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The document outlines the legal risks associated with plastic waste management, specifically focusing on incineration, recycling claims, and the illegal trade of plastic waste. It highlights how companies are increasingly exposed to litigation due to the environmental and health impacts of incineration, the perceived failure of recycling to solve the plastics crisis, and breaches of international waste shipment treaties like the Basel Convention.

In H1 2022, cumulative GSS+ labelled debt reached USD 417.8 billion, a 27% year-on-year decrease attributed to inflation and market volatility following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Green bonds remained the dominant theme, accounting for 52% of H1 volumes, while transition-themed Use of Proceeds (UoP) bonds saw a 2.5-fold increase from Q1 to Q2. The report highlights the expansion of sovereign GSS+ issuance, the introduction of the EU's Complementary Delegated Act including nuclear and gas, and the proliferation of national sustainable finance taxonomies in jurisdictions such as Colombia and South Africa.

The 2021 Hong Kong GSS+ market saw significant expansion, with USD 14bn in labelled debt from Hong Kong issuers and a quadruple increase in GSS+ debt arranged or issued in the city to USD 57bn. Growth was driven by the HKSAR Government's green bond programme and a diversifying issuer base, including real estate and financial corporates. The report highlights the emergence of transition finance and the adoption of the Common Ground Taxonomy to facilitate cross-border green finance between China and the EU.

The ASEAN+3 sustainable debt market reached USD 449 billion by Q3 2021, driven largely by the People's Republic of China, Japan, and Hong Kong, China. While green bonds remain dominant, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the issuance of social and sustainability-labeled instruments. Local currency (LCY) issuance represents 64% of the region's total sustainable debt, though this is unevenly distributed; Thailand has the highest LCY share at 98.5%, while Viet Nam and Indonesia rely heavily on foreign currencies. The report identifies barriers such as lack of market awareness, high transaction costs for small deals, and a shortage of bankable green projects. It recommends increasing sovereign GSS bond issuance, expanding the investor base through ETFs and indices, and establishing centralized sustainable finance platforms to improve project visibility.

China's green bond market experienced record growth in 2021, driven by the nation's '30·60' climate targets and the 14th Five-Year Plan. Annual issuance aligned with Climate Bonds definitions reached USD 68.2 billion, making China the second largest green bond market globally. The market saw a significant shift as non-financial corporates became the primary source of supply, overtaking financial corporates. Over 60% of the use-of-proceeds was directed toward renewable energy. The report also highlights the emergence of carbon neutrality bonds and transition finance as key tools for decarbonizing high-emitting sectors.

The report finds that while China has a stringent regulatory framework for green bond reporting, actual post-issuance disclosure—particularly regarding environmental impacts—is lower than global averages. UoP reporting is more common than impact reporting, with financial institutions showing higher compliance due to stricter PBoC requirements. The study highlights a unique Chinese reliance on 'fossil fuel savings' as a metric and recommends shifting toward GHG and energy savings to align with international standards. While the quality of impact reporting among those who do report is generally high, the report notes significant inconsistencies across different bond types and regulatory bodies.

The Changing Markets Foundation and partner organisations inform Mengniu Dairy that it scored 4.0 out of 100 in a ranking of climate policies, noting the company has not set specific methane reduction targets or reported methane-specific emissions. The authors call for the company to adopt science-based targets aligned with a 1.5°C limit, report CO2 and methane separately, and invest in alternative proteins.

The statement criticizes the imposition of travel bans on Southern African countries, asserting that such measures are ineffective at stopping mutations and cause significant economic damage. It highlights the disparity in vaccination rates between Africa and advanced economies, calling for the decentralization of vaccine manufacturing, the implementation of a WTO intellectual property rights waiver, and a shift from unilateralism to collective global action to ensure equitable vaccine distribution.

The report finds that the vast majority of analyzed coal companies have failed to implement credible phase-out plans, with only 6% meeting basic criteria. Many companies continue to expand coal capacity, set exit dates beyond 2040, or use 'greenwashing' tactics such as selling assets to other owners or converting coal plants to gas and biomass. The authors argue that current 'soft' engagement by financial institutions is ineffective due to a lack of strong sanctions, and they call for robust coal exit policies that condition financial services on Paris-aligned plans.

The text examines the global decline of trust in democracy, linking it to economic inequality, technological shifts, and social transformation. It positions Green politics as a solution to this crisis through the promotion of active citizenship, the creation of a socially just and sustainable vision of prosperity to replace fossil-fuel-based social democracy, and the democratic reform of the European Union.

The TCFD Good Practice Handbook identifies effective disclosure examples across the four TCFD core elements—Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, and Metrics and Targets—while offering practical advice and case studies to help organisations overcome implementation barriers.

The report analyzes 75 green bonds totaling USD 75.9bn issued in H1 2021, finding that green bonds generally achieved higher book cover and greater spread compression than vanilla equivalents. It highlights a significant increase in allocations to green investors, reaching 66%, and provides evidence of a 'greenium' for 26 out of 33 non-sovereign bonds. Additionally, the report examines sovereign green bond issuance and concludes that green labels can enhance secondary market liquidity, particularly in the EUR utility sector.

Large financial institutions are increasingly acquiring smaller firms specializing in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) expertise to improve their analytical capabilities regarding climate risk. This trend is driven by the need for high-quality data and the ability to integrate forward-looking climate scenarios into risk frameworks, partly spurred by the TCFD recommendations. The author predicts a similar wave of M&A activity will shift toward 'climate alignment'—the process of aligning portfolios with 1.5°C targets—as financial firms seek the proprietary data and technology necessary to meet net-zero commitments.

The Chinese green bond market issued USD 44bn in 2020, a 21% decrease from 2019, partly due to the pandemic and a shift toward social-themed 'Pandemic Prevention and Control' bonds. While China remains a global leader, a significant portion of its issuance (USD 20.2bn) is not aligned with Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) standards, primarily because local regulations allow proceeds to fund general working capital. However, the 2020 Green Bond Catalogue consultation draft marked a shift toward international alignment by removing 'clean coal' projects. Non-financial corporates, led by Beijing Jingneng Clean Energy, are becoming more prominent issuers, and there is a substantial pool of unlabelled climate-aligned debt, particularly in the transport sector, that presents refinancing opportunities.

The report examines the green infrastructure landscape of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), highlighting significant investment needs across sectors such as low-carbon transport, renewable energy, and green buildings. It details the role of green finance, specifically green bonds and asset-backed securities, in bridging the funding gap between public budgets and the capital required for climate-resilient infrastructure. The document provides a sample pipeline of 70 green and potentially green projects and offers six strategic recommendations to unlock private capital, including the harmonisation of green definitions and the promotion of local government green bonds.

The Hong Kong green bond market in 2020 saw a record number of deals but an 18% decline in total volume to USD 2.09bn. Low-carbon buildings remained the primary theme for proceed allocations, though waste reached a record high. The market is supported by new government initiatives, including a 2050 carbon neutrality pledge and the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme. While local issuance is significant, mainland China entities continue to drive the broader green debt market arranged in Hong Kong.

The report finds that while post-issuance UoP reporting is widespread, impact reporting is less common and highly unstandardised. It highlights a positive correlation between reporting availability and the presence of external reviews, particularly post-issuance reviews. The analysis reveals that larger issuers and more mature markets generally report more frequently, though average quality scores remain relatively constant across deal sizes. The document argues for a shift toward a common global reporting framework and the use of absolute rather than relative metrics to provide a holistic view of environmental performance.

The report finds strong overall support (85%) for closing high-risk wildlife markets to prevent future pandemics, though this varies by country. While many participants associate COVID-19 with wild animals, perceptions of root causes and the effectiveness of government interventions differ significantly across the five surveyed nations. The study also tracks wildlife and exotic pet purchase behaviors, noting that while some consumption has decreased due to the pandemic, a segment of the population still intends to purchase wildlife products through alternative channels like online platforms or overseas suppliers.

The report finds that self-reported ivory purchase in the past 12 months reached a four-year low of 12% in 2020. While the 'Diehard Buyers' segment has shrunk from 14% to 8% of the population, those remaining are more persistent, with higher purchase rates and a stronger belief in ivory's artistic value. Conversely, 'Rejectors' have grown to 72% of the sample. The study highlights that while 88% of participants believe ivory trade is illegal, spontaneous awareness of the specific 2017 ban has declined. The Ma Weidu campaign showed strong resonance, particularly among 'Diehard Buyers' and regular overseas travelers, with 74% of future intenders changing their minds after exposure to the ban and the campaign video.

The We Mean Business coalition asserts that ending coal dependence is critical for limiting global warming and achieving 2030 and 2050 climate targets. It advocates for a full phase-out of coal power in advanced economies by 2030 and globally by 2040, noting that renewables now outcompete new coal virtually everywhere. The text highlights a shift in the private sector, with major insurers and mining companies divesting from coal, and emphasizes that a transition to clean power would improve public health and create more jobs than traditional economic stimulus measures.