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The Q4 2018 Risk Dashboard indicates that the Green Climate Fund's portfolio concentration and liquidity remain within approved risk tolerance levels. As of 31 December 2018, the fund reported no non-performing loans for the eighth consecutive quarter and maintained a foreign exchange commitment risk buffer of USD 33 million equivalent. The portfolio consists of 93 approved funding proposals with a geographic distribution led by Africa (39%) and Asia-Pacific (34%), and a funding balance favoring mitigation (39%) over adaptation (25%).

The India Green Economy Barometer 2018 finds that while India has high potential for a green transition and has made significant strides in renewable energy and social inclusion, the overall progress is slow and insufficient. The report identifies key blockages, including the perception that environmental protection hinders economic growth and a lack of mature green financial markets. It highlights successes in solar capacity expansion and corporate social responsibility but warns that a 'business-as-usual' approach threatens long-term wellbeing due to natural resource overuse and rising inequality.

The Senegal Green Economy Barometer 2018 examines the country's shift toward a green economy, highlighting the tension between steady GDP growth (over 6.5% since 2015) and rising absolute poverty. It identifies key sectors for greening—specifically agriculture, energy, and SMEs—and evaluates the government's efforts to integrate environmental norms into the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE) 2035. The report emphasizes that for the transition to be successful, it must address social inequalities and provide financial incentives for the private sector to adopt sustainable practices.

The South African energy services market, comprising small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) and energy efficiency, is driven by rising electricity costs and falling technology prices. The rooftop solar PV market is particularly strong in the commercial and industrial sector, with a projected total available market of R75 billion by 2035. Energy storage is identified as a future keystone of the SSEG market, with a potential value of R14.5 billion by 2035. Energy efficiency opportunities are estimated to reach R21 billion by 2035, with significant potential in green building and manufacturing. The report also highlights innovative financing mechanisms like Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and the role of the Western Cape as a regional greentech hub.

The report highlights the South African agriculture sector as a robust investment environment, particularly in the Western Cape, which contributes 24% of the national agricultural GDP. It identifies key growth areas in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), drone technology for precision farming, and renewable energy, while emphasizing water scarcity as a primary driver for the adoption of these green technologies.

The document argues that the energy transition provides opportunities for utilities to serve low-and moderate-income (LMI) customers through innovative models such as on-bill financing, community solar, and virtual power plants. It highlights the systemic inequities LMI customers face, including a median energy burden of 7.2% compared to 2.3% for others, and the historical siting of polluting power plants in these communities. The report details eight specific program models—ranging from utility-owned PV systems to integrated service bundles—and emphasizes the need for utilities to shift from simply informing customers to empowering them in decision-making processes. It concludes that these shifts align with a broader utility evolution from an expanded monopoly toward a transformed platform operator.

The report finds that while electricity access finance in 20 high-impact countries increased to USD 30.2 billion per year in 2015-16, it remains far below the USD 52 billion needed annually for universal access by 2030. Investment is heavily skewed toward non-residential consumers and grid-connected technologies, including a doubling of fossil fuel investments to USD 8 billion. Clean cooking finance has decreased to USD 30 million per year, a fraction of the USD 4.4 billion required. Geographically, finance is concentrated in a few countries, with Sub-Saharan Africa falling further behind despite having the highest need.

The RISE 2018 report tracks sustainable energy policies across 133 countries, finding that the number of nations with advanced frameworks tripled between 2010 and 2017. While progress is evident, the global average score of 58/100 suggests the world is only halfway to advanced policy adoption, potentially jeopardizing SDG7 and Paris Agreement goals. The report highlights a strong focus on electricity over heating and transport, a decline in utility creditworthiness in access-deficit countries, and a gap between 'on paper' regulations and actual enforcement.

The world is not on track to meet SDG7 by 2030, with progress falling short across all four targets. While electricity access is accelerating in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and renewable energy is growing in the electricity sector, access to clean cooking remains the most lagging area. Energy efficiency is improving, particularly in the industrial sector, though the rate of improvement is below the target required to double the global rate by 2030.

The 2018 Sustainable Energy for All Forum highlighted that while progress is being made on most SDG7 objectives, the world is not on track to achieve universal energy access by 2030. Key discussions centered on the critical need to reform infrastructure finance, the emerging importance of sustainable cooling for survival and health, and the stagnation of clean cooking access, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Forum advocated for a shift toward viewing energy as a set of services rather than just electrons, emphasizing the need for integrated planning and gender-inclusive investing to reach the most vulnerable populations.

The SEforALL 2018 Workplan focuses on four primary workstreams: 'Energy Efficiency First', 'Leaving No One Behind', 'Sustainable Energy Diplomacy', and the 'Body of Evidence'. Key initiatives include the 'Cooling for All' program to protect vulnerable populations from heat, the development of energy efficiency finance accelerators, and the coordination of biomass data in Sub-Saharan Africa. The plan emphasizes unlocking finance and brokering partnerships through high-level engagement with the G7, G20, and the UN system. Additionally, the organization aims to enhance its evidence base through the Global Tracking Framework (GTF) and Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE), while utilizing the annual SEforALL Forum to connect government, business, and civil society leaders.

The report assesses the feasibility of solar thermal systems in South African hospitals, finding a total annual thermal energy demand of 370 GWh for domestic hot water. While current adoption is very low—with only 23 systems totaling 1,333 m² of collector area—the study suggests hospitals could feasibly meet 20% to 40% of their thermal needs through solar thermal capacity. A case study at Paarl Provincial Hospital indicates a potential internal rate of return (IRR) of 10% and a payback period of 12.3 years. However, widespread uptake is hindered by the prevalence of energy-efficient heat pumps, high upfront costs, and infrastructure challenges such as asbestos roofing and limited roof space.

The report argues that solar thermal technology is an ideal fit for South Africa's food and beverage industries, where up to 77% of energy use is for heating, mostly below 250°C. While the current local industry is dominated by domestic water heaters, there is a significant opportunity to scale industrial applications. The report estimates that replacing non-coal fuels with solar thermal could save 158,685 tonnes of CO2e per annum, while replacing coal could save 942,556 tonnes. Financial viability is high for replacing fuels other than coal, with potential Internal Rates of Return above 10% over 20 years. However, barriers include a lack of sustained demand, a skills gap in industrial design, and limited familiarity among financial institutions.

The document argues that South Africa must shift from a carbon-intensive export model to low-carbon manufacturing to avoid international trade barriers and leverage a global market for low-carbon products estimated at US$5 trillion. It details several technical approaches to achieve this, including eco-design, material substitution, additive manufacturing, and remanufacturing, while highlighting the systemic challenges of R&D, cost, and technological lock-in.

The document analyzes how biophysical climate impacts and international trade shifts threaten employment in South Africa's chemicals sub-sector, while identifying job creation potential through mitigation and adaptation interventions.

The briefing challenges three myths regarding the role of renewables and distributed energy resources (DERs) in Puerto Rico's grid recovery. It asserts that renewables and energy storage are now cost-competitive with fossil fuels, with energy storage costs dropping 70 percent between 2010 and 2016. The text highlights that renewable infrastructure proved more durable than transmission networks during the 2017 hurricanes, noting that 90 percent of utility-scale solar and wind capacity remained operational or ready. Furthermore, it argues that these technologies can be deployed quickly, citing examples of large-scale storage projects completed in months, and recommends a coordinated effort by the Puerto Rico government and utility to prioritize these projects for a more resilient energy future.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of the coal industry in the United States, detailing the transition from underground to surface mining and the shift toward low-sulfur coal. It highlights the severe ecological damage caused by mountaintop removal and the public health risks associated with coal combustion, including the emission of sulfur dioxide, mercury, and carbon dioxide. The guide also discusses the economic decline of coal due to the rise of natural gas and renewables, while noting the energy-intensive nature of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.

The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) criticizes the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) decision to cease insuring mortgages on homes with property assessed clean energy (PACE) loans. RMI argues that the FHA's concerns regarding consumer protection and default risk are misguided, as data suggests energy-efficient homes have lower default rates than inefficient ones. The document asserts that PACE provides a critical financing mechanism for energy and water efficiency retrofits that traditional loans do not fulfill, and that removing it may push homeowners toward riskier high-interest credit options.

The briefing challenges the perception that burning trees for energy is carbon neutral, noting that wood combustion can emit more CO2 per unit of energy than fossil fuels and creates a 'carbon payback time' that can last decades or centuries. It warns that increasing the EU's renewable energy targets may drive higher demand for tree harvesting, including imports from the U.S. and Canada, which would release a pulse of CO2 into the atmosphere at a time when rapid emissions reductions are required to meet global temperature goals. The author recommends that the EU phase out subsidies for stemwood and stumps and instead invest in wind, solar, and energy efficiency.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) views climate change as a "threat multiplier" that amplifies existing global instabilities such as poverty and political tension. The document outlines critical risks including mass population displacement, water scarcity leading to potential "weaponization of water," and shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Arctic due to sea ice loss. Domestically, climate change threatens the readiness of DOD's vast real estate portfolio, valued at approximately $850 billion. The briefing details adaptation and mitigation efforts across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, while noting the inconsistent nature of Congressional support for climate-security policies.