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The CSDDD requires large companies to ensure their operations do not have disproportionate impacts on the climate, environment, biodiversity, and human rights. However, the document highlights a critical gap: financial services are excluded from due diligence requirements, meaning financial actors are only responsible for their non-financial activities (e.g., office supplies) rather than their investments in harmful projects. While the directive mandates climate transition plans for all covered entities, including financial actors, the document warns that relying on CSRD reporting standards may result in low-quality, non-prescriptive plans that fail to stop fossil fuel expansion.

ClientEarth argues that the European Commission's proposal to revise CAP regulations breaches several EU legal requirements, including the CAP Strategic Plans Regulation, the Treaty on European Union, and the European Climate Law, primarily due to the removal of environmental standards and the absence of required impact and climate consistency assessments.

The document highlights the severe economic and health costs of black carbon, noting that in China, short-term exposure in 2017 cost over US$7.5 billion and long-term exposure over US$53 billion. It asserts that reducing black carbon is a "triple win" that would protect glaciers, save millions of lives—including over 400,000 annually in India and nearly half a million in Sub-Saharan Africa—and improve gender equality by reducing the US$800 billion annual loss in women's productivity caused by unclean cooking fuels. Despite these benefits, the author notes that only 12 countries included black carbon targets in their first Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and warns that transportation-related emissions in Africa could double by 2040.

The UK is urged to establish a methane import standard aligned with the EU's Methane Regulation to drive global emissions reductions and protect its own export competitiveness. By setting a methane intensity performance standard of 0.2%, the UK could contribute to a reduction of 25,465 kt of methane globally and up to 124 kt domestically. The brief also recommends a formal Methane Action Plan, a legal ban on routine venting and flaring by 2026, and increased financial contributions to methane abatement projects via international financial institutions.

The report argues that climate change and the energy transition provide new vectors for mis- and disinformation that extend beyond simple climate denialism. It categorizes these threats into physical risks (e.g., misattributing disasters), cascading risks (e.g., xenophobic narratives around climate migration), and response risks (e.g., backlash to green policies). The document highlights the role of geopolitical competition, particularly involving Russia and China, and the amplifying effect of low institutional trust and AI technology. It recommends integrating misinformation risk assessments into climate policy design and strengthening monitoring capabilities.

The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), effective October 2023, imposes carbon tariffs on imports to prevent carbon leakage and encourage global decarbonisation. The document argues that the CBAM will disproportionately harm African countries, particularly least-developed countries (LDCs), by reducing GDP and exports of key materials like aluminium, iron, and steel. It highlights concerns regarding the mechanism's equity, its potential conflict with WTO non-discrimination rules, and the EU's plan to use revenues for internal debt rather than supporting LDCs. The brief recommends that the AfCFTA negotiate for exemptions, a slower phase-in period, and the exclusion of indirect emissions, while urging the EU to increase climate finance and technology transfers to Africa.

The document outlines a detailed schedule of EU ETS and CBAM milestones from 2024 to 2034. Key developments include a shrinking emissions cap, the phase-out of free allowances for aviation, the gradual integration of shipping and municipal waste incineration, and the phased implementation of CBAM. It also details the rollout of the ETS for buildings and road transport (ETS2) and the associated Social Climate Fund, alongside various European Commission reviews of the ETS Directive and Market Stability Reserve.

The analysis reveals a significant gap in climate action between large private and public companies, with private firms trailing in both the adoption of net zero targets and the publication of delivery plans. While 70% of the largest public companies have net zero targets, only 40% of the largest private companies have done so. Furthermore, only 20% of private companies with targets have published plans to deliver them, compared to 80% of public companies. Geographically, private companies in the EU and UK show higher adoption rates (75%) than those in the US (22%), while China has seen a slight increase from one to four companies with targets since 2022.

The report finds a substantial gap between the world's largest public and private companies regarding net zero commitments. While 70% of the largest public companies have set net zero targets, only 40% of the largest private companies have done so. Furthermore, private companies show a critical lack of integrity in their pledges; only 20% of those with net zero targets have published plans to achieve them, compared to 80% of public companies. The analysis highlights that high-emitting private sectors, particularly fossil fuels, are largely avoiding targets. The report argues that emerging regulations, such as the EU's CSRD and CSDDD, as well as California's SB 253 and SB 261, are essential to compel private companies to disclose emissions and adopt mandatory transition plans to mitigate transition risks.

Reclaim Finance calls on ENGIE shareholders to oppose the company's continued investment in fossil gas, arguing that its strategy is incompatible with a 1.5°C warming limit and its own 2045 carbon neutrality goal. The organization specifically highlights the planned gas power plant in Nijmegen, Netherlands, and long-term US shale gas contracts as evidence of misalignment with climate science. It advocates for voting against the re-election of directors and executive pay at the April 30 general meeting to force a strategic shift away from gas and uncertain technologies like CCUS and biomethane.

Reclaim Finance argues that ENGIE's continued investment in fossil gas is incompatible with a 1.5°C warming limit and its own 2045 carbon neutrality goal. The organization calls on shareholders to vote against key strategic resolutions to sanction the board for failing to align capital expenditure with decarbonization goals.

The document outlines the technical requirements for agri-food entities to be certified as deforestation and conversion free (DCF). It establishes a cut-off date of 31 December 2020, mandates geolocation traceability for high-risk origins and specific commodities, and requires rigorous due diligence and annual verification. The criteria align with the EU Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EUDR) and the Accountability Framework Initiative (AFi), extending protections to all natural ecosystems beyond forests.

Reclaim Finance criticizes a statement released by the SBTi Board of Trustees on April 9, 2024, which suggested extending the use of environmental attribute certificates for Scope 3 emissions abatement. The organization asserts that this move contradicts existing SBTi policy, which limits carbon credits to long-term net-zero targets for residual emissions (up to 10%), and was made without consulting the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) or Scientific Advisory Group (SAG). Reclaim Finance warns that this decision threatens the scientific integrity of science-based targets and could facilitate greenwashing.

The report examines several classification systems used to identify sustainable investments, including the Climate Bonds Taxonomy, the EU Taxonomy, the Colombian Green Taxonomy, and the Mexican Sustainable Taxonomy, as well as domestic Brazilian initiatives from FEBRABAN and BNDES. It provides detailed breakdowns of the technical screening criteria, eligibility requirements, and mitigation and adaptation goals for agricultural and forestry activities across these frameworks. The analysis highlights the transition from general environmental objectives to specific, measurable metrics such as GHG emission reductions and carbon stock increases, while noting the varying degrees of regulatory force—ranging from mandatory EU regulations to voluntary guides in Mexico and Colombia.

The policy brief highlights a disconnect between European transmission system operator (TSO) grid plans and actual energy policy targets or market outlooks. It argues that current regulatory requirements, which force TSOs to rely on outdated national legislation, lead to under-planned capacity and increased grid congestion. The author recommends that the European Commission provide guidance on anticipatory planning and that national regulators expand their oversight to assess the adequacy of grid plans beyond mere cost implications.

Ember reports that Germany's official coal mine methane (CMM) emissions are likely underestimated by 28 to 220 times. The current reporting relies on a single emission factor from a 1989 study that does not account for depth, geological variability, or surrounding strata. Independent estimates suggest annual emissions could be as high as 307,000 tonnes, compared to the 1.39 thousand tonnes officially reported for 2022. Ember recommends that Germany implement deposit-specific emission factors, direct measurements for active and closed mines, and pre-mine drainage to mitigate emissions.

The EU is facing a 'planning gap' where ambitious climate goals lack the detailed implementation roadmaps necessary for success. This is evidenced by draft National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) that lack credibility and substance, particularly regarding carbon capture and storage, methane reduction, and small modular reactors. The author urges Member States to use the remaining time before the June 2024 deadline to transform NECPs from bureaucratic exercises into strategic priorities that provide investor certainty and resilience against supply chain or geopolitical bottlenecks.

The document criticizes the European Central Bank (ECB) for allowing assets from fossil fuel developers to serve as collateral for bank liquidity, arguing that current 'greening' efforts are insufficient. It highlights that 32 fossil fuel developers and two coal companies without exit dates were eligible for collateral between July 2023 and January 2024. The author contends that companies can circumvent emission limits via financial subsidiaries and that haircuts for companies like TotalEnergies and Shell are too low, failing to reflect environmental and financial risks.

The statement criticizes the European Central Bank (ECB) for continuing to allow assets from fossil fuel developers to serve as collateral for bank liquidity. It highlights that 32 fossil fuel developers were eligible for collateral between July 2023 and January 2024, including coal companies without exit dates. The author argues that current limits on high-emitting securities are easily bypassed via financial subsidiaries and that haircuts for companies like TotalEnergies and Shell are insufficiently low (down to 1%) given their continued exploration of new oil and gas fields.

The report analyzes Senegal-Germany bilateral relations between 2012 and 2022, noting that while German imports of Senegalese goods tripled, they remain small compared to France's. It highlights a shift from donor-recipient dynamics toward trade partnerships, exemplified by the Compact with Africa and Just Energy Transition Partnerships. However, German foreign direct investment in Senegal remains low compared to other West African nations like Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, and significant data gaps persist regarding service exports and product granularity.