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The document examines the COVID-19 pandemic as a systemic crisis that exposed deep inequalities and the fragility of market-based systems. It argues that the health crisis is inextricably linked to environmental collapse, specifically biodiversity loss and zoonotic risks. The text advocates for the revival of the social state, the implementation of a 'foundational economy' that prioritizes basic human needs over profit, and the adoption of 'technological humanism' to bridge the digital divide. It also analyzes the political responses of Green parties in Europe and the rise of authoritarianism and right-wing populism during the crisis, while highlighting grassroots solidarity networks and the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on marginalized groups, including migrants and the elderly.

The report highlights a significant lack of transparency in Canada's reporting of fossil fuel subsidies, particularly regarding foregone revenue. It advocates for the use of the WTO definition of subsidies and the 'revenue foregone' method to accurately quantify tax expenditures and royalty subsidies, which the authors argue are essential for informed policy-making and meeting international climate goals.

The document outlines eight categories of barriers to climate change adaptation—ranging from conflicting timelines and lack of resources to institutional constraints and climate skepticism—and provides a self-assessment questionnaire and a directory of resources to help local authorities implement adaptation measures.

The document identifies eight categories of barriers to climate adaptation: conflicting timescales/interests, leadership, resources, science, governance/institutional constraints, lack of awareness/communication, attitudes/values/motivations, and the adaptation process itself. It provides a self-evaluation survey for local authorities to identify their specific challenges and offers a curated list of resources and critical discussion questions to facilitate stakeholder engagement and problem-solving. Findings from CASCADE workshops indicate that spatial planners in the Baltic Sea Region perceive financial resource shortages as a primary barrier, while emergency management practitioners highlight climate skepticism as a significant challenge.

The report evaluates seven German retailers (ALDI Nord, ALDI Süd, EDEKA, KAUFLAND, LIDL, REWE, and METRO AG) on their use of wild fish in aquaculture feed. It finds that none of the companies met even half of the sustainability criteria, with METRO AG performing the worst. The document argues for the 'decoupling' of aquaculture from wild fisheries to protect marine ecosystems and food security, suggesting alternatives like algae oil, insects, and the farming of non-predatory species such as carp and mussels.

A group of NGOs is calling for the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council to make the CAP trilogue process transparent by publishing meeting calendars, agendas, minutes, and '4-column' documents, arguing that the CAP's 387 billion € budget and its role in the European Green Deal make it a matter of significant public interest.

The report assesses South Africa's capacity for renewable energy industrialisation, specifically in wind and solar PV. It identifies a shift from import-substitution to vertically specialised industrialisation as a key strategy and highlights the role of local content requirements (LCRs) and market stability. Comparative analysis of countries like Brazil, China, and Turkey suggests that long-term market visibility and strategic procurement are essential for sustainable manufacturing. The document also explores how renewable energy can support a Just Transition in coal-dependent regions through economic diversification and job creation.

The authors evaluate the EU's Next Generation EU and Germany's national recovery strategy, noting that while multi-billion-euro figures are earmarked for climate action, much of the funding remains conditional or unquantified. Drawing on the 2008 financial crisis, where green recovery efforts failed to prevent a global emissions rebound in 2010, the paper emphasizes the role of parliamentarians in overseeing budgets and implementing mechanisms like carbon border taxes to ensure a genuine energy transition.

The document analyzes the potential volume of CERs eligible for transition to NDCs based on different restriction criteria. It finds that the total supply potential for reductions in or after 2013 exceeds 4 billion CERs without restrictions, but this figure drops significantly depending on whether registration dates or crediting period start dates are used as cut-offs.

The report examines the transition of voluntary carbon markets into the Paris Agreement era, specifically assessing how to prevent 'double counting' where emission reductions are claimed by both voluntary offsets and national targets. It identifies three potentially viable models—contribution claims, NDC crediting, and non-NDC crediting—and recommends focusing on challenging mitigation options and countries with ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to maximize climate impact.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) commends the Canadian government for tabling Bill C-12, the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. The organization highlights four key strengths of the legislation: the legal enshrining of the 2050 net-zero target, a five-year milestone accountability framework, the creation of an independent science-based advisory body, and new requirements for reporting climate-related financial risks within the federal government. While supporting the act as a foundation for a resilient recovery, IISD notes that it lacks specific initiatives to reach net zero and calls for further actions, including a detailed 2030 target plan, sectoral pathways, a Just Transition Act, and a National Adaptation Plan.

The report evaluates a wide range of fashion brands on their viscose sourcing, focusing on whether they disclose their suppliers and adopt closed-loop manufacturing systems. While some brands like C&A, M&S, and H&M have signed the Changing Markets Roadmap and disclosed specific factory addresses, many others lack viscose-specific policies, fail to disclose fibre manufacturers, or focus solely on wood pulp sourcing rather than the chemical impacts of fibre manufacturing.

ClientEarth contends that Belgium's proposed capacity remuneration mechanism (CRM) is legally non-compliant and unnecessary. The organization argues that the national resource adequacy assessment (NRAA) fails to follow ACER's methodology, ignores the absence of price caps, and overstates adequacy concerns. Furthermore, ClientEarth asserts that the CRM's support for new gas capacity contradicts the European Green Deal and Belgium's own climate neutrality goals for 2050, and that the scheme lacks a required phase-out provision.

In October 2020, zero-carbon electricity sources in Europe, particularly wind and nuclear, outperformed fossil fuels, leading to a reduction in fossil fuel generation despite recovering electricity demand.

The document describes the global governance of sustainable energy as a "regime complex" characterized by overlapping mandates and a lack of a single central authority. It highlights the importance of SDG 7 in merging the goals of energy access and sustainable transitions, while detailing the contributions of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) initiative. The text notes a significant financing gap, stating that achieving SDG 7 by 2030 requires additional annual investments of USD 1.36 trillion, whereas international finance for clean energy in developing countries was only USD 21 billion in 2017. It concludes that while the current multi-stakeholder, non-hierarchical model allows for specialized and flexible action, the absence of a binding international treaty or single organization limits the ability to drive top-down ambition and common norms.

The document records the disclosure of environmental and social impact assessments and management plans for the Miro Forestry & Timber Products subproject in Ghana and Sierra Leone, as well as the broader Arbaro Fund programme operating in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

The Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA) is criticized for a loophole in its thermal coal position paper that permits the completion of plants under active construction, potentially enabling 189.8 GW of new capacity. This contradicts the alliance's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and the IPCC's warnings regarding the 1.5°C warming limit. The document highlights the Turow lignite expansion in Poland as an example of a problematic project under construction and warns of significant stranded asset risks, noting that up to 72% of global thermal coal capacity could be loss-making by 2040.

The document examines the intersection of climate change and human rights, detailing how environmental degradation threatens rights to life, food, health, water, and housing. It outlines the obligations of states to respect, protect, and fulfil these rights, and the responsibilities of businesses to reduce emissions and provide remedies. The handbook specifically focuses on the role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), presenting case studies of their work in monitoring impacts, handling complaints, providing policy advice, and engaging in international mechanisms like the UNFCCC and the Universal Periodic Review. It highlights that nearly half of Paris Principles-compliant NHRIs have engaged in climate change work, using tools ranging from digital mapping to formal inquiries into 'carbon majors'.

The report examines the potential for green bonds and other sustainable financial instruments to drive the decarbonization of Mexico's construction sector, highlighting existing certifications, market examples, and regulatory goals.

The green bond market saw record third-quarter issuance in 2020, totaling USD 69.4 billion, driven by strong policy signals and corporate adoption. The USA led in 2020 issuance, while the Luxembourg Stock Exchange remained the most popular listing venue. JP Morgan was the top global underwriter for the first three quarters of the year.