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In October 2020, zero-carbon electricity sources in Europe, particularly wind and nuclear, outperformed fossil fuels, leading to a reduction in fossil fuel generation despite recovering electricity demand.

The report exposes systemic issues in Peru's fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) industry, the world's largest, highlighting the overfishing of juvenile anchovies, corruption in quota setting, and the failure of sustainability certifications like MarinTrust. It details how major producers, such as TASA and Austral Group, supply global aquafeed giants (including Skretting and BioMar) that provide feed for salmon sold to major European retailers. Additionally, the document reports severe health and safety violations during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, where companies allegedly covered up widespread infections among workers.

The report exposes the Peruvian fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) industry as unsustainable, citing widespread corruption, overfishing of juvenile anchovies, and poor worker safety during the Covid-19 pandemic. It maps the supply chain from Peruvian producers like TASA and Austral Group to major European feed companies (e.g., Skretting, BioMar) and retailers (e.g., Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury), arguing that sustainability certifications like MarinTrust are ineffective 'greenwashing'. The document calls for the global aquaculture sector to phase out FMFO by 2025 to protect marine ecosystems, particularly the Humboldt Current.

The report finds that Poland was responsible for 70% of methane leaks from Europe's operational coal mines in 2018. These emissions, totaling 659 kilotonnes, have a 20-year climate impact equivalent to 56.7 million tonnes of CO2, which exceeds the 2018 CO2 emissions of the Belchatów power plant. The analysis identifies two companies, JSW and PGG, as responsible for 90% of leaks from operational hard coal mines, with the Budryk deep mine identified as the largest emitter in Europe. The report recommends accelerating methane reduction plans, prioritizing the closure of methane-intensive mines, banning the release of captured methane, and integrating coal mine methane into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme by 2030.

The report highlights that Poland accounted for 70% of methane leaks from active coal mines in Europe in 2018. It argues that these emissions have a greater climate impact than the CO2 emissions from the Bełchatów Power Plant when using a 20-year warming horizon. The analysis identifies JSW and PGG as the dominant emitters, with the Budryk mine being the largest single source in Europe. The document recommends accelerating emission reduction plans, closing high-emitting mines, banning the release of captured methane, and integrating methane into the EU ETS by 2030.

The 2020 Goal 1 assessment concludes that the world is failing to halve natural forest loss and associated greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and is not on track to stop them by 2030. Using data from Global Forest Watch and the FAO, the report finds that global annual gross tree cover loss has increased by 40% since the NYDF was signed in 2014 compared to the 2001-2013 baseline. Humid tropical primary forest loss has increased by 41% on average since the baseline period. While net natural forest loss decreased slightly from 10.4 million hectares per year (2000-2010) to 7.8 million hectares per year (2010-2020), this is insufficient to meet targets. Tropical Africa is identified as an emerging frontier of forest loss, while Latin America remains the region with the highest absolute area of primary forest loss. Greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and primary forest loss are also moving away from 2030 targets, with primary forest emissions 45% higher since the NYDF signing than before.

The document identifies six key areas where technical assistance and capacity building (TACB) are needed to implement a future WTO instrument on fisheries subsidies: identifying and notifying subsidies, ensuring compliance with prohibitions, establishing domestic rules, re-purposing subsidy schemes, identifying IUU fishing and overfished stocks, and strengthening management regimes. Analysis of OECD and Pew Charitable Trusts data from 2012–2017 reveals that while fisheries-related official development assistance (ODA) has grown, it remains a small fraction (0.3%) of total sector-allocable ODA. The brief finds a significant gap in support for subsidy reform and IUU monitoring, while a large portion of funding is directed toward general fisheries management and development projects that may inadvertently increase fishing capacity in regions like Africa.

The report investigates how transitioning to a closed-loop economy affects employment, concluding that circular economy proxy measures are generally more labour-intensive than fossil-fuel-related jobs and can decouple economic activity from greenhouse gas emissions.

An analysis of 442 savings funds marketed in France reveals that 86.2% are exposed to companies with critical environmental or social risks, including major greenhouse gas emitters, arms manufacturers, and coal companies. The report highlights a significant gap between French citizens' desire for sustainable investments and the reality of current financial products, noting that 94% of studied ISR-labeled funds still finance these problematic companies. Reclaim Finance calls for mandatory climate requirements for all financial products in France, stricter standards for 'green' or 'sustainable' labels, and the implementation of a 'nutri-score' for financial products to increase transparency.

The document argues that the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the critical link between ecosystem health and human health, urging policymakers to adopt nature-based solutions for both pandemic prevention and economic recovery. It recommends ending ecosystem degradation, reforming livestock production, regulating wildlife trade, and ensuring that economic stimulus packages include green conditionalities to avoid further environmental damage.

An investigation by Global Witness and PPLAAF suggests that Dan Gertler used a money laundering network spanning the DRC, Europe, and Israel to evade US sanctions imposed in 2017. The report alleges that Gertler continued to acquire mining permits via front companies and received payments from major mining firms, including Glencore, while utilizing Afriland First Bank to facilitate these financial arrangements.

A joint investigation by Global Witness and PPLAAF suggests that Dan Gertler evaded US sanctions through a money laundering network spanning the DRC, Europe, and Israel. The report alleges that Gertler used proxy companies to acquire mining permits from Gécamines and that Afriland First Bank played a central role in the evasion scheme. Furthermore, it claims that major mining companies, including Glencore, ERG, and Sicomines, continued to engage in business or make payments to entities linked to Gertler despite the sanctions.

The briefing warns that climate scenarios used by financial and corporate actors often lack the ambition required to meet the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement, effectively acting as greenwashing tools. It calls for robust 1.5°C scenarios from agencies like the IEA and urges financial actors to establish clear exit dates from fossil fuels: by 2040 in Europe and 2050 elsewhere for oil and gas, and ten years earlier for coal.

The document warns that many climate scenarios used by corporations and financial players to claim alignment with the Paris Agreement actually lead to warming exceeding 1.5°C, acting as 'greenwashing tools'. It identifies five main traps in these scenarios, alongside a sixth: the continued protection of the fossil fuel sector. The author urges actors to demand robust 1.5°C scenarios from agencies like the IEA and calls for financial players to phase out fossil fuels by 2040 in Europe and 2050 elsewhere for gas and oil, and ten years earlier for coal.

The sustainable debt market in H1 2020 was characterized by a shift in composition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a surge in pandemic and social bonds offsetting a significant decline in green bond volumes. While green bonds historically dominated, H1 2020 saw a more even split between themes, with pandemic-related investments likely financing around half of the total sustainable debt market. The report highlights the emergence of pandemic bonds, primarily in China, and the role of supranationals in sustainability issuance. Policy-wise, it examines the 'build back better' agenda, the development of taxonomies in the EU and China, and the increasing involvement of central banks and stock exchanges in integrating climate risk into financial systems.

The report examines how services—ranging from R&D and IT to waste management and repair—enable circular economy business models. Based on a survey of 96 firms, it finds that approximately 70% of circular service providers export their services, often via digital means (Mode 1) or foreign subsidiaries (Mode 3). The study highlights that micro and small enterprises are disproportionately active in this trade. Key barriers identified include divergent national regulations on waste and secondary materials, as well as data flow restrictions. The authors argue for an integrated trade policy that liberalizes both goods and services simultaneously to accelerate the global transition to a circular economy.

The report examines the global soybean market, noting that production is highly concentrated in the US, Brazil, and Argentina, with demand driven by meat consumption and Asia. It highlights significant environmental and social risks, including deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes and the use of GM crops. While voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) aim to mitigate these risks, their adoption remains low, representing only 1.8% of global production in 2018. The report identifies potential for VSS growth in LHDCs like Nigeria and Benin, though challenges such as mechanization and market competition persist.

The report critiques common climate scenarios, such as the IEA's Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS), for underestimating emissions and overestimating carbon capture to justify continued fossil fuel use. It argues that these scenarios often lead to warming above 2°C despite claims of alignment with the Paris Agreement. The author calls for a rapid phase-out of fossil fuel financing by 2040 in Europe and 2050 globally.

The document identifies five 'traps' in climate scenarios—including the omission of non-combustion emissions, reliance on unproven negative emissions technologies, and underestimation of renewable energy—that lead to warming above 2°C. It specifically criticizes the IEA's Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS) and NGFS 'representative' scenarios for facilitating continued fossil fuel expansion. The author calls for financial actors to phase out fossil fuel financing by 2040 in Europe and 2050 globally.

The SEforALL Anti-Money Laundering Policy mandates a zero-tolerance approach to money laundering and terrorist financing for all staff, ambassadors, and funded partners. It outlines a framework for risk identification through 'red flags', requires 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) due diligence for partners, and establishes a strict reporting chain led by a Compliance Officer. The policy emphasizes compliance with international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and specific legal requirements in Austria, including the maintenance of financial records for at least five years.