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The cement industry accounts for approximately 7% of global CO2 emissions and faces significant barriers to decarbonisation due to high capital intensity and the nature of process emissions. The report argues that achieving net-zero by 2050 requires a combination of technological shifts—such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), alternative binders, and fuel substitution—and robust policy support. Key policy recommendations include the implementation of carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs), green public procurement, and carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs) to prevent carbon leakage. Financial investment needs are estimated to reach USD 70 billion annually between 2030 and 2040, which the report suggests could be unlocked through the sustainable debt market and science-based certification standards.

The U.S. electric school bus (ESB) market is expanding, driven by the EPA's Clean School Bus Program and state-level mandates. As of December 2022, 895 districts had committed to 5,612 ESBs. While upfront costs remain three to four times higher than diesel buses, ESBs offer lower operational costs, zero tailpipe emissions, and potential grid resilience through bidirectional charging. The market currently features 24 models across Type A, C, and D buses, with a growing emphasis on repowering existing fleets to reduce costs and waste. Successful deployment requires coordinated planning between districts, utilities, and manufacturers to manage charging infrastructure and specialized maintenance training.

The document outlines 12 key policy interventions to accelerate the transition of hard-to-abate sectors, categorised into simplifying pathways, steering risk and opportunity, derisking green investments, and facilitating essential resource flows.

The document highlights the role of Green Public Procurement (GPP) in the construction sector as a tool for G20 nations to reduce environmental impacts and meet climate commitments, specifically in sectors like steel and cement. It asserts that achieving this requires collaboration among G20 members and the adoption of clear mandates, monitoring, upskilling, and time-bound targets.

The paper critiques South Africa's current administrative procurement system as being too rigid for complex projects and prone to corruption. It proposes a strategic approach that empowers accounting officers, integrates specialist technical functions, and shifts integrity oversight from restrictive rules to stronger enforcement and transparency mechanisms.

The document argues that the steel and cement sectors in India are 'hard-to-abate' and require coordinated government, industry, and financial action to avoid carbon lock-in. Because breakthrough technologies (TRL 5-9) are currently commercially unviable and increase production costs—by up to 45% for steel and 80% for cement—market forces alone cannot drive their adoption. The authors recommend a policy mix of carbon pricing, public funding for demonstration pilots, capex subsidies, green public procurement, and embodied-carbon standards. Additionally, the brief emphasizes the need for a supporting enabling environment, including CO2 and hydrogen infrastructure, streamlined permitting, and concessional finance from international sources.

The document argues that U.S. manufacturing is responsible for a quarter to a third of national greenhouse gas emissions and proposes a suite of policy interventions to transition to clean industry. Key recommendations include trade mechanisms like carbon border adjustments, green public procurement, direct financial support for early-stage technologies, and the implementation of emissions and energy efficiency standards. It emphasizes the need for a combination of R&D support, subsidies for clean production, and improved lending mechanisms to ensure U.S. industry remains competitive against international producers while achieving decarbonization.

The document serves as a legal FAQ for the CO2 Performance Ladder, a carbon management system used in the Netherlands and Belgium to provide certified organizations with award advantages in public tenders. It addresses compliance with the EU Procurement Directive, specifically regarding the link between award criteria and contract subject matter, the acceptance of equivalent proof, and the determination of the most economically advantageous tender. The tool is managed by the Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO), which aims to expand its application across Europe to accelerate carbon emission reductions.

The document outlines a comprehensive framework of 101 sustainable finance policies categorized by three primary ambitions: speed, steer, and simplify. It provides specific recommendations across various government departments—including fiscal, trade, energy, and industrial policy—as well as for central banks and financial regulators. The guide emphasizes the need for science-based targets, the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, the use of green taxonomies, and the implementation of derisking mechanisms like blended finance to mobilize private capital for the 1.5°C transition.

The cement sector is a major industrial emitter, accounting for approximately 7% of global CO2 emissions and 4% of EU emissions. The report argues that the current decade is critical because 30% of EU cement kilns will reach the end of their life by 2030, presenting a window to avoid stranded assets by investing in low-carbon technologies. Key technical levers include reducing the clinker-to-cement ratio, implementing carbon capture and storage (CCS), and substituting fossil fuels with biomass and waste. To support this, the report recommends a comprehensive policy suite: upstream (accelerating renewable energy and CO2 infrastructure), midstream (implementing Carbon Contracts for Difference and phasing out ETS free allowances), and downstream (mandating green public procurement and scaling off-take agreements). It also highlights the role of sustainable finance, noting that while sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) have been issued, their potential in the cement sector remains under-exploited due to a lack of sector-specific standards.

The report evaluates the potential for scaling the CO2 Performance Ladder (CO2PL) in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The CO2PL serves as both a carbon management system for organizations and a procurement tool that provides certified suppliers with an award advantage in tenders. The study finds a general demand for third-party verified, easy-to-use tools to reduce carbon emissions, though implementation faces challenges such as risk aversion among public procurers, legal concerns regarding the link between criteria and the subject matter of contracts, and capacity constraints in smaller procuring entities. The report recommends aligning the CO2PL with common measurement methods like Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), engaging with European city networks, and providing specific support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to ensure inclusive participation.

The report examines the fragmented state of Green Public Procurement (GPP) within the EU and proposes recommendations to leverage public purchasing power for decarbonization. Focusing on the construction and road transport sectors—which each account for approximately 12% of government procurement GHG emissions globally—the study analyzes case studies from eight EU Member States to identify best practices for meeting the EU's goal of a 55% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030.

The document examines the gap between EU Green Public Procurement (GPP) targets and actual implementation in eight Member States. It identifies systemic barriers—including fragmented governance, lack of standardized data, and limited procurement officer capacity—while highlighting successful local and national initiatives in Sweden, France, Germany, and others. The brief argues that the EU must harmonize reporting, institute mandatory requirements for high-emitting sectors, and provide better technical support to leverage public spending for climate goals.

The report finds that Green Public Procurement (GPP) in the EU is characterized by a fragmented approach with few binding requirements and significant gaps between national climate targets and actual procurement practices. While some regions like Catalonia and cities like Berlin show high ambition, most Member States rely on voluntary guidelines. The construction and road transport sectors are highlighted as high-impact areas where GPP could drive decarbonization, yet implementation is hindered by a lack of standardized data, insufficient capacity and time for procurement officers, and a lack of mandatory EU-level criteria. The report recommends harmonizing GPP definitions, introducing mandatory carbon criteria, and expanding the scope of EU Directives to include embedded emissions.

The document analyzes the vulnerability of the ASEAN region to climate change and evaluates the current mitigation and adaptation strategies of its member states. It argues that while ASEAN countries have ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), there is a significant disconnect between climate goals and trade policy. The author recommends reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers on environmental goods, reforming fossil fuel subsidies, and utilizing WTO flexibilities for technology transfer to bridge this gap.

The guide outlines specific actions for different business departments to drive decarbonization, such as tying executive pay to climate targets, prioritizing sustainable suppliers, and integrating carbon fees into product pricing.

The report details a co-creation process between Kalmar municipality and the Stockholm Environment Institute to align a new mobility strategy with the Agenda 2030 goals. The strategy aims for a transport mode split of 60% walking, cycling, and public transport and 40% cars by 2035. Analysis indicates strong positive impacts on public health and sustainable cities, though risks include social polarization among car-dependent groups and potential conflicts over land use for biodiversity. Key recommendations include implementing '15-minute city' planning, enhancing fossil-free maritime transport, and using life-cycle analyses in procurement.

The global steel sector, responsible for approximately 7% of worldwide energy-related CO2 emissions, faces a critical transition period as 71% of coal-based blast furnace capacity will require reinvestment by 2030. The report highlights the disparity between current production methods—specifically the high emissions of Blast Furnace-Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF-BOF) versus Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)—and the massive investment required for enabling infrastructure, such as green hydrogen and CO2 pipelines. It advocates for a combination of upstream, midstream, and downstream policies, including Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs) and Green Public Procurement (GPP), to avoid stranded assets and align the industry with a 1.5°C-compatible trajectory. Additionally, the Climate Bonds Initiative introduces sector-specific criteria to guide the certification of climate-aligned steel assets and companies.

The report finds that IFIs have historically had limited exposure to the steel sector, with most investments focused on business-as-usual modernization rather than transformative decarbonization. While barriers such as the high capital intensity of steel projects and a lack of national policy frameworks in developing countries exist, the authors argue that IFIs can accelerate the transition by de-risking first movers, supporting green hydrogen strategies, and creating demand through green public procurement standards for infrastructure projects.

The report argues that current climate finance is woefully inadequate to meet Paris Agreement goals, with developing countries alone requiring $4.3 trillion for 2030 commitments. It outlines a three-stage framework—planning, implementation, and monitoring—and details a variety of fiscal and policy instruments to align public spending, increase public funding, and mobilize private capital.