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The document advocates for incorporating the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL) into climate adaptation planning in Canada. It argues that traditional economic accounting often prioritizes tangible property damage over less quantifiable health impacts from extreme heat and wildfire smoke, potentially leading to the undervaluing of life-saving measures. By using VSL—a measure of the economic benefit of reduced mortality based on public willingness to pay—governments can more accurately conduct cost-benefit analyses and develop comprehensive policies that address both human and economic costs.

The document highlights the dangers of extreme heat in Canada, noting that 619 people died during the 2021 B.C. heat wave, with 93% lacking functional home cooling. It advocates for a combination of mechanical cooling (heat pumps, air conditioners) and urban greening, noting that in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, these could reduce heat-related hospitalization costs by 30% by mid-century. The text also recommends implementing occupational heat standards, earlier public heat warnings, and flexible workplace schedules to protect workers and maintain productivity, citing that schedule adaptations in B.C. could save $4 million annually in GDP losses by the 2030s.

The study evaluates territorial and consumption-based accounting (CBA) for subnational GHG emissions assessments. It finds that while territorial accounting is best for internal monitoring, CBA is superior for interregional comparisons and understanding global footprints, though it is harder to link to specific spatial planning decisions. The authors argue that using a single net emissions figure for climate targets can be misleading and that both methods are complementary for a thorough understanding of emission patterns.

The document critiques the upcoming Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris, highlighting the failure of Northern governments to meet the 100 billion dollar annual climate finance promise. It advocates for 'polluter-pays' taxes on shipping, aviation, and fossil fuel companies, and calls for a cessation of private financial services for fossil fuel expansion in the Global South.

The document critiques the upcoming Summit for a New Global Financial Pact, arguing that current climate finance is woefully inadequate and often delivered as debt-increasing loans. It advocates for 'polluter pays' taxes on shipping, aviation, and fossil fuel companies, and calls for a 'climate version of the Hippocratic Oath' for private investors to stop financing fossil fuels in the Global South while attempting to fund the energy transition.

The policy brief highlights a gap between current European electricity interconnection expansion plans and the actual needs of the power system. It asserts that doubling interconnection capacity is essential to integrate renewables cost-effectively and reduce reliance on fossil gas. The author identifies critical border corridors requiring urgent attention and proposes three pathways forward: accelerating the 22 GW of projects already in the pipeline, investing in non-wire solutions like storage and demand response, or increasing domestic renewable capacities at a higher cost.

Reclaim Finance reports on the 2023 annual general meetings of six French financial actors, noting a generally hostile reception but highlighting specific outcomes. While Crédit Agricole acknowledged the need to stop increasing fossil fuel capacities to limit warming to 1.5°C, and SCOR committed to stop covering risks for new gas fields, BNP Paribas refused to set 'red lines' for its financing of oil and gas majors. AXA remains the last major European (re)insurer supporting new gas fields, defending the practice via the European taxonomy.

Japan possesses vast offshore wind resources, with a technical potential exceeding 9,000 TWh/year, far surpassing its projected 2050 electricity demand. While current deployment is low, the government has set targets of 10 GW by 2030 and 45 GW by 2040. The document highlights that floating offshore wind is critical for Japan due to its deep coastal waters and could position the country as a global industry leader. Economic benefits include reduced dependency on imported fossil fuels, with a 30 GW target by 2030 potentially avoiding USD 27.8 billion in gas costs at 2022 prices. However, achieving these targets is hindered by lengthy environmental permitting processes and a fragmented electricity grid divided by different technical standards (50 Hz and 60 Hz).

The report assesses Europe's theoretical CO2 storage capacity, estimating it between 262 and 1520 GtCO2, and matches this against industrial and non-industrial CCS demand scenarios for 2035 and 2050. It compares 'Export' scenarios (limited key basins) with 'Domestic' scenarios (widespread storage), finding that while Europe has sufficient long-term theoretical capacity, current announced projects are insufficient for 2035 demand. The analysis highlights that widespread domestic storage could halve transport CAPEX costs compared to export-heavy models, though certain regions like Northern Italy, the German North Sea, and Switzerland may face capacity constraints under high-demand scenarios.

The report argues that federal funding from Budget 2023 can help provinces modernize electricity grids and reduce the cost of transitioning to net zero. While electricity rates may rise modestly, the shift to more efficient electric technologies like heat pumps and electric vehicles is projected to lower average household energy spending by 12% by 2050. The authors emphasize that provinces should adopt targeted policy tools, such as means-tested fixed charges, to ensure energy affordability for low- and middle-income households.

The report argues that federal investments in clean electricity will lower overall energy expenses for Canadians by 2050, despite modest increases in electricity rates, provided that provinces implement targeted affordability measures for low-income households.

The document argues that current economic systems are failing and that large-scale economic reform requires broad public support, which can be generated through participatory mechanisms. It defines a 'social contract' as an agreement between state and society on rights, responsibilities, and resource distribution, suggesting that a new 'eco-social contract' is needed to prioritize the planet and people over profit. The briefing details various innovative mechanisms for citizen engagement—such as citizen assemblies, participatory budgeting, and just transition processes—and identifies five key tools best suited for driving economic reform. It emphasizes the need to expand these mechanisms to the Global South and frontline communities to restore trust and create a 'social mandate' for a just and sustainable transition.

China has established itself as the global leader in renewable energy, with operating large utility-scale solar capacity of 228 GW and combined wind capacity exceeding 310 GW. The country is pursuing a strategy of 'mega wind and solar bases' in its northern and northwestern deserts to meet a central government target of 1,200 GW of cumulative capacity by 2030, a goal it is likely to surpass by 2025. This expansion is driven by a combination of historical feed-in tariffs, favorable financing from state-owned banks, and strict provincial targets. However, the report notes that new renewables bases are often bundled with new coal-fired power plants to manage intermittency, potentially hindering the phase-out of fossil fuels. To address volatility, China is implementing 'source-grid-load-storage' integration, expanding new energy storage, and developing green hydrogen production.

The report identifies a growing, commercially driven marketplace for 'influence as a service' in Kenya, where digital entrepreneurs monetise their networks to amplify political narratives. While techniques mirror global trends, the operations were predominantly indigenous. The study highlights the use of bots, astroturfing, and conspiratorial narratives—such as the 'deep state'—to undermine democratic institutions and legacy media. It warns that the integration of artificial intelligence could accelerate disinformation, creating an 'automated disinformation arms race' that threatens fragile democracies across Africa.

The report finds that 30 major asset managers invested at least $3.5 billion in newly issued bonds from fossil fuel developers, with Vanguard and BlackRock as the top investors. It argues that existing engagement activities are insufficient, noting that only 20% of coal and oil and gas companies engaged by the CA100+ initiative have set net-zero ambitions by 2050. The analysis reveals a lack of robust sector policies, with only one manager (Ostrum) having measures to induce oil and gas companies to stop expansion plans. The report concludes that asset managers often prioritize short-term gains over the long-term interests of asset owners and recommends immediate cessation of support for coal and oil and gas expansion.

The document critiques current green industrialisation (GI) strategies in the SADC region for remaining tethered to linear economic growth models and 'greenwashing'. It proposes a 'regenerative' alternative based on principles of holism, biomimicry, and African indigenous philosophies like Ubuntu and Ukama. Through scenario analysis, the authors present three possible futures: a business-as-usual scenario (Scenario A), a dystopian 'Apocalyptic Africa' (Scenario B) marked by extreme climate disasters and resource wars, and a 'Regenerative Revival' (Scenario C). The brief concludes that SADC must move beyond surface-level policy changes to shift deeper mental models and paradigms, recommending the use of strategic foresight, the empowerment of youth, and a 'bottom-in' approach to reach marginalised populations.

The policy brief advocates for the adoption of the Impact Chain approach to make climate adaptation in Europe 'smarter' and more systemic. It recommends shifting from a 'predict-then-act' to a 'reflect-then-act' paradigm to better manage uncertainties, accounting for transboundary climate risks that cascade across jurisdictions, and integrating social vulnerability assessments to ensure equitable adaptation. The brief emphasizes the need for collaborative, iterative co-production of knowledge with stakeholders and citizens to bridge the gap between scientific data and actionable policy.

The document outlines a framework for a Just Energy Transition (JET) in Latin America, the Caribbean (LAC), and Africa, emphasizing the need to move beyond fossil fuel dependence toward sustainable, community-led energy systems. It identifies shared priorities between the regions, such as social participation and economic diversification, while noting distinct challenges: LAC focuses more on financing mechanisms and existing renewable capacity, whereas Africa emphasizes social justice, energy access for 600 million people, and the legacies of colonialism. The brief calls for a full phase-out of fossil fuels by 2040, grant-based climate finance, and safeguards for the extraction of transition minerals.

The paper explores the operationalisation of 'just resilience' in European climate adaptation, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable populations who are disproportionately at risk and often excluded from adaptation processes. It identifies three core dimensions of justice—distributive, procedural, and recognition—alongside additional perspectives like intergenerational justice and intersectionality, to inform the development of goals and indicators for monitoring progress in line with EU policies such as the European Green Deal.

Bill S-5 introduces the first federal recognition of the right to a healthy environment in Canada and strengthens the framework for managing toxic substances by prioritizing CMRs and PBiT substances. It introduces accountability mechanisms for substance assessments, such as a 'watch list' and mandatory publication of reasons for delays. However, the document argues that further updates are needed regarding citizen lawsuits, national air quality standards, consumer product labelling, genetically modified animals, ocean dumping, First Nations reserve land protections, and plastic waste exports.