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The document calls for COP-25 to prioritize human rights, gender equality, and increased national ambition in climate commitments, while warning against the use of carbon offsets and the marginalization of Global South participants due to the conference's relocation from Santiago to Madrid.

The report identifies a significant 'production gap,' noting that planned fossil fuel production by 2030 exceeds levels consistent with a 2°C pathway by 50% and a 1.5°C pathway by 120%. It argues that these plans are inconsistent with Paris Agreement pledges and are driven by national plans, subsidies, and public finance, while highlighting the need for international cooperation and policy alignment in updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

The document highlights Sri Lanka's progress in linking sustainable development, climate change, and disaster risk reduction within its policy documents. It identifies the iterative updates of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) as critical entry points for further alignment. The study notes that alignment is more straightforward when a single entity, specifically the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, leads the processes. Additionally, it suggests that alignment can create efficiencies in establishing monitoring and evaluation systems and sub-national planning processes.

Colombia has made significant progress in aligning its NDC, NAP process, and SDG strategy, creating coherent adaptation messaging through policy documents that reference one another. To further strengthen this alignment, the document suggests utilizing existing institutional coordination mechanisms, developing information-sharing tools, building sub-national and local capacities, and improving the articulation of adaptation tracking and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E).

The Government of Kenya has aligned its climate and development goals by using the National Climate Change Action Plan 2018–2022 (NCCAP) to implement both its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2015–2030 and its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). While alignment is currently achieved primarily through identifying synergies in policy documents, the document suggests that coordination could be further improved through harmonized financing, shared risk information, and coordinated monitoring and evaluation systems.

The briefing argues that Article 6 must be designed to ensure overall emission reductions rather than mere shifting of emissions. It warns against the use of pre-2020 Kyoto Protocol credits and the risk of double counting between national mitigation objectives (NDCs) and schemes like CORSIA. The document advocates for the automatic partial cancellation of credits to move beyond zero-sum offsetting and calls for independent grievance mechanisms to prevent human rights violations seen under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

The study finds that geothermal energy is significantly more cost-effective and sustainable than coal for Kenya's electricity sector. It highlights that geothermal power has a lower Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of approximately USD 10 cents/kWh compared to USD 29.5 cents/kWh for coal. The report warns that planned coal plants in Lamu and Kitui could increase electricity costs by up to 50% due to surplus capacity and result in approximately 1,620 premature deaths by 2065 due to air pollution. Geothermal energy is also found to create three times more domestic employment per MW than coal and aligns better with Kenya's target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below business as usual by 2030.

The document argues that climate action must be rights-based to be effective, urging COP-25 to ensure that Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Article 6 mechanisms include social and environmental safeguards. It specifically calls for the ratification of the Escazú Agreement, the establishment of a financial mechanism for loss and damage under the Warsaw International Mechanism, and the integration of gender-responsive approaches in the Lima Work Programme. The briefing also emphasizes the need for independent grievance mechanisms in the Sustainable Development Mechanism to remedy harms to local communities and indigenous peoples.

The document advocates for enhancing public participation in climate policies by leveraging international legal instruments like the Aarhus Convention and the Escazú Agreement. It identifies specific entry points at COP-25—including Article 6 market mechanisms, the Lima Work Programme on Gender, and the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform—where procedural rights and safeguards for environmental defenders should be strengthened. It further suggests using the transparency framework's interactive dialogues to review how public participation improves national climate ambition.

India's energy system is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, which provided 75% of its total energy supply in 2017. The state derives significant revenue from this sector—17.8% of general government revenue in 2017—but also provides substantial subsidies. While India has set ambitious renewable energy targets, including 450 GW, coal is projected to remain a mainstay of the energy mix through 2040. The government faces risks from stranded assets, with approximately 40 GW of coal-fired power plant capacity identified as "non-performing" as of 2018.

The document analyzes South Africa's heavy reliance on coal, which provided 89% of its electricity in 2017. It details the fiscal impact of this dependence, noting that while fossil fuel production revenues are modest, consumption taxes—primarily the fuel levy—contribute significantly to government revenue. The report also highlights the role of state-owned enterprises like Eskom and PetroSA, the risks of asset stranding, and the government's commitment to a 'just transition' and carbon taxation despite political flux in energy policy.

The document analyzes China's heavy reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal, and the fiscal implications of this dependence. It details the structure of government revenues from fossil fuels, the influence of state-owned enterprises, and the prevalence of subsidies. While China has implemented policies to reduce coal overcapacity and peak emissions by 2030, it continues to provide significant subsidies and finance fossil fuel projects internationally through the Belt and Road Initiative.

The report analyzes the intersection of China's climate policies and public health, arguing that achieving NDC targets—primarily through reducing coal dependence and expanding renewables—would significantly reduce premature deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It highlights a budgetary contradiction where China continues to provide substantial fossil fuel subsidies despite the high health and environmental externalities associated with them. Quantitative models cited in the report suggest that the economic value of avoided premature deaths would far outweigh the costs of implementing climate policies by 2050.

The report assesses South Africa's approach to marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), highlighting a strong policy framework but significant challenges in local-level implementation and funding. It emphasizes the interconnection between biodiversity, climate change, and human well-being, arguing that maintaining ecosystem integrity is primary for social resilience.

The document assesses Mozambique's coastal ecosystems—specifically mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds—and their role in ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) against climate threats. It identifies significant vulnerabilities to cyclones, sea-level rise, and temperature increases, while highlighting institutional gaps in technical capacity and inter-sectoral coordination. The report evaluates the role of state actors, NGOs, and local communities, and recommends integrating EbA more deeply into national development strategies and exploring innovative financing like biodiversity offsets.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Strategy 2020–24 focuses on bridging science, policy, and practice to address global sustainability challenges. The institute identifies three primary impact areas: reducing climate risk, promoting sustainable resource use and resilient ecosystems, and improving health and well-being. To achieve these, SEI employs a theory of change centered on changing agendas, enhancing capacities, and improving decisions. The strategy emphasizes the use of data science, the development of decision-support tools, and the implementation of programmatic hubs called 'Initiatives' to tackle specific issues like carbon lock-in and bioeconomy pathways. Operationally, SEI utilizes a distributed network of centres across five continents to ensure regional relevance and North-South/South-South knowledge exchange. The institute also commits to an environmental policy aiming to reduce its per capita carbon travel footprint by at least 25% between 2017 and 2024.

The document argues that current NDCs insufficiently address the transport sector, which accounts for approximately one-quarter of energy-related CO2 emissions. It advocates for a comprehensive approach based on the "Avoid-Shift-Improve" framework: avoiding unnecessary travel through land-use planning, shifting to low-carbon modes like public transit and cycling, and improving vehicle technology via electrification and fuel efficiency. The authors identify three primary opportunities for NDC enhancement: accelerating electrification and fuel economy, amplifying avoid-and-shift measures, and addressing freight emissions through clean fuels and information technology.

The document argues that forest sector solutions—including conservation, restoration, and improved management—are cost-effective tools for large-scale GHG emission reductions and carbon removal. It identifies a significant gap in current NDCs, where forest-specific quantitative targets are rare and carbon-rich ecosystems like mangroves and peatlands are underrepresented. The authors propose a six-step process for NDC enhancement: establishing institutional arrangements, taking stock of progress, reviewing long-term benchmarks, identifying policy measures, assessing costs and benefits, and determining specific NDC reflections. Key recommendations include aligning financial flows away from deforestation drivers, implementing REDD+, and leveraging satellite monitoring technologies.

The Green Climate Fund country programme for Equatorial Guinea establishes a flexible framework for climate action, identifying key vulnerabilities in agriculture, energy, and forestry. It details a portfolio of seven priority projects—ranging from natural gas public transport to mangrove restoration—designed to prompt a national paradigm shift toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. The document emphasizes the need for international financing, as the country cannot fund this transition independently, and highlights the critical role of gender mainstreaming in climate resilience.

The proposal seeks USD 499,695 over 24 months to update Chile's expired 2013-2017 adaptation plan for the forestry, agriculture, and livestock sectors. Implemented by the FAO, the project aims to establish sub-national governance, identify new adaptation measures through a multi-stakeholder process, align the plan with national development policies, develop a private-sector-focused finance strategy, and create a monitoring and evaluation system. The process emphasizes the inclusion of women and Indigenous Peoples, targeting a minimum of 30% participation in workshops.