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The document provides a comparative analysis of the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy against two Chinese green frameworks: the NDRC Green Industry Guiding Catalogue and the PBC Green Bond Endorsed Project Catalogue. It highlights that while the EU Taxonomy is rooted in the Paris Agreement and employs a systemic approach with six environmental objectives and strict carbon thresholds, the Chinese catalogues focus more on pollution prevention and industry guidance without specifying carbon emission thresholds. The EU framework explicitly excludes fossil fuel activities without carbon capture, whereas the Chinese catalogues include them. The report also details the EU's 'Substantial Contribution' and 'Do No Significant Harm' (DNSH) principles, which require activities to benefit at least one environmental goal without harming others.

The 2019 five-year assessment of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) concludes that the 2020 targets for halving tropical deforestation and restoring 150 million hectares of land are likely impossible to achieve. Tropical deforestation continues at an unsustainable pace, with a 44% increase in the loss of humid tropical primary forests compared to the 2002–2013 baseline. While Indonesia saw a reduction in deforestation in 2017–2018, Latin America remains the region with the highest annual tree cover loss. Forest restoration efforts have been slow, with only 18% of the 2020 goal realized as of April 2019, and most gains occurring outside of natural forests. The report highlights a critical lack of 'green' finance, noting that development finance for agriculture is 15 times higher than climate mitigation finance for forestry. It argues that systemic change is hindered by inadequate corporate commitments, slow governance improvements, and the continued prioritization of short-term commercial profits over long-term conservation.

The report evaluates the experiences of over 80 NYDF signatories, including governments, companies, NGOs, and indigenous peoples. It finds that while individual projects show success, global progress is insufficient, with tropical deforestation increasing by 44% since 2014. The document identifies eight key lessons, emphasizing that high-level political will, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and secure land tenure for indigenous peoples are critical for success. It highlights systemic failures in finance, where investments in deforestation drivers vastly outweigh those for forest protection, and calls for a paradigm shift toward 'nature-based solutions' and 'green finance' to meet climate and biodiversity goals after 2020.

The assessment finds that green finance for forests is severely insufficient, totaling under USD 22 billion since 2010, and represents only 1.5% of total climate mitigation commitments from developed countries and multilateral institutions. While some domestic initiatives and Green Climate Fund projects show progress, private sector investment remains dominated by traditional 'grey finance' with few mandatory safeguards to prevent deforestation in commodity supply chains.

The 2019 NYDF Progress Assessment finds that the world is not on track to meet its 2020 targets to halve tropical deforestation and restore 150 million hectares of degraded land. Global gross tree cover loss increased by 43% since the declaration, with a particularly alarming 44% acceleration in the loss of irreplaceable humid tropical primary forests. While some progress is noted in Indonesia, where primary forest loss dropped by over 30% in 2017-18, overall trends are negative. Restoration efforts are largely occurring outside of natural forests, and only 18% of the 2020 restoration goal has been realized. The report highlights a critical funding gap, noting that 'grey' finance for agriculture is 15 times higher than 'green' finance for forests, and that forest-related climate finance represents only 1.5% of total multilateral commitments. Governance remains a significant barrier, with nearly half of tropical deforestation being illegal and indigenous land rights remaining largely unrecognized.

The 2019 NYDF Progress Assessment finds that the world is not on track to meet its 2020 targets to halve tropical deforestation and restore 150 million hectares of degraded land. While some regional successes exist, such as a reduction in primary forest loss in Indonesia, global gross tree cover loss has increased by 43% since 2014. The report highlights a critical gap in finance, noting that 'green' finance for forests is dwarfed by 'grey' finance for agriculture, and argues that current corporate and government actions are too isolated and lack the ambition needed for systemic change.

ClientEarth argues that HM Treasury (HMT) is an obstacle to ambitious climate policy and lacks transparency in its coordination with other departments. The submission calls for a 'Climate Cabinet' and a parallel climate budget to ensure legal targets are met. In the financial sector, ClientEarth highlights a widespread failure among pension funds and asset managers to treat climate change as a material financial risk, noting a 'herd mentality' that stifles innovation. It criticises the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for a lack of enforcement regarding climate risk disclosures and warns of 'greenwash' in sustainable financial products. The document recommends mandatory TCFD reporting for large asset owners by 2022 and the regulation of investment consultants by the FCA.

Ember argues that the UK's priority should be to remain within the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to maintain a shared Europe-wide approach to carbon pricing. The organization warns against the creation of a standalone UK ETS due to risks of market dysfunction and volatility, suggesting that if the UK must leave the EU ETS, it should implement a carbon tax on power, industry, and aviation with a price floor based on the previous year's average EU ETS price. Furthermore, Ember asserts that carbon pricing must be complemented by direct regulation and public funding to achieve net zero emissions.

Freddie Mac issued a USD 435 million green CMBS on June 28, 2019, to support the Multifamily Green Advantage suite of loan offerings. The proceeds target building improvements such as LED lighting, insulation upgrades, and water-efficient fixtures. Loans from 2019 onwards must meet a 30% savings reduction threshold and a 15% energy efficiency requirement. Reporting on the proceeds is conducted monthly via the master servicer and trustee, with annual public performance reports provided by Freddie Mac.

The German green bond market reached a cumulative emission volume of 33.6 billion EUR by May 2019, ranking fourth globally. The market is dominated by financial institutions and development banks, with clean energy and low-carbon buildings as the primary sectors for funding. The report highlights a high rate of external verification and reporting, while noting significant potential for growth among fully climate-aligned companies, particularly in the transport sector via Deutsche Bahn.

The We Mean Business coalition, representing nearly 900 global companies, calls on Japan to establish a clear path to net-zero domestic emissions by 2050. The coalition argues that clear, long-term government policies are necessary to provide businesses with the confidence to invest in zero-carbon technologies and avoid stranded assets. To achieve this, they recommend that Japan implement quantitative decarbonization targets across all sectors, prioritize renewable energy deployment, phase out coal, introduce carbon pricing, and support green finance.

The guide argues that formalized ESG integration has shifted from an exception to an expectation in the private equity sector, driven by stakeholder demands and the impact of ESG factors on portfolio company value. It aims to help General Partners create tailored responsible investment policies to improve ESG management practices and encourage sustainable capital deployment.

The document advocates for Poland to adopt climate finance tracking methodologies, similar to those used in France and Germany, to manage the large-scale investment needs required for Paris-compatible development and to redirect financial flows toward sustainable solutions.

The document examines how the G20 has shifted from crisis management to a broader development focus, resulting in targeted engagements with Africa. It compares China's Industrialisation Initiative, which leveraged existing bilateral ties and focused on skills transfer, with Germany's Compact with Africa (CwA), a demand-driven model focusing on regulatory reforms to attract private investment. It also notes Argentina's approach of deepening diplomatic access for African representatives. The authors argue that while engagement has increased, Africa remains structurally excluded from global norm-setting and requires greater capacity and consistent representation within the G20 to influence global economic governance.

The report proposes a three-year plan to transition Canada from voluntary to mandatory climate-related financial disclosure by 2021, aligning with TCFD recommendations. It highlights a market failure where Canadian clean technology firms face significant capital barriers and negative retained earnings, while the oil and gas sector carries substantial undisclosed 'tail risks' relative to global carbon budgets. The author recommends updating federal and provincial laws, such as the Canadian Business Corporations Act, and suggests that Canada align its sustainable finance frameworks with emerging EU taxonomies to diversify trade and attract international capital.

Sustainalytics has provided a pre-issuance verification letter confirming that PKO Bank Hipoteczny SA's green covered bond framework aligns with the Climate Bonds Standard Version 2.1. The bond is intended to finance or refinance a portfolio of residential green buildings in Poland, targeting the top 15% of low carbon buildings or those achieving significant carbon emission reductions through upgrades.

In 2019, IDFC members committed $197 billion in green finance, a 47% increase from 2018. The vast majority of this funding (95%) was dedicated to climate finance, with green energy and GHG mitigation receiving 87% of those funds. While 87% of commitments remained in the home countries of member institutions, the East Asia and Pacific region received the largest share of total commitments at 69%.

The GEC 2019 briefing reviews the global transition to green economies, noting that while renewable energy and green finance grew in 2018, biodiversity loss and inequality remain critical. The document outlines the GEC's mission to champion inclusion, equity, and environmental limits through financial reform, natural capital accounting, and just transitions. It emphasizes that environmental protection is dependent on improving human livelihoods, citing specific examples of community-led success and the need for structural economic reform.

The document identifies that while high upfront capital costs limit the uptake of rooftop solar PV, several innovative green finance options exist for South African businesses. These include commercial bank funding (asset finance, term loans), Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), Pay As You Save (PAYS), power purchase agreements (PPAs), and online impact investing platforms. It highlights that solar PV is technically mature, with payback periods typically between 3-8 years and a lifespan of up to 20 years. The brief also details specific offerings from banks like Absa, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and FNB, and lists tax and grant incentives such as 100% accelerated depreciation and the Green Tourism Incentive Programme.

The report identifies a total available energy services market in South Africa valued at approximately R125 billion by 2035, driven by rising electricity costs and falling technology prices. It highlights growth in rooftop solar PV, energy storage, and energy efficiency, while detailing the shift from a single-operator utility model to a distributed generation model. Key emerging opportunities include commercial off-the-shelf systems, project bundling, and building modernisation, supported by innovative finance mechanisms like PACE and a growing framework of municipal small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) regulations.