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The Net Zero Stocktake 2023 finds that while the number of entities with net zero targets has grown to 1,475, a significant portion of sub-national governments and large companies still lack any emission reduction targets. While national targets are increasingly underpinned by legislation, there is limited improvement in the robustness of corporate and sub-national strategies, particularly regarding Scope 3 emissions and the use of offsets. Notably, no major fossil fuel producers have committed to phasing out fossil fuels despite having net zero pledges.

The research finds that a higher number of climate policies is associated with lower projected emission change rates up to 2030, a result that remains robust when controlling for GDP, historical emissions, and the rule of law. The study identifies specific policy gaps based on emission trends: countries with fast-increasing emissions lack policies in energy-demand sectors like buildings and transport, while those with stalling emissions lack cross-sectoral climate strategies. Across all groups failing to reduce emissions, there is a notable deficiency in policies targeting the reduction of energy and material demand.

The paper analyzes 156 peer-reviewed research papers on energy transition modeling in Africa, finding that most studies focus on energy mix and emissions pathways while neglecting socio-economic development and advanced low-carbon technologies.

The document describes remote sensing as the process of gathering information from a distance by detecting electromagnetic waves. It distinguishes between active sensing, which transmits signals to measure reflections, and passive sensing, which measures naturally emitted or reflected waves. Remote sensors can be space-based, aerial-based, or ground-based, though Climate TRACE primarily utilizes satellite-based sensors for their global coverage. The effectiveness of satellite remote sensing is determined by spectral resolution (wavelength bands), spatial resolution (pixel detail), and temporal resolution (revisit frequency). Climate TRACE integrates this data with satellite imagery and ground truth data to monitor greenhouse gas emissions from various sources and train AI/ML algorithms.

IKEA reduced food waste by 54% across its in-store restaurants in 32 markets, saving 20 million meals and $37 million annually while avoiding 36,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

Methane mitigation is severely underfunded, with current annual spending at only 10% of the $119 billion required to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. The report identifies structural barriers, including a lack of donor prioritization, absence of dedicated funding windows, and a shortage of bankable project pipelines in developing countries. It recommends that development finance institutions designate methane 'champions', that donor governments increase funding for project preparation, and that developing nations create enabling policy environments to attract private investment.

The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) establishes a methodology to track Sustainability Linked Bonds (SLBs) that support decarbonization. To be included, instruments must be certifiable debt, self-labeled as SLBs or similar, and provide sufficient disclosure of Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs). CBI assesses these targets against 1.5°C-aligned industry pathways, categorizing bonds as 'Fully-aligned', 'Strongly-aligned', or 'Aligning' based on their consistency with these paths and the presence of comprehensive transition plans. The methodology emphasizes the inclusion of material emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) and utilizes both CBI-specific and third-party pathways (e.g., TPI, SBTi, CRREM) to evaluate various sectors including cement, steel, and aviation.

The document argues that greenhouse gas emissions constitute pollution under UNCLOS, thereby obligating State Parties to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement's temperature goals. It examines the request for an advisory opinion by the Commission of Small Island States (COSIS) to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), asserting that the duty of due diligence must be informed by the best available science to prevent ocean warming, acidification, and sea level rise.

The report details a massive fire at the Doral waste incinerator that occurred from February 12 to March 2, 2023, causing significant air and water pollution. Despite initial official claims that air quality was not concerning, monitoring data showed levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) and other toxins that were unhealthy or dangerous for residents. The document also highlights water contamination in on-site retention ponds, the presence of asbestos in demolished structures, and a history of previous fires and regulatory violations at the facility. It concludes by advocating for a transition to a 'Zero Waste' model to protect marginalized communities.

The mid-term evaluation of the RECLIMA project in El Salvador finds that while the project is strategically aligned with national priorities and has seen high adoption of agroecological practices, implementation is behind schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather events. The project has successfully reached 22,718 farm families through farmer field schools and restored 4,022 hectares of ecosystems, but progress toward mid-term targets remains below expectations. Key challenges include systemic vulnerabilities of target populations, procurement delays, and a lack of a formal greenhouse gas measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) system. The evaluation recommends a two-year project extension and improvements in institutional coordination and capacity building to ensure the desired paradigm shift toward climate-resilient agriculture.

The Syrian Arab Republic's Country Programme for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) identifies critical climate vulnerabilities, including extreme water stress and agricultural failure, and proposes a strategic framework for mitigation and adaptation. The programme is organized around three strategic pillars: Agriculture, Forests and Landscape Management; Sustainable Infrastructure; and Resilient Cities, Communities and Areas. It details a pipeline of readiness projects to build institutional capacity and two major funding proposals: one focused on a water-agriculture-energy nexus for rural resilience and another on sustainable urban rehabilitation in Damascus. The document emphasizes the need for direct access entities (DAEs) and private sector engagement to overcome financial and institutional barriers exacerbated by the ongoing national crisis.

The report identifies coal-based primary steel production as a critical driver of global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing at least 7% of annual totals. It highlights that the blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route is heavily dependent on metallurgical coal, with emissions underestimated by excluding coal mine methane. The document warns that 'business as usual' trajectories would consume nearly 23% of the remaining global carbon budget for 1.5°C by 2050. It argues that efficiency gains and carbon capture (CCUS) are insufficient or unviable in the near term. Instead, it advocates for a transition to green hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) and electric arc furnaces (EAF). The report establishes 'red lines' against relining existing blast furnaces or building new ones, particularly in OECD countries, to avoid locking in high-emission infrastructure for decades.

The document analyzes the lithium supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, highlighting a distributive injustice where the 'Lithium Triangle' (Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile) suffers environmental degradation and water scarcity while North America gains from reduced urban pollution. It argues that science diplomacy—integrating scientific evidence into transnational policy—can establish sustainability thresholds and geochemical tracing methods to ensure responsible sourcing. The authors recommend using sustainability science to define mining standards and employing lithium isotope analysis to verify the origin of materials, drawing parallels from successful agricultural supply chain policies.

The report examines the global palm oil sector, highlighting the growth of VSS-compliant production and the challenges faced by smallholders. It analyzes how climate change and geopolitical conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, affect supply and pricing. The document argues that while VSSs can reduce deforestation and improve yields, the lack of consistent price premiums and high certification costs hinder their adoption by smallholders. It concludes with recommendations for better price transparency, living wage benchmarks, and stronger government support to build a more sustainable value chain.

The report examines the economic vulnerability of Canada's oil and gas sector due to declining global demand and increasing price volatility. It argues that a 'business-as-usual' approach risks stranded assets and severe socioeconomic disruption. Drawing on case studies from Denmark, Germany, Illinois, and Colorado, the authors propose a 'policy trifecta' of ambitious climate targets, managed energy phase-downs, and proactive economic diversification to ensure an equitable transition.

The Steel GHG Emissions Reporting Guidance establishes a framework for product-level emissions accounting in the steel sector. It mandates reporting based on a fixed system boundary and the use of primary data to ensure comparability and transparency. A key feature is the 'sliding-scale' approach, which benchmarks emissions intensity against 1.5°C trajectories while accounting for the different carbon intensities of ore-based versus scrap-based production. The guidance also defines criteria for labeling abatement technologies and provides detailed procedures for calculating emissions from exported products, by-products, and fugitive methane.

The report analyzes the impact of passenger vehicles manufactured before 2004 in California, finding that while they represent only 19% of registered vehicles, they produce the majority of nitrogen oxides and reactive organic gases. This pollution contributes to the formation of PM2.5, which is linked to significant health issues and premature deaths. The study demonstrates that exposure to this pollution is inequitably distributed, disproportionately affecting Latino, Black, and low-income communities, particularly in Southern California. The authors recommend prioritizing vehicle replacement incentives for disadvantaged populations and expanding non-private transportation alternatives.

The report argues that a 'New Economy for the Brazilian Amazon' (NEA), characterized by zero deforestation and a robust bioeconomy, would provide the most equitable economic growth for Brazil. By 2050, this transition could increase the regional GDP by BRL 40 billion and create 312,000 additional jobs compared to a reference scenario. The study emphasizes that eliminating deforestation alone is insufficient to meet Paris Agreement targets; it must be coupled with the decarbonization of agriculture, livestock, and the energy matrix. The transition requires an estimated BRL 2.56 trillion in additional investment by 2050, representing 1.8% of Brazil's national GDP per year. Key recommendations include removing fossil fuel subsidies, redirecting rural credit toward low-carbon practices, and scaling a bioeconomy based on traditional indigenous knowledge and standing forests.

The Net Zero Stocktake 2023 reveals that while net zero targets now cover 92% of global GDP and 88% of global GHG emissions at the national level, the momentum for new national and subnational targets has slowed. In contrast, corporate target-setting continues to grow, with 929 Forbes Global 2000 companies now having targets. However, the report highlights a critical 'integrity gap': fewer than 5% of subnational and corporate targets meet the minimum 'starting line' criteria of the Race to Zero campaign. National targets have seen a significant shift toward formalization, with the share of targets enshrined in law or policy documents rising from less than 10% in December 2020 to 75% in 2023. The analysis also finds that no major fossil fuel producing countries or companies have committed to a full phase-out of fossil fuel extraction or production, and there is a growing but potentially problematic reliance on carbon dioxide removals (CDR) to meet targets.

Reclaim Finance critiques the current proposal of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), arguing that it contains loopholes that could exempt financial institutions from accountability. The author specifically highlights the need for a broader definition of 'value chain' to include all financial services and more rigorous, science-based requirements for climate transition plans under Article 15.