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The We Mean Business Coalition's 'Fossil to Clean' campaign provides a framework for phasing out fossil fuels by 2040. It outlines specific requirements for demand-side companies to end unabated fossil fuel use, for producers to cease new exploration and reach near-zero methane emissions by 2030, for financial institutions to halt new fossil fuel funding, and for governments to decarbonize power systems by 2035-2040.

The document outlines a study on sovereign debt management during the COVID-19 crisis, highlighting the severe economic impact on developing countries and the specific vulnerabilities of Sub-Saharan African nations. It notes that the pandemic induced major debt stresses and operational challenges, leading countries to implement fiscal, monetary, and financial policies to cushion local markets. The full study is divided into four thematic areas: macroeconomic policy interventions, external financing operations, local currency bond markets, and governance and operational risk management frameworks.

This report examines the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on MEFMI member states in sub-Saharan Africa, detailing how public health measures and external shocks led to GDP declines and increased fiscal pressure.

The COVID-19 pandemic created historic debt stresses for developing countries, characterized by increased borrowing needs and economic downturns. In sub-Saharan Africa, pre-existing vulnerabilities and limited fiscal space—with 16 countries already at high risk of or in debt distress—exacerbated these challenges. Debt management offices also faced unprecedented operational risks due to volatile market conditions and the shift to remote working arrangements.

The report uses the Six Americas Super Short Survey (SASSY) to categorize Facebook users in 110 countries and territories into six groups: Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive. The 'Alarmed' group is the largest in approximately 80 of the surveyed locations, with the highest percentages found in Chile (65%), Mexico (64%), Malawi (63%), Bolivia (62%), and Sri Lanka (61%). Conversely, the United States exhibits a higher proportion of 'Doubtful' and 'Dismissive' respondents (22%) compared to other major carbon emitters and is less 'Alarmed' (34%) than many of its peers. Regional analysis shows South America has the highest proportion of countries with a majority of 'Alarmed' respondents, while Southwest Asia and North Africa show higher levels of doubt or dismissal, particularly in Yemen (34%).

The report finds that climate finance for agrifood systems is strikingly low, representing only 4.3% of total global project-level climate finance in 2019/20, with an annual average of USD 28.5 billion. This is far below the estimated needs for climate transition, which are in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually. While agriculture and forestry receive the bulk of project-level funding, essential mitigation areas like food loss/waste and low-carbon diets receive less than 1% of such investments. Geographically, East Asia and the Pacific are the largest recipients of project-level finance, while the US and Canada dominate venture capital investments. The report suggests that repurposing existing public subsidies for agriculture and fisheries (USD 670 billion per year) and tapping into available private capital (USD 630 billion per year) could bridge the funding gap.

Climate Central reports that 97% of 240 analyzed U.S. locations saw an increase in annual cooling degree days (CDD) between 1970 and 2022, with the most significant rises in the Southwest, South, and Southeast. Projections suggest U.S. household cooling demand will increase by 71% by 2050, while global demand is expected to more than triple. The document highlights that rising demand can strain power grids, increase greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and HFCs, and exacerbate urban heat islands. It also notes a disproportionate energy burden on low-income and minority households, who may delay cooling use due to cost. Proposed solutions include transitioning to renewable energy, adopting high-efficiency heat pumps, and implementing building retrofits.

The report identifies systemic barriers to gender equality in the off-grid solar (OGS) sector across sixteen Sub-Saharan African countries, highlighting a critical lack of sex-disaggregated data and the prevalence of restrictive social norms. It finds that women generally have less access to OGS technologies and are underrepresented in technical and leadership roles within the workforce. To address these gaps, the Hardest-to-Reach (H2R) initiative proposes a strategy focused on elevating women as customers, employees, and entrepreneurs through gender-lens investing, technical assistance for portfolio companies, and dedicated training facilities.

The document argues that while clean energy transitions can drive development and gender equality, they risk reinforcing existing inequalities without intentional policy design. It identifies significant financing gaps, particularly for adaptation in low-income regions, and implementation barriers such as high connection fees for rural households. The authors recommend that the G20 facilitate lesson-sharing on policy innovations, promote gender-responsive programs that empower women as producers rather than just consumers, and establish a permanent platform for evidence generation on inclusive green transitions.

Climate finance for agrifood systems is critically low, representing only 4.3% of total project-level climate finance in 2019/20. The report highlights a massive investment gap, noting that current flows must increase at least sevenfold to meet conservative transition needs. While agriculture and forestry dominate project-level funding, essential mitigation areas like food loss and low-carbon diets are severely underfunded. The analysis reveals a heavy reliance on public funding (85%) and significant geographic disparities, with East Asia and the Pacific receiving the most finance, while South Asia and Latin America remain underserved relative to their emissions and vulnerability. The report advocates for repurposing harmful agricultural subsidies and leveraging private capital to scale climate-resilient and low-carbon food systems.

The document outlines a practical approach to evaluating internal controls in the context of illegal wildlife trade (IWT) enforcement. It emphasizes using a systems-based perspective—drawing on the COSO framework—to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by corruption. The guide details a research process involving semi-structured interviews, document reviews, and thematic analysis to generate specific, actionable recommendations for government agencies. It specifically addresses the needs of programs in early stages of maturity where controls may be informal or ad hoc, and provides tools such as data collection instruments and terms of reference for consultants.

The document outlines a systematic approach to evaluating internal controls—policies, procedures, and practices—to reduce corruption risks in illegal wildlife trade (IWT) enforcement. It emphasizes a holistic, process-oriented analysis based on the COSO framework, moving beyond financial audits to address operational risks such as evidence tampering and information leaks. The guide details a research process involving semi-structured interviews with diverse stakeholders, documentary analysis, and thematic coding to identify gaps and develop actionable recommendations. It specifically addresses the needs of agencies at early stages of maturity where controls may be informal or undocumented, and provides practical tools including a data collection instrument and resource requirements for consultants.

The "Hardest-to-Reach" (H2R) programme aims to provide clean, climate-resilient off-grid solar (OGS) energy to 72.4 million people across 16 sub-Saharan African countries. The initiative utilizes a two-pronged financing approach: a $50 million grant-funded Market Support Facility (MSF) to support market entry and capacity building for new players, and a $200 million blended finance Market Expansion Facility (MEF) providing impact-linked loans to scale existing OGS companies. The programme targets a mitigation outcome of 5.1 million tCO2eq avoided and an adaptation outcome of 54.3 million first-time energy access beneficiaries. It emphasizes gender inclusivity, targeting 32% female customers and creating approximately 13,922 green jobs, including 4,641 for women.

The DR Congo faces exceptionally high levels of extreme and multidimensional poverty, with forecasts suggesting it will fail to meet 2030 Sustainable Development Goals on its current path. Despite modest declines in extreme poverty between 2005 and 2018, the country remains one of the world's poorest, with significant regional variations and a growing urban poverty phenomenon.

The ESPM Manual provides a comprehensive framework for FSD Africa to manage environmental and social risks and drive intentional positive impact across its intervention lifecycle. It details specific procedures for both grant funding and risk capital investments, including screening, due diligence, and monitoring. A central feature is the Gender Lens Investing (GLI) Framework used by the FSDAi pillar to promote women's economic empowerment. The system employs a risk-based approach, categorizing investments from low to high risk to determine the depth of due diligence required, and mandates strict incident reporting and periodic system reviews every two years.

The global electricity sector is the largest CO2 emitter and must reach net zero by 2040 to facilitate the decarbonisation of other sectors. Following the IEA Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario, wind and solar are identified as the primary drivers of this transition. By 2030, wind and solar must increase to 41% of global electricity generation, while coal and gas generation must decrease by 54% and 24% respectively. By 2040, unabated coal must be phased out globally, and unabated gas should provide only 0.3% of electricity. This transition is essential to support rising electricity demand in developing regions and the electrification of transport, heating, and industry.

The report finds that while the 'return of coal' did not materialize globally in 2022, the pace of retirements remains insufficient to meet Paris Agreement targets. China is a major outlier, with its coal capacity in development increasing by 38% in 2022, while capacities in the rest of the world decreased by 20%. In the EU and UK, coal use saw a marginal 1% increase due to the gas crisis, but long-term trends remain downward. In Sub-Saharan Africa, coal projects persist despite funding shortages, though some successful just transition initiatives, such as the Komati plant retirement in South Africa, provide a potential model for the region.

The Universal Energy Facility (UEF), managed by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), uses a results-based financing (RBF) strategy to deploy clean energy mini-grids in remote communities. In Madagascar, the UEF has signed grant agreements for nine mini-grid sites, with one developer constructing eight solar-hybrid mini-grids and verifying 786 connections to households and small businesses. A second funding round announced in September 2022 received proposals for 28 additional sites targeting 16,300 solar connections.

Mountain Harvest works with 850 farmers in Mount Elgon, Uganda, to bypass commodity pricing through organic certification and premium coffee production. To combat climate-driven threats like droughts and mudslides, the organisation promotes regenerative agriculture and income diversification via macadamia, avocados, and rabbit rearing. Additionally, Mountain Harvest is addressing the poverty of female hand sorters by providing more stable employment and exploring micro-loan opportunities.

The document outlines the interconnectedness of the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, air pollution, and unsustainable food systems. It argues that these issues are driven by fossil-fuel-based economic systems and excessive consumption, disproportionately affecting the poor. The guide advocates for a fundamental shift toward circular economies, regenerative agriculture, and a 'just transition' to protect the planet and ensure human rights to clean air and water.