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The document examines the tension between the high E&S safeguard standards of MDBs and the capacity or sovereignty of borrowing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It specifically analyzes the World Bank's 2016 Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), which allows for greater use of domestic safeguard frameworks. The author argues that to avoid the dilution of standards, MDBs and governments must move toward partnerships based on country-specific 'E&S safeguard plans' and enhanced capacity building, while ensuring civil society remains an active agent of accountability.

The document outlines strategies for using public procurement to support the transition to a low-carbon economy in Europe's infrastructure and construction sectors. It identifies key stages of the procurement cycle for driving innovation and offers specific recommendations for the European Commission and EU member states to scale up the use of public funds to stimulate demand for low-carbon solutions.

The research identifies a sustainable infrastructure investment gap of USD 18-36 trillion in developing countries, with critical needs in power generation, transport, and water. It analyzes the roles of various public finance actors—including bilateral aid agencies, multilateral development banks (MDBs), and national development banks (NDBs)—highlighting a systemic mismatch where the largest mitigation potentials in upper-middle-income countries lack access to concessional finance. The paper argues for a shift from project-specific finance to financial system development and the scaling of blended finance and risk-mitigation instruments to crowd in private capital.

The report outlines a variety of passive and active cooling strategies for urban environments, ranging from nature-based solutions like tree planting and green roofs to technical interventions such as cool pavements and district cooling systems. It emphasizes the importance of integrated urban planning, the implementation of Heat Action Plans to protect vulnerable populations, and the use of diverse policy incentives and business models to scale these solutions.

The document argues that public funding is insufficient to meet the rising costs of urban stormwater management driven by urban expansion and climate variability. It advocates for a shift from centralized 'gray infrastructure' to decentralized 'green infrastructure' on private property. To overcome the lack of private investment, the paper suggests the implementation of stormwater markets using quantity-based approaches such as credit trading, mitigation banks, in-lieu fees, and offsets, noting that a customized design is necessary to align with legal frameworks and ensure actor buy-in.

The 2017 Chinese green bond market reached 248.6 billion RMB (37.1 billion USD), with 38% of issuances not meeting international green definitions. While commercial banks remain the largest issuers, there is a growing trend of issuances from local government financing platforms and policy banks. The report highlights the introduction of the 'Bond Connect' mechanism and the 'Green Belt and Road' initiative as key drivers for future growth and international capital flow.

The document argues that while there is significant overlap between G20 initiatives, the AU Agenda 2063, and the UN 2030 Agenda, the G20 can further support Africa by addressing gaps in regional economic integration, infrastructure financing, and inequality. It recommends that African G20 participants, particularly South Africa, prioritize areas where the G20 adds value to the African development agenda and advocate for a development-focused global dialogue on inequality.

The paper analyzes various infrastructure banks, such as the European Investment Bank and the UK's Green Investment Bank, to identify effective financial instruments and operational models. It argues that infrastructure banks should prioritize financially viable, sustainable projects that offer high socioeconomic multipliers while avoiding the crowding out of private capital. Key recommendations include tapping capital markets, providing technical assistance for project preparation, and utilizing risk-sharing instruments to leverage limited public resources.

The document applies a Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus approach to analyze the Cumbaza watershed in Peru, highlighting how deforestation and climate change threaten urban and rural resource security. It quantifies 11 key WEF interactions and projects resource demands through 2050, emphasizing the critical role of forest ecosystem services in maintaining water quality and quantity for the region's growing population.

The report identifies a growing "restoration economy" where businesses generate financial returns by improving the ecological function of degraded landscapes. It categorizes these opportunities into four main investment themes: technology, consumer products, project management, and commercial forestry. Through case studies of 14 companies across eight countries, the authors illustrate how various models—from drone-based reforestation and climate-smart credit for smallholders to sustainable timber and bamboo plantations—can scale. The document highlights that while significant market opportunities exist due to government pledges and rising resource demand, investors face hurdles such as high transaction costs, low liquidity, and insecure land tenure in developing regions.

The briefing by i24c and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines how public procurement laws, policies, and practices can be leveraged to drive the adoption of low-carbon innovations in sustainable infrastructure and construction across the European Union.

The document defines sustainable infrastructure and advocates for embedding sustainability criteria into infrastructure contracts, specifically public-private partnerships (PPPs), to mitigate risks and generate co-benefits. It critiques the 2017 World Bank Group’s Guidance on PPP Contractual Provisions for failing to sufficiently support measures aimed at achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Additionally, the text references a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment regarding the electrification of the bus fleet in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The report identifies significant barriers to international investment in China's green bond market, including divergent green definitions, limited market awareness, and infrastructure gaps. It recommends aligning standards with international benchmarks, simplifying approval processes, and enhancing market transparency to mobilize the private capital necessary for China's environmental goals.

The report examines the transition from traditional gray infrastructure to green infrastructure (GI) for stormwater management. It argues that because the benefits of GI are collective while costs are private, public intervention via economic instruments—specifically stormwater markets—is necessary to bridge the investment gap. The document details various price-based and quantity-based instruments, such as stormwater retention credits and environmental impact bonds, and analyzes their application in cities like Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Halifax.

The document examines the role of infrastructure contracts in achieving sustainable development. It defines sustainable infrastructure as projects that are economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable, and argues that traditional project finance often ignores long-term risks and co-benefits. The author critiques the World Bank Group's 2017 Guidance on PPP Contractual Provisions for prioritizing private sector interests over public policy. To remedy this, the report provides a comprehensive framework of contractual approaches, including requirements for impact assessments, local content obligations, human rights safeguards, and the limitation of stabilization clauses, to ensure that infrastructure projects deliver genuine public value.

The report argues that California's public infrastructure is deteriorating and based on outdated historical climate data, making it vulnerable to a 'new normal' of extreme heat, sea level rise, wildfires, and erratic precipitation. It proposes a 'climate-smart' framework based on rigorous science, equitable outcomes, financial transparency, and holistic planning. Key barriers identified include outdated design codes, a lack of actionable climate data for engineers, and systemic underinvestment in underserved communities. The author recommends updating state standards, establishing a centralized coordinating center for climate information, and adopting innovative financing mechanisms like resilience bonds to protect critical services and vulnerable populations.

The GPP Bhutan (GPPB) project, led by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), worked over 3.5 years to scale up public demand for environmentally and socially preferred goods and services. The project focused on research, policy support, and capacity building, resulting in the training of nearly 100 civil servants and 57 representatives from higher educational institutions. Key achievements include the official endorsement of GPP recommendations by the Ministry of Finance in 2015, the establishment of a parliamentary working group, and the institutionalization of a GPP curriculum at the Royal Institute of Management (RIM). The project also provided technical assistance for pilot projects with the City of Thimphu and the Ministry of Works and Human Settlements, emphasizing life-cycle costing and green infrastructure criteria.

The document highlights that Indian cities will generate 70% of future energy demand and face increasing climate hazards, necessitating the Smart City Mission's focus on core infrastructure and sustainable environments. It details the India-UK Smart Cities for growth partnership's support in urban planning and clean energy, while recommending multi-stakeholder dialogues, better use of evidence bases, and improved coordination between national and state actors to bridge implementation gaps.

The guide outlines five essential building blocks for green bond markets: the enabling environment, investors, issuers and project pipeline, governance, and definitions and standards. It emphasizes that while public sector support is often needed initially, a successful market must eventually become self-sustaining, diverse in its environmental objectives, and transparent in its reporting. The document provides practical frameworks for policymakers to assess their market's readiness and offers case studies from China, India, and Nigeria to illustrate effective policy incentives and issuance strategies.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) defines 'chronic inundation' as tidal flooding affecting 10% or more of a community's usable land at least 26 times per year. Under a moderate (intermediate) scenario, nearly 170 communities will reach this threshold by 2035, increasing to over 270 by 2060 and nearly 490 by 2100. A high scenario projects up to 670 communities affected by 2100, including over 50 populous cities such as New York City (four boroughs), Boston, and Oakland. The report highlights that socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods are disproportionately affected and argues that aggressive emissions reductions aligned with the Paris Agreement could spare hundreds of communities from this fate. Adaptation options include defending (seawalls, levees), accommodating (elevating homes, pumps), and managed retreat.