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This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) evaluates the effectiveness of the 'ABC Recuperação' credit line, a subsidized financing instrument designed to restore degraded pastures in Brazil. Focusing on the Cerrado biome for operations between 2016 and 2018, the study uses satellite imagery and econometric analysis to determine if the credit led to actual pasture recovery or land-use changes. The findings indicate that the credit's impact is modest, with little evidence of recovery in severely degraded areas and a tendency for the credit to facilitate the conversion of high-vigor pastures into agriculture rather than restoring low-vigor ones.

An evaluation of the ABC Recuperação credit line in the Brazilian Cerrado reveals very low effectiveness in recovering degraded pastures, with most areas remaining unchanged and some having been deforested prior to receiving funds. While technical assistance significantly improved outcomes, the credit line contributed to only 2.5% of the 2020 recovery goal. The report recommends strengthening post-credit monitoring, improving pre-credit assessments to prevent funding recently deforested land, and integrating credit with technical assistance and risk management tools.

This briefing, authored by Dr. Tanya Petach of the Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI), examines the drivers of declining lake and reservoir water storage globally. It highlights the distinction between anthropogenic causes, such as unsustainable water consumption, and climate-driven factors, such as increased evaporation and changing precipitation patterns, to argue for targeted policy interventions and adaptive management strategies to prevent urban 'Day Zero' scenarios.

A statement by several organizations urging the G-20, under Brazil's presidency, to operationalize a bioeconomy through high-level principles and increased financing to promote climate and nature-positive economic models.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the current state of loss and damage (L&D) finance within the UNFCCC framework, evaluating the outcomes of COP28 and outlining strategic priorities for the Global South ahead of COP29 and COP30. It advocates for L&D to be treated as a distinct third pillar of climate action, emphasizing the need for grant-based financing, equitable distribution, and a unified negotiating front to ensure climate justice for the most vulnerable communities.

This policy brief examines China's role in transferring green technology to the Global South, highlighting its leadership in renewable energy and the mechanisms used to disseminate this technology. It analyzes the achievements of initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the South–South Climate Cooperation Fund, while identifying critical challenges including gaps between environmental commitments and actual impacts, limited local operational capacity, and geopolitical tensions.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the causal link between fossil fuel emissions and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. It details the role of 'Carbon Majors' in global emissions, the financial disparity between industry profits and climate damages, and the growing use of litigation to hold these companies accountable. The document argues that a managed phase-out of fossil fuels, through both supply and demand reductions, is essential to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

This report details the proceedings and decisions of the 32nd meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-32) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held via videoconference on May 22-23, 2024. The meeting focused on financial planning, the relocation of the IAI Executive Directorate from Uruguay to Panama, the integration of Indigenous knowledge into climate science, and the expansion of the IAI's network of Associate institutions.

This report analyzes the potential impacts of border carbon adjustment (BCA) schemes, specifically the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), on Brazil. Based on research and stakeholder dialogues, it identifies challenges regarding export competitiveness, compliance costs, and the need for international collaboration to balance climate goals with economic equity.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-RIO) examines the link between subsidized rural credit and deforestation in Brazil between 2020 and 2022. The analysis reveals that a small number of large properties receive a disproportionate share of subsidized funds while being responsible for significant deforestation, suggesting that current economic incentives are misaligned with Brazil's environmental and climate goals.

A statement from the World Resources Institute Europe UK Office regarding the election of a new Labour government in the United Kingdom, outlining recommended priorities for national climate policy and international leadership on finance, nature, and development.

A policy brief by CPI/PUC-Rio reveals that 15% of Brazil's subsidized rural credit (R$ 14 billion annually) between 2020 and 2022 went to properties that deforested. This deforestation is heavily concentrated in large estates, with the top 5% of recipients responsible for 74% of the loss. The Cerrado biome is the most affected. The report argues that current restrictions, such as environmental embargos, are insufficient as they cover less than 5% of new deforestation, and recommends that subsidies be granted exclusively to properties with no deforestation.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the regulatory framework of the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) aimed at combating deforestation and ecosystem conversion. It details the BCB's transition toward sustainable finance through the 'Agenda BC#', specifically focusing on the integration of social, environmental, and climate risks into the National Financial System (SFN) and the implementation of strict environmental requirements for rural credit.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the regulatory efforts of the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) to combat deforestation and ecosystem conversion. It details the BCB's integration of sustainability into its 'BC# Agenda', the implementation of social, environmental, and climate risk management for financial institutions, and specific restrictions on rural credit for non-compliant producers. The document also provides context on the drivers of land-use change in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes and offers policy recommendations to further align the national financial system with environmental conservation goals.

This report details a series of national dialogues in Brazil regarding Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs), specifically focusing on the impacts of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). While the immediate economic impact of the EU CBAM on Brazil is estimated to be limited, the report highlights significant risks if such mechanisms proliferate to other major trading partners like the United States and Japan. The document synthesizes the concerns of the Brazilian government and industrial sectors, emphasizing the need for standardized emissions reporting, the recognition of non-price-based climate efforts, and the provision of financial support for technological adaptation in developing countries.

This report examines the potential socio-economic and environmental impacts of Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs), specifically the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), on Trinidad and Tobago. As a hydrocarbon-dependent economy and a major global exporter of ammonia and fertilizers, the country is highly vulnerable to import charges based on carbon emissions. The report analyzes sectoral vulnerabilities, stakeholder responses, and the role of the financial sector in supporting decarbonization, while providing policy recommendations to mitigate economic risks and leverage opportunities for green industrial transformation.

A fact sheet by Natural Justice detailing the proposed Maputo Floating Thermoelectric Power Plant Project in Mozambique, developed by Karpower and Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM). The project involves a natural gas-powered floating station and associated infrastructure, raising significant environmental, social, and economic concerns.

This policy brief examines China's role in transferring green technology to the Global South, highlighting its leadership in renewable energy and the mechanisms used to support sustainable development. While China has established numerous bilateral agreements and funds, the document identifies significant challenges including a gap between environmental commitments and actual impacts, limited local operational capacity, and geopolitical tensions.

This research paper develops an econometric climate model to value the ecosystem service of tropical forests in maintaining rainfall patterns necessary for hydropower energy generation, specifically analyzing the impact of Amazon deforestation on the Teles Pires plant in Brazil.

This report analyzes the inclusion of fossil fuel production in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the world's top 20 producing countries and provides a framework for incorporating the COP 28 agreement to transition away from fossil fuels into third-generation NDCs and long-term low-emissions development strategies (LT-LEDS).