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The report finds that while energy finance disbursements in high-impact countries grew by over 61% between 2013 and 2018, they still significantly lag behind commitments, with USD 32 billion disbursed against USD 52 billion committed. Between 2002 and 2018, 58% of planned disbursements and 49% of projects experienced delays. These delays are attributed to cumbersome administrative processes, design flaws not adapted to local capacities, and limited access to local financial services.

The report finds that while energy financing disbursements in High-Impact Countries grew by over 61% between 2013 and 2018, they still lag significantly behind commitments, with $32 billion disbursed against $52 billion committed. These delays affect 49% of energy projects in HICs, driven by administrative burdens and poor project design. The document argues that an annual increase of $45 billion in disbursements is needed by 2030 to meet SDG7 goals.

The Climate Action Tracker reports that current pledges put the world on track for 2.8°C of warming by 2100, while real-world actions suggest 3°C. Despite a 75% shrinkage in the coal pipeline since 2015, coal capacity increased by 63 GW in that period, and natural gas demand continues to grow rapidly. Conversely, renewable capacity is projected to increase by 1,200 GW over the next five years, driven primarily by solar PV and onshore wind.

The commentary asserts that bold climate action is not a trade-off with economic growth but an engine for it, potentially delivering $26 trillion in net global economic benefits by 2030. It advocates for 'people-centered climate action' that uses inclusive processes to unlock benefits for marginalized groups, such as recycling carbon pricing revenues to support low-income households. The text provides sector-specific opportunities in energy, urban planning, and food systems, while emphasizing that adaptation investments of $1.8 trillion could yield $7.1 trillion in benefits. It highlights real-world examples from Indonesia, Canada, and Spain to demonstrate how low-carbon transitions can reduce poverty and create millions of green jobs.

The report details a COP25 workshop focused on domestic climate finance mapping. It outlines various tracking tools—such as Climate Budget Tagging and Climate Public Expenditure and Institutional Reviews—and discusses how these initiatives help countries identify funding gaps, build investor trust, and mainstream climate goals into national budgets. The document also identifies systemic challenges, including data gaps and the need for inter-ministerial coordination, while proposing the creation of a community of practice to share best practices.

The document examines the transition from Kyoto-era carbon credits to ITMOs under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, detailing the two primary cooperation avenues (Article 6.2 and 6.4) and the remaining challenges in establishing a rulebook. It categorizes potential project types, analyzes Canada's preparations—including waste sector partnerships in Chile and LNG exports—and highlights the economic potential of Article 6 to reduce NDC implementation costs by half by 2030 if properly regulated to avoid double counting and 'hot air'.

The report argues that framing migration as a security threat—driven largely by EU policies to stem migration to Europe—leads to restrictive border controls and the criminalisation of smuggling. Using Agadez, Niger, as a case study, the author demonstrates that these securitised approaches do not stop irregular migration but instead increase local insecurity, empower high-level smugglers, expose migrants to greater risks, and erode trust between citizens and governments. The document recommends shifting the narrative toward evidence-based migration management and expanding legal pathways for movement within Africa and between Africa and the EU.

The report examines the role of 'social control' or public accountability in democratic policing, contrasting 'back-end' accountability (addressing misconduct after it occurs) with 'front-end' accountability (public involvement in policy and practice). It identifies challenges to public engagement in fragile democracies, such as social inequalities and the use of police as tools for ruling elites. The author proposes a four-step approach for African contexts: opening communication lines, building trust through dialogue, developing multi-tiered partnerships, and collaborating on community-level problem solving. Case studies from Jamaica, the US, Brazil, and Honduras illustrate various collaborative and confrontational mechanisms of public oversight.

The report finds that while social media engagement alone achieves limited results in promoting police accountability in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, it serves as a valuable tool for documenting misconduct and mobilising the public. Analysis shows a general net negative sentiment towards police in all three countries, though the nature of engagement varies: Kenyans and Ugandans frequently tag official police handles, whereas Tanzanians rely more on activist profiles due to a more repressive environment. The study highlights that police responsiveness on social media directly correlates with improved public sentiment, though overall response rates remain very low.

The report assesses Tanzania's vulnerability to climate change, specifically sea-level rise and storm surges, and evaluates the role of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in mitigating these risks. It finds that while Tanzania possesses critical ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs, these are threatened by population growth and industrial development. The document highlights a gap in policy architecture, noting that EbA is not explicitly included in the current Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). It identifies institutional fragmentation and a lack of spatial data as key challenges, while suggesting opportunities in blue carbon, sustainable ecotourism, and community-led co-management models.

The project aims to shift the global paradigm from viewing ocean production and protection as mutually exclusive to a 'produce, protect, and prosper' model. It focuses on three primary technical outputs: a landmark report by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, six 'Blue Papers' on specific themes like ocean plastics and finance, and a beta version of 'Ocean Watch,' an online monitoring platform. The project targets the adoption of these recommendations by at least 8 countries and 5 businesses. It is implemented by the World Resources Institute with UNEP as the implementing agency, utilizing a total project cost of $11,028,000, including $1,980,000 from the GEF Trust Fund and $9,048,000 in co-financing.

The Government of Kenya has aligned its climate and development goals by using the National Climate Change Action Plan 2018–2022 (NCCAP) to implement both its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2015–2030 and its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). While alignment is currently achieved primarily through identifying synergies in policy documents, the document suggests that coordination could be further improved through harmonized financing, shared risk information, and coordinated monitoring and evaluation systems.

Natural Justice submits a memorandum on the Public Participation Bill, 2019, arguing that the Bill's current framework is too narrow. The organization proposes amendments to guarantee that information provided to the public is not only timely but also "accurate, complete, relevant", and accessible. Key recommendations include the explicit inclusion of "minorities and marginalised groups" to comply with Article 56 of the Constitution of Kenya, the establishment of mandatory reasonable timelines for public involvement and decision communication, and the requirement that civic education must precede public participation to empower citizens.

The study finds that geothermal energy is significantly more cost-effective and sustainable than coal for Kenya's electricity sector. It highlights that geothermal power has a lower Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of approximately USD 10 cents/kWh compared to USD 29.5 cents/kWh for coal. The report warns that planned coal plants in Lamu and Kitui could increase electricity costs by up to 50% due to surplus capacity and result in approximately 1,620 premature deaths by 2065 due to air pollution. Geothermal energy is also found to create three times more domestic employment per MW than coal and aligns better with Kenya's target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below business as usual by 2030.

The report argues that renewable energy mini-grids are often the most cost-effective solution for rural electrification in Kenya compared to national grid extension. While Kenya's current strategy focuses on grid extension, the report suggests that integrating mini-grids into national planning could accelerate electrification, create local jobs, improve energy security, and reduce CO2 emissions by 0.14-0.48 MtCO2e per year.

The YEG pilot provided approximately $1,200 in grants and smartphones to 1,035 youth in Nairobi's Mathare slum, testing two payment cadences: lump sums and monthly payments. Interim results show that transferring funds via mobile money is highly feasible and that recipients significantly invest in self-employment and education. While pre-installed business apps saw low usage, general internet access via smartphones improved market reach. Gender differences emerged, with men investing more in productive assets and women prioritizing education and informal savings groups. Lump-sum recipients reported higher investment rates and savings compared to those receiving monthly payments.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Strategy 2020–24 focuses on bridging science, policy, and practice to address global sustainability challenges. The institute identifies three primary impact areas: reducing climate risk, promoting sustainable resource use and resilient ecosystems, and improving health and well-being. To achieve these, SEI employs a theory of change centered on changing agendas, enhancing capacities, and improving decisions. The strategy emphasizes the use of data science, the development of decision-support tools, and the implementation of programmatic hubs called 'Initiatives' to tackle specific issues like carbon lock-in and bioeconomy pathways. Operationally, SEI utilizes a distributed network of centres across five continents to ensure regional relevance and North-South/South-South knowledge exchange. The institute also commits to an environmental policy aiming to reduce its per capita carbon travel footprint by at least 25% between 2017 and 2024.

The Government of Kenya has aligned its climate and development efforts by integrating the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2015–2030 and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) into the National Climate Change Action Plan 2018–2022 (NCCAP). While alignment is achieved through identifying synergies in policy documents, the study identifies needs for better coordination, financing strategies, and monitoring systems.

The report identifies significant funding gaps for universal energy access, noting that 2017 electricity access finance for new households reached only a quarter of the required annual investment. It highlights critically low investment in Sub-Saharan Africa and a severe shortfall in clean cooking finance, which represents less than 1% of the needed amount. Additionally, it argues that continued investment in fossil fuel power plants is incompatible with the Paris Agreement and the SDGs.

The Lab has launched six financial instruments targeting blue carbon, sustainable agriculture, sustainable cities, and energy access. These instruments, which follow a seven-month design and stress-testing period, aim to mobilize significant investment for sustainable development. Key projects include mangrove restoration in the Philippines, blockchain-based crop insurance in Kenya, and solar securitization in Rwanda.