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The report finds that while electricity demand in the 'ASEAN 5' (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam) grew by 22% from 2015 to 2021, clean energy only met 39% of this increase. Solar and wind generation remains low at 4% of the region's electricity supply, lagging behind China and India. Current national plans project solar and wind will reach 11% of the total supply by 2030, which the authors argue is insufficient to meet the 1.5-degree pathway or keep pace with rising demand, potentially leading to further reliance on coal.

The proposal outlines a 24-month program implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to address gaps in Thailand's climate finance architecture. Key objectives include supporting Kasikornbank's GCF accreditation, updating the 2017 Thailand Country Programme (TCP) to align with the updated NDC and Long-term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy, and creating a national climate finance strategy. A central component is the design of the Thailand Circular Economy Financing Facility (T-CEFF), a blended finance mechanism intended to de-risk investments in Municipal Solid Waste to Energy (MSW2E) and bioenergy projects, targeting a USD 200 million loan portfolio by 2025. The project also aims to refine the National Designated Authority's (NDA) no-objection procedure to better accommodate private sector proposals.

Japan utilizes the 2018 Climate Change Adaptation Act and a revised 2021 plan to coordinate adaptation across ministries using 66 Key Performance Indicators. Domestically, the country employs local adaptation centers in 38 of 47 prefectures and the A-PLAT information platform to support municipal planning. Internationally, Japan provides technical expertise in disaster risk reduction, manages the Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform (AP-PLAT), and has committed to doubling adaptation finance to approximately $14.8 billion between 2021 and 2025.

The report argues that G7 economies face significant economic risks due to the interconnectedness of global supply chains, where climate-driven disruptions in production hubs—particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America—transmit shocks to industrialised nations. It cites examples such as the 2011 Thailand floods and recent flooding in Durban, South Africa, to illustrate how extreme weather causes global price spikes and production delays. Specific analyses for the US, Germany, UK, and Japan reveal vulnerabilities in sectors ranging from ICT and automotive manufacturing to food security. The document concludes that because labour cost differentials continue to drive the offshoring of production, G7 nations must cooperate globally and fulfill adaptation funding commitments to secure their own supply chains.

The ASEAN sustainable debt market experienced rapid growth in 2021, with GSS debt issuance reaching USD 24 billion and sustainability-linked instruments reaching USD 27.5 billion. Singapore remains the regional leader, while the green theme continues to be the most popular. The report highlights the emergence of the ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance and the growth of local currency issuances, particularly in Singapore and Thailand.

The ASEAN+3 sustainable debt market reached USD 449 billion by Q3 2021, driven largely by the People's Republic of China, Japan, and Hong Kong, China. While green bonds remain dominant, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the issuance of social and sustainability-labeled instruments. Local currency (LCY) issuance represents 64% of the region's total sustainable debt, though this is unevenly distributed; Thailand has the highest LCY share at 98.5%, while Viet Nam and Indonesia rely heavily on foreign currencies. The report identifies barriers such as lack of market awareness, high transaction costs for small deals, and a shortage of bankable green projects. It recommends increasing sovereign GSS bond issuance, expanding the investor base through ETFs and indices, and establishing centralized sustainable finance platforms to improve project visibility.

The briefing reports that 2030 climate target updates have stalled since COP26, leaving the world on track for 2.4°C of warming based on current targets and 2.7°C based on current policies. Despite the Glasgow Climate Pact's request for governments to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by the end of 2022, no major emitter has updated its target. The report highlights a significant emissions gap, noting that global emissions in 2030 would be twice as high as the 1.5°C limit allows without increased action. It suggests four pathways for governments to update targets: full NDC updates, expanding NDC coverage (specifically for China regarding non-CO2 gases), participating in new sectoral initiatives, or implementing policies to overachieve existing targets.

The document examines the relationship between tropical deforestation and water use in agricultural commodity supply chains, specifically those imported into the EU. It highlights that while high-risk deforestation commodities often rely on precipitation (green water), other commodities cause significant water scarcity through irrigation (blue water). The authors warn that focusing solely on deforestation may shift environmental burdens to water-scarce regions and identify critical data gaps regarding water use for beef and wood products.

The SCF2 MEL Guidance Notes outline a two-tier results measurement system consisting of event-level monitoring managed by partners and programme-level evaluation managed by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). Partners are required to use specific tools—including pre- and post-event surveys and field notes—to capture baseline and end-line data, while adhering to GDPR standards for informed consent and data pseudonymisation. The guidance also mandates ethics planning for human subject engagement and environmental assessments to track and reduce the carbon footprint of funded activities.

The document argues that while Aid for Trade (AfT) is a vital tool for sustainable development, there is a significant mismatch between the low levels of development assistance for plastic pollution and the high financial flows to the petrochemical sector. It identifies specific capacity-building needs for developing countries—such as circular economy strategies, technology access, and regulatory frameworks—and proposes short- and medium-term deliverables for WTO members to integrate plastic pollution priorities into AfT work programmes.

The document argues that while FTZs and SEZs are not the sole cause of illegal wildlife trade (IWT), their inherent characteristics—such as simplified customs, limited oversight, and legal opaqueness—act as facilitators for both IWT and corruption. Through case studies of the Golden Triangle SEZ (Laos), Suifenhe FTZ (China), and Las Palmas FTZ (Spain), the author demonstrates that corruption in these zones often mirrors national patterns but is amplified by the zones' complexity. Key drivers include social and cultural norms, such as the desire to 'lose face' or the acceptance of corruption as a business norm. The report also highlights the risk of 'displacement,' where strict regulations in one country push illicit activities to less regulated jurisdictions. It concludes with recommendations for governments and multilateral organizations to implement clearer oversight, regional coordination, and certification schemes to mitigate these risks.

The report analyzes the vulnerability of ASEAN economies to climate transition risks, highlighting a significant reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation. It finds that carbon-intensive sectors represent approximately 25% of corporate bond issuance in the region, with a substantial portion of loans and bonds facing refinancing risks by 2030. The authors argue that current industrial classification systems are inadequate for identifying these risks and recommend that ASEAN central banks develop comprehensive 'green' and 'brown' taxonomies to enhance climate risk disclosures and manage potential asset stranding.

The report examines the security implications of climate change in the South and East China Seas, focusing on the interplay between regional political cohesion and food prices. It presents four scenarios—ranging from high cooperation and low prices to high fragmentation and food insecurity—to illustrate potential risks, including social unrest, the failure of governance, and increased Chinese maritime aggression. The analysis emphasizes that climate change acts as a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing geopolitical tensions and socio-economic inequalities in Southeast and East Asia.

The document outlines the business case and technical process for seafood companies to adopt Science-Based Targets (SBTs) to mitigate climate change. It highlights that while seafood generally has a lower carbon footprint than land-based proteins, the industry faces significant risks from ocean warming and acidification. The guide details a process of data collection, GHG accounting using Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), and target setting through the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Key reduction strategies include the electrification of fishing vessels, the development of low-carbon aquaculture feed, and the reduction of air freight. It emphasizes that Scope 3 emissions—particularly from feed and transport—represent the largest challenge and require pre-competitive collaboration across the value chain.

The report outlines Indonesia's need for USD 322.8 billion in climate-compatible infrastructure by 2030, focusing on renewable energy, low-carbon transport, sustainable water, and waste management. It highlights a significant financing gap and argues for the use of green bonds, blended finance, and de-risking mechanisms to attract private investment. The document also details the role of the SDG Indonesia One platform and the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility in bridging these gaps.

The report analyzes how climate change acts as a 'threat multiplier' in Asia, compounding existing social, political, and economic vulnerabilities to exacerbate conflict and drive migration. Focusing on Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, it examines how environmental stressors like droughts and floods intersect with ethnic discrimination and political instability. It highlights the specific vulnerabilities of displaced populations, such as the Rohingya and Afghans, who often reside in hazard-prone urban slums or camps. The document argues that national and regional policies frequently omit the climate-conflict-migration nexus and recommends that humanitarian agencies and policy-makers integrate these linkages to build long-term resilience and support safe, regular migration.

The briefing examines the limitations of current water management frameworks, such as Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and the water-energy-food nexus, in addressing water teleconnections. Using case studies from Colombia and Southeast Asia, it demonstrates how agricultural exports (coffee and rice) transfer 'virtual water' across borders, creating dependencies that are not captured by traditional basin-level planning. The author contends that a multi-scale approach is necessary to integrate local challenges with regional and global economic connections.

The report finds that while updated NDCs show increased country ownership, better alignment with national planning processes like National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and a higher number of prioritized actions, most of these actions remain implementation-unready due to a lack of clear indicators, costs, and time frames. It highlights a general lack of understanding and explicit planning for transformative adaptation and a limited operationalization of 'Loss and Damage' concepts within national contexts.

The report details WWF's strategic efforts to reverse the decline of wild tigers through political advocacy, landscape-scale conservation, and community-centered approaches. Key achievements include the development of the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS), the implementation of the 'Safe Systems' approach to human-wildlife conflict, and the creation of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online. While global tiger numbers have shown an upward trend, the report warns that gains are fragile and uneven, with severe declines continuing in Southeast Asia due to snaring. WWF highlights the co-benefits of tiger conservation, including carbon sequestration and water provisioning, and outlines future goals such as the first international tiger reintroduction in Kazakhstan by 2025.

The case study of Baan Thung Yao in Thailand demonstrates how community-led forest management, characterized by strong local institutions and gender-equal decision-making, can successfully resist state-led 'fortress conservation' and protect both ecological systems and human dignity.