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The European automotive industry faces a 'perfect storm' of disruption driven by climate change, autonomous driving, and shared mobility. While Europe was the cradle of the car, it is now lagging behind competitors like Tesla and Chinese manufacturers in electric vehicle (EV) production and battery technology. The author criticizes EU policymakers for being too lax and suggests that the Greens are well-positioned to help steer the industry toward a sustainable and competitive future through pragmatic dialogue and ambitious regulation.

This executive summary from the 2018 'Brown to Green' report analyzes the progress of G20 countries toward a low-carbon economy. It highlights a significant gap between current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the goals of the Paris Agreement, noting that G20 energy-related CO2 emissions began increasing again in 2017 and that 82% of the G20 energy supply remains dependent on fossil fuels.

Greenpeace Africa argues that the draft IRP 2018 Update is inadequate for achieving a just transition to renewable energy and fails to meet South Africa's international climate commitments. The submission calls for the total removal of new coal and nuclear capacity, the elimination of artificial caps on wind and solar energy, and an accelerated decommissioning of coal-fired power stations. It highlights severe air pollution in Mpumalanga and the critical need to prioritize water security in energy planning. The document emphasizes that the plan must be based on the latest IPCC science to limit global warming to 1.5°C and should incorporate transparent data on costs and demand-side management.

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.

Global Witness reveals that Norsudtimber, the DRC's largest logging company, is operating illegally on 90% of its sites, breaching the DRC Forest Code through a lack of management plans and logging outside authorized perimeters. The report highlights how the DRC government is complicit in this illegality, while international donors from France, Germany, and Norway continue to support industrial logging under the flawed theory of 'sustainable forest management' (SFM). Norsudtimber uses a complex web of shell companies in Liechtenstein, Hong Kong, and Dubai to obscure its beneficial owners and trade timber to markets in China, Vietnam, and Europe. The investigation finds that SFM is scientifically unsound for the Congo Basin, as tree species take 100-230 years to mature, far exceeding the 25-year rotation cycle. Furthermore, the report documents negligible development benefits for local communities and significant carbon emissions resulting from forest degradation.

The document analyzes the rise and fall of Australia's domestic steel industry, which was initially built through protective tariffs, bounties, and an iron ore export ban from 1938 to 1960. While these measures successfully met domestic demand for over 80 years, the industry struggled with low productivity and failed to become globally competitive once protections were lifted. Later attempts by the Western Australian government in 1996 to mandate downstream beneficiation through legislative acts led to expensive projects by BHP and Rio Tinto that never reached economic viability and were eventually written off. The case study concludes that while government intervention can establish downstream industries, long-term success requires a sophisticated industrial policy based on comparative advantages and market capabilities rather than prescriptive requirements.

The document examines Resource-for-Infrastructure (RFI) agreements, which allow resource-rich but credit-constrained developing countries to secure infrastructure funding by securitizing future mineral or oil revenues. Using the Sicomines deal in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a case study, the author highlights the benefits of rapid investment and reduced embezzlement risks, while warning against high costs, poor quality, and a lack of transparency. The brief recommends increasing supply-side competition, implementing third-party quality controls, and adopting conservative risk calculations to improve the outcomes of such deals.

Between 2010 and 2015, US$ 978 million in climate finance was committed to seven Indian Ocean and African SIDS, with 83% of these funds concentrated in Cape Verde and Mauritius. The financing was dominated by bilateral ODA loans (74%) and primarily targeted mitigation (56%) over adaptation (42%). Sectoral focus was narrow, concentrating on water and sanitation, energy, and general environmental protection, while critical resilience sectors like health, education, and agriculture were largely ignored. Disbursement rates were notably low, with only 39% of committed funds actually spent across the region, a rate significantly lower than for non-climate ODA.

The report finds that 16 of the 25 major emitting countries and regions analysed are not on track to meet their self-determined NDC targets. While some countries like Brazil, China, and India are likely to achieve their targets with current policies, others, including the US, EU, and Canada, require additional measures. Furthermore, current policies are projected to fail to prevent emissions from increasing up to 2030 relative to 2010 levels in both developing and OECD nations, with only Japan and the EU projected to see further decreases.

The Carbon-Free City Handbook outlines a strategic framework for cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through immediate, economically viable actions. It categorizes recommendations into buildings, transportation and mobility, electricity, industry, and biological resources, emphasizing the importance of setting bold 100% targets to drive transformational change rather than incremental progress.

The 2017 Global Landscape of Climate Finance report finds that global climate finance peaked at $437 billion in 2015 before declining by 12% to $383 billion in 2016. The 2015 surge was primarily driven by private renewable energy investments in China, the U.S., and Japan. While solar and wind investments are largely on track for 2°C goals, other sectors like energy efficiency and adaptation remain significantly underfunded. Public finance is increasingly focused on energy efficiency, while multilateral development finance institutions (DFIs) are progressing toward their 2020 targets. The report highlights a strong preference for domestic investment, with 79% of finance remaining within the country of origin during 2015/2016.

The GCF Board's seventeenth meeting focused on enhancing the fund's operational framework, specifically through the adoption of a comprehensive Risk Management Framework (RMF) and an Operational Framework for complementarity and coherence with other climate funds. The Board accredited six new entities, including CDG Capital, IDCOL, SIDBI, MCT, BTMU, and JICA, while introducing new guidelines for country ownership. Significant discussions were held on the pilot programme for REDD-plus results-based payments and the analysis of barriers to private sector engagement. The Board also approved the 2016 audited financial statements and established performance criteria for the Executive Director.

The German G20 presidency focused on 'Shaping an Interconnected World' through initiatives like the Compact with Africa and the Marshall Plan for Africa, aimed at reducing investment risks and addressing migration root causes. However, the 2017 Hamburg summit faced significant tension due to US President Donald Trump's protectionist agenda and withdrawal from the Paris Climate Change Agreement. The author suggests that a broad G20 agenda—covering everything from tax cooperation to the 2030 Agenda—may help Chancellor Merkel find common ground with the US despite deep disagreements on trade and climate.

The report finds that while 74% of analyzed green bonds provide some public reporting, there is significant inconsistency in quality and content. Reporting is generally more comprehensive for larger issuers and those in European markets, whereas U.S. municipalities and private placements show lower compliance. While impact reporting is increasing, it lacks standardized metrics, and over 70% of bonds fail to clearly disclose the proportion of funds used for refinancing versus new projects.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) asserts that Ontario's nuclear emergency plan is insufficient because it is designed for accidents less severe than the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The briefing highlights risks to the Great Lakes drinking water and the high population density near the Darlington and Pickering stations, calling for improved health professional training, expanded iodine pill distribution, and a plan for clean water provision.

The author contends that Europe is vulnerable to 'foreign economic statecraft' because it lacks a unified investment screening mechanism. While Chinese investment in high-tech sectors has surged, often driven by state-owned enterprises and strategic plans like 'Made in China 2025', the EU relies on a fragmented 'hodgepodge' of national regimes. The document highlights failures in Germany's response to the acquisitions of Kuka and Aixtron as evidence of this helplessness. It proposes that the EU should adapt legislation to help Member States block dangerous mergers and create a common consultative body to 'Europeanise' national decision-making, citing the US CFIUS model as a gold standard for such oversight.

The statement by Friends of the Earth International criticizes the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for investing over $3 billion in coal projects over the last decade despite recognizing climate change as a threat to poverty alleviation. It highlights the Tata Mundra Ultra Mega Coal plant in India as a primary example of environmental and social harm caused by ADB funding. The document demands that the ADB ban all coal funding and relinquish its legal immunity to allow affected communities to seek justice.

The statement criticizes the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for continuing to fund coal infrastructure despite acknowledging climate change as a threat to poverty mitigation. It highlights the Tata Mundra Ultra Mega Coal plant in India as a primary example of environmental and social harm and calls for the removal of the ADB's legal immunity to allow affected communities to seek justice.

Canada has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, joining 40 other countries in committing to domestic strategies for tracking and reducing transboundary mercury pollution, including the management of emissions, point source releases, and contaminated site remediation. Research from the IISD-Experimental Lake Area indicates that reducing mercury inputs into lakes leads to a decrease in mercury levels in freshwater fish consumed by humans.

The statement highlights the systemic challenges faced by women and transgender environmental activists, including the intersection of patriarchy, capitalism, and environmental destruction. Activists from various regions report that gender-based oppressions—such as the sexual division of work, lack of funding for women-led campaigns, and state persecution—hinder environmental activism. Conversely, the document emphasizes the growing international solidarity among women and queer activists who are integrating food sovereignty and anti-fossil fuel efforts with the dismantling of patriarchal systems.