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ClientEarth warns Greater Manchester authorities that delaying or diluting the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) risks legal challenge and exacerbates public health crises. The region continues to report illegal nitrogen dioxide levels, contributing to an estimated 1,200 premature deaths annually. ClientEarth argues that the CAZ is the most effective tool for compliance and that economic or political concerns do not justify delaying health protections, particularly for low-income and minority communities who are disproportionately affected.

The memo argues that green hydrogen is essential for decarbonising sectors where electrification is not possible, specifically heavy industry and transportation. RMI identifies that while momentum exists, implementation gaps in funding and policy must be addressed to make the solution viable by 2030.

The document outlines a framework for integrating gender equality into climate finance projects, emphasizing the need for local expertise, robust baseline data, and continuity between project design and implementation. It provides specific recommendations for project teams and climate funds, supported by case studies from various sectors and regions.

The report examines how the TCU has evolved into a primary instance for the preventive control of socio-environmental risks in federal transport infrastructure concessions. While the TCU provides critical oversight to mitigate risks and ensure legal security, its intervention often occurs too late in the project lifecycle. This tardiness is attributed to a lack of motivated and transparent approval of Technical, Economic, and Environmental Viability Studies (EVTEA) by the Executive branch at the start of the viability phase. The document analyzes four case studies—BR-163/230/MT/PA, the North-South Railway (FNSTC), the Southern Integration Highway (RIS), and Ferrogrão—to illustrate the tensions between the TCU's oversight and the Executive's discretionary power, as well as the systemic failures in viability study quality, often exacerbated by the use of Manifestation of Interest (PMI) procedures.

The State of Climate Action 2021 evaluates 40 sectoral indicators to measure progress toward a zero-carbon world, finding that none are currently on track to meet 2030 targets despite exponential growth in wind, solar, and electric vehicles.

The document examines the transition of Latin America and the Caribbean from experimenting with nature-based solutions (NBS) to wider adoption. Based on a dataset of 156 projects identified in 2020, it highlights that while NBS can provide sustainable alternatives to carbon-intensive 'gray' infrastructure, many projects remain in the preparation stage and lack sufficient funding. The review focuses on sectors such as water, sanitation, housing, energy, and transportation, noting a concentration of projects in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.

As of 31 July 2021, the GCF pipeline includes 89 funding proposals requesting USD 6.4 billion and 350 concept notes requesting USD 15.9 billion. The report details the distribution of these requests by sector, region, and theme, while also tracking the progress of the Simplified Approval Process (SAP) pilot, specific requests for proposals (RFPs) such as REDD-plus and MSME, and the status of 65 active Project Preparation Facility applications.

The proposal seeks USD 300,000 to help Malaysia align its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic with climate change priorities. The project, implemented by the Malaysia Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC) under the Ministry of Environment and Water, aims to analyze the impact of pandemic stimulus packages on climate strategies, develop a national resilient recovery strategy and investment plan, and create at least one new project concept note for GCF submission. The initiative focuses on sectors including energy, construction, transport, waste, water, and manufacturing to facilitate a transition to a climate-neutral and inclusive economy.

The report proposes a shift from supply-side to demand-side energy planning in China's new urban development zones to support carbon neutrality. By focusing on buildings, transportation, and industry, this integrated energy planning (IEP) approach aims to optimize resource allocation and improve efficiency. The document estimates that if all new urban development zones in China adopt this methodology, it could contribute at least 15% to the total emissions reduction required for China's carbon-neutrality goal.

The study investigates deeper decarbonization in the Northeastern U.S., finding that Rhode Island could potentially reduce emissions by 80% by 2030 using existing technologies. While significant reductions of 70% to 80% are possible by 2030, 2040, or 2050, complete decarbonization is hindered by methane leakage from landfills and natural gas transmission, industrial emissions, and air travel.

An experiment with 912 American adults found that listening to real-world stories about EV success in Norway and Greensboro, North Carolina, significantly increased participants' perceptions of EV reliability, affordability, and practicality. These stories also led to stronger support for national charging networks, electric buses, and tax rebates, suggesting that narrative-based communication is an effective tool for accelerating the transition to electric vehicles.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) supports the European Commission's Hydrogen Strategy, emphasizing the need for a diverse range of low- and zero-carbon production pathways to ensure commercial success and global decarbonization. CATF specifically advocates for the inclusion of fossil hydrogen systems with carbon capture—which can capture over 95% of CO2—and nuclear energy systems with electrolyzers to mitigate the risk of failing to meet renewable energy expansion targets.

Using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), this research note assesses how different GDP outlooks from Goldman Sachs, the EIA, and the IMF affect U.S. energy demand and emissions. It finds that while 2020 emissions may drop by 7% to 11% relative to 2019, these reductions are primarily driven by the transportation sector and are expected to rebound to pre-pandemic levels by 2025, resulting in no material impact on cumulative emissions through 2050.

The document outlines the potential for India to become the world's second-largest electric bus market by 2030 and discusses the implementation of 5,595 e-buses across 64 cities under the FAME II scheme. It reports on a workshop convened by the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) and RMI to share lessons learned and address challenges in tendering, contracting, and operations to ensure the success of early e-bus adoption.

The GCF's 2020-2023 updated strategic plan focuses on promoting a paradigm shift toward low-emission and climate-resilient development. Key goals include balancing funding between mitigation and adaptation, increasing direct access funding, and scaling up private sector mobilization. The plan emphasizes strengthening country ownership through the alignment of investments with national climate strategies like NDCs and NAPs. Operationally, the GCF aims to simplify accreditation processes, optimize project approval speeds, and enhance institutional capacity to better serve vulnerable regions, including LDCs, SIDS, and African states.

The report advocates for social-ecological transformations in Asian cities to meet global climate and development goals. It focuses on three key sectors: the built environment, transport, and public participation, arguing that environmental protection must be integrated with social justice to avoid further marginalizing vulnerable populations. The authors highlight that while Asian cities are major GHG emitters, their density offers opportunities for efficiency. The report emphasizes the need for nature-based solutions, active transport, and inclusive governance, while noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has both exposed urban inequalities and provided a catalyst for rethinking unsustainable consumption and urban design.

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.

As of May 2019, Germany's cumulative green bond issuance reached EUR33.6bn, with clean energy and low-carbon buildings as the primary sectors for proceeds. The market is dominated by financial corporates and development banks, notably KfW, with a high prevalence of external reviews and post-issuance reporting. While sovereign green bonds have not yet been issued, the German government is exploring this possibility for 2020. The report also identifies a significant opportunity for growth among climate-aligned issuers, particularly in the transport sector via Deutsche Bahn.

Ethiopia's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) serves as a roadmap to reduce climate vulnerability by mainstreaming adaptation into development activities, aiming to support the country's goal of achieving middle-income status by 2025. The process involves vertical integration across federal, regional, zonal, and woreda levels, ensuring dialogue between national and sub-national governments, civil society, and the private sector. The NAP is designed to guide the implementation of climate-resilient strategies already produced by various line ministries under the Climate-Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy. Key climate drivers identified include increasing temperatures, rainfall variability, droughts, and floods, with priority adaptation sectors encompassing agriculture, water, forestry, health, urban areas, industry, transport, and power.

The document highlights that EVs in Minnesota produce significantly lower global warming emissions than gasoline cars, with an average of 2.5 metric tons of CO2e per year compared to 4.9 metric tons. It notes that rural Minnesota drivers can save an average of $750 on fuel, while home charging in Minneapolis is equivalent to paying $0.67 per gallon of gasoline. EV sales in the state grew by 103 percent between 2017 and 2018. The report advocates for extending federal tax credits, implementing purchase incentives, and expanding the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program to further support the market.