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The brief highlights the current inefficiency of carbon accounting, which relies on manual, non-standardized data exchange (PDFs, spreadsheets), hindering real-time business decisions. It proposes a shift toward open standards—similar to the evolution of web browsers—to enable comparability, interoperability, and machine-readability of emissions data. The author advocates for the adoption of standardized formats like PACT, the use of open-source collaboration models, and the integration of carbon tracking into supply chain management software to incentivize low-carbon production and support green procurement policies.

Civil society organizations Traction Energy Asia, Trend Asia, and Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) warn that current bioenergy policies in Indonesia, specifically biofuel and biomass co-firing, drive deforestation and increase carbon emissions. They report that 13 Energy Plantation Forest (HTE) companies caused 55,000 hectares of deforestation between 2017-2021, with projections suggesting up to 4.65 million hectares of natural forest could be lost if current co-firing governance persists across 52 power plants. The document recommends freezing biodiesel blends at 35%, halting new permits, and diversifying feedstocks to include used cooking oil (UCO). It also calls for a comprehensive evaluation of the social and environmental impacts of co-firing, noting that burning 1 million tons of biomass in 43 power plants in 2023 resulted in 1.7 million tons of carbon emissions. The brief includes responses from the national campaign teams of the 2024 candidates regarding their visions for energy transition and forest protection.

The document details a project in Cameroon where upOwa deployed 24,715 solar home systems (SHS) to provide first-time electricity access to 117,455 people. Funded by Camco Clean Energy's REPP and other partners with a total of EUR 9,700,000, the initiative utilizes a pay-as-you-go model to overcome high upfront costs. The project has avoided 4,269 tonnes of CO2e and supported 758 micro businesses and 211 essential services, including healthcare facilities that used the power for COVID-19 vaccine storage and respiratory equipment.

The Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) released its first Target-Setting Protocol on January 17, 2023. Reclaim Finance argues the protocol is a 'step backward' compared to other GFANZ alliances and IPCC guidelines. Key criticisms include a low minimum emission reduction target of 34% CO2e by 2030, the failure to explicitly address fossil fuel expansion, and the exclusion of treaty reinsurance and certain construction insurance from its scope. While the document notes the positive exclusion of carbon offsets from targets, it calls for the NZIA to accelerate its protocol update from late 2024 to the end of 2023.

The document explains the distinction between global warming and climate change, attributing current rapid warming to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and deforestation. It details the resulting increase in extreme weather events and highlights the disproportionate burden on marginalized communities and the Global South. The guide advocates for a transition to renewable energy, increased resource efficiency, and carbon removal to mitigate future disasters.

The article discusses the four main types of fluorinated gases—HFCs, PFCs, SF6, and NF3—which are potent greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and industrial manufacturing. It highlights the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the U.S. AIM Act as primary mechanisms for phasing down HFCs, while noting the need for sustainable alternatives like natural refrigerants and improved leak detection and destruction facilities.

The report examines the direct and indirect benefits of energy efficiency (EE), such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased industrial competitiveness. It details various international policy mechanisms—including regulation, market instruments, and fiscal policies—and evaluates their application in countries like Canada, China, and the EU. The document concludes that while Brazil has established several EE programs, it faces challenges such as fragmented governance and a lack of alignment between industrial and energy policies.

The report finds that the IRA will significantly accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the US, potentially exceeding the Biden administration's 2030 targets. However, the authors argue that these incentives alone are insufficient to meet the US Nationally Determined Contribution or the Paris Agreement goals, necessitating additional federal GHG standards and investments in infrastructure and manufacturing.

The report examines the global cotton market, highlighting the growth of VSS-compliant cotton, which reached 25%–26% of total production by 2019. It details the vulnerabilities of cotton farmers to climate change and market volatility, noting that farmers often receive less than 10% of a garment's retail price. The document argues for better price transparency, long-term contracts, and the internalization of external costs to ensure living incomes for smallholders.

The report analyzes the global cotton industry, highlighting the growth of sustainable cotton produced under voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) and the challenges posed by climate change and market volatility. It examines the disparity in value distribution across the textile supply chain, where smallholder farmers receive a minimal fraction of retail prices. While VSS like Better Cotton and Organic can improve yields and incomes, the report notes that many sustainable products are sold at conventional prices. It recommends improving contract transparency, internalizing external costs, and developing regional value chains, particularly in West Africa, to enhance resilience and farmer income.

The report identifies a significant financing gap of USD 10 billion per year needed to achieve sustainable food system transformation in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Nigeria. It argues that current funding is overly skewed toward short-term emergency assistance rather than long-term agricultural development. By investing in on-farm productivity, social protection, and climate-resilient infrastructure, the report projects that undernourishment could drop below 3% and the incomes of 29 million small-scale producers could double by 2030, all while meeting nationally determined contribution goals for greenhouse gas emissions.

The report evaluates three emissions scenarios for the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region: an existing policy scenario, a low ambition scenario, and a high ambition scenario. It finds that while the high ambition scenario can meet the 2030 intermediate target of the CLCPA, none of the current scenarios are sufficient to meet the 85% reduction goal by 2050. Key challenges include high emissions from enteric fermentation in dairy cows and methane leakage from large landfills. The analysis emphasizes the need for a carbon-free grid, electrification of transport and heating, and enhanced agricultural manure management.

The road freight sector is undergoing a transformation driven by automation, digitalization, and electrification. While these trends promise significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and operational costs, they shift environmental hotspots from vehicle operation to the manufacturing phase, particularly regarding battery mineral extraction. Social challenges include potential job insecurity for drivers and the risk of exploitation within digital 'gig economy' platforms.

The report establishes a baseline emissions inventory for the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region, identifying transportation, agriculture, and residential heating as primary emission sources. It details a methodology aligned with New York State and IPCC guidelines, providing county-level breakdowns and a baseline projection that suggests a slight increase in total emissions by 2050.

The document analyzes the extreme vulnerability of CARICOM states to climate change, noting that while the region contributes only 0.33% of global greenhouse gas emissions, its key trade sectors—tourism, agriculture, and the blue economy—face existential threats. It identifies a gap in the region's trade policy, which currently lacks a clear articulation of how to serve climate resilience. The paper suggests that CARICOM can leverage its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to identify WTO negotiating priorities, such as technology transfer, climate finance, and the removal of trade barriers for environmental goods. It specifically recommends that the WTO recognize the unique vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and move beyond a developed-country agenda to support SIDS' offensive interests in carbon markets and the blue economy.

The report examines how developed nations are adopting 'climate-justified' protectionist measures, specifically the EU's CBAM and the US's IRA, which depart from previous neoliberal trade doctrines. It argues that these unilateral policies threaten African economic growth and industrialisation by creating market barriers and restricting policy space. The author suggests that Africa should oppose the CBAM, leverage the US's use of localisation to justify its own local content requirements, and campaign for the treatment of green technologies as global public goods through the reform of TRIPS rules.

The Clean Air Task Force proposes several reforms to the 2023 Farm Bill to improve the quantification and procurement of carbon sequestration, facilitate rural clean energy transmission, and reduce livestock methane emissions. Key recommendations include streamlining the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) funding processes, establishing carbon cooperatives, and investing $350 million to $500 million in enteric methane research.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is a South African public interest law organisation that uses litigation and advocacy to defend the constitutional right to a healthy environment. Between 2009 and 2023, CER achieved landmark judgments on climate change (Thabametsi), air pollution (Deadly Air), and the protection of activists against SLAPP suits. The organisation operates four main programmes: Pollution & Climate Change, Corporate Accountability & Transparency, Activist Support & Training, and Mining. CER emphasizes an intersectional approach, focusing on the disproportionate impact of pollution on poor and Black communities and promoting women's leadership within the environmental justice movement.

The CESCR frequently addressed climate change in its 2022 State reviews, focusing on mitigation policies, adaptation plans, and the phase-out of fossil fuels. The Committee emphasized the need for States to meet Paris Agreement commitments and highlighted extraterritorial obligations to ensure that domestic policies and international agreements do not adversely affect human rights in other countries. Additionally, the 2022 General Comment No. 26 on land rights stressed that climate mitigation measures, such as large-scale renewable energy projects, must include robust safeguards to protect human rights and the environment.

The Climate Bonds Initiative provides a certification scheme for entities to validate their climate credentials and transition plans. Certification is available at two levels: Level 1 for entities already aligned with 1.5°C pathways, and Level 2 for those with transition plans predicting alignment by 2030. To be eligible, at least 90% of an entity's activities must be 'Eligible Activities' based on existing Sector Criteria. Certification is valid for five years, requiring annual verification by an approved verifier, and is restricted to non-financial corporate entities.