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Climate change has significantly increased the number of winter days above freezing in Poland, with the country ranking fifth globally for the most lost chilled winter days. Between 2014 and 2023, Poland experienced nearly three additional weeks of days above freezing annually, with all 13 analyzed cities seeing at least two additional weeks per year.

The report analyzes climate policy performance in the transport and buildings sectors across CEE countries, highlighting specific successful initiatives. In transport, it identifies Romania's 'Rabla' car scrappage scheme, Hungary's Jedlik Ányos Action Plan for electric vehicles, Poland's electric bus rollout, Slovakia's railway modernization, and the Czech Republic's integrated public transport laws as regional benchmarks. In the buildings sector, it highlights Romania's EIB-financed thermal insulation, Slovakia's long-term retrofit support, Poland's solar collector promotion, and the Czech Republic's heat pump subsidies. The document argues that these 'first mover' experiences can be transferred across the region to accelerate the low-emission transition.

The document identifies four primary areas of negotiation for COP24: resolving the impasse on climate finance, standardizing the communication of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), establishing a timetable for the Enhanced Transparency Framework, and defining the outcomes of the Talanoa Dialogue in light of the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C.

The document outlines strategies to combat food waste in Estonian schools, noting that food loss accounts for 74% of school food waste. It provides tailored guidance for catering staff (e.g., using the Fi-Fo method), teachers (integrating waste themes into curricula), students (taking only what they can eat), and school administrations (optimizing procurement and lunch schedules). It also shares international best practices from Scotland, Poland, and the USA.