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The report analyzes twelve sustainability standards for infrastructure, categorizing them into project screening tools (e.g., SuRe, Envision, CEEQUAL, ISCA, IFC Performance Standards) and accounting tools (e.g., SASB, TCFD, GHG Protocol, UN PRI). It evaluates these tools based on comprehensiveness, objectivity, clarity, transaction costs, and traction. The study finds that the industry lacks a single global standard, with investors often using multiple tools depending on the project's local context and regulatory regime. It highlights a fundamental tension between 'preservationist' public sector assessments, which determine if a project should be built, and 'conservationist' investor metrics, which focus on implementing projects in the most sustainable way possible.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) reported total assets of $141,669,442 as of September 30, 2018, an increase from $106,449,500 in 2017. The organization's primary operating revenues for 2018 totaled $111,151,598, with the majority of expenses directed toward "Policy research, technical support, and communications programs". An independent audit by Grant Thornton LLP issued an unmodified opinion, stating the financial statements present fairly the Institute's financial position. WRI maintains a permanent endowment of $25,100,000 and operates subsidiaries in India, China, and Europe to support its focus on climate, energy, food, forests, water, and cities.

The Union of Concerned Scientists criticizes a directive from Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross that orders NOAA to prioritize water access for firefighting in California over the protection of endangered aquatic species. The document asserts that this policy is not grounded in scientific evidence, as state officials and firefighters report sufficient water availability. It further argues that the directive subverts the authority of state regulators and may be intended to favor agricultural interests over the recovery of species like the Chinook salmon and Delta smelt, while ignoring the role of climate change in increasing wildfire severity.

The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) employs a three-step screening process to identify and validate green bonds and loans for its database. This involves identifying self-labeled green instruments, verifying alignment with the Climate Bonds Taxonomy across eight sectors, and ensuring at least 95% of proceeds are allocated to eligible green assets. The methodology explicitly excludes fossil fuel energy and projects that extend the life of fossil fuel assets. Instruments are categorized as included, pending, or excluded, with a mechanism for reclassification based on new data or updated scientific criteria.

The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) employs a three-step screening process to identify eligible green bonds and loans for its database: identifying green-labelled bonds, screening assets against the Climate Bonds Taxonomy, and evaluating the allocation of proceeds. To be included, a bond must allocate at least 95% of its proceeds to aligned green assets; any bond where more than 5% of proceeds are used for working capital, social projects, or non-aligned assets is excluded. The methodology explicitly excludes fossil fuel energy and any assets that extend the life of fossil fuel usage, such as 'clean coal'. The Climate Bonds Taxonomy covers eight categories: energy, transport, buildings, water management, waste management & pollution control, nature-based assets, industry & energy-intensive commercial, and information technology & communications (ICT).

The report evaluates the mining policy framework of the Kyrgyz Republic against international best practices. It identifies strengths in the tax regime and the availability of geological information, but highlights significant gaps in mine closure regulations, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) oversight, and the predictability of the fiscal environment. The assessment recommends prioritizing the optimization of socio-economic benefits and the development of robust financial guarantees for mine closure.

The assessment finds that while Namibia has strong geological data and a fair revenue system, it suffers from outdated legislation, particularly regarding mine closure, water management, and occupational health and safety. The report recommends prioritizing the creation of mandatory financial assurances for mine closure and updating the legal framework for environmental and artisanal mining.

The proposal seeks USD 10 million in GCF grants to improve the capacity of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in 14 Pacific Island Countries. The project focuses on four components: improving governance and enabling environments, strengthening air and marine navigation services, enhancing climate prediction tools (specifically the PICASO software), and project governance. It aims to address critical gaps in human and technological resources, lack of user feedback on forecasts, and insufficient observation sites, aligning with the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy 2017-2026.

As of June 30, 2018, Australia and New Zealand have established themselves as leaders in the use of the Climate Bonds Standard, despite differing national climate policy environments. Australia's market is driven by major banks and sub-sovereign entities, with significant issuance in energy, transport, and buildings. New Zealand's market is more nascent, featuring a world-first green borrowing programme for geothermal energy. Both nations are noted for high levels of certification and best-practice reporting, though further policy support and project pipelines are needed to meet Paris Agreement targets.

The report examines Kenya's efforts to integrate gender and climate change into water resource management. It highlights a strong legislative foundation, including the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Water Act 2016, which mandate gender representation and inclusive governance. However, it identifies significant gaps in implementation, such as limited women's land ownership, insufficient gender-disaggregated data, and a lack of targeted funding for women in climate adaptation. The document also details the impact of climate change on Kenya's water-scarce environment, particularly in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), and evaluates the role of institutions like the National Gender and Equality Commission and the Water Resources Authority in promoting inclusive water governance.

The report explores the integration of 'fintech' (IoT, big data, AI, and blockchain) into environmental science to address water challenges exacerbated by climate change. Through case studies like the Jefferson Project and Copernicus, it demonstrates how real-time data and advanced analytics enable early warning systems, fill critical data gaps, and inform sustainable decision-making in watersheds, agriculture, and urban environments.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a response on 16 July 2018 to the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality, reiterating objections to a land-use change application for a proposed mine. The CER argues that the subject property is a high-priority conservation area and that the Municipality has the legal authority and obligation under the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) to consider environmental and water impacts, despite claims to the contrary by the applicant's agent.

The report lists a comprehensive pipeline of climate-related projects divided into public and private sectors. As of 13 July 2018, the total pipeline value is $20,417.2M, comprising $5,100.2M in GCF funding and $15,317.0M in co-financing. The pipeline includes a diverse range of initiatives across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe, focusing on renewable energy, REDD+, water management, and climate resilience.

An international team of scientists used a multi-method attribution approach to determine that anthropogenic climate change increased the likelihood of the 2015-2017 Western Cape drought by a factor of 3.3. The drought, characterized by three consecutive years of below-average rainfall, led to a severe water crisis in Cape Town, nearly resulting in 'day zero'. The study finds that drought risk in this region scales linearly with warming, suggesting that further temperature increases will continue to raise the probability of such extreme events.

The report defines and maps 22 national Strategic Water Source Areas for surface water (SWSA-sw) and 37 for groundwater (SWSA-gw) in South Africa, including transboundary areas in Lesotho and Swaziland. It links these areas to major urban centres and agricultural sectors, highlighting that a small percentage of land provides a disproportionate amount of the region's water. The study identifies significant threats from invasive alien plants, mining, and land degradation, and recommends integrating SWSAs into national policy, legislation, and spatial planning to ensure long-term water security.

In the first half of 2018, China's green bond issuance grew by 14% year-on-year to 130.2 billion RMB (13 billion USD), with 9.3 billion USD aligning with international green bond definitions. Financial institutions remained the largest issuers, while renewable energy was the primary use of proceeds. The report highlights a trend where nearly half of green bonds were excluded from the Climate Bonds Initiative database due to allocating more than 5% of proceeds to general working capital, a practice permitted under Chinese national guidelines but restricted by international standards.

The China Green Bond Market Mid-Year Report 2018 details a 14% year-on-year increase in green bond issuance from Chinese issuers in H1 2018, totaling USD 13.02 billion. While financial and non-financial corporates drove growth, 28% of total issuance failed to align with international green bond definitions, primarily due to allocations to general working capital. Renewable energy remained the largest sector for proceeds, and over 40% of issuance occurred offshore, led by ICBC. The report also highlights new regulatory measures from the PBoC and the launch of a Green Bond Issuance Programme in Hong Kong.

The Indian green bond market reached a cumulative issuance of USD 6.5 billion by July 2018, with 2017 seeing a significant surge to USD 3.8 billion. Renewable energy is the dominant sector for use of proceeds, and the market is driven by both government-backed entities and private sector corporates. A high proportion of deals utilize external reviews, with 47% of total issuance comprising Certified Climate Bonds.

The report identifies USD264bn in outstanding bonds from 1,436 climate-aligned US municipal 'pure-play' issuers, suggesting a significant opportunity to scale the green bond market through refinancing. While issuance grew to USD12bn in 2017, it declined in H1 2018 due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts of 2017, which reduced refunding bond volume. The water sector represents the largest potential, accounting for 64% (USD170bn) of the identified climate-aligned universe, followed by transport at 30% (USD78.5bn). The report highlights that waste, energy, and land use sectors are currently underrepresented in the green bond market despite having substantial climate-aligned activity.

The document examines Uganda's efforts to integrate gender and climate change considerations into its water sector. It finds that while significant progress has been made in gender-responsive budgeting and women's representation on local water committees, implementation remains weak due to a lack of technical capacity and the persistence of customary gender stereotypes. The link between water and climate change is well-institutionalized, but the intersection of gender and climate change is described as virtually non-existent in terms of funding and representation. The report emphasizes that women's limited land ownership and literacy levels continue to obstruct their effective participation in water management decision-making.