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The report analyzes the growing prevalence of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) in free trade agreements (FTAs), noting a significant increase in references since 2018. It identifies five common rationales for their inclusion: cooperation, promotion, recognition, guidelines, and support. While VSSs can complement public regulations and drive innovative trade policy—such as using sustainability criteria for preferential tariffs—the report warns of pitfalls, including vague terminology, lack of enforcement, and the risk of VSSs becoming de facto market barriers for small-scale producers in developing countries. The authors argue that the effectiveness of VSSs depends on their credibility and the establishment of clear multilateral guidelines.

The report finds that while most countries are reducing coal proposals, global operating capacity grew by 48.4 GW in 2023, primarily driven by China. It highlights a stark divergence between China's construction surge and a record low in new starts elsewhere, while noting that only 15% of global operating coal capacity has a Paris-aligned retirement commitment.

The 2023 assessment of 40 banks reveals that while 23% showed improvements in managing E&S risks in the seafood sector, overall performance remains low with an average score of 21%. Asian banks drove most of the year-on-year progress and the issuance of new blue financial products, while European banks maintained the most robust policies. Despite growing awareness of nature-related financial risks, only 30% of assessed banks have seafood-specific policies, and many lack granular expectations for aquaculture and downstream clients.

The document outlines a 24-month readiness program (April 2024 to March 2026) implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) for Ethiopia. It focuses on four main areas: building the capacity of the Ministry of Planning and Development (the new NDA) and the Ministry of Finance; supporting the pre-accreditation of the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) to access the GCF Private Sector Facility; establishing essential coordination mechanisms including a No-Objection procedure and an operational manual; and developing a GCF Country Programming Document and two high-quality project concept notes based on pre-feasibility studies. The program also includes the creation of a knowledge management portal and international learning visits to countries such as Rwanda, South Africa, or Tanzania.

The paper outlines a strategic framework for Europe to achieve leadership in clean energy innovation, emphasizing that financial investment alone is insufficient. It proposes four pillars of innovative capacity: building human capital, pushing early-stage technology, creating demand-side market incentives, and securing access to key resources. Using Norway's carbon capture and storage (CCS) leadership as a case study, the author demonstrates how aligning these pillars creates a competitive advantage that is difficult for other regions to imitate. The document concludes that Europe should target sectors where it has natural resource advantages and integrate its policies to create a cohesive ecosystem rather than relying on isolated funding or deployment targets.

The document details the case of Do-Hyun Kim et al. v. South Korea, where 19 members of 'Youth4ClimateAction' challenged the constitutionality of the Framework Act on Low Carbon, Green Growth. The applicants argue that the government's failure to maintain sufficient greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets violates rights to human dignity, equality, and a healthy environment. Specifically, they contest the President's authority to modify targets via decree, claiming it constitutes an unconstitutional 'blanket delegation' of power and fails to meet the minimum protective measures required to mitigate climate change impacts, which are noted to be particularly severe in South Korea.

The document outlines key drivers of change in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the dual nature of artificial intelligence, the risk of losing traditional ecological knowledge, and the influence of power relations on environmental outcomes. It proposes a transition away from consumerist economic models toward systems prioritizing planetary health, alongside the need for robust governance and the protection of the rights of nature and marginalized groups.

The report emphasizes that while many OECD countries have integrated environmental goals into procurement, monitoring systems to track tangible impacts on greenhouse gas emissions are often neglected. Using examples from South Korea, Japan, Slovenia, Denmark, Malaysia, and the Netherlands, it identifies that successful monitoring requires strong government support and collaboration, though it is hindered by data gaps and tool complexity. The report recommends establishing legal mandates for monitoring, improving data management, and investing in staff capacity to ensure public procurement drives climate goals.

The proposal seeks USD 996,947 over 24 months to address critical capacity gaps in Kiribati's National Designated Authority (NDA) and broader stakeholder groups. Key objectives include operationalizing the Climate Finance Division, establishing 'No Objection' procedures, and updating the country's Strategic Framework and Country Programme. The project also aims to support the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFED) in achieving GCF FMCA re-accreditation and to enhance national coordination through the Kiribati National Experts Group (KNEG).

The workshop highlighted that Japan's continued reliance on fossil fuel imports creates acute security vulnerabilities and trade-offs, particularly when intersecting with climate hazards and geopolitical tensions. Participants identified that public opinion can be a driver for the renewable energy transition if technology is perceived as viable, and suggested that Japan should pursue an energy resilience alliance with like-minded countries such as South Korea and Taiwan. The report emphasizes the need for deeper inter-governmental dialogue across Japanese ministries to integrate climate security into national defense planning and to mitigate supply chain risks associated with renewable technology, specifically reliance on China.

The document examines how the insistence on consensus-based decision-making in the INC process for a plastic pollution treaty acts as a tool for obstruction, allowing a minority of least ambitious countries to block substantive progress. It contrasts this with other multilateral environmental agreements that include voting provisions to incentivize compromise and avoid deadlock. The brief also details specific procedural tactics used to stall negotiations, such as repeated quorum calls and credential verifications, and warns that without the ability to vote, the final treaty will likely reflect only the lowest common denominator of ambition.

The report examines how governments can monitor green public procurement (GPP) to track progress toward climate goals. It categorizes monitoring into institutionalization, outputs, and outcomes, while detailing specific tools for measuring CO2 impacts. Through case studies of South Korea, Japan, Slovenia, Denmark, Malaysia, and the Netherlands, it identifies key success factors such as strong legal mandates and e-procurement integration. It also highlights significant barriers, including data insufficiency, decentralized procurement structures, and a lack of specialized technical skills. The document concludes with recommendations for governments to define clear targets, mandate monitoring through policy, and strengthen data management systems.

The report 'Steeling Our Future' by Reclaim Finance analyzes the financing of the 100 largest steel producers, finding that banks provided US$429 billion to these companies between 2016 and June 2023. It highlights a critical gap between banks' climate commitments and their continued support for coal-based blast furnace (BF-BOF) production, which accounts for nearly 90% of steel sector emissions. The document argues that current decarbonization targets are insufficient and calls for an immediate end to financing for new blast furnaces and the relining of existing ones to avoid stranded asset risks estimated at US$554 billion. It advocates for a shift toward hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron (HDRI) and electric arc furnaces (EAF) powered by sustainable electricity.

The document outlines discussions from a foresight workshop involving 42 academics and practitioners from 15 countries in Asia and the Pacific. It identifies key drivers of change—specifically artificial intelligence, cultural values, and economic power relations—and their potential impacts on the environment and society. The briefing recommends transforming economic systems away from GDP-centric models, enhancing governance through AI ethics and transboundary cooperation, and centering rights and justice to protect marginalized groups and the environment.

The IPAG-3 meeting focused on improving direct access to GCF funding for Indigenous Peoples, integrating indigenous knowledge into climate risk assessments, and ensuring the GCF Indigenous Peoples Policy is strictly applied in project proposals. Key outcomes include a commitment to a 2024 global structured dialogue on Indigenous Peoples, advice on staffing potential GCF regional offices with internal expertise rather than consultants, and requests for the Independent Redress Mechanism to build capacity for Indigenous Peoples on grievance mechanisms.

The author argues that the UK's 24 GW nuclear target by 2050 is unrealistic. Key barriers include the long lead times for nuclear projects (typically 15-20 years), the lack of mature, commercially available reactor technologies, and the difficulty of securing private investment for high-cost projects. The document highlights the failure of the EPR-1 design and the financial risks shifted to consumers under the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model. It concludes that nuclear power is too slow and expensive to contribute meaningfully to the UK's electricity decarbonisation goals of 2030 or 2035.

The document explains the distinction between cap-and-trade systems (ETS) and baseline-and-credit mechanisms, detailing the evolution from Kyoto Protocol markets to the Paris Agreement's Article 6. It critiques carbon offsetting for enabling greenwashing and failing to reduce absolute emissions, while highlighting the specific shortcomings of CORSIA and REDD+. The guide advocates for a shift toward a 'climate contribution' approach where credits are cancelled without offsetting claims to support global climate action.

The document explains the difference between cap-and-trade systems and carbon credit mechanisms, detailing the evolution from the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement. It critiques carbon offsetting as a tool for greenwashing and argues for a shift toward 'climate contributions' where credits are retired without claims of neutrality.

The document serves as a comprehensive primer on carbon markets, distinguishing between emissions trading systems (cap-and-trade) and credit-based mechanisms. It details the evolution from the Kyoto Protocol's mechanisms to the Paris Agreement's Article 6, while critically assessing the risks of carbon offsetting, such as 'greenwashing' and the 'hot air' problem. The guide also examines the CORSIA framework for aviation and the private certification standards of the voluntary market, ultimately advocating for a shift from offsetting to a 'climate contribution' model.

The Institute for Economic Justice argues that South Africa's National Treasury has unnecessarily cut social spending by failing to mobilize available resources. The brief identifies significant revenue potential through the removal of regressive tax breaks for high earners, the introduction of wealth and financial transaction taxes, and the utilization of the Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account (GFECRA). It recommends restoring the Corporate Income Tax rate to 28% and implementing a progressive Social Security Tax to fund social protections.