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The report evaluates South Sudan's development prospects through 2043, contrasting a 'Current Path' of gradual improvement with a 'Combined scenario' of integrated reforms. While the current path is deemed insufficient to meet the goals of the SSDP 2026–2036, the combined approach suggests that coordinated investments in agriculture, human capital, and infrastructure can accelerate poverty reduction and economic diversification. Key recommendations include scaling solar energy, implementing climate-smart agriculture, and leveraging the AfCFTA to reduce reliance on the oil sector.

The document examines the progress of carbon pricing in three Southeast Asian nations. Indonesia has an advanced regulatory framework and a functioning carbon exchange (IDXCarbon) but struggles with low trading volumes and high emission allowances. The Philippines is in the early stages of designing an emissions trading system (ETS) and exploring voluntary markets. Viet Nam is piloting an ETS for power, steel, and cement sectors, driven by its 2050 net-zero commitment and the impact of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

The policy brief argues that for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a Just Transition must be a multi-sectoral regional transformation strategy rather than a narrow focus on fossil fuel phase-out. It introduces a framework based on six guiding principles—social justice, effective governance, inclusive participation, economic resilience, alignment with climate goals, and green financing—to mitigate risks in sectors like energy, tourism, and transport, while leveraging growth opportunities in the blue and orange economies. The author recommends institutionalizing social dialogue, strengthening regional policy coherence, and mobilizing scaled concessional finance to ensure the transition is equitable and supports long-term economic diversification.

The report finds that while Kenya has successfully increased its renewable electricity generation to 87% by 2022, the transition lacks policy coherence regarding affordability and equity. High electricity tariffs, driven by infrastructure investments and a distribution monopoly, hinder industrial competitiveness and limit energy access for vulnerable groups. The analysis identifies a significant trade-off between coal-based industrialization goals and climate mitigation targets, though the latter has gained dominance due to international financial pressure. Institutional barriers, including corruption and limited resources for social equity, further impede a just transition.

The document analyzes Nigeria's climate policy through four 'policy moments', highlighting a persistent struggle with institutional overlap and fragmented governance. It examines how internal competition between bodies like the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate (OSPEC) dilutes Nigeria's international bargaining power. The paper also discusses the impact of global energy market shifts, the divestment of onshore assets by International Oil Companies (IOCs), and the challenges of removing fuel subsidies. It concludes that Nigeria must move away from transplanting foreign institutional models and instead develop a domestically driven, streamlined framework that integrates the petroleum sector into its climate goals.

The project aims to support rural entrepreneurs in Benin through two main pillars: electricity access via mini-grids, electrified activity zones (ZAE), or solar kits, and the provision of efficient cooking stoves for agri-food processors. Targeting 20 small businesses and 108 women's groups, the initiative seeks to consolidate 100 jobs, increase incomes, and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 17,000 tCO2eq.

The document describes the 'Zones d’Activités Électrifiées' (ZAE) initiative in Mali, which replaces polluting gasoline generators with reliable electricity to support local entrepreneurs. It highlights the installation of 8 ZAEs in rural areas, with 5 more in development, and provides specific economic data from the Moro Moro zone, including the creation of 34 jobs and access to services for approximately 7,300 people. The text also details a success story of a bakery in Koury and mentions the expansion of similar low-carbon development programs to Benin.

The document outlines a readiness and preparatory support proposal for Paraguay, implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). It addresses four primary barriers: limited coordination and monitoring of climate finance, the absence of a National Direct Access Entity, a lack of standardized green investment definitions, and insufficient climate integration in long-term development planning. Key interventions include training the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) in its role as the National Designated Authority (NDA), updating the GCF Country Programme and No-Objection Procedure, and supporting the AFD's GCF accreditation. Additionally, the project aims to pilot a Green Taxonomy, develop a Green Job Strategy, and establish a climate finance MRV platform to track domestic and international flows. The proposal emphasizes gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), targeting 50% women's participation in events and integrating GESI-disaggregated indicators into national planning.

The GCF Accreditation Panel recommends the accreditation of World Vision Australia (WVA) as an international entity under the normal track, with a medium project size limit and medium environmental and social risk category (Category B). WVA demonstrated strong capacities in project management, gender equality, and environmental and social safeguards, though it must meet specific conditions regarding the publication of investigation and procurement guidelines to finalize its accreditation.

Russia used COP29 to promote fossil fuels and present revised GHG emission data based on a 'sovereign methodology' that claims a 34% reduction in emissions through forest carbon absorption. The document highlights that Russia's 'climate projects' are inconsistent with Paris Agreement standards on additionality and transparency, often serving to prolong fossil fuel use. Despite these issues, Russia has begun selling carbon credits to foreign buyers, such as the Arab Investment Fund, and seeks to expand these practices through BRICS+ and other business associations.

The report assesses the deployment of Feed-in Tariff (FIT) and Renewable Energy Auction (REA) policies in Kenya, identifying significant gaps in stakeholder awareness, communication, and financial de-risking. While Kenya has strong technical capacity and a high renewable energy grid mix, the transition from FIT to REA has been hampered by bureaucratic processes and a lack of inclusive policy formulation. The authors recommend establishing a centralized body for REA bidding, enhancing stakeholder engagement with research institutions, and implementing robust financial incentives like tax credits and guarantees to attract private investment and achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030.

The briefing highlights a significant funding gap in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), where current climate finance flows represent only 0.5% of regional GDP, far below the 3.7% to 4.9% estimated by ECLAC to meet Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While developed nations eventually met the USD 100 billion annual pledge in 2022, the LAC region's share of international finance (17% between 2016-2020) consists largely of loans (81%), exacerbating regional debt. Financing is heavily concentrated in Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia, with a strong preference for mitigation over adaptation projects.

The report tracks the shift in China-Africa energy cooperation from large-scale infrastructure and thermal power projects toward 'small and beautiful' green initiatives. It highlights a growing alignment between China's commitment to stop funding overseas coal-fired projects and Africa's strategic priorities for climate finance, renewable energy access, and resilient infrastructure. While China offers technological and financial aid, the report notes that some African priorities, such as critical minerals, remain insufficiently addressed.

The document outlines a 24-month readiness and preparatory support programme for Iran, implemented by the FAO. It aims to address barriers to climate finance by establishing a National Climate Change Knowledge Hub, updating Technology Need Assessments, and supporting the accreditation of national Direct Access Entities. The project focuses on creating a bankable project pipeline, improving inter-agency coordination through the National Climate Change Working Group, and developing a National Climate Change Mitigation Plan, with a specific emphasis on the energy sector and gender-responsive climate action.

The proposal identifies significant barriers preventing the Chadian private sector from contributing to climate action, including the NDA's poor understanding of private sector roles and a lack of national technical expertise in climate finance. To address these, the project proposes a series of capacity-building activities: training the NDA on GCF private sector facilities, establishing a private sector coordination mechanism, developing a roadmap for the accreditation of a private sector Direct Access Entity, and creating a knowledge management system. The project will be implemented by the Institut de la Francophonie pour le Développement Durable (IFDD) over 18 months, with a strong focus on gender mainstreaming, targeting at least 40% female participation in training and strategy development.

The document examines the challenges of aligning long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LT-LEDS) with global adaptation goals. It explores the potential for combined, synergistic strategies that ensure emission reductions are climate-resilient and that long-term adaptation plans align with mitigation targets, specifically within the framework of the Paris Agreement.

The Climate Change (Amendment) Bill, 2023 aims to integrate carbon markets into Kenya's climate response to attract investment and achieve low-cost emissions reductions. However, Natural Justice warns that without robust legislation, these markets could allow developed nations to continue burning fossil fuels while negatively impacting the global south. The document identifies several critical flaws in the Bill, including the removal of specific requirements for civil society and marginalized community representatives on the National Climate Change Council, which may contravene the Constitution of Kenya 2010. It also highlights a lack of clear role distinctions between national and county governments and insufficient procedures for effective public participation. Regarding the forestry sector, the Bill suggests that afforestation and reforestation will be part of an emissions trading system, necessitating strict monitoring of emissions. Natural Justice urges the government to delay implementing carbon market mechanisms until all necessary regulations are adopted through a transparent public participation process.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has published a technical compendium to streamline the preparation of funding proposals under the Simplified Approval Process (SAP). The SAP is designed to reduce the time and effort required for the preparation, review, and approval of small-scale activities, specifically targeting developing countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). To be eligible for SAP, projects must request a GCF contribution of no more than 25 million USD and present minimal or no environmental and social risks. The guide provides detailed sectoral frameworks for agriculture, ecosystems, water security, cities, energy efficiency, forestry, REDD+, renewable energy, and transport, outlining eligible activities, indicators for measuring impact, and examples of 'paradigm shifts' required for GCF investment.

The Multi-Country Climate Resilient Urban Development Initiative is a 36-month project requesting USD 1,961,539 to address systemic barriers to urban climate resilience in four CARICOM states. The initiative focuses on overcoming gaps in geospatial data, outdated planning legislation, and limited technical capacity at the municipal level. Key planned outputs include a regional gap analysis, the development of climate-resilient National Urban Policies (cr-NUP), a technical toolkit for urban planners, and the creation of four project concept notes to secure further GCF funding. The project is implemented by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) with technical support from the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF).

The report analyzes how EU and G7 sanctions on Russian coal imports have disrupted the Kuzbass region, which produces over 55% of Russia's coal. It details the region's high economic dependency on coal, the logistical challenges of redirecting exports to Asia, and the risks of social unrest due to potential job losses. The document presents three future scenarios (Reference, Soft, and Hard) through 2030, projecting significant declines in production, revenue, and employment under the 'Hard' scenario, while noting that reduced coal activity may lower methane and CO2 emissions.