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The document argues that South Africa's current budget mismatch is within historical norms and does not constitute an acute fiscal crisis. It identifies a projected revenue shortfall of R67.2 billion and an expenditure overspend of R67.9 billion, attributing the latter largely to poor planning by the National Treasury. While the debt-to-GDP ratio (71.4% in 2022/23) is comparable to emerging market averages, the authors warn that the rising cost of debt and lack of economic growth create a medium-term sustainability risk. To resolve the mismatch without cutting public services, the brief recommends utilizing the R459 billion in the SARB's Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account, restoring the corporate income tax rate to 28%, removing tax breaks for high-income earners, and implementing a progressive wealth tax.

The report examines 26 NAP progress reports from 20 countries to provide a framework for tracking climate adaptation. It identifies that while many countries commit to reporting, few do so due to capacity and resource constraints. The analysis proposes a four-step iterative cycle for reporting and details various methods for tracking implementation, evaluating effectiveness, and assessing the integration of adaptation into national budgeting.

The report critiques the current linear economy and the limitations of the conventional circular economy, proposing instead a 'resource-balanced economy' (RBE) for the SADC region. It argues that the green transition's demand for critical minerals is underestimated and faces thermodynamic and material constraints. To avoid 'financial capture' and poverty traps, the authors advocate for 'anticipatory governance'—a proactive, systems-based approach to policymaking—alongside bioregionalism, re-localisation, and the renegotiation of resource trade agreements to ensure equitable and sustainable development.

Reclaim Finance argues that the EU's climate targets cannot be met without a massive mobilization of private finance, which currently favors fossil fuels over sustainable energy. The organization proposes four key interventions: mandating a 6:1 clean energy to fossil fuel investment ratio by 2030, requiring robust and audited climate transition plans, applying the "do not significantly harm" principle to all financial services, and implementing preferential ECB refinancing rates for sustainable activities.

Following the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, a delegation of young leaders from the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS) proposed three strategic priorities for the alliance: moving beyond token youth engagement toward substantive decision-making, integrating Indigenous Peoples' traditional knowledge into high-level climate security dialogues, and leveraging new NATO documents to push member states toward deeper climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Ember critiques the TYNDP 2024 storylines for having low electrification levels and unrealistic fossil fuel price projections. The organization argues that the 'Green Ambition' (GA) and 'Distributed Energy' (DE) scenarios are not fully self-consistent and fail to align with 1.5C pathways. Ember recommends introducing a higher-ambition scenario with at least 90% emissions reduction by 2040 and urges the removal of fossil methane from heating and transport by 2050.

The Coalition to Counter Online Antisemitism (CCOA), funded by Google.org and the TIDES Foundation through 2026, is a multi-stakeholder initiative designed to address the rise of online antisemitism in Europe. The project aims to bridge gaps between research, education, and policy by coordinating efforts across ten countries, including Germany, France, and the UK. The CCOA operates through three dedicated working groups focused on research, education, and policy to scale primary prevention and counter-speech efforts.

The analysis finds that July 2023 was likely Earth's hottest month on record, with human-caused climate change making extreme heat significantly more likely for a vast majority of the global population. Using the Climate Shift Index (CSI), the report demonstrates that 81% of people experienced at least one day where temperatures were at least three times more likely due to climate change. The strongest signals were observed in tropical regions and small island developing states, where conditions were often five times more likely due to human influence. The report highlights specific record-breaking temperatures in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, emphasizing that such extremes will increase in frequency as long as fossil fuel combustion continues.

A joint response from eleven NGOs arguing that the EU has failed to meet binding obligations to end overfishing and wasteful discarding. The document calls for Total Allowable Catches (TACs) to be set at or below scientific advice, the implementation of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) to enforce the landing obligation, and the integration of climate adaptation and ecosystem-based approaches into fisheries management.

The Court of Justice of the EU ruled on 6 July 2023 that the European Investment Bank (EIB) must allow NGOs to request internal reviews of financing decisions that contravene environmental law. This case originated from a EUR 60 million loan for a biomass plant in Spain. While the ruling establishes the EIB's accountability under the Aarhus Regulation, the author notes that Art. 271(c) TFEU may limit the Court's ability to indirectly review the merits of the EIB's board decisions, potentially creating a different standard of review compared to other EU institutions.

The 2022 French nuclear outages were caused by a confluence of pipe corrosion, workforce shortages, and heat-related river curtailments, rather than inherent flaws in nuclear technology. The author argues that these issues can be mitigated through standardized reactor designs, consistent government policy to maintain a skilled workforce, and technical cooling upgrades. Despite the 2022 dip in availability, the document asserts that nuclear energy provides essential 'clean firm' power necessary for the cost-effective decarbonization of the European electricity grid.

Iberdrola is implementing a just transition strategy focused on decarbonizing the economy while supporting affected workers and communities. The company has closed all its coal plants and is investing heavily in renewables, with planned expenditures of €47 billion from 2023-2025 and €65-75 billion between 2026 and 2030. Key initiatives include the Exiom-Iberdrola Alliance in Spain to manufacture photovoltaic modules, the School of Electricians for Women in Brazil, and collaborations with UNICEF to promote green employment in Spain, Brazil, and Somalia. Iberdrola also advocates for a just transition through international pledges and was the first company to share its Climate Transition Plan for net zero emissions before 2040 with the UN.

The document analyzes the Mijares river basin, noting that decreased summer rainfall is linked to land-use changes and is driving aridification. Through 'uncertainty dialogues' with stakeholders, the authors identify three critical barriers to sustainability: the unpredictability of rural abandonment, a lack of technical knowledge for profitable and sustainable forest management to prevent fires, and conflicting perspectives on water allocation between the upper and lower basin. The brief argues that addressing these uncertainties through coordinated dialogue is essential for implementing robust sustainability projects.

The document highlights the severe social and environmental costs of Caribbean Spiny Lobster fishing in Central America. It details how the demand for live lobsters has driven divers, particularly from the Miskito Indigenous community, to dive deeper and more frequently, leading to widespread decompression sickness, paralysis, and death. The report notes that while Honduras and Nicaragua are the largest producers in Central America, both face challenges with illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the failure to implement bans on dangerous diving practices. It further discusses the 'Miskito standards' established by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights following a 2021 ruling against Honduras for failing to oversee private companies in the deep diving industry.

The report details how the expansion of shrimp farming in Ecuador has led to the destruction of over 70% of its mangrove ecosystems by 2020, resulting in biodiversity loss, increased climate vulnerability, and human rights violations. It highlights the role of EU imports and trade agreements in driving this demand and warns that seafood companies and investors face increasing regulatory and reputational risks under emerging EU due diligence legislation.

The report highlights that the EU relies heavily on imports of common octopus from Morocco, with significant quantities originating from the waters off Dakhla in Western Sahara. It argues that this trade poses legal, financial, and reputational risks for European companies and investors because the exploitation of these resources occurs without the consent of the Saharawi people, violating international law and the right to self-determination. The document notes that the General Court of the European Union annulled trade decisions covering Moroccan fishery products due to this lack of consent, though a final judgment from the European Court of Justice is pending.

The document establishes a consensus across multiple energy models, including the IEA NZE and IPCC pathways, that no new oil and gas fields should be developed to meet the 1.5 target. It argues that oil and gas production must decline by at least 65% by 2050 from 2020 levels. The brief asserts that the energy crisis in Europe caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine does not justify new fossil fuel production, as existing capacity and demand reduction can meet needs. It highlights a significant investment gap in renewables, noting that annual solar and wind investments must reach USD 830 billion by 2030 to bridge a USD 450 billion annual gap. Finally, it recommends that financial institutions cease financing new oil and gas projects and push for the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies.

The policy brief highlights a gap between current European electricity interconnection expansion plans and the actual needs of the power system. It asserts that doubling interconnection capacity is essential to integrate renewables cost-effectively and reduce reliance on fossil gas. The author identifies critical border corridors requiring urgent attention and proposes three pathways forward: accelerating the 22 GW of projects already in the pipeline, investing in non-wire solutions like storage and demand response, or increasing domestic renewable capacities at a higher cost.

The author argues that the EU's new Pact on Migration and Asylum represents a victory for immigration hardliners by expanding border procedures and reducing protection standards. The deal maintains the problematic Dublin rules and introduces a 'flexible' solidarity mechanism that allows member states to avoid relocating asylum seekers through financial contributions. The author contends that the pact increases the risk of detention and pushbacks at external borders, particularly impacting Mediterranean countries and refugees, while potentially benefiting smugglers.

The document analyzes adaptation planning across 136 large coastal cities, finding that over 50% lack formal plans and most existing policies fail to align with actual climate risks. It introduces the ARPA and APC frameworks to measure policy alignment and credibility, noting a significant gap between planning and implementation. Furthermore, it highlights a critical lack of outcome-based monitoring and evaluation, with 95% of indicators focusing on outputs. The brief argues for the integration of 'subaltern' knowledge to improve the social legitimacy and effectiveness of urban adaptation.