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This report examines methods for setting national mitigation targets under the Paris Agreement to align with long-term temperature limits, specifically comparing cost-effectiveness and equity-based approaches. It discusses the role of international support in bridging the gap between these approaches, the spill-over effects of domestic climate policies, and the potential for the European Union to accelerate global climate efforts through its own neutrality goals and leadership.

This May 2021 briefing from the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) analyzes the impact of recent Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) updates and net-zero pledges on global warming projections. It finds that while recent commitments have lowered the estimated end-of-century warming to 2.4°C, this remains significantly above the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal, and current policies are still on track for 2.9°C of warming.

This briefing by RMI outlines the requirements for the United States to meet its commitment to reduce carbon pollution by at least 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. It argues that immediate action is necessary to limit cumulative emissions and stay within a remaining "carbon budget" to restrict warming to 1.5°C. The document identifies renewables, electrification, and efficiency as the primary cost-effective levers for this transition, while highlighting co-benefits such as job creation, improved public health, and the redress of historical land-use inequities.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes global coal-fired power plant development in 2020, highlighting a significant surge in China that offset retirements in other regions. While the US, EU, and several Southeast Asian nations reduced their coal capacity or planning, China's increased activity led to the first growth in global coal capacity since 2015.

A statement by Trend Asia criticizing the commitments of PT PLN (Persero) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) regarding the cessation of coal-fired power plant (PLTU) funding in Indonesia, arguing that these measures are insufficient and lack transparency.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute argues that the United States should set a greenhouse gas emissions-reduction target of 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. The document outlines how such a target is achievable through a combination of federal and local action, would stimulate economic growth and job creation, and is necessary to maintain international leadership and meet global warming limits of 1.5 degrees C.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides a comprehensive overview of climate change, detailing the drivers of global warming, its environmental and health impacts, and the strategies for mitigation and adaptation. It emphasizes the role of human activity—specifically fossil fuel combustion and agriculture—in increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and outlines the current state of U.S. and international policy efforts, including the Paris Agreement.

This case study by Ember evaluates the transition strategy of ENGIE, a France-based global energy company. The report argues that ENGIE's reliance on converting coal plants to fossil gas and biomass, its lack of a comprehensive coal phase-out schedule, and its 2°C Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) accreditation are not aligned with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C objective.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the evolution of global development goals, from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs). It analyzes the lessons learned from the MDGs, the expanded scope of the SDGs, and how the 2030 Agenda can serve as a framework for recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines four strategic priorities for the Biden administration to restore U.S. leadership in international climate finance. It argues that the U.S. must scale up funding to meet global commitments, specifically targeting the Green Climate Fund, other multilateral institutions, the integration of climate goals across all development funding, and the alignment of multilateral development banks with the Paris Agreement.

A statement from the World Resources Institute regarding the United States' re-entry into the Paris Agreement under President Biden and the subsequent requirements for US leadership and global ambition ahead of COP26.

A statement by World Resources Institute President & CEO Andrew Steer regarding the inauguration of the Biden-Harris administration, emphasizing the urgency of climate action and the need to reverse previous environmental rollbacks.

This report summarizes a virtual workshop held on January 21, 2021, organized by the European Forest Institute, Climate Policy Initiative, and UNDP. The event brought together over 200 participants from more than 60 countries to discuss the mapping and tracking of domestic climate finance, focusing on how these tools can drive policy ambition, improve reporting under the Paris Agreement, and mobilize both public and private investment.

The SEforALL 3-Year Business Plan 2021-2023 outlines a strategic framework to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) by 2030, focusing on energy transitions aligned with the Paris Agreement through a model of committing, connecting, and creating.

The Recover Better with Sustainable Energy Guide for South Asian Countries outlines the energy access challenges and economic risks facing South Asian nations during the pandemic, urging leaders to utilize recovery efforts to transition toward sustainable development and updated Nationally Determined Contributions.

This research paper by the NewClimate Institute examines the use of carbon market mechanisms to deliver results-based finance (RBF) within the framework of the Paris Agreement. It analyzes the strengths of using CO2e as a standardized metric, identifies systemic limitations—such as the bias toward cheap mitigation and risks borne by developers—and proposes strategies to shift from rewarding to enabling climate action. The paper concludes that RBF is most effective for a specific niche: technologies that are proven but not yet mature or widely adopted.

This analysis evaluates the outcomes of the virtual Climate Ambition Summit held in December 2020, which served as a substitute for the postponed Glasgow Climate Change Conference. While the summit resulted in 45 announcements of new or updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the author argues that these commitments often lack the urgency required by climate science and are frequently conditional on financial support for developing nations.

This research paper analyzes the alignment of 2018 U.S. light vehicle investments with the carbon intensity requirements of the Paris Agreement. It finds that the vast majority of financial flows, driven by private sector purchases of internal combustion engine vehicles, are critically misaligned with temperature trajectories, while government spending shows better alignment. The paper emphasizes the impact of 'locked-in' emissions from existing fleets and the necessity of scaling electric vehicles and modal shifts to meet climate goals.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines four critical technical and political areas that UN negotiators must resolve by COP26 in November 2021. It reviews the outcomes of the 2020 Climate Dialogues and highlights significant gaps in the Paris Agreement rulebook, climate finance commitments, and mechanisms for loss and damage and adaptation.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the UN Climate Change Dialogues 2020, which served as a virtual bridge to COP 26. It evaluates the effectiveness of the virtual format, the progress made on outstanding Paris Agreement issues, and the tension between stated national ambitions and scientific requirements for emissions reductions.