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The GCF's fifteenth annual report highlights a record year of programming with USD 3.26 billion approved in 2025 and a total portfolio exceeding USD 20 billion. Key institutional shifts include the establishment of regional offices in Panama City, Amman, Nairobi, Abidjan, and Suva to enhance country ownership and access. The Fund reports a near-parity balance between adaptation and mitigation in nominal terms, with 59.24% of the portfolio in grant equivalent terms dedicated to adaptation. Significant progress was made in private sector engagement, reaching a cumulative USD 7.21 billion. The report also details the 'Efficient GCF' initiative to reduce project appraisal times to nine months or less and the operationalization of a revised accreditation framework.

The 2026 Hormuz crisis, triggered by a US-Israel war with Iran, is projected to increase Türkiye's energy import bill by $14 billion by the end of 2026. This increase is driven by a 50% surge in Brent crude oil prices and a 45% rise in European gas prices. Türkiye's high import dependence—95% for natural gas, 83% for crude oil, and 60% for coal—makes its economy structurally vulnerable to global price shocks. Road transport is the largest contributor to the energy bill, accounting for nearly one-third of the total in 2025. The report suggests that transitioning to electric vehicles and heat pumps could permanently lower import costs, noting that 1 million electric cars could save $900 million annually and a 10% transition to heat pumps in homes could save $1 billion annually.

The GCF Secretariat report for 2026 details progress in enhancing country ownership, delivering impact, and institutional strengthening. Key achievements include the launch of a revised Accreditation Framework, the establishment of regional presence in five locations, and the development of a new Commitment Authority Framework to optimize investment capacity. The report also tracks programming metrics, noting 29 funding proposals submitted to the iTAP and the approval of projects for underserved countries like Bahamas, Chad, and Jamaica.

Global Witness reveals that coltan from conflict-affected mines in the DRC is being smuggled into Rwanda, where it is laundered through traceability systems like ITSCI and Better Mining. The report identifies seven Rwandan companies dominating these exports, which are then processed by smelters in China, Kazakhstan, and Thailand, potentially reaching major global brands such as Apple, Microsoft, and Toyota.

Global Witness reports that conflict coltan from the DRC's Rubaya mines is being smuggled into Rwanda and laundered into global supply chains through failed due diligence systems like ITSCI and Better Mining. The investigation identifies seven Rwandan companies responsible for 85% of exports, five of which are directly linked to conflict coltan. This material is processed by smelters in China, Kazakhstan, and Thailand, eventually reaching global brands such as Apple, Microsoft, and Toyota via tantalum capacitors.

In 2025, global coal capacity increased by 3.5% while generation fell by 0.6%, reflecting a trend where coal plants are increasingly used as backup reserves rather than primary energy sources. This divergence is most acute in China and India, where record capacity additions coexist with falling generation due to the rise of wind and solar power. While the number of countries proposing new coal projects declined from 38 to 32, political interventions in the US and EU delayed planned retirements. Regionally, Latin America reported no new projects, while Russia and Kazakhstan continue to integrate coal into their long-term energy security strategies despite international financing constraints and sanctions.

Satellite observations of methane plumes from coal mines increased by approximately 1,400% between 2019 and 2024, yet a significant gap remains between theoretical detectability and actual monitoring. While 71% of global coal production is located in regions with favourable conditions for detection, only 10% of hard coal production has been observed via satellite. This discrepancy is attributed to factors such as satellite overpass frequency and instrument tasking priorities. High detection rates in Canada and Poland are linked to regional prioritisation by Carbon Mapper and regulatory scrutiny under the EU Methane Regulation, whereas major producers like India, South Africa, and Australia show substantial monitoring gaps despite favourable geography.

Global coal mine methane (CMM) emissions remained broadly steady at 34.7 million tonnes in 2023, despite an 8% increase in global coal production since 2021. This trend undermines the Global Methane Pledge's goal to cut anthropogenic methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Analysis reveals significant data gaps, as six of the nine largest emitters failed to submit official 2023 CMM data to the UNFCCC. Independent estimates from the IEA, GEM, and satellite data often diverge sharply from official figures, particularly in South Africa, Indonesia, and Russia, suggesting widespread underreporting and a reliance on outdated emission factors rather than mine-level measurements.

Coal mine methane (CMM) emissions remained steady at approximately 34.7 million tonnes in 2023 despite rising coal production, indicating a failure to align with the Global Methane Pledge. The report highlights a critical data gap, estimating that 89% of emissions were unreported to the UNFCCC in 2023 and that 87% of global production relies on generic emission factors rather than direct measurement. While satellite monitoring is increasing, it currently captures only 10% of hard coal production. Technically, 54-63% of CMM emissions could be mitigated by 2030 using proven technologies, with drainage station capture offering significant potential at negative net cost and ventilation air methane (VAM) oxidation capable of cutting nearly a quarter of emissions.

The report highlights significant gaps and uncertainties in global coal mine methane (CMM) emissions reporting, noting that 89% of emissions were left unreported in 2023. It criticizes the reliance on generic emission factors (Tiers 1 and 2) used for 87% of global coal production and advocates for the transition to direct, facility-level measurements (Tier 3) to increase data confidence and support mitigation policies.

The CC Asia Climate Fund (CC-ACF) is a proposed USD 150 million private equity fund targeting growth-stage companies in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan. Managed by CC Global Services Holdings Limited (CC GSH), the fund seeks USD 37.5 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to act as a first-loss tranche, catalyzing USD 112.5 million in co-financing. The fund focuses on five priority sectors: renewable energy, resource efficiency/industry decarbonization, weather-resilient buildings, water conservation, and climate-smart agriculture. It aims to reduce GHG emissions by 8.21 million tCO2eq over a 25-year lifespan and reach approximately 464,396 direct and indirect beneficiaries. The strategy emphasizes technology transfer, active board stewardship, and the demonstration of commercial viability for climate-smart investments to shift these carbon-intensive economies toward low-carbon development.

The report examines how national investment laws handle dispute prevention, management, and settlement (DPMS). It finds that while most laws include DPMS provisions—particularly in Africa and Asia—the use of international arbitration, especially through 'advance consent,' exposes states to significant financial risks. The authors advocate for prioritizing national courts and non-adjudicative mechanisms, providing a structured framework for states to reform their investment laws based on specific national policy problems rather than generic international standards.

The report examines how national investment laws handle the prevention, management, and settlement of disputes between investors and states. Based on an analysis of 167 laws, it finds that while dispute resolution is a common feature—particularly in Africa and Asia—the use of international arbitration and 'prior consent' clauses exposes states to significant financial and regulatory risks. The authors argue that states should prioritize national courts and administrative reviews over parallel arbitration systems and strongly recommend against including unilateral prior consent to international arbitration in national legislation.

The CC Asia Climate Fund (CC-ACF) has developed a Gender Assessment and Action Plan (GAAP) to address systemic gender inequalities in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan. The report identifies significant barriers to women's participation in climate-vulnerable sectors, including limited land ownership, a gendered digital divide, and underrepresentation in STEM and leadership roles. To mitigate these, the Fund implements a Gender Action Plan (GAP) that embeds gender-responsive criteria into its ESG due diligence, mandates Gender Action Plans for portfolio companies, and establishes SEAH-safe grievance mechanisms. The goal is to foster transformational change by promoting women's leadership in the energy and agriculture sectors and reducing the gender pay gap within its investee companies.

The briefing asserts that shrinking civic space globally threatens the effectiveness and legitimacy of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). While EITI possesses a framework of tools—including the 'Protocol: Participation of civil society' and Requirement 1.3 of the 2023 Standard—the document argues these are often underutilized due to a lack of political will or knowledge. It calls for making the monitoring of civic space mandatory for multi-stakeholder groups (MSGs) and urges the EITI International Board and Secretariat to move from general commitments to concrete, time-bound actions, specifically targeting the June 2026 Global Conference in the Philippines.

The report examines the challenges and opportunities for African energy exporters facing the EU Methane Regulation, which imposes extraterritorial monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) standards on imports. While Africa accounts for nearly 13% of global methane emissions, the continent faces significant financing gaps and technical barriers to compliance. The authors argue that while the regulation threatens export revenues, it provides a strategic opportunity to adopt low-cost abatement technologies. Key recommendations include mobilising innovative financing like transition bonds, establishing local independent verification capacity, and harmonising MRV standards to maintain market access to the EU.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) 2025 results report details the organization's progress in driving sustainable development through scientific research, capacity building, and policy engagement. Key achievements include the development of the 2025 Production Gap Report, the creation of the Integrated Guide for Business Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollutant Emission Assessment, and the support of Kazakhstan's NDC 3.0. SEI also highlights its 'One-SEI' programs, which foster cross-centre collaboration on themes such as sustainable transport, food systems, and finance. Organizationally, SEI reports a 52% reduction in air travel emissions per employee since 2017 and an increase in peer-reviewed journal outputs by 30% over 2024.

In 2025, global coal capacity grew by 3.5% while generation fell by 0.6%, a divergence driven primarily by China and India. While new commissioning reached near-record levels of 97.4 GW, coal is increasingly used as 'system insurance' rather than a primary energy source. The global pipeline is narrowing geographically, with only 32 countries proposing or building new plants in 2025, and 95% of all construction concentrated in China and India. Meanwhile, the U.S. and EU saw significant delays in planned retirements, though for different reasons: federal emergency orders in the U.S. and energy security concerns in the EU. Latin America reached 'No New Coal' status in 2025, while South Korea committed to a phaseout by 2040.

The Glaciers to Farms (G2F) Program is a 10-year, multi-sectoral adaptation initiative designed to address the impacts of glacial retreat and water insecurity in Central and West Asia. Requesting USD 250 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to leverage a total of USD 3.5 billion, the program integrates science-based risk planning, investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, capacity building for agricultural MSMEs, and a regional knowledge platform. It targets 13.6 million direct beneficiaries and 31.5 million indirect beneficiaries, focusing on the Naryn, Pyanj, Kura-Aras, and Swat river basins. Key interventions include multi-hazard early warning systems, nature-based solutions for watershed restoration, and the development of innovative finance mechanisms like sustainability-linked bonds.

Reclaim Finance reports a 'double discourse' within the Crédit Agricole group regarding climate commitments. While Crédit Agricole CIB announced in May 2024 that it would no longer participate in conventional bond issuances for fossil fuel companies, its subsidiary Amundi continues to provide capital to the sector. Between 2024 and 2025, Amundi invested 300 million euros in 80 bonds from companies expanding coal, oil, and gas projects, including significant holdings in Glencore, Saudi Aramco, TotalEnergies, and BP. The report contrasts this with BNP Paribas, which extended similar restrictions to its asset management and insurance arms. Reclaim Finance asserts that this inconsistency undermines the group's climate credibility and calls for an immediate alignment of Amundi's policies with the group's stated transition goals.