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The document advocates for the strategic use of "blue" hydrogen to accelerate decarbonization in sectors like heavy trucking, shipping, and steel production. It argues that relying solely on "green" hydrogen (electrolysis via renewables) would require an impractical increase in wind and solar capacity—potentially 40 times current U.S. levels—and excessive land use. While acknowledging that blue hydrogen's climate benefit depends on high carbon capture rates and low upstream methane leaks, the author asserts that these technical goals are feasible today. The document concludes that policymakers should implement tiered incentives tied to lifecycle greenhouse gas performance to ensure hydrogen production actually supports net-zero goals.

The statement calls for a transformation of water governance to protect food systems from climate-driven water cycle disruptions. It proposes six foundational attributes for water-resilient food systems: interconnected systems thinking, polycentric inclusive governance, continual innovation and learning, diversity and redundancy, system preparedness, and long-term planning. The authors emphasize that the climate crisis is effectively a water resilience crisis, requiring a shift from reactionary responses to proactive, robust, and flexible management strategies that prioritize equity and the inclusion of marginalized groups.

The document argues that vertical integration is essential for inclusive and effective climate adaptation, as it ensures local realities and marginalized voices shape national policy. It identifies four enabling factors for this process: financing mechanisms, institutional arrangements, information sharing, and capacity development. Through case studies from countries like Malawi, Botswana, Ghana, Nepal, Cambodia, and Peru, the briefing highlights that while decentralization and local participation improve targeting, they are often hindered by power imbalances, elite capture, and a lack of financial resources reaching the local level. The author recommends using knowledge brokers to bridge the gap between national and local visions and empowering local authorities through stronger mandates and capacity building.

Reclaim Finance critiques a proposed initiative by the Asian Development Bank and Prudential to accelerate the closure of coal plants in Asia. The organization warns that the scheme could provide a financial lifeline to polluting plants, allow major fossil fuel funders like Citi, HSBC, and BlackRock to greenwash their reputations, and fail to ensure that resale profits are used for the energy transition rather than further fossil fuel investment.

The statement highlights the continued support of the coal industry by Japanese financial giants Mizuho, SMBC, MUFG, and Tokio Marine, noting billions of dollars in financing and insurance provided to coal developers and projects globally despite climate commitments.

The document argues that young people (aged 10-24) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately affected by climate change but face structural barriers and tokenism that hinder their participation in decision-making. It proposes a research framework based on social context, substance, procedure, power, and agency to analyse youth engagement in Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

The briefing details advancements in extreme event attribution, updated temperature datasets, and refined climate sensitivity models. It highlights the shrinking carbon budget for the 1.5°C target, the risks of climate tipping points, and the critical role of non-CO2 greenhouse gases like methane. Additionally, it discusses the scientific requirements for net-zero targets and the limitations of carbon dioxide removal and geoengineering.

Allianz Global Investors (Allianz GI) introduced its first coal exclusion policy in July 2021, excluding companies that derive over 30% of revenues from thermal coal or produce over 30% of electricity from coal. Reclaim Finance argues this policy is outdated, mirroring a 2015 standard rather than the more stringent current Allianz Group policy. The analysis highlights that Allianz GI remains invested in 96 coal companies, including 43 coal developers, and lacks commitments to end support for coal expansion or set a full exit date for the coal sector. The document calls for the adoption of absolute exclusion thresholds and alignment with the Allianz Group's goal to exit coal by 2040.

The report identifies significant ESG risks in the aquaculture industry, specifically high fish mortality and the use of wild-caught fish in feed, which threaten long-term profitability and food security. It finds that most investors lack robust policies to mitigate these risks and warns that some 'green bonds' in the sector may be used for greenwashing. The document recommends that investors require investees to disclose supply chains, reduce mortality rates, and eliminate wild-caught fish in feed by 2025.

The report 'Driven to Waste' estimates that 1.2 billion tonnes of food, or 15.3% of global production, is lost on farms. When combined with retail and consumer waste, total global food loss and waste is estimated at over 2.5 billion tonnes (approximately 40% of all food produced), contributing 10% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. The document highlights a geographic disparity: high- and middle-income countries in Europe, North America, and Industrialised Asia contribute 58% of global harvest loss, while low-income countries account for 54% of post-harvest farm-stage loss. It argues that farm-stage loss is driven by downstream market decisions and asymmetric power balances, and calls for national governments to include food loss and waste in Paris Agreement national carbon plans.

The document analyzes the dual potential of autonomous vehicles (AVs) to serve as a climate solution or an environmental liability. While AVs could reduce emissions through electrification, platooning, and shared transit, the proliferation of single-occupancy AVs risks increasing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and urban sprawl. The brief emphasizes that achieving climate goals requires integrating AVs into multimodal, electric urban systems that prioritize mass transit, biking, and walking over private vehicle use.

Reclaim Finance argues that Japan's three megabanks (Mizuho, MUFG, and SMBC) maintain policies that allow continued support for the coal industry. While the banks have updated policies to restrict direct project financing for new coal plants 'in principle', these policies contain exceptions and do not apply to general corporate financing. Between October 2018 and October 2020, these banks provided $39bn, $36bn, and $32bn respectively to companies on the Global Coal Exit List. The document contrasts this with European peers like Crédit Agricole and notes increasing shareholder and activist pressure on the Japanese institutions to align with the Paris Agreement.

The IAI Directorate is participating in a two-year Interacademy Partnership initiative to define, measure, and address the impact of predatory academic journals and conferences. A global survey of over 1,800 researchers indicates that 11% have published in predatory journals and 4% have attended predatory conferences, with over 80% of respondents viewing these practices as a serious or growing problem. The initiative aims to identify root causes—such as lack of awareness and career pressures—and provide recommendations to prevent the erosion of public trust in research and the spread of misinformation in public policy. A full report is expected in late 2021.

The document argues that transport is a critical driver of development but a major source of emissions, accounting for 23% of energy-related CO2. It defines sustainable transport as safe, affordable, and efficient mobility that minimizes environmental impacts. The report details the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and provides examples of successful interventions, such as Jakarta's BRT system and various cities' shifts toward active mobility (cycling and walking). It specifically notes the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for structural changes in urban transit, though it warns that 30 major economies continue to provide significant subsidies to fossil fuels over clean energy.

The U.S. experienced significant growth in wind electricity generation between 2000 and 2020, with wind turbines accounting for 8.4% of total utility-scale electricity generation. Research from Net Zero America's 'High Electrification (E+)' scenario suggests that by 2050, Texas could lead the country with over 180 gigawatts of installed capacity, while Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska could each exceed 100 gigawatts. Offshore wind potential is particularly high along the East Coast, with Environment America estimating a potential for over 7,200 terawatt-hours of electricity per year. The document also highlights job growth potential, noting that Texas could support over 130,000 wind energy jobs by 2050, and rural states like Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, and Iowa could see more than 200 jobs per 10,000 residents.

The document outlines the current state and future potential of onshore and offshore wind energy in the U.S. It details the economic benefits, including job growth and rural revenue, while addressing environmental impacts on wildlife. It specifically highlights the 'high electrification' scenario from Net-Zero America, projecting significant capacity increases and employment growth by 2050, particularly in states like Texas and the Midwest.

The Framework for Sustainable Finance Integrity is a consultation draft designed to provide guardrails for the financial sector's move toward net zero and sustainability. It identifies a gap between the proliferation of individual financial coalitions and the actual pace of real-economy impact, noting that current commitments may not align with a net zero trajectory. To address this, the framework establishes benchmarks across three categories: targets and objectives, implementation, and metrics and transparency. It also introduces investment blueprints for Recovery Bonds and Results-based Financing to facilitate cross-institutional collaboration.

Friends of the Earth International calls for the removal of pharmaceutical monopolies and the implementation of a TRIPS waiver to address the 'vaccine apartheid' between high-income and low-income nations. The statement highlights severe disparities in vaccination rates, noting that high-income countries vaccinate 25 times faster than low-income ones, and criticizes wealthy nations and pharmaceutical companies for prioritizing profits over human lives during a global health crisis.

Reclaim Finance argues that Barclays is a leading global financier of coal and fossil fuels, providing over $27 billion to coal companies between 2018 and 2020. The statement criticizes the bank's current policies for allowing the funding of companies with coal expansion plans and calls for a full exit from coal by 2030 in EU/OECD countries and 2040 worldwide.

The document identifies three primary discourses regarding the Russian coal industry: a conservative 'keep coal' vision supported by political leadership, a 'low-carbon trend' approach focused on global competitiveness, and a 'local environmental' discourse centered on pollution and health. None of these discourses advocate for a coal phase-out. The author notes that Russia's coal industry is increasingly dependent on Asian demand, particularly China, and fluctuating global prices, which may lead to economic disadvantage for coal communities and subsequent social unrest. The political leadership currently uses subsidies to prevent instability, while the document suggests that a domestic debate on phase-out and economic diversification could mitigate long-term adverse consequences.