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The paper evaluates four scenarios—a Reference Scenario and three increasing levels of policy ambition—to determine the effectiveness of tax credits, infrastructure spending, and performance standards in decarbonizing the U.S. economy. It finds that while tax credits and spending drive early adoption, sector-specific performance standards and negative emissions technologies are essential to reach net-zero by 2050. The analysis concludes that decarbonization is economically feasible, with potential net savings of 0.3 percent of U.S. GDP by 2050 under reference oil prices.

The authors contend that circular economy solutions are indispensable for decarbonization, as resource extraction and processing account for half of global greenhouse gas emissions. They highlight the growth of the USD 315 billion global waste trade and the energy efficiency of secondary materials, which can require up to 90% less energy than primary resources. The paper advocates for government incentives to value waste, the adoption of product longevity strategies to reduce carbon footprints—particularly in electronics—and the use of bilateral and regional free trade agreements to establish standards for circular products. The authors call for the WTO to create climate-friendly rules to eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers that currently restrain the trade of circular goods and services.

The report argues that achieving Paris Agreement goals in Latin America requires comprehensive policy frameworks and long-term visions to provide the planning certainty necessary to mobilise private capital for decarbonisation.

The report finds that France's Plan de relance largely neglects natural capital, with 47% of its budget categorized as neutral or impossible to assess regarding biodiversity. While 28% of the budget is expected to have a positive impact—primarily through climate mitigation—25% is expected to have a negative impact due to support for environmentally damaging industries and company tax reductions. The authors recommend implementing environmental conditionality for funds and adopting nature-based solutions to ensure long-term economic resilience.

Carbon Market Watch argues that while the CBAM proposal has positive elements, such as basing certificates on verified emissions and avoiding export rebates, it requires significant revisions. Key recommendations include removing the overlap between CBAM and free emission allowances, including bulk chemicals and indirect emissions from the start, providing special considerations for least developed nations and small islands, and recycling revenues toward international climate finance rather than the Next Generation EU facility.

The document details the priorities for the second week of COP26, highlighting the critical role of nature-based solutions, the need for a functional Enhanced Transparency Framework, and the funding gap for adaptation and loss and damage. It emphasizes the necessity of integrating science and gender equity into climate action, the decarbonization of the built environment and transport sectors, and the urgent need for tangible financial commitments and representation for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and Indigenous peoples.

The report examines the tension between Argentina's agri-export model and its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, noting that the agricultural sector accounts for 37% of national greenhouse gas emissions. While domestic stakeholders perceive low risk from GHG mitigation commitments, the study warns that an EU carbon tariff on agricultural imports would significantly decrease the competitiveness of Argentine soybean derivatives and bovine meat, leading to adverse impacts on GDP and employment.

The document highlights the critical role of the steel industry in both global infrastructure and greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that the sector can be almost completely decarbonised by 2050 through appropriate policies and investments.

The author asserts that COP26 is a pivotal moment to act on climate change, noting that global warming is accelerating and Canada is warming twice as fast as the global average. The text highlights the human cost, citing 569 deaths in British Columbia from a heat wave, and the economic risk, noting that weather-related disasters have cost Canada 5 to 6 per cent of annual GDP growth since 2010. It emphasizes that achieving net zero emissions globally by 2050 could still limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, including leaders from 16 nations, advocates for a transition to a sustainable ocean economy to close the emissions gap. The Panel identifies six key action areas—nature-based solutions, renewable energy, industry decarbonisation, sustainable food, carbon capture and storage, and research—noting that these actions could provide up to 21% of the annual emissions cuts required to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2050. Member nations commit to developing Sustainable Ocean Plans to manage 100% of their national waters sustainably within five years.

The document analyzes the projected decline of coal-fired power in the EU by 2030, noting that while most member states are rapidly transitioning, Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria will account for over 95% of the EU's planned coal electricity production by that year. It emphasizes that Germany's commitment to exit coal by 2030 isolates these three countries, whose combined coal reduction (42% from 2015 to 2030) lags significantly behind the 99% reduction seen in the other 27 EU nations.

The United States possesses the largest operating coal fleet in the OECD at 233 GW, with most plants over 30 years old. To meet the goal of a full coal phase-out by 2030, the US must increase its average annual retirement rate from 15 GW to 25 GW, a 66% increase. Current legislation, such as the Build Back Better Framework, is deemed insufficient to achieve this timeline, particularly after the removal of the Clean Energy Performance Program. The document suggests that the Biden administration should instead leverage Environmental Protection Agency regulations on air, water, and waste, and support local state-level policies and advocacy to accelerate the transition to a carbon-free power sector by 2035.

The briefing argues that the EU's 'Fit for 55' package underestimates the decarbonization potential of the heavy-duty vehicle sector. SEI analysis indicates that simultaneous action across three key areas—energy efficiency, electrification, and biofuels—could reduce heavy-duty vehicle emissions by 24% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. The document emphasizes that no single measure is sufficient and that policymakers must balance these options to account for long vehicle stock renewal cycles and potential underperformance in specific areas.

The document details a three-phase transition to a hydrogen economy in Estonia: immediate actions (2021-2025), scaling (2025-2030), and wide-scale adoption (2030-2050). Key goals include deploying over 300 MW of local electrolysis capacity by 2030 and achieving a hydrogen price of approximately 1.9 EUR/kg by 2030. The strategy focuses on decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy-duty transport, shipping, aviation, and chemical industries (specifically ammonia and methanol production). It identifies significant barriers, including the lack of a dedicated hydrogen strategy, insufficient renewable energy capacity, and missing regulatory frameworks for storage and distribution.

The report outlines a three-stage transition for Estonia to establish a green hydrogen economy by 2050. The first phase (2021-2025) focuses on pilot projects in transport and establishing a regulatory framework. The second phase (2025-2030) aims for scaling production to 300 MW+ and expanding FCEV use in public transport and heavy-duty vehicles. The final phase (2030-2050) envisions large-scale deployment with 5 GW+ of electrolyser capacity, full decarbonisation of the domestic truck fleet, and the establishment of a green chemical industry (ammonia and methanol), potentially reducing national greenhouse gas emissions by 12% by 2050.

Ember expresses concern that the mainstream model of BECCS—adding carbon capture to biomass power plants—may not generate negative emissions because burning wood for power is increasingly viewed as a net emitter of CO2. The submission highlights the high risk associated with the Drax power station project, noting it could cost UK energy bill payers over £30bn while potentially failing to deliver negative emissions. Ember recommends that the UK’s Biomass Strategy 2022 prioritize scientific research and independent monitoring of supply chains over the premature promotion of BECCS projects.

The NewClimate Institute criticizes Switzerland's bilateral climate agreements with Georgia, Peru, Senegal, and Ghana, arguing that by targeting 'low-hanging fruit' (low-cost emission reductions), Switzerland avoids domestic decarbonization while potentially blocking host countries from meeting their own Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The author contends that for market mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to be effective, they must focus on 'high-hanging fruit'—hard-to-abate emissions that require external finance—and that Switzerland should instead prioritize fulfilling its fair share of international climate finance without claiming ownership of the resulting emission reductions.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) asserts that the government must shift from risk management to a hazard prevention paradigm to protect public health. Key recommendations include eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, reforming the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), implementing a just transition for workers and Indigenous peoples, and adopting a planetary health lens to integrate climate adaptation and mitigation.

The authors find that the emissions commitment of current primary steel equipment is 21 Gt CO2eq, which is significantly lower than previous estimates of 52–65 Gt CO2eq. This suggests that future emissions are driven by the speed of novel technology and renewable energy deployment, rather than the long economic life of existing capital. The authors recommend improved monitoring of asset age and research into regulating emission-intensive equipment to avoid consuming the remaining carbon budget.

The briefing advocates for the inclusion of long-term strategies in the first global stocktake (2021-2023) to ensure a comprehensive assessment of global ambition. It details how these strategies can enrich the information collection, technical assessment, and high-level output phases, ultimately guiding the evolution of future Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and supporting developing countries in overcoming barriers to long-term planning.