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This background note provides historical data and forecasts for global and African energy demand and production up to 2043, highlighting the role of population growth in driving energy needs and the slow transition away from fossil fuels.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative examines investment opportunities in Brazil's agri-food sector through the lens of low-carbon transition frameworks. It highlights that agriculture and land use drive nearly 75% of Brazil's gross GHG emissions and introduces the 'Five Principles' and 'Five Hallmarks' as tools for investors to verify the credibility of corporate transition plans. Through case studies of Syngenta and Amaggi, the report illustrates the gap between public sustainability commitments and the need for detailed financial strategies and absolute emission reductions. It also reviews Brazilian financial instruments like LCAs and CRAs, noting a potential green investment opportunity of US$ 163 billion by 2030, while warning of regulatory pressures from the EU's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

This guide, prepared by the Climate Bonds Initiative, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Green Climate Fund, provides a step-by-step framework for corporate issuers to finance their climate transition using thematic bonds. It details the process of creating a credible transition plan, selecting appropriate debt labels—such as green, sustainability, or sustainability-linked bonds—and establishing a sustainable financing framework to ensure alignment with the Paris Agreement goals.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative examines the role of fossil gas in sustainable finance taxonomies, arguing that fugitive methane emissions significantly increase the climate impact of gas-fired power generation, often making it comparable to coal. It analyzes various global taxonomies and concludes that the strict criteria for fossil gas inclusion in the EU Taxonomy make such projects economically unviable compared to renewable energy alternatives.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative outlines a framework for investors to identify credible transition opportunities in Brazil's agri-food sector. It emphasizes the need for entity-level transition plans aligned with 1.5°C goals, using case studies of Syngenta and Amaggi to demonstrate the application of the 'Triple A' (Ambition, Action, Accountability) framework. The report also analyzes Brazilian financial instruments like LCAs and CRAs and highlights the impact of international regulations like the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on Brazilian exports.

This report by RMI argues that financial institutions (FIs) can use asset-level emissions modeling and remote detection technologies to identify and fund methane abatement in the oil and gas sector. It highlights that methane emissions from equivalent volumes of oil and gas can vary by a factor of 10 or more, and that a significant portion of these emissions can be reduced through cost-neutral or profitable investments. The document advocates for the use of 20-year Global Warming Potential (GWP) metrics to better reflect near-term climate risks and the impact of new regulations, such as the US Inflation Reduction Act's methane fee.

This policy brief by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) examines options for international trade-related cooperation to address plastic pollution, specifically focusing on single-use plastics. It analyzes existing national legislative approaches, proposes criteria for identifying problematic plastics, and outlines pathways for collective action through the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the development of a global plastics treaty.

This policy brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the role of municipalities and regional governments in strengthening carbon sinks within the context of EU LULUCF regulations, specifically highlighting the challenges and opportunities in forested nations.

This report examines how the European Union and its member states address cascading and cross-border climate impacts within agri-food systems in third countries with close ties to Europe, identifying strategic challenges and providing policy recommendations to build system-wide resilience.

This report by Ember analyzes global power sector emissions and electricity generation for the first half of 2023, noting that emissions plateaued due to a historic decline in hydropower output that offset gains from wind and solar growth.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the impact of the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) on Brazilian agribusiness. It examines how Brazil's existing environmental policies, such as the Forest Code and various monitoring systems, align with the EUDR's requirements and identifies the opportunities and challenges for Brazil to maintain and expand its market share in the European Union.

This briefing by the NewClimate Institute evaluates the progress of 16 countries against 1.5°C-aligned benchmarks for decarbonising the power sector. It argues that a global transition to clean power must be achieved within a generation, requiring the phase-out of coal and fossil gas by 2040, with developed nations moving faster. While some countries show progress in coal phase-outs and renewables, the briefing highlights a critical lack of explicit fossil gas phase-out plans and concerns over China's coal plant permitting.

This case study by RMI examines the Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub (MCHH), developed in collaboration with Hy Stor Energy, to demonstrate how large-scale geological storage of green hydrogen can enhance energy security and resiliency for the United States and its international partners. The document details how the MCHH can provide a secure, zero-carbon energy supply to critical industrial sectors, reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and imported commodities, and support strategic trade partners in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

An analysis by Ember on per capita coal power emissions across G20 economies from 2015 to 2022, highlighting that while over half of these nations have seen declines, Australia and South Korea remain the highest polluters per capita.

The Clean Air NDC Scorecard 2023 evaluates how 170 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) integrate air quality and health considerations. The analysis reveals a significant gap in recognition of the links between climate action and air quality, particularly among high-income countries and major emitters, while low- and middle-income countries generally demonstrate higher levels of integration.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative provides guidance for corporations and financial institutions on complying with the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR). It details the regulation's mandatory due diligence and geolocation requirements for specific commodities, the potential future expansion of the law to include financial institutions, and the role of transition plans and third-party certifications in achieving compliance and broader sustainability goals.

The Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2023 report by Ember analyses global electricity generation from January to June 2023. It finds that global power sector emissions plateaued, increasing by only 0.2%, as significant growth in wind and solar was offset by a historic decline in hydropower generation caused by droughts.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute provides an overview of the evolving landscape of climate risk reporting for financial actors and corporates, with a specific focus on Swedish real estate investors. It details the distinctions between physical, transition, and systemic risks, compares international and EU-specific reporting frameworks, and discusses the shift from single to double materiality approaches in sustainability disclosures.

This policy paper maps the landscape of standards and initiatives related to plastic pollution to support international cooperation. It categorizes instruments into government regulations, voluntary multistakeholder standards, and non-governmental initiatives. The paper highlights the role of these standards in the ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty (INC) and the WTO Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP), emphasizing the need for inclusiveness for developing countries and the identification of 'standards gaps' across the plastics life cycle.

This IISD policy brief examines design elements of border carbon adjustments (BCAs) that should be the focus of international cooperation to reduce political tension and administrative burdens for traders, particularly in developing countries.