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Fiji's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) aims to integrate climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction into national and sub-national development planning. The process focuses on priority components such as food security, infrastructure, and health, while addressing hazards including sea level rise, stronger cyclones, and flooding. Key milestones include the accreditation of the Fiji Development Bank to the Green Climate Fund and the finalisation of National Relocation Guidelines.

The proposal seeks USD 10 million in GCF grants to improve the capacity of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in 14 Pacific Island Countries. The project focuses on four components: improving governance and enabling environments, strengthening air and marine navigation services, enhancing climate prediction tools (specifically the PICASO software), and project governance. It aims to address critical gaps in human and technological resources, lack of user feedback on forecasts, and insufficient observation sites, aligning with the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy 2017-2026.

The 2018 Talanoa Dialogue, facilitated by the Fijian and Polish presidencies, aims to raise climate ambition by taking stock of progress toward the Paris Agreement and informing 2020 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The process uses a non-adversarial, story-based methodology to foster consensus. NHRIs and civil society are encouraged to provide actionable, positive inputs that link climate action to human rights, including gender equality, indigenous peoples' rights, and just transitions. The dialogue consists of preparatory phases (online submissions and in-session dialogues) and a final political phase at COP-24 in Katowice, Poland.

The report argues that ecosystem management, particularly regarding 'wicked problems' like toxic algal blooms, is hindered by lagging scientific adoption of mature commercial technologies. It proposes a 'fintech gearbox' approach, combining the Internet of Things (IoT) for real-time data collection, big data for managing volume and variety, artificial intelligence (AI) for revealing hidden patterns, and blockchain for ensuring data integrity and trust. The author emphasizes that while these technologies offer significant potential for predictive modeling and sustainable supply chains, their success depends on overcoming cultural barriers in academia and government regarding open data sharing.

The document highlights the critical link between climate adaptation and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that infrastructure must be resilient to both chronic stress and acute shocks to remain functional. It identifies a significant investment gap, with UN estimates for developing countries reaching US$280-500 billion annually by 2050. Currently, the green bond market is heavily skewed toward mitigation, with only 3-5% of proceeds allocated to adaptation and resilience. The briefing calls for clearer definitions, improved sector-specific disclosure, and the integration of adaptation criteria across all thematic bonds to mobilize the necessary capital.

The document outlines the structure of the 2018 Talanoa Dialogue, a facilitative process designed to raise climate ambition and inform future Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It emphasizes that the Dialogue's participatory nature allows stakeholders to frame climate ambition through a human rights lens, including gender equality, food security, and a just transition. The briefing details a staged approach for input—from the preparatory phase ending in October to the political phase at COP-24—and advises contributors to use the 'Talanoa' methodology of sharing stories and positive experiences rather than adversarial 'name, shame, and blame' tactics to ensure their inputs are accepted by the Fijian presidency.

As of 31 January 2018, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) had accredited 59 entities, with a pipeline of 198 entities having created accounts on the Online Accreditation System. The report highlights a strategic shift toward prioritizing direct access entities, which now constitute a larger share of those completing the accreditation process. It also details the ongoing support provided to direct access entities through readiness programs and gap assessments, and tracks the progress of accredited entities in fulfilling specific fiduciary, environmental, social, and gender conditions. Additionally, the document notes a temporary lack of quorum in the Accreditation Panel (AP), which delayed new accreditation recommendations for the nineteenth Board meeting.

COP 23 served as a technical transition to establish the 'Paris Rulebook' for implementing the Paris Agreement. Key outcomes included the design of the Talanoa Dialogue for monitoring collective efforts, a breakthrough agreement to address agriculture and food security, and the adoption of a Gender Action Plan. However, the document notes a lack of substantial progress on long-term climate finance and 'loss and damage' funding, while highlighting a tension between official negotiations and civil society demands for climate justice and an end to the fossil fuel era.

In 2017, global green bond issuance reached USD 155.5 billion, a 78% increase over 2016. The market was led by the US, China, and France, with a notable rise in sovereign issuance and the emergence of new issuers from 37 countries. While renewable energy remains the primary use of proceeds, there was significant growth in allocations for low carbon buildings and transport. The report highlights a push toward harmonized international standards and forecasts a need for the market to reach USD 1 trillion by 2020 to impact climate targets.

The report analyzes the growth of green bond markets in emerging economies, highlighting the critical role of national guidance and alignment with international standards like the Green Bond Principles. Through case studies of countries such as China, Indonesia, and Morocco, it identifies key barriers—including lack of capacity and limited investor demand—and proposes a 'Green Bond Market Development Toolkit' featuring a self-assessment matrix and a roadmap of milestones to accelerate sustainable capital flows.

The global green bond market reached a cumulative issuance of USD 521bn by 2018, with USD 167.6bn issued in 2018 alone. The USA, China, and France emerged as the leading national markets. The report highlights a significant increase in issuance from financial institutions, particularly commercial banks, and a growing trend toward shorter-dated bonds. While Europe remains the largest overall market, the Asia-Pacific region saw the highest year-on-year growth at 35%. The market is also diversifying into other labelled instruments, including sustainability, social, and blue bonds, and expanding into emerging markets through the adoption of regional standards like the ASEAN Green Bond Standards.

The Republic of Fiji National Adaptation Plan (2018) is a strategic framework designed to transition the country toward a climate-resilient development pathway. It identifies 160 prioritised adaptation measures across ten components: five systemic (climate information, horizontal integration, vertical integration, awareness, and resource mobilisation) and five sectoral (food security, health, human settlements, infrastructure, and biodiversity). The plan emphasizes a 'theory of change' that combines the removal of adaptation barriers with the mitigation of sectoral risks, grounded in ecosystem-based and gender- and human rights-based approaches. Key goals include mainstreaming climate risk into all levels of government decision-making, improving the availability of high-resolution climate data, and enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure and food systems to combat hazards such as tropical cyclones, sea-level rise, and flooding.

The Republic of Fiji's 2018 National Adaptation Plan (NAP) provides a strategic framework to address climate vulnerabilities through 160 prioritised actions. The plan focuses on systemic changes—such as horizontal and vertical integration of climate risk into planning—and sectoral adaptations in food security, health, human settlements, infrastructure, and biodiversity. It emphasizes a 'theory of change' where adaptation is synonymous with climate-resilient development, integrating ecosystem-based and human-rights-based approaches to protect vulnerable populations and critical economic sectors from hazards like tropical cyclones, sea-level rise, and flooding.

The report details a two-day training workshop held in Lima in September 2018 for 21 regional communicators from across Peru. The event focused on translating technical climate change concepts and the 2018 Framework Law on Climate Change into accessible public narratives. Participants identified gaps in current media coverage, such as a tendency toward alarmism and a lack of political focus on climate issues, and proposed the creation of a National Network of Communicators on Climate Change to institutionalize environmental reporting. The workshop included a visit to the 'Voces por el Clima' ecological park and a press conference with the Minister of the Environment.

Nepal is currently in the formulation phase of its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), utilizing an integrated, multidisciplinary approach across seven thematic areas and two cross-cutting issues. The process emphasizes inclusivity, stakeholder engagement, and scientific rigor, building upon previous frameworks like the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) and Local Adaptation Plans for Action (LAPA). Key challenges include aligning the NAP with ongoing government restructuring and ensuring meaningful participation of marginalized groups. Future priorities focus on engaging provincial and local governments, developing a formal NAP framework, synthesizing local vulnerability data, and creating a comprehensive financing strategy to transition from planning to implementation.

The NAP Global Network provided technical assistance to over 30 countries between November 2017 and November 2018, focusing on seven key themes including financing, gender, and monitoring and evaluation. The Network facilitated peer learning through Targeted Topics Forums and South-South exchanges, and worked to align bilateral donor support with national priorities, notably through a Donor Symposium in Barbados.

The report documents a two-day workshop in September 2018 designed to train 21 journalists and communicators from across Peru on climate change and the Climate Change Framework Law (Law N° 30754). The event, supported by the US Government and implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), aimed to improve the dissemination of climate information and integrate regional perspectives into the law's regulatory framework. Key activities included technical presentations, group work on personalizing climate news, and a visit to the 'Voces por el Clima' ecological park. Findings highlight a tendency for regional media to use alarmist or sensationalist tones because climate change is not perceived as a 'hot news' item, and participants expressed a strong need for a permanent National Network of Communicators on Climate Change to maintain direct access to technical experts.

The 2018 Sustainable Energy for All Forum highlighted that while progress is being made on most SDG7 objectives, the world is not on track to achieve universal energy access by 2030. Key discussions centered on the critical need to reform infrastructure finance, the emerging importance of sustainable cooling for survival and health, and the stagnation of clean cooking access, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Forum advocated for a shift toward viewing energy as a set of services rather than just electrons, emphasizing the need for integrated planning and gender-inclusive investing to reach the most vulnerable populations.

The paper frames climate change adaptation as a development challenge, arguing that while financial resources are often a constraint, non-financial barriers such as market failures, governance issues, and behavioral biases are equally critical. It highlights that adaptation and development are inextricably linked, and that 'climate-informed' development can significantly reduce economic losses and poverty. The document reviews various global and local cost estimates, noting that these vary widely based on the reference point used. It recommends a broad definition of adaptation and a focus on removing structural obstacles to maximize the benefits of resilience investments.

The GCF Board's 18th meeting in Cairo focused on operationalizing the fund's implementation phase. Key outcomes include the approval of multiple funding proposals across various regions, the accreditation of five new entities, and the adoption of a Simplified Approval Process (SAP) pilot for small-scale activities. The Board also approved a new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Policy and a revised administrative budget and staffing target of 250 employees for 2018. However, consensus was not reached on a risk management framework or the selection process for a Permanent Trustee.