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The report examines the state of green public procurement (GPP) in South Africa, noting that while the country lacks dedicated GPP legislation, the Public Procurement Act of 2024 provides a new opening for sustainable development measures. It highlights successful subnational initiatives in the Western Cape and cities like Cape Town and Tshwane, but identifies systemic barriers including a 'fear of the auditor', high perceived 'green premiums', and limited capacity among small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). The authors recommend embedding GPP into national law, creating a centralized knowledge platform, and developing a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track environmental outcomes.

Colorado faces increasing wildfires and rural economic challenges. The document argues that establishing a mass timber industry using small-diameter trees (9 inches or less) can mitigate fire risk, provide high-quality rural jobs, and reduce carbon emissions from the construction sector. Despite challenges like supply uncertainties in federally managed forests and limited infrastructure, the report suggests a two-phase approach: a 2–3 year 'Rightsize Now' phase to increase log supply and launch small-scale operations, followed by a 5–10 year 'Plan for Scale' phase to implement high-volume automated production of advanced wood products.

The document examines the intersection of forest management and sustainable construction in Colorado. It highlights how a century of fire suppression and climate change have led to overstocked forests, increasing the risk of high-intensity wildfires. The authors propose scaling the production of mass timber—engineered wood products—using small-diameter trees harvested during thinning operations. This approach aims to offset the high cost of forest treatments, create local jobs, and reduce the embodied carbon of buildings compared to steel and concrete. The report concludes with a call for coordinated action from policymakers, developers, and insurers to establish a 'wood-first' procurement strategy and a state-level Mass Timber Action Plan.

Mexico's sustainable debt market reached a cumulative GSS+ volume of USD 55.7bn by the end of 2023, with sustainability bonds emerging as the dominant instrument. The market is heavily driven by the public sector, particularly the federal government and development banks, though private corporate participation is increasing. The report highlights the introduction of the Mexican Sustainable Taxonomy in March 2023 as a key development to guide investments. While Mexico is a global leader in sustainability bond volume, challenges remain in the sustainability-linked bond (SLB) market regarding the credibility of GHG targets. Key opportunities for growth are identified in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and low-carbon construction, supported by trends such as US nearshoring.

In 2023, Hong Kong's aligned GSS+ debt volume grew by 236% to USD 18.2 billion, driven primarily by the HKSAR Government's green bond issuance. The market is characterized by a strong preference for green-themed debt, with low-carbon buildings and land use as the primary use-of-proceeds categories. While the HKSAR Government dominates the local market, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange remains a key hub for offshore Chinese green bonds. The report also highlights the emergence of transition finance frameworks in mainland China and the introduction of the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance to improve interoperability with international standards.

The report evaluates climate transition performance across 18 Asia-Pacific markets and four key sectors: automotive, tech-electronics, healthcare, and basic industries. It finds that while mitigation goals are increasingly integrated into corporate strategies, adaptation and physical risk management remain significantly neglected. Regional analysis highlights Australia and China as leaders in low-carbon transition, while noting that coal still dominates the APAC power mix. Sectoral findings indicate the auto industry is leading in product-level decarbonisation, whereas basic industries show modest progress. The report emphasizes a critical lack of standardised ESG data reporting across all sectors, which hinders accurate assessment of corporate progress.

Stora Enso, a Finnish company, shifted its business model from paper production to renewable materials in response to declining demand for newsprint. The company focuses on packaging, building solutions, and biomaterials, utilizing strategic partnerships and innovation programs to drive system-wide change in the food and construction sectors. Key initiatives include the 4evergreen Alliance and a partnership with Tetra Pak to expand carton recycling capacity, starting with a facility in Poland in June 2023. Despite these strategic pivots, the company has recently faced financial challenges leading to layoffs and leadership changes.

Nigeria faces a significant housing shortage of 17 million units, with a projected need for 700,000 units annually by 2050. The report finds that the policy environment for net zero carbon buildings is fragmented, lacking an overarching national strategy. While some financial instruments like concessional loans and green bonds are well-established, many others remain nascent or unused. The most severe barriers are political (lack of regulations and standards) and financial (lack of affordable finance and awareness of funding). The report recommends five priority areas: embodied carbon and materials, appliances and lighting, cooling, electricity generation, and clean cooking, proposing specific financial and policy pathways to scale these solutions.

The document outlines the technical framework for certifying low-carbon buildings under the Climate Bonds Standard. It shifts the focus from energy use intensity to emissions intensity, establishing city-specific linear trajectories aimed at net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The criteria distinguish between new and existing buildings, introducing mandatory Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCA) for new constructions to account for embodied carbon. It also provides a guide for Scope 3 GHG accounting across the building value chain, from manufacturers to owners and deconstruction firms.

The Midway Christian Church in Kentucky implemented a series of energy efficiency measures and solar installations between 2004 and 2018. These efforts included replacing an old HVAC system with heat pumps, installing LED lighting, and adding a 4.5-kW rooftop solar system. The church's journey was supported by the Green Chalice Program and Interfaith Power and Light, leading to its certification as a Green Chalice Congregation in 2014 and a commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.

The report details the growth and composition of China's GSS+ debt market, highlighting that China was the largest global source of green bonds in 2022. It examines the shift toward 100% use-of-proceeds alignment, the emergence of transition finance for hard-to-abate sectors, and the dominance of rural revitalisation in the social bond segment.

The Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Indiana has significantly reduced its carbon footprint and energy costs through a series of sustainable upgrades. Central to these efforts was the 2007 completion of a 31,500 square foot library, which became the first LEED-certified theological library in North America by utilizing a ground-source geothermal heat pump system and other high-performance design elements. Between 2013 and 2022, the seminary decreased its annual energy consumption by approximately two-thirds by implementing recommendations from an ASHRAE Level 2 energy audit, replacing outdated 1950s boilers with fuel-efficient models, and installing two solar arrays (50-kW and 80-kW) that have offset over 320 tons of carbon emissions.

The Japanese green bond market continued to expand in 2021, led by financial institutions. Low-carbon buildings and energy are the primary use of proceeds. The market is characterized by high rates of external review and a preference for shorter maturity periods. Japan is also emerging as a leader in transition finance, supported by government guidelines and the introduction of sustainability-linked bonds. The Bank of Japan has introduced funding operations to support climate-aligned investments by financial institutions.

The report argues that India's buildings sector must adopt an integrative whole-system approach to address both embodied and operational emissions. It highlights that building operations account for about a third of India's energy use, and without intervention, energy consumption could triple by 2050. The proposed framework prioritises reducing energy needs through passive design, serving those needs with super-efficient equipment, and transitioning to clean energy procurement and demand flexibility. Key recommendations include government mandates for net-zero public buildings, the adoption of carbon accounting for corporations, and the implementation of building performance standards to ensure actual operational efficiency.

The report identifies a significant gap between the climate goals of WAEMU member states and their financial capacity to implement them. While there is interest in green bonds, the market is hindered by underdeveloped regional financial infrastructure, a lack of technical expertise in green eligibility and reporting, and a dominance of sovereign debt that crowds out corporate issuers. The document recommends strengthening regulatory frameworks, providing technical assistance for project pipeline development, and utilizing risk-mitigation tools like guarantees to attract a more diverse investor base beyond commercial banks.

The 2021 Chinese green bond market experienced significant growth, with total labeled issuances reaching $109.5 billion. Non-financial enterprises became the dominant issuer type for the first time, and over 60% of funds were directed toward renewable energy. While the market is expanding rapidly, the report highlights a continued reliance on state-owned enterprises and a need for improved transparency and transition finance frameworks to meet long-term climate targets.

The 2021 China Green Bond Investor Survey reveals a strong demand for high-quality green bonds, particularly in renewable energy and low-carbon transport. While investors value green credentials and credit fundamentals, they highlight significant gaps in transparency and post-issuance disclosure. International investors face barriers related to market access and regulatory quotas. The report emphasizes the need for standardized green definitions aligned with international benchmarks and the adoption of TCFD recommendations to enhance market integrity and attract global capital.

India's buildings sector is a major source of CO2 emissions, with indirect 'embodied carbon' (EC) from material procurement and construction nearly tripling between 2000 and 2017. With India's total building space projected to more than double and its urbanization rate expected to reach 40% by 2030–31, the demand for energy-intensive materials like steel, cement, and bricks is set to rise sharply. The document highlights that while operational emissions are being addressed, EC emissions risk locking in high energy use for decades. It advocates for a whole-building life-cycle assessment approach and a national roadmap to transition toward low-carbon materials, suggesting that India could lead other developing economies in compatible economic expansion and emissions reduction.

The document defines grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) as energy-efficient structures that adjust their energy load based on electricity cost or carbon intensity to reduce utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It identifies five specific low- or no-cost measures for GSA building managers to improve grid interactivity: optimizing building operation to occupancy patterns, optimizing thermal mass, maximizing existing storage capacity, optimizing control system algorithms, and automating controlled lighting.

The document traces the history of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the adoption of SDG 12, highlighting a shift in UN discourse from inter-generational equity and consumption limits toward a more business-friendly focus on innovation and decoupling. It notes that despite multilateral commitments, the global material footprint grew by 17.4% between 2010 and 2017. The brief advocates for a 'systems approach' and a transition from linear to circular material flows, while suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic and climate emergency necessitate a new economic paradigm that prioritizes social well-being and the common good over GDP growth.