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The briefing outlines five recommendations to enhance the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) to meet Europe's climate goals, focusing on increasing CO2 storage capacity, creating an EU-level aggregation platform for CO2 markets, improving Member State mapping of storage potential, leveraging oil and gas sector resources, and accelerating infrastructure permitting.

The report outlines a strategy for India to secure a responsible lithium supply chain to avoid energy and economic security risks. It highlights lithium's status as a critical mineral globally and in India, noting that while other major economies have secured resources through overseas investments and refining capabilities, Indian companies have had a negligible role. The document warns that failure to act could hinder India's ability to build a Li-ion battery manufacturing base and stymie the growth of electric vehicles and stationary storage.

Reclaim Finance criticizes the European Commission's June 2023 proposal to regulate ESG ratings, stating that while it improves transparency and conflict-of-interest rules, it fails to prevent greenwashing by omitting minimum standards for ESG factors. The author contends that without mandatory requirements—such as aligning the 'E' factor with 1.5°C transition plans and ensuring each factor represents at least 25% of the final score—companies can 'shop' for lenient providers to hide their actual environmental impact.

A group of scientists requests increased public funding for US agricultural research to address the climate crisis, noting that inflation-adjusted investments have fallen by one-third since 2002. They argue that public R&D is essential for developing tools to mitigate climate change and improve food security, as private sector research often ignores non-commercial environmental benefits. The letter specifically calls for more resources for USDA agencies and programs such as the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), and research into sustainable nutrition and farmworker health.

The We Mean Business Coalition has launched the 'Fossil to Clean' campaign to accelerate the global transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. The campaign introduces 'Fossil to Clean principles' that call for explicit end dates for fossil fuel use to provide market certainty and prevent unwise economic risks in new oil and gas projects. While over 13,000 businesses are committed to science-based emission reductions, the coalition emphasizes that government regulation is the most critical accelerator to overcome barriers such as permitting delays and lack of infrastructure. The campaign aims to mobilize business voices leading up to COP28 to push governments to include fossil fuel phase-out targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

A World Weather Attribution study found that human-induced climate change significantly increased the likelihood and intensity of extreme rainfall events in the Mediterranean region in September 2023. In Libya, a 1-in-300 to 600 year event became up to 50 times more likely and 50% more intense compared to a 1.2C cooler climate. In a region encompassing Greece, Bulgaria, and Türkiye, similar events became up to 10 times more likely and 40% more intense. The study highlights that while climate change exacerbated the weather, the scale of the disaster—particularly in Libya—was compounded by state fragility, lack of dam maintenance, and inadequate emergency communication.

The Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub (MCHH) aims to leverage natural salt domes for large-scale, long-duration green hydrogen storage to safeguard energy security. Domestically, the hub is positioned to supply critical sectors in the Gulf Coast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, potentially serving 52% of US refining, 44% of shipping, 19% of steelmaking, and 17% of heavy-duty trucking capacity. It also seeks to bolster US fertilizer security by transporting green hydrogen feedstock via the Mississippi River to the Midwest. Internationally, the MCHH intends to establish green shipping corridors to help the EU diversify away from Russian fossil fuels and provide backup energy to climate-vulnerable nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The report argues that an initial public investment of $500 million could unlock billions in private capital by 2026, creating a national strategic hydrogen reserve and reducing industrial losses from power outages.

The document is a formal letter from a group of NGOs to the European Commission and the UK Government calling for sustainable, ecosystem-based fishing limits for 2024. The authors argue that current catch limits often ignore scientific advice, undermining biodiversity and the capacity of marine life to mitigate climate change. They demand that limits be set at or below the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advice, the adoption of a precautionary approach for mixed fisheries and forage fish, the elimination of bycatch and discards through remote electronic monitoring, and increased transparency in decision-making.

A group of environmental NGOs has called on the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to lead the EU in setting 2024 fishing limits based on scientific advice rather than exceeding it. The letter highlights failures in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to end overfishing by 2020 and notes specific crises in the Baltic Sea and Northeast Atlantic. The NGOs argue that overfishing undermines marine biodiversity and the capacity of oceans to mitigate climate change, urging the adoption of an ecosystem-based approach, the elimination of bycatch, and increased transparency in decision-making.

The document argues that the EU failed its 2020 legal deadline to end overfishing and continues to set Total Allowable Catches (TACs) above scientific advice. The NGOs recommend setting 2024 TACs well below the maximum catch levels advised by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to build ecosystem resilience against climate change. Key proposals include the mandatory roll-out of remote electronic monitoring (REM), the application of an ecosystem-based approach for forage fish, and the reinstatement of TACs for stocks where limits were previously removed. The report also emphasizes the need for stricter management of deep-sea stocks and the recovery of critically endangered species like the European eel.

A coalition of NGOs urges the UK to set 2024 Total Allowable Catches (TACs) at or below scientific advice to combat persistent overfishing and climate change impacts. The report highlights that 60% of 2023 TACs exceeded scientific advice and calls for an ecosystem-based approach, the implementation of remote electronic monitoring (REM), and stricter protections for depleted, deep-sea, and non-TAC stocks.

The document argues that the European Commission's communication regarding wolves in Europe is misleading and lacks scientific basis, particularly concerning threats to humans and livestock. The NGOs contend that the Commission violated its own 'Better Regulation' guidelines by conducting a non-transparent 18-day consultation via email instead of the standard 12-week portal process. They emphasize that existing tools, such as the Habitats Directive and State Aid guidelines, already provide sufficient flexibility for managing conflicts and funding livestock protection, and that changing the conservation status of wolves would jeopardize a major conservation success.

The author calls for the EU to relaunch its climate ambitions through a transition that combines aggressive decarbonization with social justice. Key proposals include shifting to qualified majority voting to implement wealth and fossil fuel taxes, establishing a plan to exit fossil gas by 2035, and reforming global financial architectures to support the Global South. The text emphasizes that a sustainable economy requires a circular model, the removal of polluting subsidies, and strict social and environmental standards for private sector public support.

The document provides a detailed critique of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency's (PMRA) Notice of Intent 2023-01, arguing that proposed regulatory changes are insufficient to protect biodiversity and human health. The coalition demands mandatory cumulative risk assessments that go beyond 'common mechanisms of toxicity,' more protective thresholds for species at risk, greater transparency for confidential test data, and the establishment of domestic MRLs based on Canadian use patterns rather than international trade alignment.

The Republic of Armenia is proposing a Readiness Programme to address critical regulatory and capacity gaps in the management of electronic waste (e-waste) from solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and electric vehicle (EV) batteries. As Armenia aims to increase solar energy generation to 15% (1,000 MW) by 2030 and target 100,000 imported EVs by 2030, the lack of end-of-life standards poses environmental risks and potential economic barriers to investment. The programme, implemented by the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) and overseen by the Ministry of Environment, will conduct risk assessments, develop targeted legislation, explore socio-economic opportunities for recycling through public-private partnerships, and build stakeholder capacity. The total requested amount is USD 648,581 for an 18-month implementation period.

The briefing proposes that the European Union leverage its position as a major oil and gas importer to drive global methane reductions by implementing a methane import standard. It suggests a combination of a 'prescriptive standard,' which mandates specific technologies and practices like Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR), and an 'intensity standard,' which sets a maximum limit on emissions per unit of gas produced. The document asserts that there are no 'insuperable legal obstacles' to these standards and suggests that fees from non-compliance could fund methane mitigation in lower-income countries. It highlights that such a move would align with the European Parliament's position and complement voluntary initiatives like CLEAN.

The 2023 Clean Air NDC Scorecard reveals a significant gap in the integration of air quality and health into national climate plans, with an average score of 3.5/15 across 170 analysed NDCs. Low- and middle-income countries generally outperform high-income countries, with Colombia and Mali achieving the highest scores (12/15). Conversely, several high-emitting nations, including Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, scored 0/15. The analysis highlights a critical disconnect in countries with high air pollution mortality, such as North Korea and the Solomon Islands, where NDCs fail to recognise the links between climate action and healthy air.

The report evaluates Meta, TikTok, Twitter/X, YouTube, and Pinterest using a 21-point assessment system focused on policy content, transparency, advertising, privacy, and enforcement. Pinterest is identified as the industry leader, while Twitter/X is ranked lowest. The analysis highlights systemic failures across most platforms, including a lack of universal definitions for climate misinformation, poor enforcement of existing rules, and a failure to address greenwashing.

The report concludes that while the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) remains the primary driver for industrial decarbonisation, current carbon prices alone are insufficient to trigger the massive investments required for deep decarbonisation in the steel and cement sectors. It argues that demand-side measures—specifically Green Public Procurement (GPP) and sustainable product regulations—can provide the necessary market signals to build technological capacity and avoid carbon lock-in. The study highlights that government-driven initiatives have significantly more potential than voluntary industry pledges, though the latter can serve as a short-term bridge. Key recommendations include harmonising low-carbon product definitions across EU Member States and exploring Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs) to bridge the 'green premium' cost gap.

The report assesses the alignment between the Colombian and EU taxonomies, finding a high degree of similarity in technical screening criteria for climate change mitigation, particularly in the energy and manufacturing sectors. While both frameworks share guiding principles and a focus on decarbonisation, the EU Taxonomy is generally more detailed regarding climate change adaptation and minimum safeguards. The Colombian Green Taxonomy offers more specific criteria for land-use sectors (AFOLU) and certain waste management activities, reflecting its regional context. Currently, the EU Taxonomy mandates disclosure for large companies and financial participants, whereas the Colombian framework remains primarily voluntary.