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The Clean Air Task Force urges the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to remove its funding ban on nuclear energy to help Asia-Pacific economies meet rising energy demands with clean, firm power. The document highlights that while countries like China and South Korea have successfully used nuclear energy for industrialization, other emerging economies in the region have failed to implement programs due to financing and expertise gaps. It specifically identifies the Ninh Thuận projects in Vietnam and the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in the Philippines as immediate opportunities for ADB intervention. The author recommends that ADB lift its ban, build internal expertise, create dedicated funds for large and small modular reactors, and prioritize risk-sharing with private and government investors.

The document evaluates the use of renewable hydrogen in Southeast Asia's power sector, arguing that while it can address seasonal storage and peaking needs, the practice of co-firing hydrogen and ammonia in fossil fuel plants is often cost-inefficient and may delay the transition away from fossil fuels. It recommends prioritizing renewable energy and grid infrastructure to lower costs and enhance global competitiveness.

The report analyzes the tension between national cybersecurity measures—such as data localization, technical standards, and technology bans—and the goal of open digital trade. It finds that while cybersecurity is essential for trust in the digital economy, divergent domestic regulations create market fragmentation and trade barriers. The document evaluates the lack of specific cybersecurity rules in WTO treaties, the emergence of 'soft' aspirational provisions in Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) and Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs), and the significant 'cyber capacity' gap facing developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It concludes with recommendations for evidence-based domestic frameworks and enhanced international technical assistance to bridge the digital divide.

The document analyzes the institutional strain on BRICS caused by its expansion, noting that while the bloc's global influence has grown, its consensus-based governance struggles with divergent member interests. It evaluates Brazil's 2025 presidency, which attempted to prioritize institutional development but saw most structural reforms deferred in the Rio Declaration. The authors contrast the informal nature of the broader bloc with the formal success of the New Development Bank (NDB) and propose six targeted, low-bureaucracy improvements—including a shared document repository and standardized onboarding—to improve operational effectiveness without sacrificing the group's flexible identity.

Since April 2025, the United States has imposed high tariffs on several ASEAN nations, leading these countries to prioritize negotiation and diversification over retaliation. While Vietnam and Thailand faced the highest tariffs (up to 46% and 36% respectively), most members are balancing individual bilateral talks with a coordinated regional response led by Malaysia as the 2025 ASEAN chair. Strategies include increasing U.S. imports of energy and aircraft, leveraging the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and implementing domestic stimulus packages, such as Thailand's USD 15 billion fund, to protect local industries.

The document analyzes the effects of Executive Order 14257, which introduced a 10% universal tariff and higher country-specific tariffs (11% to 50%) on imports to the U.S. While mineral-exporting nations may find relief through exemptions for critical minerals, countries like Lesotho and Madagascar face severe economic risks, particularly in textiles. The authors discuss the precarious future of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and advocate for a coordinated continental strategy via the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area to mitigate these trade disruptions.

India's export economy is increasingly vulnerable to carbon-based trade measures, with 68% of its exports going to countries committed to net zero. The report highlights that 7.5 million jobs are exposed to active Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs), and sectors like professional services are among the most carbon-intensive globally. To maintain competitiveness against rivals like Vietnam and China, the document argues India must accelerate grid decarbonisation and update its 2025 Nationally Determined Contribution.

The report contends that Canadian LNG projects are high-risk investments due to capital intensity, market volatility, and declining global demand. It highlights that importers in Europe and Asia are shifting toward renewables to avoid the price spikes and supply shocks associated with LNG. The authors argue that new LNG infrastructure threatens to become stranded assets, potentially requiring further taxpayer subsidies, while simultaneously increasing global greenhouse gas emissions and delaying the energy transition.

The report examines the role of state-owned power companies (SPCs) in driving clean energy transitions within emerging markets. It highlights that while SPCs can advance energy security and socio-economic development, they often face significant debt and capital mobilization challenges. The document argues for a combination of visionary leadership, legal frameworks, shifted public finance from fossil fuels to clean energy, and innovative international financing tied to decarbonization progress. Through case studies of Eskom, NTPC, Vietnam Electricity (EVN), and Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), the report analyzes specific transition elements including just energy transition, renewable energy deployment, grid integration, and coal plant retirement.

The Green Guarantee Group (GGG) argues that while guarantees are highly catalytic for mobilizing private climate finance in EMDEs, they remain underutilized due to regulatory barriers, high currency risks, data gaps, and institutional fragmentation. The report proposes clarifying the supervisory treatment of guarantees under the Basel Framework, developing local currency risk markets, expanding the Global Emerging Markets Risk Database (GEMs) to include guarantee performance, and strengthening national and regional guarantee platforms. These measures aim to support the goal of mobilizing USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for EMDEs.

This report presents guidelines for designing Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) mechanisms, based on global stakeholder dialogues. It offers specific recommendations on measuring embodied GHG emissions, determining sectoral coverage, managing revenues, and crediting foreign carbon prices. The guidance emphasizes 'parallel treatment' between domestic and foreign producers and suggests mechanisms to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and developing countries in their low-carbon transition, while cautioning against blanket country exemptions to maintain the effectiveness of leakage prevention.

The report examines the role of state-owned power companies (SPCs) in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), noting they control approximately 50% of global power station capacity. Through four case studies, it explores specific transition elements: Eskom (South Africa) on just energy transition (JET), NTPC (India) on renewable energy deployment, EVN (Viet Nam) on grid integration, and PLN (Indonesia) on early coal retirement. Key findings highlight that while SPCs can lead low-carbon action due to declining technology costs, they are often hindered by high debt, fossil fuel subsidies, and a lack of comprehensive legal frameworks. The report recommends that governments mandate specific emission targets for SPCs, shift public finance from fossil fuels to clean energy, and that SPCs establish dedicated JET offices and improve data transparency to build stakeholder trust.

The guidelines outline a comprehensive approach to mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) into Viet Nam's National Adaptation Plan (NAP). It identifies current gaps in implementation, provides a four-stage process for integration—from determining background to reporting—and recommends specific GESI-responsive indicators using both primary and secondary data to ensure equitable climate resilience.

The report evaluates the economic viability of nature-based infrastructure (NBI) through mangrove planting in the DEEP C Industrial Zone, Vietnam. It compares two implementation scenarios—natural soil accumulation and soil transfer—finding that mangroves can avoid up to VND 129.8 billion in flood damage over 26 years and provide a return of up to VND 3.42 for every VND 1 invested. The study concludes that integrating mangroves into coastal planning is a cost-effective strategy for climate adaptation, protecting infrastructure and providing co-benefits such as carbon storage and job creation.

The Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM) reported progress on its 2025-2027 work plan, including the registration of three new complaints and the ongoing management of three existing cases. Key activities included a capacity-building workshop in Vietnam for 17 direct access entities, outreach in Argentina, and the continuation of a compliance investigation into working conditions at the Benban Solar Park in Egypt. As of 31 March 2025, the IRM had utilised 20.4% of its total budget, though a surge in new cases is expected to increase consultant and travel costs.

The document examines how wide-ranging tariffs, including those imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), increase the cost of essential materials like steel, aluminum, and copper, thereby raising prices for energy infrastructure and slowing the deployment of clean energy technologies. It highlights that while the administration seeks 'energy dominance,' these trade policies create investment uncertainty and risk ceding leadership in next-generation technologies—such as advanced nuclear, geothermal, and batteries—to competitors like China. The authors recommend replacing blunt tariffs with targeted, time-bound measures paired with robust industrial policy and strategic alliances to ensure long-term competitiveness.

The document outlines the operationalization of Indonesia's Sustainable Finance Committee (SFC) under Law No. 4/2023. It proposes a three-tier governance structure involving the Ministry of Finance, Bank Indonesia, and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) to bridge institutional silos and align national climate targets with financial market mechanisms. The paper emphasizes the need for a formal Government Regulation to ensure the SFC's authority, the creation of a centralized data platform for ESG transparency, and the use of sectoral coalitions to co-create bankable financial solutions for priority sectors like energy and transport.

The Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor (v5.0) establishes a framework to distinguish genuine corporate climate leadership from greenwashing. It assesses companies across four pillars: comprehensive GHG emissions disclosure (Scopes 1, 2, and 3), the alignment of emission reduction targets with 1.5°C pathways, the implementation of sector-specific transitions, and the scaling of durable carbon dioxide removals (CDR). The guidance emphasizes that net-zero claims are misleading without deep absolute reductions and argues against the use of standalone Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and traditional offsetting in favor of 'climate contributions' and millennial-scale durable CDR.

The document examines the risks associated with South Africa's increasing reliance on IFI loans, particularly for climate finance under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JET-P). It highlights a lack of transparency and parliamentary oversight, noting that loan conditionalities can undermine constitutional rights and sovereignty. The authors propose a five-step approval procedure involving sustainability, human rights, development, and sovereignty assessments, alongside a public consultation and majority vote in the National Assembly.

The report finds that while energy transition policies in China and Southeast Asia acknowledge justice indicators in some form, the overall representation is low, with all countries scoring below 50% of the maximum possible score. Environmental, restorative, and distributional justice are particularly underrepresented, while procedural justice and energy access score relatively higher. The study highlights a significant gap between policy goals and actual implementation, especially regarding land rights and labour protections for fossil fuel workers.