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The document critiques the carbon market mechanisms being negotiated under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, specifically Articles 6.2, 6.4, and 6.8. It argues that these markets allow developed countries and fossil fuel companies to avoid direct emission reductions through offsetting, which the author claims is incompatible with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The briefing highlights technical concerns such as double counting and the lack of a legally binding demand for carbon credits, while emphasizing the risks to Indigenous peoples and local communities, including land grabbing and forced displacement. It calls for a shift toward non-market approaches and the fulfillment of public climate finance obligations by the Global North.

The briefing note critiques the 'net zero' agenda promoted by the UK presidency at COP26, arguing that the concept allows governments and corporations to maintain fossil fuel pathways through deceptive accounting and unproven technologies. It contends that net zero ignores historical responsibility, is inequitable to the global South, and relies on the physical impossibility of natural sinks absorbing all combusted fossil carbon. The author warns that the confusion between carbon removals and offsets is being exploited to create a carbon market potentially worth US$50-100 billion by 2030, which diverts investment from systemic transformation. Friends of the Earth International demands a focus on 'real zero', absolute emissions reductions by 2030, the exclusion of corporate polluters from COP26, and the fulfillment of climate finance obligations by Northern countries.

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) rejects Nature-based Solutions (NbS), characterizing the term as a "wolf in sheep's clothing" that masks neocolonialism and corporate greenwashing. The document contends that NbS promotes industrial monoculture plantations and the financialization of nature, which threatens the land rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities, particularly in the Global South. FoEI argues that NbS serves as a distraction from the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels and instead advocates for systemic changes through agroecology and community forest management.

The document critiques the 'net zero' framework promoted by the UK presidency and the 'Race to Zero' initiative for COP26. It asserts that net zero ignores historical responsibility, relies on physically impossible natural carbon sinks, and serves as a 'Trojan horse' for dangerous geoengineering. The author distinguishes between 'removals' and 'offsets', arguing that the latter maintain the status quo and divert investment from systemic transformation. Friends of the Earth International demands a shift toward 'real zero' (absolute emissions reductions), the exclusion of polluting companies from COP26, and the fulfillment of climate finance obligations by Northern countries to support the Global South.

The report analyzes the energy portfolios of ten major private equity firms, finding that 80% of their energy assets are in fossil fuels. It highlights that these investments often yield low returns and disproportionately impact communities of color, while the industry's private nature allows these activities to avoid the public scrutiny faced by publicly traded oil majors.

Based on a quantitative mapping of OECD data from 2014 to 2018, the document identifies five primary failures in climate adaptation finance for Africa: insufficient funding levels compared to mitigation and actual needs, a lack of strategic targeting toward the most vulnerable countries, over-concentration in agriculture and water sectors, low disbursement rates of committed funds, and an over-reliance on loans rather than grants.

The document examines the opportunities and barriers to moving UNFCCC climate negotiations online. While digital tools could disrupt outdated and opaque practices, the transition is hindered by a lack of trust among Parties and concerns that virtual formats might exacerbate structural inequities or reduce transparency for media and NGOs. The author recommends the creation of a taskforce to design future session formats and calls for leadership from the UN Secretary-General and the UNFCCC Secretariat to modernize multilateral diplomacy.

The document argues that progress on loss and damage (L&D) finance has been stalled by disagreements over liability and compensation. It proposes a near-term 'solidarity-based' approach to unlock funding without requiring strict legal liability, while advocating for the eventual creation of a formal L&D mechanism within the UNFCCC. The authors emphasize that L&D finance must be additional to mitigation and adaptation funding and should be distributed based on a needs-based approach prioritizing the most vulnerable populations.

The 'Communication for Social Justice in a Digital Age MANIFESTO' is the result of a September 2021 symposium organized by the World Council of Churches and the World Association for Christian Communication. It argues that while digital technologies offer opportunities for inclusion and advocacy, they are currently marred by monopolies, disinformation, and systemic biases that exacerbate existing social inequities. The document calls for a 'transformative movement' to establish a digital public sphere rooted in human rights, transparency, and equity, specifically highlighting the need for 'digital justice' as an intersectional requirement encompassing gender, climate, and racial justice.

The manifesto identifies how digital technologies, while offering tools for inclusion, also enable disinformation, surveillance, and the monetization of users through the 'attention economy'. It calls for a transformative movement involving faith communities, civil society, and governments to ensure digital rights are an extension of human rights, specifically addressing digital divides, gender-based online violence, and the ecological impact of technology.

The document identifies systemic inequities in the digital age, including digital divides, data monopolies, and online violence, while advocating for a communication ecosystem based on inclusive participation and human rights. It proposes a set of principles to ensure equitable access to information, privacy, and sustainable energy, calling for a transformative movement involving faith communities, civil society, and governments to protect civil rights in digital spaces.

The statement asserts that marginalized communities, particularly Indigenous peoples in the Global South, are disproportionately affected by climate change despite minimal contribution to it. It argues that these groups face systemic media barriers and colonial stereotypes that silence their political actions and climate struggles. The author contends that communication rights—including increased media access and the democratization of information systems—are necessary to amplify these voices and drive the political action required to tackle the climate crisis.

The document reports a rapid decline in Arctic sea ice, noting that the 15 lowest sea ice extents in the 42-year satellite record have all occurred in the last 15 years. It highlights the loss of multiyear ice and unprecedented melting events on the Greenland ice sheet in 2021. These changes are linked to global temperature rises and are projected to result in an effectively ice-free Arctic summer minimum at least once before 2050. The report details how this loss accelerates global warming via reduced reflectivity, disrupts jetstream-driven weather patterns, opens new shipping routes, and threatens the livelihoods of Indigenous communities.

The Desert to Power G5 Sahel Facility is a large-scale program requesting US$ 150 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to leverage a total of US$ 966.7 million in financing. The initiative aims to add 500 MW of solar generation capacity and 239 MWh of utility-scale storage across five G5 Sahel countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14.4 million tCO2equ over its lifetime. The program is structured into three components: grid investments to de-risk solar Independent Power Producers (IPPs), incremental finance for solar power generation, and technical assistance to improve the regulatory and institutional environment. The African Development Bank (AfDB) serves as the Accredited Entity, coordinating with national governments and private sector stakeholders to address technical, financial, and legal barriers to renewable energy adoption.

The research evaluates 168 NDCs against international environmental law, finding that some states use justifications—such as least cost pathways or emissions per GDP—that lack legal backing. By applying principles of harm prevention, precaution, and the Paris Agreement's ambition goals, the author argues that developed states must reach net-negative emission levels by 2030 to meet temperature goals. Among G20 nations, only India and Indonesia are identified as being able to temporarily increase emissions relative to 2010, while others have decreased emissions too slowly or increased them over the last decade.

The September 2021 report 'Climate Change in the American Mind' provides a comprehensive data set tracking US public opinion on global warming. Key findings include a rise in the percentage of Americans who believe global warming is happening (76% in September 2021) and an increase in those who are 'Very worried' about it (35%). The data also shows a growing consensus that global warming is caused by human activities (60%) and is affecting US weather (70%), specifically impacting wildfires (50% 'A lot') and extreme heat (49% 'A lot').

The September 2021 'Climate Change in the American Mind' report reveals that 76% of Americans believe global warming is happening, with 60% attributing it primarily to human activity. While 70% express worry and a majority perceive risks to their local communities from extreme weather, there is a significant gap in understanding the strength of scientific consensus, with only 24% aware that over 90% of climate scientists agree on human-caused warming. The report also highlights that most Americans conceptualize global warming as an environmental and scientific issue, though a growing number view it through the lenses of morality and social justice.

The document argues that traditional corporate climate leadership, focused on "net zero" and offsets, is insufficient. It proposes a "drawdown-aligned" framework where employees use their internal influence to transform business models, supply chains, and financial investments. Key recommendations include adopting "Emissions 360" accounting, divesting from fossil fuels, aligning political lobbying with the Paris Agreement, and prioritizing long-term planetary health over quarterly profits.

The document argues that vertical integration is essential for inclusive and effective climate adaptation, as it ensures local realities and marginalized voices shape national policy. It identifies four enabling factors for this process: financing mechanisms, institutional arrangements, information sharing, and capacity development. Through case studies from countries like Malawi, Botswana, Ghana, Nepal, Cambodia, and Peru, the briefing highlights that while decentralization and local participation improve targeting, they are often hindered by power imbalances, elite capture, and a lack of financial resources reaching the local level. The author recommends using knowledge brokers to bridge the gap between national and local visions and empowering local authorities through stronger mandates and capacity building.

The report explores the potential for a digital transition of the UNFCCC process, finding broad stakeholder support for moving technical and preparatory activities online, while highlighting significant concerns regarding power imbalances, the digital divide, and the loss of informal relationship-building essential for political consensus.