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This briefing discusses the role of climate adaptation within the Paris Agreement, proposing a structured cycle of national communications and global reviews to accelerate resilience and support for vulnerable countries.

This briefing from the World Resources Institute explains the critical role of finance in the COP21 negotiations, detailing how funding enables climate ambition and resilience. It outlines the key 'crunch issues' facing negotiators, including the identity of finance providers, the mobilization of domestic investment, the balance between mitigation and adaptation funding, and the necessity of transparent reporting to ensure accountability.

This research paper outlines methods and options for assessing the ambition of mitigation commitments, specifically focusing on Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) and their integration into the UNFCCC process.

This briefing discusses the opportunities for the Paris climate talks to establish a global long-term goal for adaptation and an iterative 'adaptation cycle' to accelerate national and international action on climate resilience.

This technical annex assesses progress toward Goal 7 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which aims to include forest-related mitigation measures in a post-2020 global climate agreement. As of November 2015, the report finds that while the REDD+ methodological framework is largely complete, the final text of the Paris Agreement remains under negotiation, and the extent to which land-use sectors are integrated into national commitments (INDCs) varies significantly across countries.

The NewClimate Institute describes a proposal by Track 0 to condense the 90-page Geneva Negotiating Text into a more manageable draft Paris Agreement using only textual proposals from Parties.

This factsheet from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment outlines the science of climate change, the primary economic sectors driving greenhouse gas emissions, the projected impacts of 1.5°C and 2°C warming, and the global commitments under the Paris Agreement.

This document is a legal affidavit filed by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) challenging decisions made by the South African Ministers of Environment and Mineral Resources to permit coal mining by Atha in the Mpumalanga Protected Environment (MPE). The CER argues that these decisions were procedurally unfair, based on outdated environmental reports, and ignored critical statutory duties regarding local community interests, international environmental obligations, and the precautionary principle.

This affidavit, submitted by Earthlife Africa (ELA) to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), objects to the licensing of the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power plant. ELA argues that the project is environmentally unsustainable, financially risky, and inconsistent with South Africa's legal obligations and international climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

This answering statement, submitted by the Centre for Environmental Rights on behalf of several appellants, challenges an environmental authorisation granted to Atha Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd for the proposed Yzermyn coal mine. The appellants argue that the project has significant implications for international environmental commitments, suffers from material gaps in specialist information—particularly regarding acid mine drainage and subsidence—and was determined by an incorrect competent authority.

The Minister of Environmental Affairs of South Africa has decided to set aside an Environmental Authorisation (EA) previously granted for the construction of the 1050MW Colenso coal-fired power station and associated infrastructure in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The decision refers the matter back to the Department for reconsideration due to specific inaccuracies and deficiencies in the EA, including premature conditions and missing technical documentation.

Earthlife Africa Johannesburg (ELA) submitted formal objections to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) regarding a license application by Thabametsi Power Company (Pty) Limited to operate a 630MW coal-fired power plant near Lephalale, Limpopo. ELA argues that the project is financially risky, environmentally damaging, and inconsistent with South Africa's international climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Expert affidavit by Jesse Burton arguing that the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power station in South Africa is economically unnecessary, would increase greenhouse gas emissions by 136.1Mt CO2eq over 30 years, and would frustrate the country's Paris Agreement commitments. The document advocates for a transition to a least-cost electricity system dominated by wind and solar PV, which is projected to provide 90% of electricity by 2050.

This document is an affidavit submitted by groundWork, a non-profit environmental justice organisation, to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). It presents supplementary objections to the license application by ACWA Power Khanyisa Thermal Power Station (RF) (Pty) Limited to operate the Khanyisa coal-fired power plant. groundWork argues that the project is unnecessary due to excess energy capacity, would violate constitutional rights to a healthy environment, and poses severe risks to the air quality of the Highveld Priority Area and the water resources of the Olifants River catchment.

This document is an answering affidavit filed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) in the High Court of South Africa. NERSA opposes an application by the City of Cape Town, which seeks to allow Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to generate and sell electricity without a section 34 determination from the Minister of Energy, or alternatively, to have section 34 of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) declared unconstitutional.

This document is a supplementary affidavit submitted by Earthlife Africa NPC to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). It presents formal objections to the license application of Thabametsi Power Company (Pty) Limited for a proposed 1200MW coal-fired power plant in Lephalale, Limpopo. Earthlife argues that the project is unnecessary, financially inefficient, and poses severe risks to water security, air quality, and climate goals.

This report by Recourse and a coalition of partners evaluates the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) 'Approach to Greening Equity in Financial Institutions' (GEA). While acknowledging the GEA's goal to phase out coal-related investments by 2030, the authors argue that the current framework contains significant loopholes and fails to align with the Paris Agreement. The document proposes ten essential reforms to ensure the IFC's equity investments in financial intermediaries are truly green, including expanding the scope to oil and gas, improving transparency, and addressing human rights and gender equality.

This fact sheet by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes key arguments presented by States during the first week (December 2-6) of climate justice hearings at the International Court of Justice. It contrasts the positions of major polluting States against those of climate-vulnerable nations regarding the applicability of international law, human rights, transboundary harm, and reparations in the context of the climate crisis.

This report provides recommendations for integrating human rights, social, and environmental principles into the implementation modalities of the Paris Agreement. It argues that climate action must be combined with existing international obligations to ensure a just transition, protect vulnerable populations, and maintain ecosystem integrity.

This report argues that the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement depends on integrating human rights and social and environmental principles into the 'Paris Rulebook.' It emphasizes that climate action must respect the rights of indigenous peoples, ensure gender equality, safeguard food security, promote a just transition for workers, and maintain ecosystem integrity to ensure policy coherence and sustainable results.