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The report finds that most major fashion brands are increasing their reliance on synthetic fibres while using 'smoke screen' tactics—such as voluntary industry initiatives and shifting responsibility to consumers—to avoid meaningful regulation and reduction of plastic pollution.

The report finds that global fashion brands are increasing their dependence on synthetic fibres to sustain the 'fast fashion' business model while using 'distraction and delay' tactics to avoid meaningful action on microplastic pollution. Despite scientific evidence linking microplastics to severe health risks, most brands lack transparency, with 54% of surveyed companies failing to respond fully to the inquiry. The study highlights that recycled polyester from plastic bottles is an ineffective solution that does not address microplastic leakage. Furthermore, the industry shows minimal support for binding legislation, such as the EU's textile strategies, preferring weak voluntary initiatives.

The document evaluates the suitability of NGFS, IEA, and NITI Aayog scenarios for the Indian context, highlighting that global models often underestimate India's specific macroeconomic risks. It details transmission channels from macro-variables to micro-level financial risks and analyzes case studies from the ECB, Bank of England, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the Central Bank of Colombia. The authors propose a phased roadmap for the Reserve Bank of India, moving from preliminary top-down exercises to the development of in-house macroeconomic models and comprehensive bottom-up stress tests over a long-term horizon.

The report highlights that China's steel sector requires at least CNY1.6tn (USD220bn) in fixed-asset investment for decarbonisation by 2050. While the labelled bond and loan markets have the capacity to provide this capital, current issuance from the steel sector is minimal, representing only 0.1% of the Chinese labelled bond market. The document recommends aligning provincial transition finance guidelines with national and international standards, encouraging the use of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission-reduction targets in sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs), and implementing green public procurement to stimulate demand for low-carbon steel.

The report analyzes eight nature-based solutions (NbS) case studies across the EU and China, focusing on land, water, urban, and financing ecosystems. It evaluates these projects against the UNEA-5 definition and IUCN Global Standard, highlighting successes in large-scale landscape restoration and the role of research programs like Horizon 2020. Key findings emphasize that while NbS are increasingly mainstreamed, challenges remain in inclusive governance and private sector financing. The document recommends enhanced bilateral lesson-sharing, the development of a global costs-benefits database, and the use of standardized assessment tools to prevent greenwashing.

The report analyzes the CS3D, highlighting gaps in its scope of companies, value chain coverage, and the definition of environmental impacts compared to international standards like the OECD Guidelines and the CSRD. It argues that the current framework is too narrow, particularly regarding downstream activities and the financial sector. The authors provide 20 specific recommendations for Member States to strengthen the directive during transposition, focusing on expanding the scope of impacts, enhancing the effectiveness of climate transition plans, empowering supervisory authorities with proactive investigative powers, and broadening civil liability to better protect victims and the environment.

The Blue Manifesto argues that EU seas are at a tipping point due to over-exploitation and climate change, proposing an 'Ocean Deal' framework, a dedicated 'Ocean Fund', and the appointment of an Ocean Commissioner to ensure policy coherence. The document outlines a detailed timeline of sectoral policy asks through 2029, including bans on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas, the phase-out of offshore oil and gas exploration, and the elimination of environmentally harmful subsidies by 2027.

ClientEarth argues that the EMFAF and its predecessor (EMFF) have failed to meet their objectives, with significant funding still supporting capacity-enhancing and biodiversity-harming subsidies. The organization calls for a categorical prohibition of harmful subsidies by 2027, increased funding for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to meet EU nature restoration targets, and a shift in financial priority toward small-scale and low-impact fishers (SSF), who currently receive a disproportionately small share of funding compared to industrial fleets.

ClientEarth asserts that the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is a sound framework but suffers from systemic failures in implementation and enforcement. The organization argues that the EU has missed the 2020 deadline to end overfishing in all European sea basins and calls for the strict application of maximum sustainable yield (MSY), the landing obligation, and the integration of environmental legislation. Key recommendations include the deployment of remote electronic monitoring (REM) to combat illegal discards, the use of transparent social and environmental criteria for quota allocation, and the redirection of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) away from harmful subsidies toward small-scale, low-impact fisheries.

The document analyzes the global bioeconomy, estimating its current value at US$ 4-5 trillion with potential growth to US$ 30 trillion by 2050. It proposes a tripartite spectrum—Nature-Intensive, Advanced, and High-Tech bioeconomies—to better apply distinct financing and policy strategies. The report identifies significant funding gaps, particularly for first-of-a-kind (FOAK) projects and in the Global South, and advocates for an 'integrated approach' combining national strategies, international cooperation (via the G20), and innovative financial tools like biodiversity credits and blended finance to ensure a just transition.

The report argues that India requires cumulative investments of US$10.1 trillion by 2070 to reach net-zero, yet current tracked mitigation finance is only about 25 percent of the required amount. It distinguishes between 'green finance' for near-zero emission technologies and 'transition finance' for hard-to-abate sectors that lack immediate green alternatives. The document identifies critical gaps in the supply of finance, noting a lack of standardised taxonomy and an underdeveloped corporate bond market. On the demand side, it analyses the decarbonisation needs of the steel, cement, transport, power, and agriculture sectors, highlighting the high capital costs and technical risks of transformative technologies like Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS). The report proposes a five-pillar roadmap covering scope and definition, transparency, cooperation, supply chain support, and financial innovation, while recommending the establishment of a Prime Ministers Net Zero Council (PMNZC) to coordinate inter-ministerial efforts.

The policy brief outlines three core principles for the implementation of the EU's Social Climate Fund (SCF): ensuring meaningful public participation, prioritising structural solutions over temporary relief to avoid fossil fuel lock-ins, and mobilising additional financing beyond the mandatory 25% contribution. It argues that the SCF's budget of EUR 65 billion is insufficient to tackle the root causes of energy and transport poverty and calls for the redirection of ETS revenues and the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies to support vulnerable households.

Carbon Market Watch (CMW) assessed several market-based proposals for international shipping decarbonization, scoring them based on alignment with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal, emission reductions, and equity. The analysis highlights that while the IMO's 2023 strategy aims for net-zero emissions by 2050, current measures are insufficient. CMW identifies the proposal by Canada as the strongest (Score A+), citing its high carbon levy of 150 $/tCO2e, while criticizing the Bahamas et al. proposal (Score C) for its reliance on a flexibility compliance mechanism that disincentivizes decarbonization.

Carbon Market Watch (CMW) assessed several market-based measure (MBM) proposals for the international shipping sector, using a methodology developed by CE Delft. The evaluation focused on alignment with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal, immediate emission reductions, support for vulnerable nations and workers, and funding for research and development. The analysis highlights that current IMO strategies are insufficient for 1.5°C alignment and that only proposals with high carbon levies—such as those from Canada and Austria et al.—provide a strong enough price signal to drive the transition to zero-emission technologies.

The report examines border carbon adjustments (BCAs) as a tool to prevent carbon leakage, synthesizing views from stakeholders in five countries. It analyzes the risks of carbon leakage—specifically in Canada's heavy industry—and evaluates the design of the EU and UK CBAMs. Key discussions include the challenges of product-level emissions measurement, the need for revenue to support decarbonization in developing nations, and the potential for domestic carbon pricing as a strategic response to foreign BCAs.

The report examines how the EU's CBAM and potential future BCAs from other nations affect Vietnam's export-oriented economy, focusing on the iron, steel, aluminum, cement, and fertilizer sectors. It highlights the administrative and financial burdens on Vietnamese enterprises, particularly SMEs, and argues for the development of a domestic carbon pricing mechanism to retain revenues and improve competitiveness. The document also emphasizes the need for technical assistance and the application of the 'common but differentiated responsibilities' principle to ensure fairness for developing nations.

The report applies tipping point theory to the energy transition, arguing that while solar and wind have reached cost parity with fossil fuels globally, systemic barriers persist in many emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs). It proposes a holistic policy framework to 'force' tipping by amplifying positive feedbacks (e.g., reducing cost of capital), removing negative feedbacks (e.g., fossil fuel subsidy reform), and creating enabling conditions (e.g., grid modernization). The authors emphasize that public finance, especially international concessional funding, is critical to overcome high capital costs and infrastructure gaps in the Global South to meet the goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.

The report finds that G20 governments provided at least USD 168 billion in public financial support for renewable power in 2023, which is less than one third of the USD 535 billion provided in fossil fuel subsidies. Advanced economies and China account for 95% of this support, leaving many emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) at risk. To meet the 2030 tripling target, public support in G20 countries may need to double to approximately USD 336 billion per year. The report highlights a shift from feed-in tariffs toward market-based mechanisms like auctions and a growing emphasis on domestic manufacturing support in the US, EU, and India.

Reclaim Finance argues that the Capital Markets Union (CMU), as currently proposed, lacks the necessary environmental criteria to ensure that increased capital volumes support the ecological transition rather than polluting activities. The organization warns that some CMU measures could weaken prudential frameworks and supervisory mandates without considering climate risks. Reclaim Finance proposes that any CMU-related product or label must include strict climate criteria, including the exclusion of fossil fuel developers, and suggests alternative models like citizen-led sustainable project funds to avoid further financialization of the economy.

The document argues that the steel sector is no longer 'hard-to-abate' due to advancements in green hydrogen and electric arc furnaces. It challenges the distinction between metallurgical and thermal coal, warns against reliance on CCUS, and highlights the risk of stranded assets. The briefing urges financial institutions to adopt strict sectoral policies to end financing for new blast furnaces and metallurgical coal projects while increasing investment in sustainable alternatives.