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Aviation’s Credibility on Environmental Integrity
Carbon Market Watch recommends that the ICAO GMBM exclude high-risk offset projects, including fossil fuel power plants, nuclear facilities, large-scale hydropower, and certain industrial gas destruction projects. The brief highlights that these project types often lack additionality, cause severe social and environmental harm, or suffer from non-permanence. It cites existing exclusions in the EU ETS and other jurisdictions as precedents for maintaining high quality standards in aviation's climate response.
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Document type: Policy brief
Communiqué
The 11th Annual General Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) emphasized the necessity of integrating social and economic considerations into mine closure planning from the start of a mine's design. The meeting, attended by representatives from 67 countries, highlighted the role of the mining sector in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reviewed assessments of the IGF Strategic Framework in the Dominican Republic, Uganda, and Madagascar.
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Document type: Statement
Green Climate Fund Trust Fund Financial Report as of 31 March 2015
As of 31 March 2015, the Green Climate Fund Trust Fund had received total contributions of USDeq. 171.20 million, with USDeq. 128.00 million deposited by 23 contributors. The GCF Board approved funding totaling USD 65.11 million for administrative budgets and readiness activities, while the interim trustee transferred USD 19.62 million. Total funds available to support GCF Board funding decisions were USD 63,147,206.
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Document type: Report
Towards a global carbon market: risks of linking the EU ETS to other carbon markets
The policy brief examines the implications of linking the EU ETS with external carbon markets, noting that while it may increase cost-efficiency, it risks undermining the EU's 2030 domestic emissions reduction target of 40%. It highlights the lack of transparency and European Parliament involvement in current negotiations and recommends that any linking be accompanied by higher emission targets and robust safeguards, such as the exclusion of international offsets.
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Document type: Policy brief
TOWARDS A GLOBAL CARBON MARKET
The policy brief examines the potential for linking the EU ETS with other carbon markets, specifically focusing on ongoing negotiations with Switzerland. It argues that while linking can increase cost-efficiency, it risks reducing overall emissions abatement, lowering domestic investment, and undermining the EU's target of at least 40% domestic emissions reductions by 2030. The author highlights a lack of transparency and democratic oversight in current linking procedures and recommends that any future linking be accompanied by increased EU emission targets and strict criteria regarding target stringency, the use of offsets, and price/supply controls.
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Document type: Policy brief
TOWARDS A GLOBAL CARBON MARKET
The report examines the feasibility of linking the EU ETS with various global carbon markets, highlighting that success depends on harmonizing design features such as target stringency, offset rules, and price controls. It analyzes the successful California-Quebec linkage and the failed EU-Australia attempt, while evaluating the compatibility of the EU ETS with markets in Switzerland, China, South Korea, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, and the US RGGI. The author recommends that the EU ETS adopt safeguards used elsewhere, such as auction floor prices and banking limits, to address oversupply and price volatility.
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Document type: Report
Businesses call for strong government action
The We Mean Business Coalition acknowledges the US pledge to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025 as a positive step but argues it is insufficient to prevent 3.5 degrees Celsius of warming. The coalition calls for a detailed national decarbonization pathway targeting 80% or more reductions by 2050, a five-year cycle for strengthening targets, and the scale-up of public finance via the Green Climate Fund to leverage private sector capital.
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Document type: Statement
The Land Sector in the First INDCs Intended Climate Contributions of the United States, the European Union, and Mexico
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) evaluated the land sector (AFOLU) plans within the initial INDCs of the US, EU, and Mexico. The analysis finds a stark contrast between developed and developing nations: while the US and EU provide reasonable accounting standards, they lack specific action plans to realize their substantial mitigation potentials. In contrast, Mexico provides a highly transparent and ambitious plan, including a goal of zero deforestation by 2030 and a target for emissions to peak and decline by 2026. The report emphasizes that the land sector is critical for closing the global emissions gap, but current INDCs from developed nations are insufficient in detail to determine if their ambitions match their capacities.
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Document type: Report
Putting a Price on Carbon: A Handbook for U.S. Policymakers
The document examines carbon pricing mechanisms, specifically carbon taxes and cap-and-trade programs, as a core strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. It details design features such as scope, point of regulation, and cost-containment mechanisms, while analyzing various ways to utilize generated revenues—including tax cuts, deficit reduction, and dividends—to offset economic impacts and increase political viability. The authors argue that a well-designed carbon price can provide a 'double dividend' of environmental benefit and economic efficiency.
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Document type: Research paper
Case study report: Alpine Hazards in South Tyrol (Italy) and Grison (Switzerland)
The report examines community resilience in two Alpine regions. In South Tyrol, it analyzes the impact of a December 2012 landslide in Badia, finding that while risk awareness is high, it does not always lead to individual preparedness. The study highlights the critical role of local social networks and the high trust placed in local authorities like the fire brigade and municipality. In Grisons, the report focuses on the methodology for creating quantitative resilience indicators, such as residence time and past disaster awareness, to help decision-makers prioritize preventive actions.
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Document type: Case study
What to Look for in the New US Climate Plan (INDC)
The briefing outlines the anticipated US climate commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. It emphasizes that for the US proposal to be effective and transparent, it should clarify implementation pathways, address the fairness and ambition of its contribution relative to global goals, and provide clear data on base years and market mechanisms.
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Document type: Briefing
UNEP Financial Inquiry - Pathways to Scale
The UNEP Financial Inquiry argues that while global financial assets are abundant, investment flows are misaligned with sustainable development due to systemic failures and ineffective pricing. It identifies five key financial areas for alignment—banking, bonds, institutional investment, central banks, and systemic risk assessment—and proposes a performance framework based on effectiveness, efficiency, and resilience to measure the scaling of sustainable finance.
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Document type: Executive summary
EU’s announcement for Paris climate deal fails to address loopholes that could slash announced target in half
Carbon Market Watch argues that the EU's commitment to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 is undermined by a lack of transparency. Specifically, the organization warns that a surplus of 4-6.5 billion emission permits could reduce effective reductions to 17%-26%, and vague accounting for land-use removals could further lower the target by up to 5%.
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Document type: Statement
EU’s plan to link to Swiss carbon market adds pressure to announce an increased 40% target
Carbon Market Watch asserts that the EU's plan to link the EU ETS with the Swiss carbon market necessitates an increase in the EU's domestic reduction target beyond 40%, as the current target is intended to be achieved without international credits. The organization warns that a surplus of emission allowances, estimated to reach 2.6 GtCO2 by 2020, could dilute the 2030 target by 7%. Additionally, the document highlights risks from accounting tricks involving Member State surpluses and artificial gains in forest management, which could further weaken the target by 5% each.
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Document type: Statement
Report on Activities of the Secretariat
The Green Climate Fund Secretariat report details operational progress between October 2014 and February 2015. Key achievements include the launch of the Online Accreditation System on 17 November 2014, the appointment of 100 national designated authorities, and the mobilization of approximately US$ 10.2 billion in pledges. The Secretariat also advanced the development of its investment framework, results management indicators, and administrative structures, while increasing staff diversity with female representation rising to 35% and staff from developing countries to 39%.
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Document type: Report
Fight climate change, make money
The B Team calls for a global net zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050 to be codified in the Paris climate agreement, arguing that such a clear market signal would drive investment in low-carbon infrastructure and renewable energy while mitigating catastrophic economic and environmental risks.
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Document type: Statement
The Geneva Pledge for Human Rights in Climate Action
The Geneva Pledge, signed by 19 nations in February 2015, commits governments to foster collaboration between their human rights and climate change experts. The signatories acknowledge that climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and pledge to ensure that the transition to a low-carbon economy respects human rights and ensures no one is left behind.
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Document type: Statement
Why Geneva Matters
The We Mean Business Coalition advocates for a global climate agreement that limits temperature rises to below 2C, emphasizing the need for a net-zero emissions goal, scalable climate finance, and increased short-term ambition through the UNFCCC Workstream 2. The coalition argues that bold climate action represents a historic economic opportunity, noting that some low-carbon investments have achieved an internal rate of return (IRR) of 27%.
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Document type: Statement
INVESTMENT-RELATED DISPUTE SETTLEMENT: REFLECTIONS ON A NEW BEGINNING
The document details a 2014 expert meeting hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to rethink international investment dispute settlement. Experts argued that the current status quo is unsatisfactory and proposed moving away from a focus solely on investor rights and state obligations. They emphasized the need for inclusive mechanisms that allow individuals, local communities, and other affected stakeholders to seek remedies for issues such as human rights abuses and environmental damage. The report outlines four proposed models: a 'toolbox' of ad hoc mechanisms, a dedicated International Investment Mediation Service (IIMS), a multilayered procedure involving mandatory fact-finding and a choice between judicial or arbitral paths, and a comprehensive treaty-based institution with judicial, investigative, and mediation functions.
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Document type: Report
Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development Annual General Meeting 2015
The 2015 IGF Annual General Meeting in Geneva brought together over 230 participants to discuss the integration of environmental, social, and economic planning into the mine life cycle. Key discussions centered on the necessity of early mine closure planning, the alignment of mining activities with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the challenges of financing reclamation. The meeting also presented pilot assessments of the Mining Policy Framework (MPF) in the Dominican Republic, Uganda, and Madagascar, highlighting gaps in socioeconomic benefit optimization and post-mining transition laws.
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Document type: Report