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The report evaluates ten climate solutions across five European countries, finding a total abatement potential of 149 Mt CO2eq by 2030, representing 13% of the region's projected emissions. Energy efficiency in buildings and industry are identified as the most cost-effective solutions, offering net savings, while onshore wind and solar power provide significant potential, particularly in the Baltic states. The study highlights that while Poland and Ukraine offer the highest absolute abatement, the relative impact is greater in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Key barriers include policies favoring fossil fuels and market uncertainty, while enablers include EU regulations and declining renewable technology costs.

The briefing argues that climate adaptation is currently undervalued and incorrectly viewed as a local problem, which hinders global ambition. It proposes a 'transboundary' approach to climate risk, recognizing that impacts in one country create risks in others through trade, biophysical flows, people, and finance. The authors review progress from COP23 and suggest that the Paris Agreement's mechanisms—such as the global stocktake and National Adaptation Plans—should be operationalized to track and manage these cross-border risks to avoid 'climate change contagion' in the global economy.

The report analyzes consumption-based emissions in Sweden, highlighting that emissions generated abroad for Swedish consumption have increased by nearly 50% since the early 1990s. It identifies meat consumption and air travel as critical 'hotspots' due to their high climate impact per unit and high frequency of use. The authors argue that current policy instruments are insufficient and recommend a shift toward transformational changes, such as establishing a vegetarian norm in the public sector and investing in high-speed rail, alongside the creation of national consumption-based emission targets for 2030 and 2045.

This report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details activities and strategic partnerships undertaken between sessions to increase the institute's visibility and influence within international climate and biodiversity frameworks. It outlines collaborations with the IPCC, UN agencies, and various NGOs to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy implementation, particularly for Latin America.

Ørsted has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emission intensity from energy production by 96% by 2023 compared to a 2006 base-year, a target approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. To achieve this, the company is divesting from oil and gas, phasing out coal by 2023, and expanding offshore wind capacity to a target of 11-12 GW by 2025. Ørsted reports that it has already reduced GHG emissions intensity by 67% since 2006 and has reduced coal consumption by 82% in the same period.

The document details various green asset-backed securities (ABS) and aggregation mechanisms used to fund low-carbon transitions. It highlights specific instruments such as synthetic ABS, PACE ABS, solar ABS, and green covered bonds, providing examples of issuers and the types of underlying assets—ranging from energy-efficient mortgages to electric vehicle leases—that enable institutional investors to finance smaller-scale green assets.

The document identifies systemic failures in the REACH authorisation process, specifically noting that authorisations are often granted even when suitable alternatives exist. It argues that applicants lack incentives to provide comprehensive information and that the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) incorrectly shifts the burden of proof away from applicants. To remedy this, the authors propose proactive consultation methods—inspired by EU merger law—and a more rigorous technical assessment based on 'end-use function' rather than just chemical performance. Key recommendations include requiring applicants to provide contact lists of competitors and customers, implementing a decision tree for feasibility assessments, and withdrawing authorisations if undisclosed alternatives are discovered.

The briefing examines the application of penalties under the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), concluding that current enforcement practices often fail to meet the EU legal standard of being 'effective, proportionate and dissuasive'. It highlights a prevalence of 'soft' enforcement approaches and a lack of transparency regarding sanctions, which creates an uneven playing field for companies. The document recommends the adoption of credible enforcement policies, increased public access to enforcement data, and the development of harmonised guidance on determining penalty levels.

The document describes Thailand's top-down approach to developing a bioeconomy focused on adding value to existing commodities like sugarcane and cassava. It highlights a model where the private sector drives innovation while the government facilitates through tax incentives, R&D funding, and regulatory easing. However, the authors note significant challenges regarding social equity, as the system prioritizes large industrial players over smallholder farmers.

The document serves as Deliverable 2.2 of the BONUS RETURN project, providing a preliminary list of ecotechnologies designed to minimize environmental harm and provide societal value by recovering carbon and nutrients. It defines ecotechnologies as "human interventions in social-ecological systems in the form of practices and/or biological, physical, and chemical processes designed to minimise harm to the environment and provide services of value to society". The report details the methodology used to identify these technologies, including bibliographic searches of Scopus and Web of Science and grey literature searches via Google Scholar and organizational websites. To date, the mapping has screened 40% of agricultural evidence and 60% of wastewater evidence, with the full database intended for a subsequent deliverable. The project aims to address the degradation of the Baltic Sea by improving the adoption of technologies that reconcile eutrophication reduction with food and energy security.

The report details severe pollution and health crises linked to Aditya Birla Group's viscose plants in India and Indonesia, highlighting discrepancies between the company's public sustainability image and the actual conditions on the ground.

The statement highlights Sweden's leadership in climate science and finance, its goal to become one of the first fossil-free welfare nations by achieving net zero emissions by 2045, and the necessity of using public finance to mobilize private investment for the green economy. It emphasizes the role of the IPCC and the Paris Agreement in guiding global action, noting that renewable energy is becoming increasingly affordable compared to fossil fuels.

The report finds that pharmaceutical production in Hyderabad continues to cause severe environmental degradation through the discharge of untreated wastewater containing heavy metals and industrial solvents. It highlights a critical link between these manufacturing practices and the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global health threat. The document argues that Indian regulatory bodies are failing to enforce pollution controls and that the pharmaceutical industry's reliance on opaque supply chains allows companies exporting to the US and EU to avoid accountability for their environmental footprint.

The brief finds that while 66% of EU cities have climate plans, there is significant disparity based on city size and national legislation. National mandates in countries like Denmark and the UK significantly increase the likelihood of cities having plans, while many cities in Spain and Italy rely on international networks like the Covenant of Mayors due to a lack of national guidance.

The global green bond market reached a cumulative issuance of USD 521bn by 2018, with USD 167.6bn issued in 2018 alone. The USA, China, and France emerged as the leading national markets. The report highlights a significant increase in issuance from financial institutions, particularly commercial banks, and a growing trend toward shorter-dated bonds. While Europe remains the largest overall market, the Asia-Pacific region saw the highest year-on-year growth at 35%. The market is also diversifying into other labelled instruments, including sustainability, social, and blue bonds, and expanding into emerging markets through the adoption of regional standards like the ASEAN Green Bond Standards.

The document analyzes Norway's strategic management of its petroleum resources to avoid the 'resource curse' and foster a competitive high-tech sector. Key mechanisms included the creation of Statoil in 1972 to build independent technological capacity and the establishment of the Government Pension Fund Global in 1990 to manage revenue volatility. The government implemented local content requirements, such as mandating that 50% of petroleum R&D be conducted domestically, and forced collaboration between multinationals and local universities. These efforts transformed Norwegian manufacturing into a specialized engineering and supply industry, with the oil and gas sector serving as an enabling market for broader high-tech innovations in telecommunications, satellites, and automation. The study concludes that Norway's success was predicated on its pre-existing skills base, strong government enforcement, and a long-term approach to innovation.

The report identifies significant knowledge gaps hindering the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and argues that research must play four roles: characterizing challenges, providing solutions, coordinating dialogue, and critically analyzing the goals. Using SDGs 12, 14, and 17 as examples, it highlights the need for more applied 'action research' and a deeper understanding of goal interactions and international spill-over effects. The authors propose a tiered approach to structural reform, ranging from incremental improvements in open data and communication to transformative changes such as funding research led by third countries and reorienting the innovation system away from incremental economic growth toward social and climate justice.

Scaling up 10 existing climate solutions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine could reduce 2030 emissions by approximately 149 Mt (CO2e), representing a 13% reduction compared to baseline projections. The most significant absolute reductions are possible in Poland (71 Mt) and Ukraine (64 Mt), while the highest relative impacts are in the Baltic States, potentially cutting emissions by nearly 40% in Estonia and over 30% in Latvia and Lithuania. Energy efficiency in buildings and industry offers the highest potential and is the most cost-effective, with building efficiency alone potentially saving 2.9 billion euros by 2030. Conversely, wind power provides the greatest relative potential in the Baltic States. The report identifies common barriers such as high investment costs, weak carbon pricing, and lack of financing, and recommends policies including the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies, stable legal frameworks, and targeted financial incentives.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) provides technical tools and research in Colombia to bridge science and policy across water management, energy transition, and sustainable sanitation. Key efforts include the use of WEAP for water resource planning, LEAP for low-emission energy modeling, and TRASE for mapping deforestation in agricultural supply chains. SEI also investigates the socio-economic transition away from thermal coal in the César and La Guajira departments and supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The South African mining sector is highly vulnerable to job losses driven by biophysical climate impacts and international trade responses, with coal, gold, and platinum being the most at risk. While biophysical impacts could lead to 14,700 job losses across all sectors, international trade responses could cause between 9,400 and 52,800 losses by 2030. The report highlights that coal and lignite mining is particularly vulnerable, with expected job losses of approximately 6% by 2030. However, the transition to a low-carbon economy creates opportunities for job growth in the extraction of minerals required for clean energy technologies, such as manganese and platinum group metals. To manage this transition, the report recommends a two-pronged approach to inventory and match transferable skills to non-mining sectors and new mining sub-sectors.