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The IEU report for May-August 2024 outlines the completion of evaluations on whistleblower protection, the GCF Investment Framework, and the energy sector portfolio. It details ongoing evaluations in Latin America and the Caribbean, health and food security, and Indigenous Peoples' approaches. The report also highlights the LORTA impact evaluation programme, evidence reviews on just transition and market-based approaches, and the progress of a Management Action Report on the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, where the Secretariat agreed to all 15 recommendations with varying levels of implementation progress.

The research evaluates power sector data transparency in 39 Asian economies, finding that over half have insufficient or poor data, which hinders the monitoring of clean power targets and grid optimisation. While higher-income economies generally perform better, countries like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are noted for leading improvements. The report provides nine recommendations for enhancing data governance, emphasizing the need for machine-readable, licence-free, and centrally located data to accelerate the transition from coal to clean electricity.

The Changing Markets Foundation argues that the 2022 EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles lacked sufficient ambition and calls for binding material footprint targets, a ban on the destruction of unsold goods, and mandatory disclosure of production volumes. It advocates for the decarbonisation of supply chains through financial support for Global South suppliers and the implementation of a textile-specific Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) directive to protect workers' rights and living wages. Additionally, the brief recommends strengthening the Substantiating Green Claims directive to require ex-ante verification of environmental claims and the inclusion of social impact data in Digital Product Passports.

Since 2023, Chinese firms have committed over US$100 billion in outbound foreign direct investment (OFDI) across at least 130 major cleantech transactions, spanning solar, wind, batteries, and new energy vehicles (NEVs). This 'going global' strategy is driven by domestic overcapacity, which has caused solar module prices to drop 60% and battery prices 50% year-on-year, and a need to circumvent trade barriers from the US and EU. The report highlights China's dominance in the global battery supply chain, where it holds over 80% of manufacturing capacity, and its expansion into markets like Morocco, Brazil, and Thailand. For Australia, the report notes that Chinese OFDI reached a multi-decade low of US$613 million in 2023, and argues that Australia should clarify its foreign investment rules to attract Chinese private capital for onshore value-adding in critical minerals and renewable energy infrastructure.

The Institute for Economic Justice proposes a universal basic income guarantee (UBIG) as a foundational safety net for South Africa's transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. The document asserts that while targeted support for displaced workers is necessary, a UBIG is essential to cover those indirectly affected, such as informal workers and carers, and to prevent people from falling through gaps in social protection. It highlights international evidence from countries like Bangladesh, Brazil, and Ethiopia to demonstrate how cash transfers mitigate climate-induced crises and reduce negative coping strategies. Furthermore, the text argues that a UBIG facilitates environmental adaptation by providing the financial stability needed for reskilling and sustainable consumption, while promoting a more equitable distribution of climate risks between the Global North and Global South.

The research paper identifies six recurring themes in due diligence regulations: risk management, transparency, traceability, legality, accountability, and stakeholder engagement. It highlights the challenges faced by Global South actors and SMEs in complying with these often unilaterally developed laws. The author suggests a 'smart-mix' approach, where voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and digital tools (such as satellite imagery and traceability platforms) complement public policies to reduce the compliance burden.

The document argues that while WTO rules provide significant policy space for LDCs to invest in agriculture through the 'Green Box' and 'Development Box', the primary barrier to increasing agricultural productivity is a lack of fiscal space rather than regulatory constraints. It suggests that new WTO rules should focus on reducing trade-distorting 'Amber Box' subsidies in developed and large developing countries to make LDC agriculture more competitive and attractive to private investors. Additionally, it recommends improving LDC market access by simplifying sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) measures and expanding duty-free market access for key agricultural exports.

The document argues that while WTO rules provide significant policy space for LDCs to invest in agriculture through 'Green Box' and 'Development' categories, these countries are primarily constrained by fiscal limitations rather than trade rules. It suggests that food security in LDCs can be improved by reducing trade-distorting 'Amber Box' subsidies in developed nations for key products like cotton and rice, and by easing non-tariff barriers and import duties to stimulate LDC exports.

The report argues that the global push to triple renewable energy capacity must prioritize the quality of investments over quantity to avoid 'green extractivism'. It introduces three core criteria for public finance: driving a 100% renewable future by phasing out fossil fuels, ensuring democratic energy systems through grants and decentralization, and centering human rights and nature. The document criticizes multilateral development banks (MDBs) for continuing to fund fossil gas and relying on debt-creating loans rather than grants. Through case studies in India, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Indonesia, it contrasts the harms of large-scale, profit-driven projects with the benefits of community-led, small-scale renewable energy solutions.

The briefing highlights three priority areas for the 79th UN General Assembly and Climate Week: the High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise, climate finance negotiations, and the Summit of the Future. It emphasizes the security implications of sea-level rise for Pacific Island states, the critical funding gap for developing nations facing debt crises, and the potential for the 'Pact for the Future' to address the climate-security nexus in UN peace operations.

The August 2024 RAMP Roundup details the initiative's efforts to enhance climate resilience through strategic engagements with government ministries and universities in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. Key activities include the launch of a 'Foundations Course' in Uganda, the use of the IMF's DIGNAD model for macro-climate modelling, and the establishment of a University Network Seminar Series. The newsletter also highlights research grants on disaster risk management and adaptation finance in Tanzania, Bangladesh, and sub-Saharan Africa, while noting that every dollar invested in adaptation can yield a return of $2 to $10.

The CCFLA and Urban-Act National Assessment Tool provides a framework for national governments to evaluate the regulatory, financial, and institutional conditions that affect urban climate finance. The tool consists of 64 dimensions across four categories: Climate Policy, Budget and Finance, Climate Data, and Vertical and Horizontal Coordination. It aims to identify strengths and gaps in national frameworks to facilitate recommendations for improving subnational access to finance, having been piloted in India and Indonesia.

Between June 16 and 24, 2024, approximately 4.97 billion people—over 60% of the global population—were exposed to extreme heat that was at least three times more likely to occur due to climate change. The analysis, using the Climate Shift Index (CSI), highlights severe impacts across India, China, Indonesia, Nigeria, Brazil, and the United States, as well as lethal heat waves in Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Egypt.

The IEU's 2024 activity report details the completion of evaluations on the energy sector and investment framework, the launch of new evaluations regarding whistleblowers, Indigenous Peoples, and health/food security, and the progress of the LORTA impact evaluation portfolio. A significant portion of the document is dedicated to a synthesis on GCF access, which argues that access has become synonymous with accreditation, creating biases toward countries with strong governance and existing multilateral development bank (MDB) relationships. The report recommends shifting the focus of access from procedural accreditation to country-led needs and exploring alternative models such as National Climate Funds (NCFs).

The guide advises journalists to explicitly link extreme heat events to climate change and the burning of oil, gas, and coal, noting that heat is the deadliest extreme weather event. It provides sample language for reporting, recommends avoiding trivializing visuals, and suggests using tools like the Climate Shift Index for attribution.

The statement emphasizes that while countering hate speech is essential, addressing 'micro-aggressions'—such as misogyny and racism—is equally critical because their cumulative effect can silence voices and erode democratic institutions. It highlights the limitations of current online platform moderation and promotes WACC's social media monitoring tool to combat online misogyny.

The statement emphasizes the necessity of accurate environmental reporting to address the 'triple planetary crisis' of pollution, climate, and biodiversity loss. It notes that environmental journalism is among the most dangerous beats, second only to war reporting, particularly for citizen journalists from Indigenous communities.

The lecture calls for a 'solidarity pact' akin to a Marshall Plan to support low- and middle-income countries facing a 'historic reversal in development' due to the combined impacts of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. The author argues that the current global financial system is 'not fit for purpose,' citing structural biases in ESG scores and a debt crisis where the most vulnerable nations spend more on debt servicing than they receive in climate finance. The speech advocates for replacing high-interest loans with grants and concessional finance, leveraging new technologies like blockchain for decentralized energy and insurance, and empowering women and youth to drive a just transition to low-carbon economies.

A World Weather Attribution study found that human-induced climate change significantly increased the frequency and intensity of April 2024 heatwaves across Asia. In the Philippines, the event would have been "impossible" without climate change, while in West Asia, the probability increased by a factor of 5. In South Asia, extreme temperatures were found to be about 45 times more likely and 0.85ºC hotter. The report highlights disproportionate impacts on vulnerable groups, including 1.7 million displaced people in Gaza and outdoor workers, and notes that existing heat action plans often lack mandatory workplace regulations and retrofitting for informal settlements.

The report analyzes the ASM value chain, from exploration to mine closure, highlighting a stark divide between rudimentary artisanal methods and more capitalized small-scale operations. It identifies critical gaps in technology for ore extraction, transportation, and beneficiation, while showcasing promising innovations in mercury-free gold processing, blockchain-based traceability, and digital mining cadastres. The document warns that while mechanization can boost yields and critical mineral supply, it risks displacing labor—particularly women—and increasing environmental degradation if not managed through inclusive policies and strategic zoning.