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The report examines how the global financial crisis impacted European societal security through three dimensions: material financial security, the perceived social value of the financial sector, and broader societal resilience. It finds that while some countries recovered, peripheral euro area nations experienced depression-level unemployment, severe material deprivation, and significant political polarization. The document also explores the rise of alternative finance and cryptocurrencies as responses to a crisis of legitimacy in traditional banking, while noting that austerity measures may have undermined social cohesion and increased domestic violence and suicide rates in severely affected regions.

The document outlines critical areas for climate finance at COP 21, emphasizing the need for developed countries to meet the $100 billion annual goal by 2020, increasing funding for adaptation, and improving transparency in reporting finance flows. It highlights recent pledges from various nations and argues for a shift in trillions of dollars from high-emissions to low-emissions activities.

The paper evaluates whether Japan can exceed its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) and voluntary corporate targets for electricity sector CO2 intensity. It estimates that by utilizing nuclear power (108–130 TWh) and renewables, Japan could achieve an intensity of 0.34 to 0.36 kgCO2/kWh. However, the study highlights that significant renewable potential in regions like Hokkaido and Tohoku remains under-utilized due to limited grid interconnection capacity and a lack of storage technology.

The report examines the co-benefits of climate action within the framework of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) and identifies the potential benefits lost by not transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2050, focusing on a selection of major economies.

The document is a call to action by cleantech entrepreneurs and supporting organisations directed at COP21. It argues that viable solutions for decarbonisation already exist but are hindered by policy influence and capital allocation favouring the fossil fuel industry. The signatories demand a global shift to 100% renewable energy by 2050, the redirection of finance away from fossil fuels, and the implementation of science-based targets and carbon pricing.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of 'green jobs' in the US and internationally, highlighting the growth of sectors like solar, wind, and energy efficiency. It notes that the US Bureau of Labor Statistics ceased its Green Careers program in 2013, leading to a reliance on fragmented data from multiple sources. Globally, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) identifies China as the leader in renewable energy employment, with solar PV being the largest global employer in the sector.

Fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen, offering a high-efficiency, low-emission alternative to combustion engines and batteries. While they excel in reliability, scalability, and energy density, widespread adoption is hindered by high costs—particularly the need for platinum in PEM cells—and the lack of hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Applications range from portable electronics and stationary power (including combined heat and power systems) to transportation. In the U.S., the Department of Energy and various state-level policies, such as Renewable Portfolio Standards and tax credits, are working to reduce system costs and expand infrastructure to make fuel cells more competitive with gasoline-powered vehicles.

Global climate finance reached at least USD 391 billion in 2014, driven by a 26% increase in private investment in renewable energy and a steady rise in public finance. Private finance, totaling USD 243 billion, remains the largest source, with China emerging as a major hub for renewable energy investment. Public finance reached USD 148 billion, with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) contributing the bulk of these funds. The report highlights a strong domestic preference, with 74% of total flows remaining within the country of origin. Mitigation projects dominated the landscape, accounting for 93% of total finance, while adaptation finance reached USD 25 billion.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of clean energy employment, highlighting the U.S. and global landscapes. In the U.S., it details job figures across energy efficiency (buildings, appliances, transport) and renewable energy (solar, wind, biofuels, geothermal, hydro, and waste-to-energy). Globally, it identifies China as the leader in renewable energy employment, followed by Brazil, the U.S., India, and Germany, with solar PV being the largest employment driver worldwide.

The report evaluates forest governance through three indicators: institutional policy scores, the rule of law (illegal logging and violence), and land tenure rights for indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs). While some progress is noted in policy frameworks and the total area of recognized IPLC rights, the report highlights a slowdown in tenure recognition since 2008, a rise in absolute volumes of illegal timber imports—particularly into China—and persistent violence against land defenders, especially in Latin America.

The document analyzes clean energy targets communicated by eight of the world's top GHG emitters. It finds that if these plans are fully achieved, total annual clean energy supply across these regions will more than double by 2030, increasing from 8,900 TWh/year in 2012 to 19,900 TWh/year. This represents a level 17 percent higher than Reference Scenario projections. The analysis breaks down these gains across renewable energy supply, electricity generation, electrical capacity, and nuclear energy, noting that nuclear supply in China, India, and Mexico is set to increase nearly tenfold by 2030.

The guidelines establish a 'first green, then smart' approach, where smart technologies are used to optimize the outcomes of sustainable urban design. The framework covers six smart categories: telecommunications, mobility, governance, energy management, safety, and public services, supported by global case studies to demonstrate economic and environmental viability.

The We Mean Business coalition asserts that the economic case for climate action is now clear, with 200 international companies and over 100 investors already making ambitious commitments. The coalition calls for a Paris Agreement that ensures global decarbonization by the end of the century, establishes five-year update cycles for government commitments, and provides clear policy signals like carbon pricing to shift investment toward low-carbon assets.

The NAP Global Network is a practitioner-oriented group established in December 2014 to coordinate bilateral official development assistance (ODA) for National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) in developing countries. It focuses on bridging the gap between bilateral donors and in-country actors to ensure climate adaptation support aligns with national development priorities. The Network provides peer learning through Targeted Topics Forums (TTFs) and acts as a liaison to avoid duplication of efforts among donors. It distinguishes itself from other initiatives by specifically targeting bilateral support, which the document notes constituted USD 11.28 billion in adaptation-related ODA in 2013, significantly more than multilateral support.

The paper analyzes reference and alternative scenarios for China's CO2 emissions, finding that while reference paths project emissions to double by 2050, alternative paths suggest a peak around 2030. It identifies GDP growth, energy intensity, and the energy mix as primary drivers, arguing that deep decarbonization through industrial restructuring and non-fossil fuel expansion is necessary to meet climate goals.

The report examines the financial system as critical infrastructure, distinguishing between 'financial securitisation' (making securities liquid and credible) and 'political securitisation' (surveillance to combat terrorism and money laundering). It maps global financial flows and actors, then details the tools used to maintain stability, such as Basel III capital requirements, deposit insurance, and the role of central banks as lenders of last resort. A significant portion of the analysis focuses on the 'finance-security assemblage,' where IMF macroeconomic monitoring converges with FATF's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) regimes. The authors argue that this convergence has led to 'de-risking,' where banks exclude 'suspect communities' and high-risk jurisdictions based on private-sector risk-profiling databases like World-Check, potentially creating barriers to financial inclusion and exacerbating global instability.

The document outlines the implementation of President Obama's Climate Action Plan (CAP), focusing on three primary goals: cutting U.S. carbon pollution, preparing for climate impacts, and leading international efforts. Key achievements include the finalization of the Clean Power Plan to reduce power sector emissions by 32% by 2030, the establishment of the State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, and the formation of bilateral climate agreements with China, India, and Brazil. The report details a series of executive orders, agency regulations, and budget requests aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing national infrastructure resilience.

The document calls for the total abandonment of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) following stalled negotiations in Hawaii. It argues that the TPP is a "trojan horse deal" that threatens public health by increasing medicine prices and undermines environmental regulations to protect "free trade" in dirty energy products like tar sands oil. The author highlights the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism as a tool for corporations to sue governments for environmental protections, citing a case where Gabriel Resources sought arbitration against Romania. The text concludes that the TPP's environment chapter is "totally inadequate" and encourages public pressure during upcoming elections in Canada and the US to stop the agreement.

Japan has committed to reducing emissions 26 percent below 2013 levels by 2030, a target the World Resources Institute describes as one of the least aggressive among developed nations. While Japan has a long-term goal of an 80 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2050, the 2030 target is inconsistent with this path and relies on fossil fuels for 56 percent of its energy supply. The document notes that Japan could achieve higher reductions through renewable energy and efficiency, and highlights risks associated with the use of international carbon credits and the continued investment in coal-fired power plants.

The European steel and cement sectors face substantial surplus production capacity and limited reinvestment, hindering the adoption of low-carbon technologies. While energy efficiency and fuel-switching have provided some gains, breakthrough process technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) require significant public funding and a credible, long-term carbon price signal for both producers and consumers to be viable. The report argues that a comprehensive policy package—combining the EU ETS, innovation funding, and updated building standards—is essential to transition these capital-intensive industries toward sustainable, high-value production.