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At its 23rd meeting, the GCF Board approved 10 new projects totaling USD 266.90 million in GCF funding, which, with co-financing, will support over USD 1.45 billion in climate action across 10 developing countries. The Board adopted several key governance frameworks, including a compliance risk policy, an updated policy on the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH), and procedures for decision-making when consensus is not reached. Additionally, the Board established that the first replenishment period will run from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023 and approved four new Accredited Entities.

The report identifies significant barriers to capital recycling in India's renewable energy sector, noting that most project debt remains locked in banks due to an underdeveloped bond market and strict credit rating requirements. It proposes Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) as a flexible, near-term solution to aggregate projects, enhance credit ratings, and attract institutional investors, specifically suggesting a demonstration fund sponsored by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA).

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) describes the progress at the SB50 talks in Bonn as "glacial," noting that while a non-consensus text for Article 6 was established for COP25, critical language on human rights remains in brackets. CIEL emphasizes that Article 6 mechanisms—which include carbon credit markets and sustainable development mechanisms—must incorporate independent grievance bodies and social safeguards to avoid the failures of the Clean Development Mechanism. The statement also highlights the importance of the Escazú Agreement for environmental democracy in Latin America and condemns countries that questioned the IPCC's Special Report on 1.5°C during the negotiations.

The Independent Integrity Unit (IIU) reported progress on five priority areas from March to May 2019: completing the integrity policy framework, developing guidelines, implementing proactive risk assessments, launching awareness initiatives, and conducting investigations. Key policy developments include the operationalization of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) standards and an updated Policy on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH). The IIU also developed a two-tier model for Proactive Integrity Reviews (PIRs) and conducted training for staff and Board members. During the period, the IIU received 16 reports of suspected wrongdoing, primarily related to misconduct.

As of 30 April 2019, the GCF spent USD 21.1 million (26%) of its USD 80 million annual administrative budget and USD 0.4 million (20%) of its USD 2.1 million multi-year budget. The Secretariat accounted for the largest portion of spending at USD 18.4 million. Underspending in staff costs was attributed to slower-than-anticipated recruitment, while consultancy costs are expected to exceed the budget to maintain capacity. Expenditures for the Board, independent units, and the first formal replenishment process were all reported as being within acceptable limits.

The GCF Secretariat report for early 2019 details progress across six strategic goals. Key achievements include the launch of the first formal replenishment process, the development of a Theory of Change to drive paradigm shifts, and the expansion of the Readiness Programme. While the number of projects under implementation rose to 51 by 30 April 2019, the Secretariat noted bottlenecks in signing agreements due to the immediate effectiveness of new Board policies. The report also highlights the operationalization of a 'community of practice' with 28 expert organizations and the refinement of second-level due diligence processes.

The Information Appeals Panel (IAP) reported no new appeals between January and May 2019. However, the IAP expressed concern to the Board that a decision from 19 November 2018 has not been fully implemented by the GCF Secretariat. The panel also detailed its leadership rotation and the development of a Case Management System (CMS) expected to go live in late July 2019.

The Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM) report for early 2019 details its operational status, including the adoption of new Procedures and Guidelines and the development of a Case Management System. While no formal complaints or reconsideration requests were received during the period, the IRM conducted a preliminary inquiry into a project in Peru regarding potential mis-categorization and lack of free, prior, informed consent. The IRM also focused on capacity building for direct access entities and outreach activities in Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, and China.

The report identifies about 50 policies from July 2018 to May 2019 in 25 countries, noting that the energy sector saw the most activity with 29 entries. While most policies aim to reduce emissions, the document highlights emissions-increasing policies in Argentina and the United States. Additionally, it notes that of the 25 countries, four have submitted long-term GHG strategies to the UNFCCC and five have developed drafts or domestic strategies.

The research finds a positive correlation between energy and resource misallocation in Brazilian industry, suggesting that improving the allocation of resources to the most productive firms would simultaneously increase aggregate productivity and energy efficiency. Using data from 2007 to 2015, the authors demonstrate that resource misallocation increased over this period, acting as the primary barrier to productivity growth. While the potential aggregate output gains from fully equalizing revenue productivity are substantial, ranging from 77.9% to 96.2%, the analysis reveals that capital distortions are significantly more impactful than electricity distortions in generating these losses. The study concludes that broad industrial policies targeting these binding distortions are more effective for improving aggregate energy efficiency than firm-level initiatives.

The document is a participant list for the 27th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, which took place in Brasilia, Brazil, from 5-6 June 2019. It enumerates representatives from party nations, advisory committees, observers, and intergovernmental organizations.

The document outlines a framework for G20 nations to align their near-term climate pledges (NDCs) with mid-century visions (LTSs) to achieve Paris Agreement goals. It emphasizes that such alignment avoids carbon lock-in, supports just transitions, and unlocks economic benefits, including a potential US$26 trillion in global benefits by 2030. The paper provides guidance on NDC implementation, the process for updating pledges by 2020, and the necessity of G20 support for developing countries to overcome capacity and financing gaps.

The report analyzes 34 benchmark-sized green bonds issued between July and December 2018. It finds that EUR green bonds generally achieved higher oversubscription and better secondary market performance than vanilla equivalents, while USD green bonds showed more muted demand. Only two bonds exhibited a 'greenium' (pricing inside their yield curve). The report also highlights China as the largest emerging market source of green bonds and explores the potential for green bonds to provide downside risk protection during market volatility.

The IAI Directorate implemented several initiatives between 2018 and 2019 to strengthen science-policy interfaces and regional cooperation. Key activities included signing a Memorandum of Understanding with IPBES, co-hosting a South-South Cooperation workshop on climate and sustainable development in Uruguay, and joining the Belmont Forum Steering Committee. The Directorate also explored becoming a Readiness Delivery Partner for the Green Climate Fund in Latin America and engaged with the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research on a new climate change initiative. Efforts to improve science communication included a social media campaign and discussions with the American Chemical Society and the Earth Journalism Network.

The IAI Executive Directorate reports on its 2018-2019 efforts to strengthen science-policy interfaces and international partnerships. Key activities include signing a Memorandum of Understanding with IPBES, collaborating with UNOSSC on South-South cooperation for urban climate resilience in South American megacities, and pursuing an Associate status with the Green Climate Fund. The IAI also joined the Belmont Forum Steering Committee and explored a cooperative research action on food security and climate change with France's National Research Agency, attracting interest from Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Additionally, the report details engagements with the IPCC, the European Commission, and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to foster intercontinental cooperation on climate risks.

In Q1 2019, global green bond issuance reached USD 47.9 billion, a 42% increase over Q1 2018. The market was driven by non-financial corporates, particularly in the energy sector, and dominated by developed markets in the USA, France, and Canada. Energy, buildings, and transport accounted for 81% of the use of proceeds. The report also highlights that while post-issuance reporting is common among larger issuers and those with external reviews, there is a lack of consistency in the metrics used to report environmental impacts.

The report finds that Green Public Procurement (GPP) in Canada provides significant benefits over business-as-usual (BAU) scenarios, particularly in reducing operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. By 2035, sustainable procurement for buildings and vehicles could save nearly CAD 2 billion annually in operating costs. While a 'sustainable plus domestic' scenario for steel and cement increases production costs due to the replacement of imports, it generates higher domestic revenue and employment. The report concludes that GPP reduces total emissions and provides substantial savings when measured by the social cost of carbon.

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.

In 2018, global coal power growth indicators declined for the third consecutive year, with new construction capacity falling 39% compared to 2017. While China and India saw record lows in new permits, China remained an outlier by resuming construction on previously frozen projects. The United States led the world in plant closures, recording 17.6 GW of decommissioned capacity. The report highlights that meeting IPCC climate goals of 1.5°C to 2°C requires a rapid phase-out of coal, yet China's China Electricity Council has proposed increasing its coal capacity limit to 1,300 GW by 2030. In India, coal is facing stiff competition from cheaper solar and wind energy, while Vietnam has seen the fastest growth in coal capacity among countries with over 4 GW, though it is facing increasing public opposition and financial tightening from Japanese banks.

In 2018, global coal-fired power capacity growth continued a three-year decline, with new construction and commissioning falling significantly. While the US led a high rate of retirements, China saw a paradoxical trend: a sharp drop in new approvals but a rise in under-construction capacity as previously halted projects resumed. India also saw a historic low in new approvals as solar and wind power became more cost-competitive. The report emphasizes that current operating coal plants are incompatible with IPCC goals to limit warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius.