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This executive summary from the Climate Bonds Initiative outlines a comprehensive framework of 101 sustainable finance policies designed to align global capital flows with the 1.5°C warming limit. It argues that while the costs of climate action are high, the costs of inaction are higher, citing increased capital costs for vulnerable nations and credit downgrades for fossil-fuel-dependent sovereigns. The proposed framework is built on three pillars: providing clarity on green investments via taxonomies, tilting investment toward green opportunities through de-risking and carbon pricing, and building green investment pipelines for resilient development.

The 2022 Forest Declaration Assessment evaluates global progress toward the 2030 goals of halting deforestation and restoring 350 million hectares of degraded land. The report concludes that no global indicator is currently on track to meet these targets, noting that while some regional progress exists, radical transformations in finance, governance, and production are required to shift the global forest trajectory.

The 2022 Forest Declaration Assessment executive summary evaluates global progress toward the 2030 goals of ending deforestation and restoring 350 million hectares of degraded land. The report concludes that the world is not on track to meet these targets, noting that global deforestation rates decreased only modestly in 2021 and that financial investments for forest protection remain critically insufficient.

This executive summary from the 2022 Forest Declaration Assessment evaluates global progress toward the 2030 goals of ending deforestation and restoring 350 million hectares of degraded land. The report concludes that the world is not on track to meet these targets, noting that no single global indicator is currently aligned with the 2030 objectives. It analyzes four key themes: fundamental forest goals, sustainable production and development, forest finance, and forest governance.

The 2022 Forest Declaration Assessment executive summary evaluates global progress toward the 2030 goals of halting deforestation and restoring 350 million hectares of degraded land. It concludes that no single global indicator is currently on track to meet these targets, highlighting critical gaps in finance, corporate action, and governance.

The 2022 Forest Declaration Assessment Theme 4 report evaluates global forest governance systems and their capacity to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. It finds that while some countries have implemented effective legal tools like moratoria and inclusive policies, overall progress is insufficient, with persistent issues including widespread corruption, tenure insecurity for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and the rollback of environmental protections in several major tropical forest nations.

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is a flexible, non-traditional economic initiative launched by the United States in May 2022 with 13 partner countries. Unlike traditional free trade agreements, the IPEF eschews tariff liberalization and market access, focusing instead on four pillars: a connected economy, a resilient economy, a clean economy, and a fair economy. While the initiative aims to reassert U.S. influence in the region, it faces challenges regarding the willingness of partners to commit to high standards and criticisms over the lack of U.S. concessions.

This policy brief summarizes a regional flagship report on the gendered impacts of climate change in Southeast Asia. It advocates for mainstreaming gender equality into climate-relevant sectoral policies to ensure socially inclusive outcomes and sustainable development.

The Green Guarantee Company (GGC) is a specialist guarantor designed to help public and private sector borrowers in emerging and frontier markets access long-term hard currency debt from global institutional investors for climate adaptation and mitigation projects. Managed by the Development Guarantee Group (DGG), the GGC provides full guarantees for bonds and loans of 5-20 years, aligned with the Climate Bond Standard (CBS), to mitigate sovereign and currency risks. The instrument includes a Technical Assistance (TA) facility to build issuer capabilities and market readiness. The GGC aims to catalyze approximately USD 10 billion in commercial term debt over its first decade, targeting sectors such as energy, transport, water, buildings, and waste, with an initial pilot phase in South Africa.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines how socioeconomic disparities, gender norms, and employment status influence exposure to occupational air pollution in craft villages in Hanoi, Viet Nam. Based on research involving 120 informal labourers, the document highlights that while men often perform more hazardous tasks for higher pay, women face prolonged exposure due to their confinement in indoor production facilities and suffer more significant income losses from health-related absences. The brief identifies critical gaps in national and local policies, which are described as gender-blind and insufficient for protecting informal and migrant workers, and provides recommendations for legal reform, stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, and capacity building for local governments.

This report by Ember analyzes electricity generation and clean energy targets in the five largest ASEAN economies (ASEAN 5). It finds that while electricity demand is growing rapidly, the deployment of solar and wind power is lagging behind global averages and is insufficient to meet 1.5-degree climate pathways, with current 2030 plans projected to reach only 11% of total generation.

This report by Global Energy Monitor assesses the global iron and steel plant fleet, highlighting a critical lag in the transition from carbon-intensive Blast Furnace-Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF-BOF) technology to Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking. It identifies significant stranded asset risks and underreported methane emissions from coal mining that exacerbate the sector's climate impact.

A June 2022 briefing by the Climate Action Tracker reporting that progress on updating 2030 climate targets has stalled following the Glasgow Climate Pact. The document warns that current targets and policies are insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C, projecting end-of-century warming of 2.4°C based on 2030 targets and 2.7°C under current policies.

This SEI discussion brief examines the relationship between tropical deforestation and water use in agricultural commodity supply chains, specifically focusing on imports into the European Union. It argues that while current policy focuses on deforestation, overlooking water use may shift environmental burdens to water-scarce regions. The brief identifies critical data gaps for beef and wood products and suggests that a comprehensive definition of sustainable supply chains must integrate both land and water stewardship.

The report 'Boom and Bust Coal 2022' tracks the global coal plant pipeline, highlighting a stark divergence between China's continued expansion and a broader global trend toward phasing out coal. While COP26 commitments significantly increased the number of plants with phase-out dates, China's surge in new construction and the persistence of 'clean coal' narratives in some OECD countries challenge the 1.5 degree Celsius warming target.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants as of April 2022. It highlights a stark divergence between the decline of coal in most OECD and non-OECD countries—accelerated by COP26 commitments—and a continued expansion of coal capacity in China. The document examines the impact of international funding withdrawals, the perceived failure of 'clean coal' technologies, and specific national trajectories in major emitters like India, Indonesia, and the United States.

The report 'BOOM AND BUST 2022' by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants as of April 2022. It highlights a stark divergence: while many OECD and non-OECD countries are committing to end new coal construction and accelerate closures to meet Paris Agreement goals, China continues to expand its coal capacity significantly, offsetting global reductions.

The April 2022 report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants, highlighting a stark contrast between the rapid decline of new coal proposals in most countries and the continued expansion of coal capacity in China.

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity trends in 2021, tracking progress against the IEA's Net Zero by 2050 pathway. While wind and solar reached a historic milestone of over 10% of global electricity, an unprecedented surge in electricity demand led to record-breaking coal generation and the largest absolute rise in power sector CO2 emissions ever recorded.

The Ember 2022 Global Electricity Review analyzes global power trends for 2021, highlighting a record-breaking year where wind and solar power reached a historic share of global electricity, yet were offset by record-high coal generation and carbon emissions driven by a surge in global electricity demand.