatives into national adaptation plans and updated NDCs.

The We Mean Business Coalition describes the COP29 finance deal as insufficient, noting that the $300bn figure falls short of developing countries' needs. While the coalition views the 'Baku to Belém Roadmap' as a positive step for scaling public finance, it argues that the final agreement missed a leadership opportunity by omitting specific language on transitioning from fossil fuels. The coalition highlights that the global market for clean technologies is projected to exceed $2 trillion by 2035 and calls for 1.5°C-aligned Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to mobilize private investment.

COP 29 concluded with a new climate finance goal of at least USD 300 billion per year by 2035 for developing countries, though this remains below their identified needs. The conference saw a lack of progress on the COP 28 energy package, including the rejection of proposals for annual progress reports on transitioning away from fossil fuels and a failure to reiterate calls to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. While the national adaptation plan (NAP) assessment was delayed to 2025, agreements were reached on indicators for the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience and the establishment of the Baku Adaptation Road Map. Additionally, the Lima work programme on gender was extended by 10 years, but the document notes a failure to explicitly address human rights and gender-responsive finance in the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) decision.

The World Resources Institute describes the COP29 agreement to deliver at least $300 billion per year by 2035 as an important but insufficient 'downpayment' for developing countries. While the deal triples current finance flows and establishes a roadmap to reach $1.3 trillion from all sources, the WRI emphasizes that this amount does not meet the actual needs of vulnerable nations to pursue low-carbon economies and manage climate disasters.

South Africa's upcoming G20 presidency is positioned as a critical lever for reforming the global financial architecture to better support African nations facing a severe debt crisis and escalating climate risks. The paper highlights that Africa's debt has surged by 183% since 2010, with 57% of the population living in countries that spend more on interest payments than on healthcare, education, and infrastructure. It critiques existing G20 mechanisms like the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) and the Common Framework for Debt Treatments for their slow implementation and failure to secure private creditor participation. The author advocates for a holistic approach that links debt sustainability with climate resilience, noting that climate financing needs are projected to exceed USD 10 trillion annually from 2031 to 2050. South Africa's presidency, themed 'solidarity, equality and sustainable development', aims to amplify the voice of the Global South and the African Union within the G20 to secure equitable debt relief and increased concessional finance for climate adaptation.

The document highlights the significant influence of French banks on the automotive market, noting that five major groups control 34% of leasing contracts. It criticizes these banks for lacking a phase-out date for internal combustion engine rentals and for a low proportion of electric vehicles in their fleets compared to market averages, particularly at BNP Paribas and Société Générale.

The We Mean Business Coalition calls on COP29 negotiators to reinforce the transition away from fossil fuels and implement Global Stocktake outcomes. The coalition argues that policy certainty and ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are essential to unlock large-scale private investment in clean energy. Additionally, they advocate for a robust New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance to support low- and middle-income countries and reduce investment risks.

Attribution studies in Brazil indicate that fossil fuel combustion increased the likelihood and intensity of recent floods in Rio Grande do Sul and droughts in the Amazon. Despite these impacts, the Brazilian government continues to support oil and gas expansion, with plans to increase oil production by 63% and gas by 124% by 2032. Petrobras, which controls over 90% of domestic production, is estimated to be responsible for USD 500 billion in climate damages between 2018 and 2023. While Brazil has pledged to reduce emissions by up to 67% by 2035 and has successfully increased wind and solar power to reduce reliance on hydropower, its overall climate policies are rated as 'Insufficient' by Climate Action Tracker.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) asserts that a successful global plastics treaty must address the crisis at its source by capping production, as 99 percent of plastics are fossil-fuel derived and production is projected to triple by 2050. CIEL recommends a minimum 70 percent reduction in plastic production by 2050 relative to 2019 levels to align with 1.5°C climate goals. The document warns that current draft texts and the proposed "non-paper" by Chair Luis Vayas may lead to a weak agreement. Essential elements for an effective treaty include binding national targets, bans on hazardous chemicals (of which over 4,200 are known to pose risks), enforceable trade measures, and a financial mechanism such as a fee on primary polymer production. The authors highlight risks from industry lobbying and potential shifts in US policy following the re-election of Donald Trump.

The document outlines a comprehensive framework for local governments to scale the deployment of air-source and ground-source heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. It details a five-step methodology: building a diverse program team and setting goals, engaging and qualifying local contractors, designing affordable incentive and financing structures, executing community outreach, and managing program launch and impact tracking. The guide emphasizes equity, specifically targeting low-to-moderate income (LMI) and frontline communities, and leverages federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

The document outlines the role of supply-side policies in accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by influencing manufacturers to increase the production and sale of compliant vehicles. It highlights a broader analysis of ZEV policies in eight specific markets—Australia, Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Indonesia, the United States, and South Africa—to identify policy gaps and the link between policy design and the mobilization of financing.

The document argues that Africa's rising public debt is unsustainable and that current global relief mechanisms, such as the G20 DSSI and the Common Framework, are insufficient. It highlights a shift toward private and non-traditional lenders, which has increased borrowing costs and reduced investment in social services and climate resilience, necessitating a fundamental overhaul of the global financial system.

The report identifies a 'triple gap' in planning, finance, and data regarding the transition of global agrifood systems to low-carbon and climate-resilient pathways. It highlights that agrifood systems contribute a third of global greenhouse gas emissions but receive less than 5% of total global climate finance.

The report identifies high costs as a primary barrier to the adoption of near-zero-carbon steel technology in China, leading to conservative investment decisions. To overcome these economic hurdles, it suggests a combination of policy instruments, such as green hydrogen subsidies and carbon markets, and market-based mechanisms, including green premiums and forward offtake agreements. The document provides a project-level economic model to analyze transition routes and offers six action recommendations to mobilize stakeholders for faster deployment.

The New Development Bank (NDB) has expanded its mandate to support climate action and sustainable development but faces challenges including aligning financing with local currency and non-sovereign lending.

The document details the progress of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) toward a global plastics treaty, highlighting the divide between 'upstream' production controls and 'downstream' waste management. It discusses a 'non-paper' proposed by the chair to resolve 1,500 brackets of disagreed-upon text from INC-4, while noting that critical issues like plastic production, trade, and financial mechanisms remain unresolved.

The text asserts that the green energy transition is currently acting as a vehicle for "colonialismo verde" (green colonialism), where indigenous territories are exploited without proper consent. It highlights that failing to protect indigenous rights creates strategic risks for governments and industries, citing legal challenges to wind energy in Sweden and the negative impacts of the Belo Monte hydroelectric project in Brazil. The author calls on G20 leaders to move beyond the T20 Communiqué's recommendations by reforming land-use laws, addressing power asymmetries through dedicated funding, and recognizing indigenous leadership in defining a just transition.

The roadmap, developed following a 2023 science-policy dialogue with 45 regional stakeholders, provides 15 recommendations to address 'next generation' climate risks in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. These recommendations are categorized into research and knowledge sharing, policy and governance, and implementation, capacity strengthening, and finance, aiming to establish new channels and leverage existing entities for regional cooperation.