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The document details the impact of rising temperatures on winter sports, noting that all cities hosting the Winter Olympics since 1950 have warmed. It highlights that the 2026 host cities, Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, have seen significant temperature increases and a decrease in freezing days. Projections indicate a sharp decline in climate-reliable host sites by the 2050s, particularly for the Paralympic Games held in March.

The briefing argues that the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) technical assistance (TA), while a small part of overall financial commitments, exerts significant strategic influence over policy and project design. The authors contend that TA can act as a form of indirect funding for fossil gas and call for the ADB to align its energy policy with a total fossil gas phase-out, improve transparency, and ensure environmental and social risk disclosure for all TA.

The briefing argues that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) uses technical assistance (TA) as a form of indirect funding that prolongs reliance on fossil gas. While TA is a small portion of overall financial commitments, it significantly influences policy directions and project design. The authors call for the ADB to align its energy policy with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal by phasing out fossil gas support and implementing stricter risk disclosure, transparency, and accountability mechanisms for TA.

Climate Central analysis indicates that human-caused climate change has significantly increased the risk of sub-optimal temperatures (21°C or higher) that impair elite soccer performance during the 2025 UEFA Champions League knockout stages. Comparing current data to the 1970s, the likelihood of such heat has risen for all 23 analyzed stadiums, with the most dramatic increase occurring at Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, where the risk increased by 800%. This temperature threshold is critical because research shows that players cover less total distance, sprint less, and perform fewer high-intensity efforts when temperatures reach or exceed 21°C.

The document argues that reducing methane emissions by at least 45% by 2030 is essential to meet the 1.5°C target. It details sector-specific interventions: transitioning to agroecology and plant-based diets in agriculture, eliminating fossil fuels and fixing leaks in the energy sector, and implementing a waste hierarchy focused on organic waste prevention and composting in the waste sector. It further proposes a global governance framework based on monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV), national action plans, and financial assistance for developing countries.

Analysis of 19 Winter Olympic host cities shows an average February warming of 4.8 °F since 1950, with some cities like Oslo warming by 9.8 °F. A University of Waterloo study indicates that under a high-emissions scenario, only one host city (Sapporo) would reliably provide safe and fair outdoor snow sports conditions by the 2080s. The Paralympic Games face higher risks due to their typical March scheduling, which coincides with warmer temperatures and a higher probability of rain.

The briefing discusses the need for a post-2025 climate finance goal and proposes four procedural pathways: creating an ad hoc Technical Committee, mandating a process led by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), establishing a dedicated Work Program, or having the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) outline the process via co-facilitators. It emphasizes that a robust technical process is necessary to address the needs of developing countries and scale up finance mobilization.

The document argues that transport is a critical driver of development but a major source of emissions, accounting for 23% of energy-related CO2. It defines sustainable transport as safe, affordable, and efficient mobility that minimizes environmental impacts. The report details the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and provides examples of successful interventions, such as Jakarta's BRT system and various cities' shifts toward active mobility (cycling and walking). It specifically notes the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for structural changes in urban transit, though it warns that 30 major economies continue to provide significant subsidies to fossil fuels over clean energy.

The report details a series of corruption scandals involving Eni, specifically the OPL 245 deal in Nigeria and the 'Siracusa System' in Italy, where the company is accused of bribing officials and tampering with witnesses. Simultaneously, it highlights Eni's extensive lobbying efforts in the EU to promote fossil gas as a 'bridge fuel,' arguing that such influence is incompatible with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. The document concludes by calling for a 'firewall' to end fossil fuel industry lobbying in EU policy-making, drawing parallels to the restrictions placed on the tobacco industry.

The document argues that COVID-19 recovery offers a political opportunity to implement greener, more livable cities by prioritizing 'shovel-ready' decarbonization projects and non-motorized transport. It emphasizes that urban recovery must address social vulnerabilities, specifically by integrating informal settlements and workers into planning to ensure equity. The text highlights the critical role of public transport as the 'backbone of mobility' and calls for improved direct access to international finance for cities to bridge the gap between national recovery packages and local needs.

The briefing argues that Covid-19 response policies for the fisheries sector should not merely provide financial relief but should be used to 'build back better' by integrating environmental and social goals. It introduces ten principles—including concurrent crisis response, efficiency, and conditionality—to evaluate support measures. The author advocates for income support over vessel-cost subsidies to avoid overcapacity and suggests that any support for fixed costs be conditional on environmental improvements, such as adopting low-impact gear. The document also warns against deregulation, such as increasing interannual quota flexibility, and calls for a long-term shift toward industry cost recovery for fisheries management.

Between 1919 and 1920, a civil society-led humanitarian effort rescued approximately 200,000 malnourished children from Central Europe, particularly Vienna, by hosting them in various European countries. Italian cities like Milan, Bologna, and Reggio Emilia played a significant role through 'trains of brotherhood,' providing relief and temporary shelter to children from a former enemy state. This initiative facilitated diplomatic reconciliation between Italy and Austria, though it faced opposition from fascist groups and was closed by the Italian government in June 1920. The author draws a parallel between this historical event and contemporary Italian civil society efforts to establish humanitarian corridors for refugees from Syria and East/Sub-Saharan Africa.

The report analyzes transport-related emissions in Tallinn from 2000 to 2009, noting a significant increase in CO2e emissions driven primarily by private car usage. It evaluates various fiscal and regulatory measures to mitigate these impacts, with a specific focus on municipal service vehicles. The study finds that implementing eco-driving training for municipal fleets could reduce CO2e emissions by 1,330 to 2,660 tons annually and save between 0.5 and 1 million euros in fuel costs. Despite strategic goals for sustainable transport, the report concludes that Tallinn's actual progress is hindered by a continued focus on car-centric infrastructure.

The document outlines the role of green bonds in transforming financial centres into sustainable hubs, highlighting European market leadership and specific city-level case studies in listing, sovereign issuance, and development banking.

The document examines public communication strategies for Low Emission Zones (LEZ) and Congestion Charging (CC) across 10 cases in Europe, Asia, and the United States. It identifies two primary consultation types—scientific/professional and consultative/political—and emphasizes that communication must be integrated into the policy design process from the feasibility stage. The paper provides a set of recommendations for implementing these schemes in China, highlighting the need for proactive public education, early stakeholder engagement, and the use of exemptions to manage opposing views.

The document argues that the COVID-19 crisis is a critical window to shift from 'snapshot to transition thinking,' urging governments to use stimulus packages to accelerate future technologies like renewable energy while phasing out fossil fuels. It highlights a concerning trend where approximately 30% of global fiscal stimulus is directed toward high-environmental-impact sectors, often without sustainability conditions. The report advocates for a 'One Health' approach to prevent future zoonotic pandemics by protecting biodiversity, and calls for the integration of informal workers and urban poor into city-level recovery planning. Key recommendations include the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, the implementation of 'do no harm' standards for bailouts, and increased financial support and debt restructuring for developing countries to facilitate a just transition.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is implementing a 2023-2027 strategy to drive systemic change across three human-centered systems: Cities, Energy, and Food, Land & Water. WRI Europe Stichting serves as the regional representative in Europe, leveraging the region's financial and research hubs to pilot sustainable practices and mobilize funding. The organization utilizes a framework of Global Impact Targets, WRI Impact Targets, and Country-Level Targets to measure success, aligned with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. WRI Europe Stichting's financial report for the 2024/2025 period shows a total income of EUR 17,360,351 and a result for the year of EUR 153,834.