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The document presents findings from the EEIST programme in Brazil, arguing that risk-opportunity analysis (ROA) is a more effective tool for policymakers than traditional cost-benefit analysis (CBA) when assessing the green transition. It highlights how Brazil's specific financial and landscape dimensions can facilitate low-carbon re-industrialisation, supporting these claims with empirical and modelling case studies.

The document argues that climate change is a human rights crisis driven by a small number of 'Carbon Majors' in the fossil fuel and agroindustrial sectors. It asserts that States have a duty under the American Convention on Human Rights to regulate these entities, halt fossil fuel expansion, and ensure reparations for affected communities. It further argues that business enterprises have an independent obligation to respect human rights, which includes conducting due diligence across their entire value chain and ceasing deceptive 'climate-washing' practices.

The document is a formal agreement signed on December 7, 2023, between FAPESC and IAI. It outlines a framework for joint activities in transdisciplinary research, capacity building, and the science-policy interface regarding global environmental changes and their impacts on human well-being. The collaboration emphasizes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and includes potential cooperation through the Belmont Forum. The agreement lasts four years and specifies that no financial resources will be transferred between the parties, with each signatory covering its own expenses.

The report analyzes the state of fossil fuel subsidies in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting their regressive nature and economic inefficiency. It provides a framework for a just transition, recommending transparent measurement, participatory planning, and the use of saved funds for social protection and renewable energy.

The IISD welcomes the Emirates COP28 Leaders Declaration as a historic first for food systems at a COP, praising its commitment to integrate food and land use into national climate and biodiversity plans by 2025. While the IISD supports the declaration's focus on financial support and the interlinkages between climate and biodiversity, it argues that the document should have explicitly called for the urgent phase-out of fossil fuels within food systems to align with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target.

The document analyzes the green agricultural policies and financial markets of China and Brazil, highlighting the strategic importance of soy and beef in their bilateral trade. It identifies a divergence in focus, with China prioritizing technical production efficiency and pollution control, while Brazil focuses on land-use change, deforestation, and livestock management. The report recommends that Brazil develop a national taxonomy combining 'white list' and 'technical screening' approaches and suggests seven specific actions for China-Brazil collaboration, including the creation of a joint green agriculture fund and the harmonization of sustainable production standards for key commodities.

The report analyzes the green agriculture landscapes of China and Brazil, highlighting their strategic trade partnership and shared climate challenges. It contrasts China's focus on production technology and pollution control with Brazil's emphasis on land use, deforestation, and livestock management. The document proposes a framework for Brazil to develop its own sustainable taxonomy and suggests seven action points for the two nations to establish a common green agriculture classification standard to facilitate cross-border capital flow and sustainable commodity value chains, particularly for soy and beef.

The report analyzes the green agriculture policies and finance markets of China and Brazil, emphasizing the strategic importance of their bilateral trade in soybeans and beef. It identifies a need for harmonized green taxonomies to reduce transaction costs and prevent greenwashing, providing specific recommendations for Brazil's upcoming sustainable taxonomy and a framework for bilateral cooperation.

The report finds that climate-related financial cooperation between MDBs and NDBs is currently limited, with approximately USD 7 billion in tracked flows from 2015 to 2022. There is significant divergence in how these institutions approach Paris alignment, with MDBs generally possessing more standardised targets and dedicated energy policies, while NDBs often anchor their goals in national NDCs. Key barriers to increased cooperation include currency risks, differing institutional mandates, and gaps in technical capacity. The authors recommend that MDBs optimise on-lending models, promote local currency instruments, and share expertise through platforms like Finance in Common to scale up climate investment.

The report finds limited existing climate cooperation between MDBs and NDBs and highlights a divergence in their progress toward Paris alignment. While MDBs generally have more standardized climate targets and energy policies, NDBs show greater variability and often align their goals with national determined contributions (NDCs). The authors identify operational barriers to on-lending, such as currency risks and institutional capacity gaps, and recommend optimizing operating models, clarifying climate mandates, and sharing expertise to scale global climate investment.

The briefing reports a global pipeline of 917 mtpa in new LNG export capacity and 705 mtpa in import capacity, representing an estimated US$1 trillion investment. It warns that a wave of new projects coming online by the middle of the decade, primarily in the United States and Qatar, could lead to market saturation and unprofitable stranded assets. The report highlights that while Asia and Europe are the primary developers of import capacity, demand in these regions is uncertain due to decarbonization goals and price sensitivity. It further notes that many projects are already facing delays or cancellations, and that the buildout in the U.S. may conflict with national interests by raising domestic gas prices and increasing emissions.

The report argues that climate adaptation is now a business imperative due to increasing physical risks and economic losses. It identifies three 'entry points' for private finance: 'Protect' (safeguarding existing assets and supply chains), 'Grow' (investing in early-stage and mature companies developing resilience technologies), and 'Participate' (co-investing in public sector infrastructure projects). The analysis highlights that adaptation investments can yield high benefit-to-cost ratios, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), and that valuation multiples for resilience solution providers are promising, with a median of 9 times revenue.

The December 2023 update finds that global warming projections have stalled, with current policies leading to 2.7°C of warming by 2100. Even the most optimistic scenario, including all announced targets, results in 1.8°C, exceeding the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal. The report highlights a growing implementation gap and warns that reliance on carbon capture and storage (CCS), e-fuels, and carbon offsets are 'false solutions' that delay necessary deep emission cuts. It urges governments to submit 1.5°C-aligned 2035 targets by February 2025 and to commit to a complete phase-out of fossil fuels.

The report analyzes planning frameworks, negotiation methods, and financing models used by city water authorities (CWAs) in LMICs to secure resilient water supplies. It identifies that while tools like Scenario Analysis, Robust Decision Support (RDS), and Climate Risk-based Decision Analysis (CRIDA) exist, their implementation is often hindered by low technical capacity, data gaps, and reactive planning driven by crises. Successful negotiation often relies on incentivization, trusted intermediaries, and public buy-in, while financing varies from traditional tariffs and grants to innovative mechanisms like Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and water funds. Case studies from cities such as São Paulo, Cape Town, and Amman illustrate the practical application and challenges of these strategies.

The document analyzes the cassava value web in Colombia, identifying its current uses in food, animal feed, and industrial materials, while highlighting potential for expansion into bioplastics and bioethanol. It maps commercial, financial, and knowledge linkages across four main production nuclei: Cauca, the Atlantic Coast, Orinoquía, and Amazonía. The paper argues that while Colombia is the third largest producer in Latin America, low productivity and limited technification hinder its competitiveness. It recommends developing inclusive supply chains, promoting sustainable agricultural practices to protect biodiversity, and increasing incentives for private sector innovation to transition toward a sustainable bioeconomy.

The report examines the vulnerability of global trade infrastructure to climate change, highlighting that maritime, land-based, and air transport are all exposed to acute and slow-onset hazards. It identifies critical 'chokepoints' in global supply chains, particularly for food and raw materials, and notes that current adaptation efforts by governments and businesses are insufficient. The document argues for a systemic, global approach to climate-proofing trade infrastructure to prevent catastrophic economic losses and support the low-carbon transition.

The report finds that while current national targets collectively aim for a doubling of renewable capacity by 2030, they often underestimate the actual pace of deployment. A global tripling to 11,000 GW is considered achievable if governments update targets to reflect recent growth and maintain a 17% annual increase in additions. The analysis identifies specific countries with high potential to increase ambition, such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the UAE, while noting that others like India and Saudi Arabia already have targets that aim for a tripling of their 2022 capacity.

The report analyzes forest compensation in the MATOPIBA region (Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia), where agricultural expansion has led to significant deforestation. It evaluates three existing modalities—reforestation by the debtor, forest compensation credits, and cash payments—finding that current implementation often lacks technical oversight, transparency, and environmental effectiveness. To address these gaps, the authors propose four innovative mechanisms: the adoption of computerized management platforms, the use of payment for environmental services (PES), outsourcing fund management to specialized third parties, and utilizing blended finance and match funding to scale restoration projects.

The 2023 update finds that while current policies for 25 major economies may result in 2030 emissions between -6% and +8% compared to 2019 levels, this falls short of the 43% reduction aligned with the Paris Agreement. While 13 countries are now on track to meet their NDC targets, 12 countries still face an implementation gap.

The document is a list of participants for the 56th Meeting of the Executive Council to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, held via videoconference on 14 November 2023.