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The April 2024 China-US High-Level Dialogue in Beijing served as a venue for experts to discuss decarbonization strategies and identify collaboration opportunities despite challenging national-level relations. Key discussions focused on the differing sources of methane emissions, the scaling of CCUS and renewable energy, and the need for interoperable standards in trade and corporate disclosure. Both nations emphasized the importance of subnational cooperation and the role of the Sunnylands Statement in guiding joint efforts toward COP 29 and COP 30.

The Global Farm Loss Tool (GFLT), developed by WWF and partners, enables growers to categorize on-farm food loss into marketable, edible/not marketable, and spoiled categories. This data helps growers improve operational efficiency and create new revenue streams, while allowing buyers to track scope 3 emissions and meet food loss commitments. Early applications include reducing apple production waste to 0.6% at Algoma Orchards and developing new 'snacker' products for smaller strawberries in the US supply chain.

The Living Planet Report 2024 documents a 73% average decline in monitored wildlife populations from 1970 to 2020, with freshwater species suffering the most (85%). The report warns that cumulative pressures from habitat loss, overexploitation, and climate change are pushing ecosystems toward irreversible tipping points, such as the potential collapse of the Amazon rainforest and coral reefs. It argues that current national commitments for biodiversity and climate are insufficient, and calls for a systemic transformation of the global food system (the leading cause of habitat loss), the energy system (the primary driver of climate change), and the financial system (which currently provides almost US$7 trillion annually in nature-negative flows).

The Living Planet Report 2024 reveals a 73% average decline in monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020, with freshwater species suffering the most (85%). The report warns that cumulative pressures from habitat loss, overexploitation, and climate change are pushing ecosystems toward irreversible tipping points, such as the collapse of the Amazon rainforest or coral reefs. It argues that current national commitments are insufficient to meet the 1.5°C climate goal or the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets. To avoid catastrophic failure, the document calls for a systemic transformation: shifting to nature-positive food production, tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, and redirecting the $7 trillion in annual harmful subsidies toward nature-based solutions.

The document highlights that 2023 is virtually certain to be the hottest year on record, driven by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. It details the resulting increase in extreme weather events, the long-term trend of rapid warming since the industrial revolution, and the necessity of transitioning to clean energy to meet global climate targets.

Earthjustice argues that the American Convention on Human Rights requires States to implement a just transition to clean energy based on their 'fair share' of historical and current emissions. The brief advocates for the immediate phase-out of fossil fuel extraction and power generation, the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, and the mandatory use of comprehensive climate assessments—including scope 3 emissions—for all new energy projects and policies. It emphasizes that human rights obligations may necessitate more ambitious mitigation than those outlined in the Paris Agreement and warns against 'false solutions' like carbon capture and storage.

The document describes the evolution of Brazil's agricultural climate policy, moving from the 2010 Low-Carbon Agriculture Plan (ABC Plan) to the 2021 Sectoral Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change and Low Carbon Emissions (ABC+). The ABC+ Plan, covering 2020 to 2030, integrates an 'Integrated Landscape Approach' to manage rural land and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To refine these strategies, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) developed the 'Conceptual Framework for Assessing the Adaptation Strategies of Agriculture and Livestock Systems to Climate Change' (CF) in 2021. The resulting Adaptation Strategy proposes specific Adaptation Initiatives (AIs) across the CF's axes, utilizing principles, criteria, and indicators to monitor progress and report outcomes at national and international levels.

The briefing analyzes four 2023 U.S. Congressional bills: the PROVE IT Act, which focuses on emissions intensity data; the Foreign Pollution Fee Act, which proposes fees on imports exceeding U.S. emissions averages; the Clean Competition Act, which suggests charges for both domestic and imported goods exceeding benchmarks; and the MARKET CHOICE Act, which proposes a broad carbon tax with border adjustments.

The Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) aims to install a 15 MW hydropower plant in the Solomon Islands to reduce reliance on diesel and lower electricity costs. As of October 31, 2023, the project is approximately two years behind schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic and delays in approving Environmental and Social Management Plans (C-ESMPs). While the hydropower facility and transmission line have not yet commenced construction, the access road is progressing with a 14.6% completion rate. The project has achieved significant social milestones, including the legal registration of a community benefit-sharing fund and the recruitment of over 4,200 local staff. Financial disbursement remains low at 13% of total financing. The report recommends agreeing on a new Commercial Operation Date and extending the project closing date beyond December 15, 2025.

The project aims to transform Suriname's rice sector in the Nickerie district into a sustainable and climate-resilient system. It focuses on three main outcomes: improving water management and governance through the strengthening of Water Boards and the implementation of early warning systems; enhancing farming resilience via climate-smart seeds and cultivation practices; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a new Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system. The initiative specifically targets the inclusion of women in a traditionally male-dominated sector and proposes a revolving fund to overcome financial barriers for smallholder farmers. With a requested GCF grant of USD 19.6 million, the project expects to benefit 35,600 direct beneficiaries and reduce emissions by 184,400 tCO2eq over its lifespan.

The document evaluates the role of novel plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-derived foods in reducing the environmental and health burdens of conventional animal source foods, while noting the need for further research on socioeconomic and nutritional implications.

The document outlines the bidirectional relationship between aviation and climate change, noting that global air travel emitted over 780 Mt CO2 in 2022 while simultaneously facing operational disruptions from the resulting warming. It identifies five primary climate-driven disruptions: coastal flooding threatening airport infrastructure, high temperatures reducing aircraft lift and capacity, increased lightning strike risks, shifting jet stream patterns affecting flight duration, and a rise in severe clear-air turbulence. The text emphasizes the need for the aviation industry to implement adaptation measures, such as coastal defenses and adjusted flight scheduling, to maintain safety and manage costs.

The EU ETS will expand to shipping in 2024, applying the 'polluter pays principle' to cargo and passenger ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above. The system covers 100% of emissions for voyages between EU ports and 50% for voyages between EU and non-EU ports. Costs will be phased in, starting with 40% of 2024 emissions paid in 2025, reaching 100% by 2027. While CO2 is covered from 2024, methane and nitrous oxide will be included from 2026. Revenue will support the Innovation Fund and member state climate projects, with specific exemptions for ice-traveling ships, certain outermost regions, and small island ferries until 2030.

The document highlights the critical need for timely financing to decarbonize heavy industry in emerging and developing economies, noting that steel and cement production alone account for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It argues that IFIs can accelerate the transition to net zero by providing concessional capital to de-risk investments and offering technical assistance for national and corporate roadmaps. However, IFI engagement is currently in its early stages due to barriers such as misaligned financing mandates, the massive scale of required investments, and competing country priorities.

A coalition of organizations argues that the next U.S. farm bill must move beyond 'business-as-usual' to address the climate crisis, food insecurity, and systemic discrimination. The statement advocates for a comprehensive suite of bills designed to achieve net-zero agricultural emissions by 2040, expand SNAP access, protect farmworkers from heat and toxic pesticides, and curb the power of corporate agriculture.

The author contends that the global food system requires a transformation focused on 'moving the bottom'—the least efficient 10-20% of producers who generate 60-80% of environmental impacts while producing only 5-10% of the product. The text asserts that improving these producers is the only way to achieve absolute reductions of 50% in food's overall footprint and 80% in food-related GHG emissions. This shift would require governments to mandate a 'license to operate' based on resource limits and could be supported by more responsible producers providing technical or financial assistance. The document emphasizes that incremental change is insufficient and that urgent action is needed to protect biodiversity, soil health, and the climate.

The document examines the disproportionate impact of climate change on African youth and their subsequent rise in activism. It highlights the gap between youth demographics and political leadership in Africa, the specific climate vulnerabilities in countries like Nigeria and Sudan, and the systemic barriers activists face, including financial constraints and state repression. The author calls for the establishment of youth councils, dedicated funding, and protection mechanisms to ensure young people can shape climate-resilient policies.

In 2022, IDFC members committed a record USD 288 billion in green finance, a 29% increase from 2021. Climate finance dominated these commitments, accounting for 98% of the total, with mitigation finance reaching USD 244.7 billion and adaptation finance increasing by 52% to USD 31.6 billion.

The proposed project aims to enhance the climate resilience of Benin's school feeding system by introducing energy-efficient cooking technologies in 2,500 canteens and supporting 4,000 smallholder farmers in adopting climate-resilient agricultural practices. With a total indicative cost of USD 50 million, the initiative seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from traditional biomass cooking and secure food supplies against climate threats like drought and flooding. The project includes capacity building for students, teachers, and parents to promote eco-responsible behaviors and the establishment of contract farming to link local producers with schools.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved a US$1.5 million grant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the preparation of the Climate and Health Co-Investment Facility Coordination Programme. This preparatory phase aims to develop a full funding proposal to reduce health-related vulnerability and greenhouse gas emissions from the health sector. Key activities include conducting baseline studies and barrier analyses in 14 targeted countries, designing innovative blended financing instruments, and performing feasibility studies for investment projects in 7 countries. The programme is designed to support COP26 Health commitments and will be implemented in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH).