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In 2013, global climate finance flows totaled USD 331 billion, a decrease of USD 28 billion from 2012. This decline was primarily driven by a USD 31 billion drop in private investment, largely due to falling solar PV costs. Public finance remained stable at USD 137 billion, with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) acting as the primary public source. Mitigation accounted for 91% of total flows, while adaptation received 7% (USD 25 billion), all of which originated from public sources. The report highlights a significant gap between current flows and the estimated USD 1.1 trillion annual investment needed in the energy sector to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius.

The report details WWF's efforts to transform commodity markets through the promotion of credible certification schemes, corporate engagement, and policy influence. It highlights the growth of standards like RSPO and MSC, the integration of small-scale producers into sustainable supply chains, and the increasing commitment of major retailers and financial institutions to sustainable sourcing. The document argues that while significant progress has been made in moving sustainability from a niche to a mainstream requirement, further work is needed to scale these impacts and integrate them into national policies and landscape-level management.

The report highlights the vulnerability of Colombia's road infrastructure to weather-related stressors, particularly floods and landslides, which are expected to increase in intensity and frequency due to climate change. It emphasizes the high risk to the Andean Region and the need for transportation planners to integrate climate risks, land-use changes, and institutional coordination into future investments to ensure sustainable economic development.

The document examines how population growth and resource-intensive meat production increase pressure on forestland, arguing that REDD+ must compete with the profitability of livestock and grain production to effectively and equitably address deforestation.

The report evaluates the 'Priority Municipalities' (MPs) policy in Brazil, which blacklisted municipalities with high deforestation rates to target law enforcement. The study finds that the policy significantly reduced deforestation in the Amazon, avoiding the clearing of 11,359 km2 of forest between 2008 and 2011. This reduction was primarily driven by increased monitoring and law enforcement, such as a 10% increase in fines, while having no negative impact on agricultural GDP, crop production, or credit concessions.

The research finds that the blacklisting of priority municipalities in the Brazilian Amazon significantly reduced deforestation, avoiding the clearing of approximately 11,218 to 11,396 km2 of forest from 2008 to 2011. The authors conclude that this effect was primarily driven by intensified monitoring and law enforcement—specifically an increase in the number of fines—rather than economic sanctions. The study demonstrates that the policy had no significant negative impact on agricultural GDP, crop production, or rural credit concessions, suggesting that forest protection in the region does not necessarily constrain agricultural production.

The report assesses the effectiveness of Brazil's 'Municípios Prioritários' (MPs) policy, which targeted municipalities with high deforestation rates for intensified monitoring and enforcement. The analysis finds that the policy significantly reduced deforestation in the Amazon, primarily through increased law enforcement and fines, without negatively impacting regional agricultural production or economic activity.

The report details the expansion of solar energy in the U.S., focusing on rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems, large-scale PV, and concentrating solar power (CSP). It highlights significant cost reductions, the role of state and federal incentives, and the environmental benefits of transitioning from fossil fuels to solar, while addressing grid integration challenges and land-use impacts.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the underperformance of land rental markets in Brazil and argues that deregulation could improve agricultural productivity and environmental protection by enabling more efficient land use.

The report examines why land rental markets in Brazil are underdeveloped compared to international standards, noting that only 3.3% of cultivated land was under lease or partnership agreements in the last Agricultural Census. It identifies legal imperfections—such as non-negotiable contract clauses, rent ceilings, and minimum contract durations—as primary deterrents to market growth. The document argues that deregulating these markets would allow for more efficient land use, specifically suggesting that over 40 million hectares of degraded pasture outside the Amazon could be converted to sugarcane production to increase agricultural value and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The report finds that Brazil's land rental markets are significantly underdeveloped compared to North America and Europe, with only 3.3% of agricultural land under lease or sharecropping. This inefficiency is attributed to insecure property rights and a rigid legal framework, primarily the 1964 Land Statute, which imposes non-renounceable clauses to protect renters. The authors argue that these regulations are outdated for today's more capitalized farmers and that deregulation could boost agricultural productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by facilitating the conversion of degraded pastureland to sugarcane production.

The document presents a systematic framework for evaluating supply security risks related to sustainability at both national and corporate levels in China. It defines risk through the interaction of domestic vulnerability and exposure with foreign supply hazards, including sustainability issues and national environments. The methodology employs a scoring system (0-3) across indicators of economic importance, vulnerability, and loss exposure to identify 'hotspots' in supply chains. The report concludes with five policy recommendations for the Chinese government to improve supply chain risk management, including capacity building for embassies, alignment with international standards, and the integration of sustainability into green procurement.

The report identifies China as highly vulnerable to palm oil supply disruptions due to its 98% import dependence and the concentration of production in Malaysia and Indonesia. It highlights critical sustainability risks, particularly deforestation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions, which pose both reputational risks to enterprises and systemic risks to national supply security. The document recommends five policy steps for the Chinese government, including building embassy capabilities, engaging with international standards, exploring fiscal incentives, implementing green public procurement, and integrating supply chain risk into corporate social responsibility guidelines.

The report analyzes China's high vulnerability in its palm oil supply chain, which is heavily concentrated in Indonesia and Malaysia. It identifies critical sustainability risks, including deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and human rights abuses, and suggests that while these may not immediately disrupt supply, they pose significant reputational risks for Chinese brands and long-term security risks. The document proposes five policy interventions, including capacity building for embassies and alignment with international sustainability standards like the RSPO.

The document argues that climate, energy, water, and land-use systems are closely integrated, yet policy-making often relies on disconnected assessments. Using Mauritius as a case study, the paper compares energy system assessments conducted in isolation against those using an integrated approach to scenarios extending to 2030. It highlights that an integrated approach reveals critical dynamics—such as the impact of rainfall reductions and land-use changes on ethanol generation—that are overlooked in separate assessments.

The document outlines a three-phase framework for governments to manage artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). Phase 1 focuses on preparation, including forming a multi-ministry task force, establishing stakeholder forums, and conducting context analysis. Phase 2 involves creating a vision and a tailored management strategy that categorizes ASM operations by type and prioritizes them based on impact. Phase 3 details the implementation process, including the creation of implementation plans, the deployment of specific support and regulatory measures, and the establishment of monitoring and evaluation systems.

The roadmap proposes two visions for Colombia's bioenergy sector: one focusing on new technologies (biomethane and biomass-based power/CHP) and another combining these with the expansion of first-generation biofuels. Modeling indicates that while both scenarios increase the bioenergy share in power and gas supply, they cannot prevent an overall decline in bioenergy's share of primary energy demand due to rapid GDP growth and urbanization. The most effective emissions reductions come from power generation and CHP, particularly by avoiding methane release from landfills and animal waste. Scenario I is identified as the most efficient in terms of emissions reduction per additional hectare of land, whereas Scenario II's ambitious biofuel targets would require significant imports as domestic land is insufficient.

The document proposes a 'nexus approach' to move away from sectoral 'silos' in the development of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By focusing on the interdependencies between water, energy, and food, the authors suggest that a bottom-up process starting with concrete targets—rather than overarching goals—can better identify trade-offs and synergies. The brief illustrates this through three analytical approaches: screening for interactions, exploring the nature of those interactions (interdependencies, constraints, and reinforcements), and mapping 'nexus targets' that serve multiple sectors. Case studies from Ethiopia, China (Ningxia), and the United States (California) demonstrate how these cross-sectoral tensions manifest in real-world resource management.

The report argues that feeding a projected global population of 9 billion by 2050 requires 'sustainable intensification'—producing more food with fewer resources to 'freeze the footprint of food'. Based on expert interviews, it identifies key opportunities in precision agriculture, soil health, genetics, and waste recovery. It highlights the US dairy industry as a potential leader in demonstrating closed-loop systems, particularly through the use of anaerobic digesters to convert manure into renewable energy. The document emphasizes that while incremental improvements are necessary, breakthroughs in technology and data sharing, supported by public and private investment, are essential for systemic change.

The document is a formal letter from a broad coalition of international organizations opposing the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The authors argue that ISDS allows corporations to challenge non-discriminatory government policies in private tribunals, potentially forcing taxpayers to compensate companies for implementing public health, environmental, and labor regulations. They cite examples of ISDS being used to attack clean energy and toxic waste regulations, and argue that the domestic court systems of the US and EU are sufficient for handling investment disputes.