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The 'Catalyzing Low-carbon Investment and Mobilizing Finance for Saint Lucia (CLIMB-SLU)' proposal requests USD 1,631,349 over 36 months to address critical gaps in Saint Lucia's climate finance ecosystem. The initiative focuses on three workstreams: strengthening government capacity to integrate climate and gender considerations into financial planning, enhancing the ability of local financial institutions to manage climate risks and offer green products, and developing a pipeline of bankable projects, specifically a Green Affordable Housing project and a conceptual Green-Blue National Bank. The project is implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in coordination with Saint Lucia's Department of Economic Development, Department of Finance, and Department of Sustainable Development.

The 2023 update on the 70 largest public financial institutions (PFIs) shows minimal progress in climate commitments, with only two institutions adding new net zero or Paris alignment targets. Analysis of smaller PFIs in emerging markets and developing economies indicates that climate mainstreaming is driven more by shareholder government support than by institutional capacity.

Carbon Market Watch criticizes the EU's Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) provisional deal, claiming it allows carbon removals and temporary storage to substitute for actual emission reductions. The organization warns that the framework enables double counting between voluntary markets and national climate policies, incentivizes short-term carbon storage that lacks long-term climate benefit, and employs insufficient sustainability criteria for biomass. While noting some positive inclusions like mandatory biodiversity co-benefits for carbon farming, CMW asserts the CRCF is a 'missed opportunity' that could deter climate action and calls for the deal to be rejected and rebooted.

The proposal seeks USD 553,230 over 24 months to address Cambodia's lack of national accredited entities with on-lending and blending fiduciary functions. It focuses on supporting the accreditation of three private banks—Foreign Trade Bank Plc. (FTB), ACLEDA Bank Plc., and Advanced Bank of Asia Ltd (ABA)—and the NCSD. The project includes institutional gap assessments, capacity-building workshops, a national readiness needs assessment, and a learning exchange with other Asian countries to develop a strategic accreditation framework.

The proposal requests USD 613,699.15 over 18 months to address critical capacity gaps in Nigeria's National Designated Authority (NDA). Key objectives include establishing a coordination mechanism, developing a GCF country program, creating a monitoring and evaluation framework, and drafting two project concept notes for mitigation and adaptation. The project will be implemented by the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk-sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) in collaboration with the NCCC.

The document argues that while COP28 increased ambition through technology inclusivity and pledges to scale renewables and nuclear energy, the transition now depends on effective financing and planning amidst significant geopolitical instability. It highlights that 2024 is a critical year due to widespread democratic elections and rising trade protectionism, which may prioritize domestic security over climate action. Looking toward COP29 in Baku, the authors expect a focus on the new collective quantified goal on climate finance (NCQG), the phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, and the need for more realistic macroeconomic modeling to address a global climate financing gap estimated between $4.5 to $10 trillion per year. The text suggests that because multilateral consensus is increasingly difficult, progress will likely shift toward regional climate weeks and bi- or trilateral partnerships.

The proposal addresses the rapid growth of GHG emissions in Togo's transport sector, which increased 278% between 1995 and 2018. It identifies critical gaps including weak legal frameworks, poor institutional coordination, and a lack of technical expertise at national and local levels. The proposed 24-month intervention focuses on establishing a coordination mechanism, developing a stakeholder engagement plan, enhancing the capacity of ministries to evaluate emissions and design low-emission mobility plans, and creating a sustainable financial strategy to attract private investment. Key activities include urban planning evaluations for five major cities, the development of a low-emission roadmap for the Ministry of Energy, and an awareness campaign to improve public perception of low-carbon transport.

The paper examines the current state and future potential of land-based mitigation technologies (LMTs) in China, noting that while forestry is well-integrated into policy, other sectors like agriculture, grasslands, and wetlands remain underexploited. It argues that land-based sequestration has not been prioritized as much as energy or industry and suggests that reaching net-zero by 2060 will require improved policy frameworks, standardized procedures, and enhanced technical capacity.

The document examines the integration of locally-led adaptation (LLA) into Senegal's climate strategy, specifically focusing on the alignment between community-driven initiatives and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Through case studies in agriculture, coastal zones, and health, the research demonstrates that while local actions are often consistent with national priorities, they are hindered by a lack of government recognition, limited technical capacity, and poor access to climate finance. The paper argues for a shift from top-down approaches to a model that empowers local communities to ensure sustainable and effective climate resilience.

The document examines the disconnect between Nigeria's top-down climate adaptation frameworks and the bottom-up initiatives already being implemented by local communities. It highlights that while national policies like the NDC and NAPF are comprehensive, they often exclude frontline stakeholders and lack clear implementation plans. Through case studies in Ogun and Anambra states and Lagos, the brief demonstrates how local actors use indigenous knowledge and nature-based solutions to combat deforestation, fisheries collapse, and gully erosion. It concludes that scaling up LLA can enhance national resilience if the government addresses critical gaps in finance, capacity building, and technology access.

The document examines the gap between Ghana's national climate policies and the implementation of adaptation actions at the community level. It argues that transitioning from top-down dynamics to locally-led adaptation (LLA)—which empowers local actors to define and lead their own resilience strategies—can improve the effectiveness and sustainability of climate actions. Through three case studies in the Savannah, Upper East, and coastal regions, the brief demonstrates how LLA initiatives, such as organic shea processing, climate-smart agriculture, and nature-based coastal defenses, align with Ghana's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) while addressing local vulnerabilities. It highlights significant funding gaps, noting that Ghana's NDCs estimate adaptation costs between US $9.3 billion and US $15.5 billion by 2030, with the government able to provide only a quarter of this amount. The brief recommends that the Ghanaian government and international partners prioritize LLA to unlock climate finance and leverage local knowledge for more sustainable development.

The 2023 update shows minimal progress in climate commitments among the 70 largest PFIs, with only two institutions setting new targets. However, an analysis of smaller PFIs in emerging markets and developing economies reveals that institutional size is not a primary barrier to climate ambition; instead, government prioritization and national climate goals are the strongest drivers of engagement. The report highlights that banks with general development mandates tend to be more climate-ambitious than those with narrow sectoral mandates, though successful examples exist in infrastructure and agriculture.

The document explains the distinction between cap-and-trade systems (ETS) and baseline-and-credit mechanisms, detailing the evolution from Kyoto Protocol markets to the Paris Agreement's Article 6. It critiques carbon offsetting for enabling greenwashing and failing to reduce absolute emissions, while highlighting the specific shortcomings of CORSIA and REDD+. The guide advocates for a shift toward a 'climate contribution' approach where credits are cancelled without offsetting claims to support global climate action.

The document explains the distinction between emissions trading systems (ETS) and carbon credit attribution mechanisms, detailing the evolution from the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement. It critically assesses the effectiveness of various market mechanisms, including Article 6.2 and 6.4, CORSIA, and REDD+, highlighting systemic risks such as 'hot air', double counting, and greenwashing. The guide argues against the use of offsets for carbon neutrality and proposes a 'climate contribution' approach instead.

The report analyzes the current status of gender integration in Senegal's sector-specific National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), identifying significant gaps in institutional coordination and data. It details how climate change disproportionately affects women across sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and water resources due to existing social inequalities. The document recommends strengthening the collaboration between the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Women, establishing a gender commission within the National Committee on Climate Change (COMNACC), and implementing gender-responsive budgeting to ensure equitable access to climate finance and resources.

The document evaluates the effectiveness of storage infrastructure, digital pest surveillance tools, and terracing for erosion control in Rwanda. While these initiatives have improved food security and pest management, the report identifies significant gaps, including the underutilization of cold storage, limited digital literacy among rural farmers, and an increase in high-risk erosion areas between 2020 and 2022.

The document reviews Rwanda's progress in establishing a monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system for climate adaptation in the human settlement and transport sectors. It evaluates seven specific indicators from the 2020 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), identifying gaps in data quality, consistency, and the ability to track informal settlements. While systems like the WASH MIS and urban dynamic maps exist, the report notes they are not yet fully operational or comprehensive. Recommendations include expanding urban mapping, aligning indicators with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and developing dedicated rural monitoring systems.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) advocates for the EPA to promptly finalize comprehensive emissions standards for coal and both new and existing gas power plants. CATF argues that these regulations are compatible with electric grid reliability due to built-in flexibilities and compliance timelines. The organization emphasizes that timely action is necessary to align with federal investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and to help the U.S. meet its Nationally Determined Contribution of a 50 to 52% reduction in carbon pollution below 2005 levels by 2030.

The document outlines a 36-month readiness project implemented by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to address technical and institutional gaps in GHG management for Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Suriname's focus is on institutionalising national carbon monitoring and reporting frameworks, including upgrading the Dondru database and supporting Direct Access Entity (DAE) accreditation. Trinidad and Tobago's focus is on enhancing capacity for carbon capture and storage (CCS), developing a national carbon dioxide storage atlas, and preparing for international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The project also includes integrated studies on blue carbon sequestration in mangrove forests for both nations.

The document outlines a readiness project to bridge the financial gap in Colombia's AFOLU sector, which accounted for 58% of national GHG emissions in 2020. The project focuses on three main barriers: Finagro's limited capacity to operationalize its Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) and Gender policies, the lack of capacity among first-tier financial intermediaries to implement GCF investments, and the low adoption of the national green taxonomy. Key activities include developing operation manuals for Finagro, training Bancamia staff on risk analysis and green investment, and designing two new financial products aligned with the green taxonomy. The project is implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) over an 18-month period.