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The Allianz Climate and Energy Monitor 2017 ranks G20 member states on their attractiveness for low-carbon electricity infrastructure investments and assesses their investment needs to meet Paris Agreement temperature limits. While OECD countries like Germany, the UK, and France remain the most attractive destinations due to stable policy frameworks, emerging markets such as China, India, and South Africa show significant growth in renewable installations but face high investment needs to create climate-resilient power infrastructure.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative analyzes post-issuance reporting practices for green bonds issued before April 1, 2016. It evaluates the availability, frequency, and quality of reporting on the use of proceeds and environmental impact, comparing practices against market guidelines like the Green Bond Principles and the Climate Bonds Standard.

A speech delivered by IISD President and CEO Scott Vaughan at the World Circular Economy Forum 2017 in Helsinki, discussing the need for macroeconomic indicators beyond GDP to properly value the circular economy, the potential for job growth, and the necessity of reforming fiscal incentives.

A statement from RMI expressing disappointment over President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, while asserting that subnational actions and the global energy transition will continue.

This report summarizes the Sixth Annual Meeting of the San Giorgio Group, held on 8-9 May 2017 in Venice. The discussions focused on scaling up green, low-emissions finance by improving climate finance tracking, evolving financial architecture in emerging markets, overcoming funding constraints for cities, utilizing innovative financial instruments, and enhancing climate risk disclosure to accelerate the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The Center for International Environmental Law argues that the Trump Administration's intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement violates international law, damages US global credibility, and slows the urgent response to climate change without benefiting the coal or fossil fuel industries.

This briefing by RMI analyzes China's 'energy quota' for buildings—the Standard for Energy Consumption of Civil Buildings (GB/T51161-2016)—and identifies three primary lessons for U.S. cities and companies: the importance of meter-based peer assessment, the challenges of aligning operational targets with design codes, and the benefits of localizing performance targets to account for regional market dynamics.

The Allianz Climate & Energy Monitor Deep Dive analyzes the investment requirements for China, India, and the US to align with Paris Agreement goals, noting that while China and India are rapidly expanding renewables and exiting coal, US federal policy ambition is declining despite strong state-level support.

A statement by the World Resources Institute arguing that the United States should remain in the Paris Agreement to protect its economic, security, and diplomatic interests, noting strong public and business support for the accord.

This policy brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) analyzes the Trump Administration's FY2018 'skinny budget' proposal. It details significant proposed funding cuts across multiple federal agencies, specifically targeting climate change programs, sustainable energy research, rural development, and public transportation infrastructure, while prioritizing national security and space exploration.

This research paper by the NewClimate Institute and PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment proposes a comprehensive framework for assessing the ambition of post-2020 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction proposals, specifically Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), to support the Paris Agreement's requirement for regular reviews and global stocktakes.

This fact sheet from the World Resources Institute provides key statistics on Indigenous and community land rights, highlighting the gap between the amount of land held by these groups and the amount they legally own, as well as the environmental benefits of secure tenure.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International arguing that the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) model is fundamentally flawed and should not be revived, calling instead for a complete reset of trade policy to prioritize public good over corporate interests.

In a 2017 address, SAIIA National Chairman Fred T Phaswana discusses the erosion of international cooperation and multilateralism due to rising populism, protectionism, and political instability in Western societies and South Africa.

This fact sheet by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides a comprehensive overview of employment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors globally and within the United States as of 2016 and 2017. It utilizes data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to compare clean energy jobs against fossil fuel employment and detail specific subsector growth.

The World Resources Institute's 2015 Form 990 outlines its organizational structure, which includes four centers (Business, Economics, Finance, and Governance) and a focus on six critical issues: climate, energy, food, forests, water, and cities and transport.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative outlines the progress of public policy regarding green bonds in 2016 and projections for 2017. It highlights the emergence of sovereign green bonds, the role of green bonds in financing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and various innovative financial tools used by governments to attract private capital for climate infrastructure.

This briefing paper by the Climate Bonds Initiative explains the structure of covered bonds and argues for their application to low-carbon finance. It highlights how the dual recourse structure of covered bonds—providing claims over both a dedicated asset pool and the issuer—can lower funding costs for banks and increase institutional investment in green infrastructure and energy-efficient buildings.

This fact sheet by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides a comprehensive overview of employment trends in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors within the United States and globally, primarily using data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as of 2016 and 2017.

This fact sheet from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) outlines the evolution of China-Africa relations, tracing them from historical ties to contemporary economic, diplomatic, and security partnerships. It highlights the role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the shift in China's approach from 'non-interference' to active engagement in peace and security, while noting the impact of China's 'new normal' economic slowdown on bilateral trade and investment.