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Australia's coal mines are a major source of methane, with evidence suggesting official reports significantly underestimate the actual emissions. The report highlights that a small number of 'super-emitter' mines contribute a disproportionate amount of emissions and warns that proposed new coal projects will further increase these levels. It advocates for a transition to direct measurement over emission factors, the adoption of ventilation air methane (VAM) abatement technologies, and the phasing out of coal, particularly the gassiest mines, to meet climate targets.

The paper analyzes the EU's proposal for a regulation on deforestation-free products and the UK's Environment Act 2021, detailing their respective scopes, due diligence processes, and enforcement mechanisms while highlighting challenges related to WTO consistency and impacts on smallholders in developing countries.

The document details amendments by the European Parliament's ENVI, TRAN, and AGRI committees to the LULUCF regulation. Key changes include increasing the carbon sink target to at least 310 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030, adding a 50 million tonne target for carbon farming, and separating the objectives of GHG emission reduction from natural carbon sink enhancement. It also introduces stricter definitions for sustainable biomass, excluding wood-derived biomass from green energy incentives while retaining secondary woody biomass. The updated framework establishes five-year compliance cycles, new monitoring systems like the Land Use and Land Cover Survey (LUCAS), and financial support for land and forest owners using ecosystem-based approaches.

The report highlights a paradox in the Legal Amazon: while the region hosts Brazil's largest hydroelectric plants and generates over 25.7% of national electricity, approximately four million of its residents lack access to the National Interconnected System (SIN). Around three million people rely on isolated systems, 97% of which are powered by expensive and polluting diesel fuel, while nearly one million people have no reliable public energy access at all. These isolated systems are heavily subsidized by the Fuel Consumption Fund (CCC), which reached an estimated value of over R$ 10 billion in 2022. The document finds that municipalities with isolated systems consistently perform worse across key socioeconomic indicators, including the Human Development Index and GDP per capita, compared to connected municipalities. To address this, the report recommends modifying auction rules to make renewables more competitive, incentivizing decentralized solar power, and improving the 'More Light for the Amazon' program through better oversight and community involvement.

The briefing examines the role of electric vehicles in reducing the 29 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions attributed to transportation. It highlights the necessity of overcoming insufficient charging infrastructure through the use of $7.5 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and programs like the Rural Energy Savings Program to ensure equitable and efficient deployment.

La Banque Agricole (LBA) is seeking US$ 646,600 from the Green Climate Fund's Project Preparation Facility to design a large-scale programme aimed at fostering climate-smart agriculture in Senegal. The proposed programme intends to establish a dedicated Line of Credit (LoC) to provide concessional loans to smallholder farmers, MSMEs, and cooperatives for the adoption of CSA practices, such as drip irrigation and biodigesters. The PPF will fund critical preparatory activities, including baseline and market studies, a feasibility study for a digital lending platform (Agricash), a gender assessment, and the development of a climate rationale. The ultimate goal of the full programme is to increase farm productivity and resilience while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 3.42 million tCO2e over 20 years, benefiting approximately 307,000 direct beneficiaries.

The statement calls for the Glasgow Financial Alliance on Net Zero (GFANZ) to end its support for fossil fuel expansion, citing scientific evidence from the IPCC and IEA that new coal, oil, and gas projects are incompatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C. It criticizes GFANZ leaders and CEOs from member institutions, such as Citigroup and Standard Chartered, for downplaying the urgency of a transition and for continuing to enable the development of 'carbon bombs'—large-scale projects that threaten the global carbon budget.

Nepal faces significant climate vulnerabilities, including flash floods, landslides, and water scarcity, with temperatures projected to rise up to 1.8°C even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C. While the country has a robust set of national policies and a federal structure that empowers local governments, the implementation of climate resilience at the municipal level is hindered by a lack of technical capacity, unclear jurisdictional responsibilities, and limited financial resources. The brief recommends establishing 'resilience cells' to coordinate inter-ministerial efforts, integrating climate indicators into local budget performance measures, and adopting integrated planning that combines mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction through nature-based solutions.

The global GSS+ bond market reached a cumulative issuance of $3 trillion by Q1 2022, despite a nearly 30% year-on-year decline in quarterly issuance due to interest rate hikes and the Russia-Ukraine war. While green and social bonds saw significant decreases, sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) grew by over 100%, with 61% of their KPIs linked to greenhouse gas emission targets. China led global green bond issuance in Q1 2022, and the period saw the emergence of the first sovereign SLB from Chile and the first public sector SLB from the city of Helsingborg.

The document argues that the proposed CSDD is insufficient to meet EU Green Deal ambitions because it uses a restrictive definition of 'adverse environmental impact' based on a limited list of international conventions, omitting key agreements like the Paris Agreement. It highlights that the current framework allows companies to ignore impacts on water, soil, and plastic pollution if no specific international prohibition is violated. Furthermore, the briefing criticises the proposed climate transition plans for lacking prescriptive content and failing to mandate the inclusion of Scope 3 emissions, which often constitute the majority of a company's climate footprint.

The document contends that global and European food insecurity is a problem of distribution, access, and utilization rather than production. It highlights that the EU is a net exporter of agri-food products and that a significant portion of its cereal production is used for animal feed and biofuels rather than human consumption. The text argues that industrial agricultural practices drive the climate and biodiversity crises, which in turn threaten food yields through pollinator loss and extreme weather. It advocates for a transition to agro-ecological practices and the adoption of the EU Nature Restoration Law with ambitious, enforceable targets to capture carbon and protect ecosystem services.

The report analyzes the potential for U.S. coastal wetlands to either expand or almost entirely disappear by 2100 based on sea level rise rates, vertical accretion, and the conservation of land for horizontal migration. It identifies Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas as high-risk areas and emphasizes that conserving undeveloped dryland (refugia) is a decisive factor in preventing widespread wetland loss.

The document analyzes the energy landscape of the Legal Amazon, highlighting the disparity between the region's role as a major energy exporter via the National Interconnected System (SIN) and the internal reality of 4 million people disconnected from it. It examines 'Sistemas Isolados' (Isolated Systems) and populations without any electricity access, linking these energy deficits to poor socioeconomic indicators. The report criticizes the current auction model for isolated systems for favoring diesel over renewables and evaluates the 'Mais Luz para a Amazônia' program, providing recommendations for a transition toward decentralized solar energy and improved regulatory frameworks.

The report argues that military decarbonization is essential for both climate mitigation and operational effectiveness, as fossil fuel dependency creates strategic vulnerabilities. It highlights the lack of a standardized emission measurement methodology, noting that while 'standard operations' (buildings and administration) are relatively easy to green, 'non-standard operations' (heavy weaponry and combat mobility) present significant technological hurdles. The document evaluates the current efforts of NATO and the EU, suggesting that NATO can lead through standardization and normative influence, while the EU can leverage its legislative power and financial instruments like the European Defence Fund. It concludes with recommendations for EU-NATO coordination to avoid duplication and accelerate the transition to clean military power.

The document analyzes the climate impact of commercial aviation, noting that while aircraft efficiency has improved, the rapid growth of the industry—particularly in developing nations—continues to drive up total emissions. It details the contributions of CO2 and non-CO2 effects like contrails, the regulatory landscape including ICAO standards, and the projected recovery of air traffic following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Institute for Economic Justice evaluates the draft South African Climate Change Bill against the 2022 IPCC WGII report. While the Bill aligns with IPCC definitions of adaptation and vulnerability and acknowledges the risks of extreme weather, the author finds it insufficient in several areas. Key gaps include the lack of a formal climate emergency declaration, missing definitions for 'resilience' and 'exposure', insufficient transparency and accountability mechanisms, and a lack of specific timeframes and responsible parties for implementation. The document argues that the Bill must better integrate socio-economic rights and traditional knowledge to effectively protect vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and rural communities.

The briefing reports that 2030 climate target updates have stalled since COP26, leaving the world on track for 2.4°C of warming based on current targets and 2.7°C based on current policies. Despite the Glasgow Climate Pact's request for governments to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by the end of 2022, no major emitter has updated its target. The report highlights a significant emissions gap, noting that global emissions in 2030 would be twice as high as the 1.5°C limit allows without increased action. It suggests four pathways for governments to update targets: full NDC updates, expanding NDC coverage (specifically for China regarding non-CO2 gases), participating in new sectoral initiatives, or implementing policies to overachieve existing targets.

Wildfires in the western United States are increasing in size and severity due to climate change and historical fire suppression, posing significant risks to water resources. High-severity fires destroy vegetation and alter soil chemistry, leading to increased streamflow, flooding, and the contamination of drinking water with sediments, toxins, and carcinogens. The document advocates for a combination of emissions reductions, active forest management—including prescribed and Indigenous cultural burns—and investments in climate-resilient water infrastructure to mitigate these threats.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) dismissed an appeal by 37 youth claimants who argued that the EU's climate regime violated fundamental rights and international obligations. The court rejected the claims on standing grounds, ruling that the applicants did not meet the 'individual concern' requirement under Article 263 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The court maintained that the general effects of climate change do not grant individual standing to challenge measures of general application.

The document details a legal challenge brought by six Portuguese children against Portugal and 32 other European states before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The applicants argue that the states' failure to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C violates their rights to life, privacy, and protection from discrimination. The ECtHR has fast-tracked the case and, on its own initiative, included Article 3 (prohibiting inhuman and degrading treatment) as a possible violation due to the severity of climate impacts on the applicants.