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The document analyzes the tension between two competing sets of European values: 1960s liberal values (such as LGBT rights and feminism) and traditional Christian identity. It argues that populist movements use a 'concocted vision of the past' to frame Islam as culturally incompatible with Europe, while simultaneously ignoring the fact that they have embraced the very liberal values that traditional Christianity rejects. This paradox, combined with laws banning religious symbols to target Islam, results in the further dechristianisation of Europe, turning faith into mere 'folklore'.

The analysis argues that while a broad coalition of Eurosceptic parties could obstruct EU integration, only radical-right populists pose a substantive threat to liberal democratic values, though their ability to implement an 'illiberal' model in Western Europe remains limited by public opinion.

ClientEarth's contribution to the European Commission's evaluation of food contact materials (FCM) rules highlights critical gaps in public health protection. The organization argues that the current lack of EU-wide harmonisation for 13 of the 17 listed FCM categories allows for inconsistent safety standards and a 'race to the bottom' due to the principle of mutual recognition. Furthermore, ClientEarth criticizes the current risk assessment model based on 'migration' limits, which allows hazardous chemicals like CMRs and EDCs to be used if exposure is deemed acceptable. They propose a 'cut-off' criterion—similar to that used in pesticides regulation—to completely prohibit these substances in FCM to better protect human health and incentivize safer innovation.

The analysis of draft NECPs reveals that the EU is set to miss its 2030 coal phase-out goals, with 11 Member States planning no phase-out and 60 GW of coal capacity projected to remain. The report highlights a disconnect where countries receiving EU just transition funding, such as Poland and Czechia, lack credible phase-out plans in their NECPs.

The author argues that Poland and Ukraine's dependence on Russian gas and oil creates significant security vulnerabilities, which Russia exploits for political pressure. While Poland is investing in infrastructure like the Świnoujście LNG terminal and Baltic Pipe to end gas imports by 2022, Ukraine remains more vulnerable due to limited financial and regulatory capacity. The document posits that long-term resilience against 'hybrid war' requires a shift from centralized energy systems to distributed networks based on renewables and improved energy efficiency, particularly in the housing sector.

Carbon Market Watch criticizes Shell's $300 million investment in tree planting and forestry offsets, arguing that such measures do not reduce emissions and are undermined by the company's continued lobbying against climate action and massive investment in oil and gas infrastructure over low-carbon alternatives.

The author criticizes the EU's current approach to media freedom, arguing that relying on national governments is insufficient, especially in countries like Hungary and Poland where media pluralism is threatened. While acknowledging some progress—such as the proposed whistleblower directive and small-scale funding for investigative projects—the text contends that these efforts are inadequate against the dominance of tech platforms like Google and Facebook. The document calls for a permanent EU funding body for investigative journalism, a re-evaluation of the subsidiarity principle regarding media, and a requirement for online platforms to share revenue with high-quality news providers.

The IAI Executive Directorate reports on its capacity-building efforts, including the São Paulo School of Advanced Science and partnerships with the AAAS and OAS to integrate science and policy. It outlines ongoing initiatives like the STeP Fellowship and Seed Grant programs, while seeking CoP support for future implementation subject to external funding.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and University College London (UCL) have developed a method to eliminate the opacity of cargo shipping emissions by matching satellite-based automatic identification system (AIS) data with vessel operational characteristics and shipping manifests. This approach allows for the precise allocation of greenhouse gases and air pollutants to individual commodity shipments, exporters, importers, and traders. A pilot study of Brazilian exports in 2014 revealed that shipping emissions added 5% to the country's reported CO2 emissions, with the largest shares attributed to iron ore and soybean exports to China. The authors argue that scaling this approach can inform international climate negotiations, improve lifecycle assessments, and enhance shipping industry efficiency.

The report analyzes the legal landscape for RES prosumers and renewable energy communities (REComs) in the EU and nine Member States: Belgium/Flanders, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It finds a significant gap between recent EU-level efforts to promote active citizen participation—such as the RED II and the draft recast Electricity Directive—and the diverse, often restrictive, national laws. While some countries like Germany and France have more advanced frameworks, others like Portugal and Belgium/Flanders face substantial regulatory barriers, including the lack of legal definitions for energy communities and restrictions on peer-to-peer energy sharing. The report concludes that EU legislation is likely to drive national policy changes toward more progressive, citizen-centered energy models.

The document analyzes the scale of plastic pollution in China, noting that China's 2017 plastic production was approximately 75 million tons. It details the EU's comprehensive approach, including the Waste Framework Directive and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, which utilize Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to shift financial and operational burdens to producers. The paper highlights EU targets under 'Plastics 2030' to make all plastic packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030. It concludes by recommending that China upgrade its legal systems, adopt whole-process management from production to disposal, and cooperate with the EU on transboundary waste treatment and global governance.

The report examines the assassination of Lenca indigenous leader Berta Cáceres in 2016, who opposed the Agua Zarca hydroelectric dam in Honduras. It details how the project, developed by Desarrollos Energéticos S.A. (DESA) and funded by international institutions including FMO and Finnfund, was marked by systemic violence and a lack of free, prior, and informed consent. Despite a 2018 court verdict convicting several individuals and linking the murder to DESA executives, the report argues that the reliance on voluntary human rights due diligence under the UN Guiding Principles is insufficient. It calls for legally binding international legislation to hold corporations accountable for human rights abuses and environmental damage.

The report examines the assassination of environmental defender Berta Cáceres and the role of the Desarrollos Energéticos S.A. (DESA) company and its international financiers in the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project in Honduras. It highlights the failure of voluntary human rights due diligence and calls for binding international legislation to hold corporations accountable for human rights and environmental abuses.

The document examines the murder of environmental defender Berta Cáceres and the systemic violence associated with the Agua Zarca dam project in Honduras. It highlights the failure of voluntary human rights due diligence by international financiers and calls for legally binding international legislation to hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights and environmental abuses.

The Clean Air Task Force supports the USE IT Act as a critical tool for developing a diversified portfolio of low-carbon technologies. The testimony emphasizes that meeting global temperature targets requires not only emission reductions but also negative emissions, which can be achieved through carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) and direct air capture (DAC). The author argues that the USE IT Act will catalyze innovation through prize competitions and facilitate the expansion of the US CO2 pipeline network, which currently stands at 4,500 miles but may need to reach 66,000 miles to support large-scale deployment.

The report argues that wealth and wellbeing depend on natural capital—the stock of renewable and non-renewable resources that provide essential ecosystem services. It highlights that natural capital can account for 30% to 50% of national wealth in various countries, yet traditional GDP measures fail to capture this value. The document outlines how governments can generate societal returns (e.g., poverty reduction and public health), economic returns (e.g., business resilience and green infrastructure), and environmental returns (e.g., ecological resilience). To scale these benefits, the report proposes twelve specific levers for government action, ranging from implementing UN-SEEA accounting frameworks and creating public-private partnerships to mainstreaming natural capital into macro indicators and implementing mandatory non-financial disclosures.

The author contends that current EU efforts to combat disinformation are insufficient because they rely on member states that may be hostile to critical media. While the EU has introduced some protections for whistleblowers and small-scale grants for investigative projects, the document argues for a permanent funding facility for journalism and a re-evaluation of the subsidiarity principle to allow the EU to intervene more directly in member states where media freedom is under threat.

The document reports on the growth of sovereign green bond issuance in 2018, noting that sovereign issuance reached 10.5% of the green bond market share. It details specific issuances from countries like France, Indonesia, and the Seychelles, and outlines the development of the Green Bond Market Development Toolkit for emerging markets. Additionally, it describes the EU's progress toward a sustainable finance taxonomy and the efforts of central banks, such as the Bank of England and De Nederlandsche Bank, to integrate climate risk into financial supervision and stress testing.

The document examines the global green bond market for low-carbon buildings, highlighting the role of securitisations, covered bonds, and public infrastructure financing. It identifies Japan as a key player with significant potential to leverage these instruments for energy efficiency and climate adaptation.

The document examines the role of green bonds in decarbonizing the building sector, which accounts for approximately 28% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. It details various financial instruments, including Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) and covered bonds, used to fund energy-efficient construction and renovations. The briefing highlights the growth of the market, noting that as of November 2018, $126 billion had been allocated to low-carbon building assets. It specifically analyzes the Japanese market, where the Development Bank of Japan is the largest issuer, and suggests that Japan can further leverage its technical expertise in energy efficiency to attract green investment.