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The document describes a World Bank-supported initiative in Cambodia using performance-based contracts and IDA credit of USD 170 million to improve road rehabilitation and climate resilience. It suggests this model could be scaled to African countries with strong project pipelines and private investor pools, identifying Morocco, Madagascar, and Lesotho as potential candidates based on previous adaptation financing.

The report argues that insurance is an underutilized tool for urban climate resilience, providing not only financial recovery but also risk awareness and incentives for mitigation. It details various insurance mechanisms—micro, meso, and macro—and the roles municipal governments can play as consumers, stewards, and conveners. The document highlights a significant 'protection gap,' noting that 76% of natural catastrophe losses were uninsured in 2020. Key barriers to scaling include a lack of technical capacity in city governments, behavioral biases among urban dwellers, and the difficulty of incorporating long-term climate projections into short-term insurance products. It recommends increased investment in risk assessment, the development of integrated resilience plans with the insurance sector, and the use of concessional finance from development finance institutions to support vulnerable cities.

The report argues that deep decarbonization of transportation requires a diverse set of solutions across technology, policy, and behavior, as no single technology can address all subsectors. Key strategies include the deployment of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for light-duty and short-haul freight, hydrogen and ammonia for heavy-duty and marine transport, and sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) for aircraft. The authors emphasize that efficiency improvements are a critical near-term tool across all modes. A central policy recommendation is the adoption of a performance-based, adaptive framework, specifically a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) transitioning to a Zero-Carbon Fuel Standard (ZCFS) by 2050, to allow various fuels and vehicles to compete while reducing overall carbon intensity. The report also highlights the daunting nature of infrastructure transitions and the uncertainty of consumer behavior and automated vehicle impacts.

The document examines China's four waves of SOE reform since 1978, highlighting the use of market competition under state ownership and mixed governance. It argues that while China's unique political system makes direct replication difficult, African nations can adopt tactical lessons such as using quality global exchanges for IPOs, creating competing state-owned units to monitor management, and ensuring durable compensation for workers displaced by reform. The author emphasizes that state capacity and institutional design must precede large-scale ownership reform.

The author uses the work of Marcel Boiteux and the 'three domains' framework to critique modern climate economics for neglecting the role of finance and the complexities of real-world implementation. By examining Boiteux's contributions to electricity pricing and the Ramsey-Boiteux rule, the text argues that economic analysis should serve as a 'negotiation language' to align technical efficiency with political goals and financial realities, particularly to bridge the gap between the 'North's' focus on carbon pricing and the 'South's' need for finance.

The report presents survey data from 922 registered U.S. voters, revealing broad support for various climate-friendly energy and conservation policies, though opinions on economic impacts and the urgency of federal action remain sharply divided along political lines.

The report assesses the impact of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on African infrastructure, economic growth, trade, and debt sustainability. While finding that Chinese investment helps close the infrastructure gap and can boost GDP, the authors note risks including debt distress in specific countries, environmental degradation, and the crowding out of local manufacturing by Chinese imports. Case studies in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria demonstrate positive outcomes in transport and energy, though the failure of Nigeria's NIGCOM satellite highlights risks of using the continent as a testing ground. The report concludes that benefits generally outweigh costs, provided African nations improve project management and negotiate more symmetrical trade and loan terms.

The report outlines a strategic framework for zero-carbon investing in China, identifying seven priority technology areas—resource recycling, energy efficiency, demand-side electrification, zero-carbon power generation, energy storage, hydrogen, and digitalization—with a projected market size of nearly ¥15 trillion (US$2.32 trillion) by 2050 and total infrastructure investment of approximately ¥70 trillion (US$10.8 trillion) between 2020 and 2050.

A March 2021 survey of 922 registered U.S. voters reveals broad support for clean energy research, tax rebates for energy-efficient products, and conservation jobs programs. While majorities support transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050 and regulating carbon dioxide, significant political divisions persist regarding the economic impact of clean energy and the use of national emergency declarations. Voters generally believe corporations and government should do more to address global warming, though confidence in the ability of state and local governments to protect communities remains low.

The document examines the role of green bonds in addressing Africa's climate vulnerability and infrastructure gaps, noting that while public finance is currently inadequate, green bonds offer a pathway to mobilize capital for sustainable development and climate mitigation.

The report analyzes the contracting of Technical, Economic, and Environmental Feasibility Studies (EVTEA) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for federal land transportation projects in the Amazon. It finds a significant lack of transparency in how these studies are selected, assessed, and approved, as well as a lack of clarity in budget allocations. Analysis of EIA budgets for the Ferrogrão railroad and highway BR-364 shows that over 50% of funds are spent on diagnostic analysis, while only 6% are allocated to risk assessment and mitigation measures. The authors recommend defining clearer selection criteria, establishing upfront budget allocations, and introducing a 'pre-viability phase' to shift diagnostic analysis earlier in the project life cycle.

The policy brief proposes a shift from project-based infrastructure to a business-based model to achieve universal infrastructure coverage, particularly in developing countries. It highlights how technological disruptions in energy, transport, and water are reducing capital costs and enabling distributed infrastructure. The authors advocate for listing these infrastructure businesses on local stock exchanges to attract institutional investors and suggest implementing stewardship principles—such as master plans and impact management—to align business operations with community needs and sustainability goals.

The South African government aims to mobilise R1 trillion from the private sector over 10 years via an Infrastructure Fund to address an infrastructure deficit and revive economic growth. The document argues that the current focus on 'de-risking' private investment—through blended finance, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and converting infrastructure into asset classes—often shifts excessive risk to the public fiscus and may fail to deliver developmental outcomes. It cites the Gautrain and prison facilities in Bloemfontein and Louis Trichardt as examples of costly public-sector liabilities. The author recommends that the state maintain leadership in structural economic transformation, specifically shifting away from fossil fuels and extractive industries, while implementing stricter governance, transparency, and human rights due diligence for all private-sector involvements.

The document outlines the structure of smart water networks and provides evidence from South African municipalities on how sensor-based systems can reduce costs and improve billing. It emphasizes that smart systems must address specific problems and be supported by internal IT capacity to avoid magnifying existing inefficiencies.

The report calculates that nature-based infrastructure (NBI) could cover between 9% and 14% of the global infrastructure gap, representing a potential annual investment of approximately USD 489 billion. Through a literature review and SAVi assessments, the document demonstrates that NBI often provides significant cost savings—averaging 50.6% less than grey infrastructure—and generates higher value, returning USD 10 for every dollar invested compared to USD 3.6 for traditional built infrastructure.

The document analyzes the security relationship between the Philippines and China under the Duterte administration (2016–2020). It finds that while President Duterte pursued a cooperative foreign policy to secure economic gains and infrastructure funding via the Belt and Road Initiative, security cooperation remained limited and cautious. China provided military aid during the 2017 Marawi siege and proposed surveillance projects like 'Safe Philippines,' but these efforts faced pushback from the Philippine strategic community due to interoperability issues with US systems and fears of espionage. Ultimately, China is characterized as both an emerging security partner and a primary source of insecurity due to its maritime claims in the South China Sea.

A December 2020 survey of 949 registered U.S. voters reveals broad support for clean energy development, energy efficiency, and international climate cooperation, though significant partisan divides persist regarding the urgency of global warming and specific regulatory policies. While majorities support transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050 and the Paris Climate Agreement, support for fossil fuel expansion remains higher among Republicans. The report also highlights a general consensus on the economic benefits of clean energy and the importance of climate education in schools.

A December 2020 survey of 949 registered U.S. voters reveals broad support for clean energy development and various climate policies, though significant partisan divides remain regarding the urgency of global warming and specific regulatory measures. While majorities support transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050 and participating in the Paris Climate Agreement, support for fossil fuel expansion remains higher among Republicans. The report also highlights a general consensus on the importance of infrastructure investment and climate education in schools.

Djibouti leverages its strategic position at the Bab el Mandab strait to maintain agency despite a highly asymmetrical relationship with China. While China has become a primary creditor and infrastructure provider through the Belt and Road Initiative, Djibouti manages this influence by hosting multiple foreign military bases and diversifying its economic partnerships with the US, France, and Saudi Arabia. President Ismail Omar Guelleh has recently worked to reduce China's dominance by renegotiating loans and postponing projects to avoid excessive debt distress.

The Canadian Climate Institute presents a framework of 11 indicators divided into goals (low-carbon growth, economic resilience), catalysts (technology development, adoption, trade, and infrastructure), and fundamentals (low-carbon jobs, affordable energy, inclusive resilience, clean air, and flourishing ecosystems). The report finds that while Canada has decoupled GDP from emissions nationally, progress is uneven across provinces. It highlights significant data gaps, particularly regarding climate costs, social vulnerability, and ecosystem health, and recommends cross-governmental collaboration and improved data correlation to support a just transition.