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The We Mean Business Coalition, representing over 6 million companies, argues that climate action is beneficial for business and essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. They urge governments to establish an ambitious agreement at COP21 in Paris that focuses on global decarbonization, transparency, carbon pricing, and climate resilience.

Large-scale solar PV systems have grown rapidly, accounting for over half of all solar capacity installed between 2010 and 2014. These projects benefit from economies of scale, with costs in 2013 averaging half of those in 2010, making them significantly cheaper than residential solar. While they generate electricity without carbon emissions or water consumption, they require substantial land area, which can impact habitats. Mitigation strategies include using degraded lands, such as landfills. Growth is supported by federal tax credits, state renewable electricity standards, and permitting reforms.

The policy brief identifies the EU ETS as currently ineffective due to a massive oversupply of pollution permits and a carbon price too low to incentivize low-carbon investment. It proposes four primary interventions: cancelling at least 2 billion surplus allowances in the Market Stability Reserve by 2020, increasing the linear reduction factor to at least 2.6% to align with 2050 decarbonisation goals, implementing a one-billion allowance ceiling on the Market Stability Reserve to account for technological progress, and shortening trading periods to five years to increase responsiveness to market and scientific changes.

Carbon Market Watch argues that the EU ETS review proposal prioritizes industrial interests over climate goals by earmarking at least €160 billion in free pollution permits after 2020. While the proposal increases the linear reduction factor to 2.2% to meet 2030 targets, the organization contends this is offset by the release of surplus allowances and the continuation of free allocations to prevent hypothetical carbon leakage.

The document analyzes six models to determine how Mexico can meet its GHG emission reduction targets of 30% by 2020 (vs business-as-usual) and 50% by 2050 (vs 2000). While current energy and emission trends contradict these goals, the models suggest that targets are achievable through electricity decarbonization and transport sector improvements, though costs could reach 15% of GDP by 2050.

The document outlines the importance of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) as public outlines of national climate plans starting in 2020. It establishes a set of criteria for a 'strong' INDC—defined as fair, ambitious, feasible, and transparent—and provides a detailed six-question evaluation framework. This framework guides users to check for clear statements of intent (mitigation and adaptation), alignment with climate science (specifically the 2 degrees C goal), fairness based on national circumstances, the strength of the design process, implementation feasibility, and methodological transparency.

The document outlines the criteria for a 'strong' INDC, emphasizing that it must be equitable, ambitious, science-based, and transparent. It provides a detailed evaluation framework based on six questions: clarity of intent, alignment with science, equity and ambition, robustness of the design process, feasibility of implementation, and transparency. The guide distinguishes between 'results-based' and 'action-based' mitigation commitments and encourages the inclusion of adaptation plans based on evidence of climate risks.

The document outlines the criteria for a 'strong' Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), emphasizing that such commitments must be fair, ambitious, and scientifically grounded. It provides a detailed evaluation framework based on six key questions: clarity of intent, scientific consistency, fairness and ambition, process robustness, implementation viability, and transparency. The guide distinguishes between mitigation approaches (actions vs. direct effects) and encourages the inclusion of adaptation components based on evidence of climate risks. It stresses that INDCs should drive a 'transformative' decarbonization pace to align with the goal of limiting global warming to two degrees Celsius.

The We Mean Business coalition welcomes the G7's agreement to deep greenhouse gas emission cuts to decarbonize the global economy this century, noting that limiting global warming to 2°C requires limiting cumulative carbon emissions to one trillion tons. The coalition emphasizes that over US$90 trillion will be invested in infrastructure, land-use, and energy over the next 15 years, and argues that a net zero greenhouse gas emissions target in the Paris Agreement is necessary to shift this capital toward low-carbon investment. The coalition also supports the G7's commitment to long-term national low-carbon strategies and the mobilization of climate finance for renewable energy in developing countries.

The report argues that a high-ambition climate agreement aiming to limit global warming to 2°C is essential for achieving the SDGs by 2030, particularly those related to poverty, inequality, and energy. Using Integrated Assessment Modelling (IAM), the study compares a high-ambition scenario (RCP4.5/SSP1) with a low-ambition scenario (RCP8.5/SSP3). Findings indicate that under a low-ambition agreement, poverty levels in 2030 could be 80–140% higher in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa compared to the high-ambition scenario. Case studies in Dominica, Jamaica, Pakistan, and Uganda highlight that while the specific sensitivity of SDGs varies by country, poverty and energy goals are consistently most at risk under low-ambition climate policies. The report emphasizes a reciprocal relationship: ambitious SDGs are necessary to implement a high-ambition climate deal, and a high-ambition deal is necessary to realize the SDGs.

The report estimates the global ocean's total asset base at at least US$24 trillion, with an annual 'gross marine product' of US$2.5 trillion, making it the world's seventh largest economy. It warns that over two-thirds of this value depends on healthy ocean conditions, which are currently being eroded by overfishing, pollution, and climate change. The document proposes eight strategic actions, including expanding marine protected areas to 30% by 2030 and decarbonizing energy systems to prevent the projected disappearance of coral reefs by 2050.

The briefing outlines the anticipated US climate commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. It emphasizes that for the US proposal to be effective and transparent, it should clarify implementation pathways, address the fairness and ambition of its contribution relative to global goals, and provide clear data on base years and market mechanisms.

The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group and We Mean Business partners support the EU's commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. While praising the EU's leadership and the Energy Union framework strategy, the group calls for the Market Stability Reserve to be implemented by 2017 to remove surplus carbon permits and requests clearer guidance on financing the transition from gas to greener energy alternatives.

The document argues that most global decarbonization scenarios require energy intensity improvements that far exceed historical rates, while noting that policy makers have limited influence over the mechanisms driving these trends.

The document proposes replacing the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and the Efficiency Savings and Performance Incentive (ESPI) with a system-wide carbon intensity standard and per capita energy sales standards. It argues that these reforms will align utility incentives with state climate goals, encourage low-carbon grid flexibility, and remove the conservative goal-setting and contentious evaluation processes currently hindering energy efficiency in existing buildings.

The document outlines seven categories of detailed upfront information for Parties submitting INDCs: reference points, implementation time frames, scope and coverage, planning processes, methodological assumptions, justifications for fairness and ambition, and other contextual information.

The briefing examines the concept of 'climate compatible development' as a means to achieve 'zero-zero'—the simultaneous eradication of poverty and the elimination of net CO2 emissions. It frames this as a 'wicked problem' requiring the integration of mitigation, adaptation, and economic transformation. The author emphasizes that success depends on policy leadership, careful design to manage winners and losers, and cross-government implementation beyond environmental ministries.

The report identifies that while the Swedish transmission grid operator, Svenska Kraftnät, is a primary driver for grid development, most drivers are indirect, such as EU climate policy and the need to integrate wind power. Key barriers include a complex and ambiguous concession process, local resistance based on land-use and health concerns, and passive government governance. The study finds that current planned projects generally align with the geographic needs identified by the NORSTRAT project, though there are discrepancies in wind power production assumptions between the TSO and industry estimates.

We Mean Business calls for direct engagement between government ministers and business leaders at COP in Lima to align on a high-ambition climate pathway. The statement argues that bold climate action is an economic opportunity, citing significant growth in clean energy investments and job creation. It proposes three areas for cooperation: committing to a long-term decarbonization pathway to reduce uncertainty, scaling up public and private climate finance, and collaborating on short-term ambition to close the emissions gap by 2020.

The report argues that a high ambition climate agreement, aiming to limit global warming to 2°C by 2100, is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. While physical climate impacts are projected to be similar across scenarios until 2030, a high ambition deal provides the policy framework, international cooperation, and finance necessary to drive green growth and reduce poverty. Conversely, a low ambition agreement (3-5°C warming) is linked to slower economic growth, higher inequality, and a significantly greater risk of failing to meet SDGs related to poverty, inequality, and global partnerships.