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The report establishes a framework for nature-related risk (NRR), defining it as the result of changes in a business's dependencies on or impacts on nature that become threats due to the company's exposure and vulnerability. It identifies five primary risk types: physical, regulatory & legal, market, reputational, and financial. Through a review of over 70 sources, the report highlights that sectors such as food and beverage, metals and mining, and oil and gas face the highest risks. Case studies of BP, Vale, PG&E, and German exporters illustrate how these risks materialize into multi-billion dollar liabilities, bankruptcy, or lost revenue.

The report finds that G20 countries are not on track to meet Paris Agreement goals, with energy-related CO2 emissions increasing again in 2017 and 82% of energy supply still coming from fossil fuels. It highlights significant gaps in sectoral actions—particularly in power, transport, and industry—and notes that fossil fuel subsidies in the G20 nearly doubled between 2007 and 2016. While some countries are implementing 'just transition' initiatives for workers, others lack dialogue or action.

The 2018 Northern Great Plains Donor Report details WWF's efforts to conserve grassland ecosystems through several key pillars. These include a Ranch Transition Pilot Project to address the risk of 56 million acres of farmland changing hands, and the development of a soil suitability model extending into Canada to predict crop conversion. Bison restoration efforts aim to establish five conservation herds of at least 1,000 bison each by 2025, with significant progress made at Fort Peck Reservation. For endangered species, WWF is testing Fipronil and vaccine baits to combat sylvatic plague in black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs. Additionally, the report highlights the Tribal Working Group on Sustainable Financing's work on tourism assessments and conservation planning for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, alongside collaborations with the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef to implement sustainability metrics in the beef supply chain.

The briefing examines the risks associated with China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Southeast Asia, particularly regarding carbon-intensive energy projects and hydropower dams. It argues that current investment patterns may lead to carbon lock-in and ecological damage. To mitigate these risks, the authors propose a decision-making framework based on transparency, stakeholder participation, and adherence to international sustainable finance standards.

The document details a high-level dialogue on the disparity between 'gray' finance (subsidies and investments driving deforestation) and 'green' finance for forest restoration. It highlights the systemic barriers facing small-scale forest enterprises, the need for better supply chain transparency to avoid stranded assets, and the potential for innovative financial models—such as blended finance and carbon monetization—to accelerate the goals of the New York Declaration on Forests.

The document examines the necessity of new financial instruments for soil remediation, as traditional liability rules often fail to address historic and cumulative environmental degradation. It highlights that the political imperative for remediation is strongest when contaminated soil or sediments immediately threaten human health and livelihoods. The report notes that remediation costs vary by project size and regional cost structures, such as fuel and labor. As part of a larger project titled 'Financing Models for Soil Remediation,' this specific report focuses on seven cases to analyze the application of different financing measures.

The report explores how to attract private capital for soil remediation by leveraging the increase in land retail price and business opportunities following cleanup. It provides 17 case studies on blended finance instruments, noting that private participation is less compelling when land value capture is low or revenue streams are uncertain, necessitating public funding. This work is part of a broader project to utilize green finance vehicles to manage risk and fund soil remediation.

The report analyzes the current state of soil pollution in China and evaluates several financing models for remediation, including 'Remediation + Development', 'Polluter Pays', Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), green bonds, industrial funds, and the 'land ticket' system. It highlights a significant funding gap, noting that while the market is growing, the costs of remediation—potentially reaching dozens of trillion yuan—far exceed current government allocations. The document identifies critical barriers such as unclear historical pollution responsibility, a lack of specialized soil pollution laws, and the high risk and low return of remediation projects. It recommends transitioning from purely government-funded models to diversified, mixed-fund structures that leverage social capital and innovative green finance instruments.

Carbon Market Watch advocates for a more holistic approach to the EU's sustainable finance framework, arguing that the current 'environmental taxonomy' lacks sufficient granularity and expert input regarding human rights. The letter recommends expanding minimum safeguards beyond ILO conventions to include the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and UN Guiding Principles, establishing a formal group of human rights experts to advise the Technical Expert Group, and committing to the development of a dedicated 'social taxonomy'.

The report examines seven international examples of soil remediation financing, ranging from federal programs like the US Superfund to private equity funds like Ginkgo Fund I. It identifies that while the 'polluter pays' principle is a common legal baseline, its implementation varies, often requiring public grants or innovative funds to bridge funding gaps. Key findings highlight that urban sites with high redevelopment potential are more likely to attract private investment, whereas rural or highly toxic sites often rely on general fiscal revenue or industry-wide voluntary funds. The report concludes that there is no uniform approach to financing, and the choice of instrument must be fit-for-purpose based on the site's socioeconomic context and revenue potential.

oekom research conducted a desk-based assessment of Volkswagen Immobilien's (VWI) Green Bond Programme against the Climate Bond Standard Version 2.1. The verification focused on the selection of nominated projects, internal processes and controls, and reporting requirements. The verifier concluded that the 2018 Green Bond is in material conformance with the Pre-Issuance Requirements, with one exception noted regarding Requirement 3.1.3. Eligible assets are defined as residential buildings with a rating of "B" or higher in the German energy efficiency class ranking, while office and logistic buildings were excluded from the certification portfolio.

The report analyzes 23 green bonds totaling USD 15.1bn issued in Q4 2017. It finds that USD green bonds generally achieve higher oversubscription and tighter pricing relative to initial price thoughts than vanilla bonds, while EUR green bonds perform similarly. Approximately 44% of allocations went to green investors. The 'greenium' (pricing inside the yield curve) was observed in only half of a limited sample of six bonds, indicating that a new issue premium is not always avoided. In the secondary market, over half of EUR green bonds outperformed their indices after 28 days, whereas USD green bonds lagged.

The 2018 Green Economy Barometer for Mongolia highlights a significant gap between the country's international commitments and domestic implementation. While Mongolia has adopted the Green Development Policy and the Sustainable Development Vision 2030, it ranked 79th out of 80 countries in the 2016 Global Green Economy Index. The report identifies severe environmental challenges, including air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, desertification affecting 77.8% of the territory, and water scarcity. Economically, the report argues that investing 4% of GDP annually into green development could reduce poverty to 10% and unemployment by 2% by 2030. Current green employment accounts for 9.9% of total jobs. Financial needs for energy efficiency, renewables, and pollution control are estimated at over 11 billion USD, though green financing remains limited.

The report finds that while Korea has a massive overall bond market and strong climate policies, its climate bond market remains small with only six bonds issued by four entities. It identifies a potential USD 18bn in unlabelled climate-aligned bonds and suggests that Korea could lead the Asian region by adopting national guidelines, sovereign issuance, and tax incentives, drawing on successful models from China, India, and other ASEAN nations.

The report argues that international public climate finance must shift from a project-finance focus to a financial system development focus to effectively support Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It identifies key barriers in developing countries, such as short-termism in banking and volatile capital flows, and suggests that public actors should scale up blended finance and de-risking instruments. The authors introduce a 'Climate Finance Systems Framework' to map the interactions between public providers, private investors, systemic enablers (like regulators), and service providers, aiming to identify leverage points for scaling finance flows.

The research identifies a sustainable infrastructure investment gap of USD 18-36 trillion in developing countries, with critical needs in power generation, transport, and water. It analyzes the roles of various public finance actors—including bilateral aid agencies, multilateral development banks (MDBs), and national development banks (NDBs)—highlighting a systemic mismatch where the largest mitigation potentials in upper-middle-income countries lack access to concessional finance. The paper argues for a shift from project-specific finance to financial system development and the scaling of blended finance and risk-mitigation instruments to crowd in private capital.

The report addresses the risk of stranded assets resulting from the sustainability transition, arguing that while 'green finance' for new technologies is well-documented, there is insufficient focus on the 'old' industries and assets that may become unusable. It introduces a methodology for the financial industry to quantify these risks to reduce unnecessary investment and negative social consequences.

The statement highlights Sweden's leadership in climate science and finance, its goal to become one of the first fossil-free welfare nations by achieving net zero emissions by 2045, and the necessity of using public finance to mobilize private investment for the green economy. It emphasizes the role of the IPCC and the Paris Agreement in guiding global action, noting that renewable energy is becoming increasingly affordable compared to fossil fuels.

The report analyzes the growth of green bond markets in emerging economies, highlighting the critical role of national guidance and alignment with international standards like the Green Bond Principles. Through case studies of countries such as China, Indonesia, and Morocco, it identifies key barriers—including lack of capacity and limited investor demand—and proposes a 'Green Bond Market Development Toolkit' featuring a self-assessment matrix and a roadmap of milestones to accelerate sustainable capital flows.

Sustainalytics has provided a pre-issuance verification letter confirming that DNB Boligkreditt AS's Green Covered Bond meets the Low Carbon Buildings criteria of the Climate Bonds Standard. The bond is intended to finance or refinance a loan portfolio of energy efficient residential buildings in Norway. Sustainalytics found that DNB's eligibility criteria, which include compliance with Norwegian building codes TEK10 or TEK17, target residential mortgages in the top 7% of energy performance in the Norwegian market, exceeding the Climate Bond Standard's requirement of the top 15%.