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The document synthesizes international standards—including those from the IUCN, CBD, and FEBA—into a practical framework for nature-based solutions (NbS) for adaptation. It defines NbS for adaptation as actions that protect, restore, and manage ecosystems to strengthen the resilience of communities and ecosystems to climate change. The core of the brief is a set of eight good practices, which include conducting climate risk assessments, ensuring equitable distribution of benefits, prioritizing biodiversity health, and employing inclusive governance. Notably, the brief introduces a conflict-sensitive approach to minimize the risk of exacerbating tensions through adaptation actions.

The document examines the three mechanisms of Article 6 (A6.2, A6.4, and A6.8) of the Paris Agreement, highlighting the tension between rapid operationalisation and the need for high-integrity standards to prevent greenwashing and human rights abuses. It details the specific sticking points for COP29, including transparency in bilateral trading (A6.2), the role of the Supervisory Body in the global market (A6.4), and the potential for non-market approaches (A6.8) to provide alternative climate finance. The briefing also analyzes the influence of these UN rules on the voluntary carbon market (VCM) and the controversies surrounding REDD+ credits and land-use offsets.

The document outlines a readiness support proposal for Belize to address gaps in human resources, technical expertise, and financial management within key climate-related institutions. The project focuses on capacity building for the National Designated Authority (NDA), the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), the Belize National Protected Areas System (BNPAS), the Belize Livestock Producers Association (BLPA), and Galen University. Key activities include developing training on Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMF), conducting a climate impact assessment on the livestock value chain, creating two project concept notes for the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and establishing a climate adaptive education program at Galen University. The initiative aims to reduce Belize's vulnerability to climate change by improving the quality of project pipelines and institutionalizing climate-resilient investment strategies.

The document outlines a 36-month readiness project implemented by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to address technical and institutional gaps in GHG management for Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Suriname's focus is on institutionalising national carbon monitoring and reporting frameworks, including upgrading the Dondru database and supporting Direct Access Entity (DAE) accreditation. Trinidad and Tobago's focus is on enhancing capacity for carbon capture and storage (CCS), developing a national carbon dioxide storage atlas, and preparing for international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The project also includes integrated studies on blue carbon sequestration in mangrove forests for both nations.

The 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that the world is far from meeting its 2030 goals to stop and reverse deforestation and degradation. In 2023, 6.37 million hectares of forest were permanently lost globally, with tropical regions in Africa and Asia failing to meet their targets. Primary forest loss remains alarmingly high, and forest degradation affects an area ten times larger than that of permanent deforestation. The report identifies unsustainable production and consumption—particularly of agricultural commodities, fossil fuels, and minerals—as primary drivers. While some progress is noted in countries like Brazil and Indonesia, and through new EU regulations like the EUDR, the report highlights a massive gap between 'green' and 'grey' financing, with trillions in harmful subsidies continuing to drive ecosystem loss. It emphasizes the critical role of Indigenous peoples and local communities, who face significant violence and limited direct access to funding despite their role as forest guardians.

The 2024 assessment finds that global goals to end deforestation and forest degradation by 2030 remain out of reach, with 6.37 million hectares of forest permanently lost in 2023. While some progress is noted in countries like Brazil and Indonesia, global pressures from unsustainable production—particularly agriculture and mining—persist. The report highlights a critical gap between 'green' and 'grey' financing, noting that environmentally harmful subsidies far outweigh investments in forest protection. It also emphasizes the ongoing struggle for indigenous land rights and the increasing threat of human-induced forest fires. The document recommends a radical shift in consumption patterns, the reallocation of harmful subsidies, and the implementation of rights-based governance to protect global forest ecosystems.

The 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that the world is off track to meet 2030 forest goals, with 6.37 million hectares of forest permanently lost in 2023. Deforestation is primarily driven by commodity production, including agriculture and mining, with significant demand from industrialized nations like China, the EU, and the U.S. While some progress has been made in forest law enforcement and the establishment of protected areas, the report highlights a massive gap between 'green' and 'gray' finance, noting that environmentally harmful subsidies reach USD 2.6 trillion annually. The assessment emphasizes the critical need for rights-based governance and direct funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to ensure sustainable forest management.

The Peer Learning Summit (PLS) convened representatives from 10 countries to exchange knowledge on vertical integration in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process. The workshop focused on five interdependent areas: coordination mechanisms with sub-national governments, capacity strengthening, engagement with the local private sector, engagement with civil society organizations (CSOs), and financial flows to sub-national levels. Key discussions highlighted the necessity of long-term monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems to track progress across governance levels and the importance of gender-responsive and socially inclusive (GESI) approaches. Participating countries, including Kenya, Ghana, and Tuvalu, shared specific milestones and challenges, such as limited local funding and technical capacity gaps. The event concluded with countries identifying actionable next steps for their respective NAP processes through June 2024.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is seeking GCF Project Preparation Facility (PPF) funding to design the BlueCo Caribbean Umbrella Coordination Programme. This 24-month preparatory phase involves 11 key activities, including baseline assessments, the creation of a Regional Blue Economy Framework, and the design of a Regional Coordination Mechanism. The programme intends to establish a long-term project pipeline to attract sustainable finance for a climate-resilient blue economy across multiple Caribbean SIDS, starting with an initial set of three to four high-impact projects. The request is supported by no-objection letters from several participating countries, including Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The sustainable debt market in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) reached a cumulative total of USD 154.1 billion by the end of 2022. While the region represents only 4% of global sustainable debt, these instruments account for approximately 21% of the region's total debt volume from 2019 to 2022. The market is led by Chile, Mexico, and Brazil, with a strong presence of sovereign issuers and development banks. Key trends include the rise of sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs), the emergence of 'blue bonds' for ocean conservation, and the development of national taxonomies in Colombia and Mexico to standardize sustainable investments.

The VSS+ debt market in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) reached a cumulative total of $154.1 billion by the end of 2022. While the market experienced a volume contraction in 2022 due to global inflation and rising interest rates, it represents approximately 21% of the region's total debt volume from 2019 to 2022. Sustainable bonds are the largest segment (35%), followed by green (28%), social (19%), and sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) (17%). Chile, Mexico, and Brazil are the primary markets, with Chile being the only country to have issued sovereign bonds across four of the five thematic labels. The report highlights the emergence of 'blue bonds' and nature-debt swaps in the Caribbean and Ecuador, and emphasizes the need for standardized taxonomies and improved reporting transparency to attract further international capital.

The LAC GSS+ bond market reached a cumulative total of USD154.1bn by the end of 2022. While 2022 saw a contraction in volumes, the market remains significant, accounting for an average of 21% of the region's debt. Sustainability bonds are the largest segment (35%), followed by green (28%), social (19%), and sustainability-linked bonds (17%). Chile, Mexico, and Brazil are the primary market drivers, with Chile leading in total volume at USD43.2bn. The report highlights the emergence of sovereign sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs), the potential of the blue economy, and the critical need for adaptation and resilience (A&R) financing. Key barriers include reporting inconsistencies and limited local capital market liquidity. The document recommends the adoption of national taxonomies, enhanced disclosure through platforms like the IDB's Green Bond Transparency Platform, and the use of innovative instruments to mobilize capital for the energy transition.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach to achieving the '30x30' target, emphasizing that numerical expansion must be coupled with qualitative improvements in governance and management. It details a three-phase implementation timeline (Review, Planning, and Implementation), defines key concepts such as OECMs and human rights-based approaches, and provides guidance on integrating biodiversity conservation with climate goals and national policies.

The AC-CReWS project aims to enhance climate resilience on Ambergris Caye, Belize, by upgrading water and wastewater infrastructure and governance. The project focuses on transitioning to low-carbon systems through the installation of a 3 MW grid-tied PV system, upgrading sewage treatment to tertiary levels for reclaimed water reuse, and implementing SCADA for automated monitoring and leak detection. With a total indicative cost of USD 49.893 million, the project targets 40,000 direct beneficiaries and expects to mitigate 148,140 tCO2eq over a 30-year lifespan. It also proposes a Revolving Adaptation and Mitigation Fund Facility (RAMFF) to sustain small-scale climate initiatives.

The GCF Risk Dashboard for Q2 2023 reports that portfolio-level risks remain within Board-approved tolerances, with no non-performing loans and liquid assets at approved levels. As of 30 June 2023, the portfolio consists of 216 approved funding proposals totaling USD 12.03 billion in equivalent terms. Funding is distributed across Africa (36%), Asia-Pacific (34%), and LATAM & Car. (26%), with a focus on mitigation (41%) and adaptation (23%), alongside cross-cutting projects. The fund's commitment authority increased significantly due to a USD 1 billion contribution from the United States. While concentration risks are within limits, the portfolio is skewed toward International Accredited Entities and the 'Energy access and power generation' sector. The report also tracks several projects facing implementation delays and identifies a projected 12-month forward liquid asset portfolio of USD 8.9 billion.

The document examines the funding gap for marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), specifically within the SADC region. It analyzes various financing streams—including national budgets, international bilateral and multilateral funds, philanthropy, and private capital—while highlighting the challenges of access to finance due to economic categorizations. The paper emphasizes blended finance solutions, such as blue bonds and debt-for-nature swaps, using the Seychelles as a primary case study, and discusses the emerging potential of blue carbon markets. It concludes that public funding remains the dominant source and recommends that SADC countries integrate EbA into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and establish independent trust funds to ensure long-term sustainability.

The UN 2023 Water Conference, held in New York, focused on accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) through the Water Action Agenda. The event resulted in approximately 700 voluntary commitments totaling USD 300 billion and the announcement of a UN Special Envoy for Water. Discussions emphasized the water-food-energy nexus, the human right to water and sanitation, and the need for innovative finance and improved global water data. While the conference generated significant political momentum and new partnerships, analysis suggests that many pledges lack quantifiable targets and that the international community must quadruple its efforts to meet 2030 goals.

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 document argues that the global biodiversity finance gap—estimated at an annual need of USD 536 billion by 2050—cannot be closed by grants alone. It proposes a blended finance approach that integrates information, regulatory, economic, institutional, and financial instruments to de-risk investments and catalyze private capital. Using the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) portfolio as a basis, the paper demonstrates how combining instruments (e.g., pairing carbon credits with parametric insurance), sequencing them along a maturity-concessionality gradient (e.g., the Amazon Bioeconomy Fund), and establishing long-term partnerships (e.g., Project Finance for Permanence) can create sustainable financial models for nature-based solutions.

The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) is seeking USD 199,966 from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to align its project development processes with the new Integrated Results Management Framework (IRMF). The proposal aims to address human resource constraints within the CCCCC's Project Development and Management Unit (PDMU) to accelerate the flow of climate finance to the Caribbean. Key activities include updating the CCCCC's Project Formulation and Monitoring manuals, delivering capacity-building workshops for 15 PDMU staff, and providing technical support to finalize two critical funding proposals: the Dominica Community Resilience Enhancement Project (DOMCREP) and the Climate Actions for Building Resilience in Coastal communities in the Caribbean (CABRIC Caribbean). The project is slated for a 12-month implementation period.