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The paper finds that climate actions across examined INDCs align with 154 of the 169 SDG targets, demonstrating significant potential for mutual benefits between climate and development agendas. While global alignment is high, the authors note that few countries explicitly referenced SDGs in their INDCs, often due to separate institutional oversight between environment and development ministries. Case studies of Colombia and Uganda show high goal-level alignment, though target-level alignment varies based on national priorities. The document advocates for a 'whole-of-government' approach to maximize resources and avoid implementation silos.

The report identifies 15 'signals' indicating a global energy transition, including the rapid growth of renewable energy capacity, falling solar PV costs, and record investments in green energy. It highlights China's leading role in renewable investment and the decline of the coal industry. The document also notes the rise of city-level climate actions and the growth of the green bond market, while advocating for a 'just transition' that addresses energy poverty and social equity.

The report argues that climate change poses a significant threat to public health and the delivery of health services in Canada, necessitating a shift toward resilient infrastructure and sustainable practices. It highlights that Canadian hospitals are among the most energy-inefficient in OECD northern climates and face risks from extreme weather, particularly in northern and coastal areas. The document recommends investing in renewable energy, implementing Green Revolving Funds, and conducting climate resiliency assessments. It also suggests leveraging the trusted status of health professionals to drive public behavior change and utilizing institutional lands for ecosystem services to improve public well-being.

The document proposes a four-year programme (2017-2021) to enhance coastal resilience in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It targets the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and the poor, through a grants-on-lending framework focusing on coastal protection, food and water security, health, renewable energy, and tourism. The programme aims to fund at least 20 local investment projects with individual grants ranging from USD 300,000 to USD 600,000, requiring a 20% counterpart contribution from grantees. The initiative emphasizes ecosystem-based adaptation, such as mangrove rehabilitation and coral reef restoration, to mitigate the impacts of sea-level rise and extreme weather events which have historically caused severe GDP losses in the region.

The document establishes a business-as-usual (BAU) GHG emission reference case for Pakistan, projecting emissions from 2000 to 2030. It identifies agriculture as the largest emission source and analyzes how variations in GDP growth and autonomous energy efficiency improvements (AEEI) impact future emission levels. The reference case assumes an average annual GDP growth rate of 6% between 2015 and 2030.

The report identifies a significant gap between Mexico's current climate-aligned bond issuance and the investment required to meet its emissions targets, while outlining opportunities across energy, transport, buildings, and water sectors.

The report finds that while Rajasthan has successfully increased its generation capacity and improved reliability, its distribution companies (discoms) face a severe financial crisis. Discoms are unable to recover operating costs through tariffs, leading to mounting debt and a heavy reliance on state government fiscal transfers. Although renewable energy capacity has grown rapidly, investment gaps in transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure hinder the integration of these sources and the achievement of comprehensive rural electrification.

The report utilizes the "window of opportunity" framework—examining context, champions, concerns, and complementary policies—to analyze coal phase-outs in California, Denmark, France, and Beijing. It highlights how resource endowment, international climate commitments, and public health concerns drive reform. For Beijing, the report details the closure of coal mines and power plants, the role of central and local government coordination, and the impact of high-profile events like the Olympics and APEC summit in accelerating the transition. It concludes that successful nationwide phase-out in China requires viable energy alternatives, social protection for workers, and high-level political leadership supported by grassroots demand.

The Rocky Mountain Institute presents a business model for net zero energy (NZE) districts that achieves life-cycle cost neutrality compared to business-as-usual (BAU) developments. The model centers on an Integrated Energy Services Provider (IESP) that manages a micro-utility, district heating and cooling, and renewable energy deployment. By shifting capital costs for heating/cooling and solar PV away from parcel developers and providing on-bill financing for energy efficiency, the model reduces upfront costs for developers and lowers total energy bills for tenants. The approach includes outcome-based energy-performance requirements enforced through a system of incentives and penalties. A case study of a 180-acre mixed-use development in a midsize U.S. city demonstrates that the model remains economically favorable even under challenging conditions such as low electricity rates and a lack of net metering.

The research analyzes how climate finance investments generate economic value added not only in recipient countries but also in third countries through international trade, termed 'spill-overs'. Using a GMRIO model, the study finds that on average 28.6% of the total economic impact spills over to other countries. The ability to retain value added varies by country, with India and Brazil retaining around 80%, while Mexico and Indonesia retain no more than two thirds. The EU is the primary beneficiary of these spill-overs. The study also identifies that different types of climate actions produce varying levels of spill-overs: renewable energy technologies often generate high spill-overs (exceeding 35% for some), whereas forestry and coastal protection generate fewer than 20%. The authors suggest that donor countries may be influenced by these spill-over prospects when allocating funds, and recipient countries should improve industrial competitiveness to retain more economic gains.

The report identifies a significant gap between Mexico's climate goals and its current green bond issuance, which stood at US $1.3bn in 2016. It highlights substantial investment needs, particularly in energy (US $5bn annually) and transport (US $12bn for multimodal projects), and argues that mobilizing private institutional capital through green bonds is essential to meet these targets.

The report analyzes 35 climate and energy policies for China using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), comparing a Reference Scenario (RS) with a Low Carbon (LC) and an Accelerated Low Carbon (ALC) scenario. It finds that carbon pricing, renewable energy standards, and enhanced building codes are among the most effective tools for reducing CO2e emissions. While the LC scenario aims to peak CO2 emissions between 2025 and 2030, the ALC scenario focuses on cost-effectiveness to peak CO2 as soon as possible, achieving a peak in 2022. The analysis highlights that regulatory policies generally drive the majority of emissions reductions, though carbon pricing has the highest overall abatement potential. The report recommends a carbon price of at least 60 RMB per ton, increased renewable energy targets beyond 30% by 2030, and the adoption of MOHURD One Star as the minimum building code standard.

The Paris Agreement is projected to significantly impact the global economy and private sector as the international community aims for net zero emissions by the second half of the century. The report examines how the agreement and NDCs influence renewable energy markets, carbon pricing, and climate risk management, with a specific focus on clean energy investments, energy efficiency, and the competitiveness of renewables.

The report assesses the impact of corporate commitments—specifically RE100, Science-Based Targets, EP100, Zero-Deforestation, and the LCTPi—on global emission reductions and evaluates how supportive policy environments could enhance these contributions.

The Energy Efficiency Enabling Initiative is proposed as a private equity fund to address the funding gap in energy efficiency, particularly in emerging economies. By utilizing donor-backed concessional equity in a first-loss position and providing technical assistance, the fund aims to crowd in private institutional investors. A pilot fund of USD 100 million in countries such as Mexico and Colombia is estimated to generate 200-225 GWh of annual savings and abate 20-100 kt of CO2 per year. The initiative's structure relies on three pillars: a one-stop-shop fund with public finance equity, a guaranteed-risking facility for high-risk projects, and a technical assistance package for energy service providers and SMEs.

The document outlines a carbon offset mechanism designed to allow South African firms to reduce their carbon tax liability by investing in external GHG mitigation projects. It establishes a framework where offsets can provide a tax-free allowance of 5% or 10%, primarily relying on international standards like the CDM, VCS, and Gold Standard. The scheme is restricted to projects located within South Africa and those outside the direct scope of the carbon tax to prevent double counting. Administration is tasked to the Designated National Authority (DNA) within the Department of Energy, supported by an Independent Expert Committee and a national registry to track the transfer and retirement of credits.

The document outlines the growing demand for sustainable finance professionals to facilitate the transition to a sustainable economy. It identifies diverse career paths in the public sector (multilateral development banks, green banks), the private sector (consulting, financial institutions, clean tech), and NGOs (foundations, thought leadership organizations). It notes that while finance backgrounds are advantageous, the field welcomes professionals from law, policy, and management, and highlights recent initiatives like the Breakthrough Energy Coalition and the Catalytic Finance Initiative as evidence of the sector's growth.

The Health Collaborative, representing 15 health organizations, argues that phasing out coal-fired electricity in Canada by 2025 is essential for mitigating climate change and reducing severe public health risks. The document highlights that while coal provided only 10.6% of Canada's electricity in 2014, it accounted for 72% of the sector's greenhouse gas emissions. It details the health benefits of coal closures, citing Ontario's experience where the phase-out led to significant reductions in sulphur dioxide and fine particulate matter, as well as a 23% decrease in air-pollution-related premature deaths in Toronto between 2000 and 2010. The submission also emphasizes the danger of mercury emissions from coal plants, which are linked to neurodevelopmental impacts in children. The authors recommend a complete phase-out by 2025, the development of renewable energy, and the implementation of energy efficiency programs.

The briefing identifies high costs, slow off-grid market growth, and uncoordinated planning as the primary barriers to electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa. It recommends that governments adopt integrated resource plans that combine utility-led energy efficiency, solar-hybrid systems, and private sector-driven off-grid programs to meet growing energy demands while mitigating future carbon emissions.

The document argues that transitioning from fossil fuel-based electric power to clean renewable energy is a public health imperative. It details how climate change exacerbates respiratory, cardiovascular, and mental health issues, and how the Clean Power Plan's goal to reduce carbon pollution by 32% below 2005 levels by 2030 will prevent thousands of premature deaths and asthma attacks. The toolkit provides clinicians with messaging and model letters to influence state policymakers, while explicitly arguing against nuclear power due to radiation risks and waste management failures.