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The briefing reorganizes the 10 elements and 44 negotiation options identified by the Co-Chairs of the Ad-Hoc Work Programme (AHWP) for the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) into a condensed format. It covers critical dimensions of the goal, including temporal scope, quantum, structure, and potential sources of finance, aiming to streamline the complex set of options for stakeholders ahead of the 2024 negotiation sessions.

The document identifies critical evidence gaps in the quantification and measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from both sewer-based and non-sewered sanitation systems, arguing for the integration of climate-smart solutions in infrastructure design to align sanitation goals with climate action.

The Electrical Utilities Criteria establish requirements for the certification of electrical utilities and their debt instruments, focusing on a transition to net-zero emissions by 2050. The framework employs an entity-level approach to assess the decarbonisation of the entire electricity value chain, including generation, transmission, and distribution. Certification requires entities to meet a global emission intensity pathway and adhere to specific fossil fuel phase-out benchmarks, which vary between advanced and emerging economies. The criteria prohibit new investments in fossil fuel power generation and mandate a total phase-out of fossil fuel generation by 2040 at the latest. To support grid security, the criteria allow the replacement of coal with fossil gas under strict conditions, provided the entity maintains its emission intensity pathway and has a phase-out plan. Eligible mitigation measures for Use-of-Proceeds (UoP) bonds include retrofitting plants with carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS), or cofiring with low-carbon synthetic fuels and biomass. Certification is available in two tiers: 'align' for those meeting the pathway at the time of certification, and 'transition' for those meeting it by the end of 2030.

The briefing argues that the Loss and Damage Fund must be managed transparently and equitably to effectively support vulnerable countries. It emphasizes the need for funding to reach the local level and identifies four critical governance trade-offs: financial scope versus coordination, participatory versus decentralized governance, participatory versus rapid decision-making, and accessibility versus strict oversight.

The document defines key forestry terms and outlines the methodology for tracking progress toward the 2030 goals of the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use. It establishes a 2018-2020 baseline and a linear reduction pathway requiring a 10 percent annual reduction in loss to reach zero deforestation by 2030. The methodology covers the calculation of gross deforestation, humid tropical primary forest loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and forest degradation using the Forest Landscape Integrity Index (FLII). It also details indicators for forest restoration, including tropical moist forest regrowth and area under restoration, and biodiversity impacts via 7,025 Forested Key Biodiversity Areas (fKBAs).

The document evaluates the role of novel plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-derived foods in reducing the environmental and health burdens of conventional animal source foods, while noting the need for further research on socioeconomic and nutritional implications.

The document examines the dual nature of social media as a tool that both supports and undermines democratic processes. It highlights how platforms enable protest movements like 'Black Lives Matter' and 'Rhodes Must Fall' to shift political agendas, while simultaneously allowing negative actors to deploy misinformation and surveillance. The author argues that because these platforms are privately owned and monetise interaction, they create a complex regulatory ecosystem requiring a holistic response rather than a binary view of the technology as purely good or bad.

The document identifies positive progress in international climate policy across awareness, governance, business, energy, and industry, arguing that these shifts—driven by new actors and strategies—show that rapid change is possible to maintain the 1.5°C target.

The document reports that global public financial support for fossil fuels reached a record high of over USD 1.7 trillion in 2022, driven largely by USD 1.3 trillion in subsidies. It notes a discrepancy in G7 financing, where USD 20 billion was provided for fossil fuels compared to USD 10 billion for clean energy. The briefing argues that these flows contradict the Paris Agreement and COP 26 pledges, calling for a total phase-out of fossil fuel production and consumption and a shift of public finance toward clean energy and just transition measures.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the Zero Draft of the plastics treaty, arguing for legally binding obligations ('shall' instead of 'should') and a full life cycle approach. CIEL identifies critical gaps in the draft, including the absence of human rights protections, a lack of clear tasks for the governing body, and the need for a production capacity freeze to prevent the lock-in of plastic production. The analysis advocates for global reduction targets for primary plastic polymers, the elimination of chemicals of concern, and the establishment of a global plastic pollution fee to fund implementation, particularly for developing countries, SIDS, and least developed countries.

The document maps the landscape of standards and standard-setting processes relevant to the international effort to end plastic pollution. It analyzes three categories of instruments: government legislation and regulations, voluntary multistakeholder standards, and non-governmental initiatives. The paper aims to inform discussions within the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) and the WTO's Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP) regarding the transformation of global supply chains and the technical capacity of developing countries.

The briefing asserts that current Nationally Determined Contributions are collectively insufficient to meet Paris Agreement temperature goals, necessitating that the Global Stocktake provide clear, sector-specific mitigation actions and targets. It proposes a comprehensive list of actions—including phasing out fossil fuels and subsidies, boosting renewables, and decarbonizing industry—to inform the 2030 and 2035 time horizons. The author suggests these outputs be integrated into the CMA cover decision or technical annexes and provide a structured guidance framework for Parties to update their NDCs with achievable targets aligned with IPCC emission reduction goals.

The document argues that the current climate and ecological crisis is driven by economic and social systems reliant on fossil fuels and overconsumption. It calls for a fundamental shift toward renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and circular economic practices to protect biodiversity and ensure social justice. The guide emphasizes that the poorest populations suffer most from environmental degradation despite being the least responsible, advocating for a 'just transition' and the protection of human rights to clean air and water. It urges governments and individuals to move from a relationship of exploitation to one of care for the planet.

The document outlines key recommendations for the first Global Stocktake (GST) at COP28, arguing that the outcome should serve as a 'global accelerator' for climate action. It emphasizes the need for enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with ambitious 2030 and 2035 targets, supported by increased climate finance. Specific high-impact areas for acceleration include shifting away from fossil fuels, transforming food and land-use systems, decarbonizing transport, and increasing funding for adaptation and loss and damage.

Global power sector emissions plateaued in the first half of 2023, increasing by only 0.2%. While wind and solar generation grew and increased their share of the global power mix, a historic decline in hydropower due to droughts—particularly in China—prevented a more significant emissions drop. Low electricity demand in high-income economies further suppressed emissions growth.

The Center for International Environmental Law highlights the symbiotic relationship between the fossil fuel industry and industrial agriculture, noting that agriculture accounts for approximately one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. It emphasizes that reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides creates vulnerability to fossil fuel price shocks, which increases food costs and insecurity. The statement calls for states to transition toward resilient and regenerative agricultural models to ensure food and energy sovereignty.

The Capital Mobilization Roadmap proposes four high-impact areas for reform to accelerate private investment in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). It suggests creating a standardized credit guarantee facility and reforming capital allocation rules to address credit risk. To mitigate currency risk, it recommends scaling the TCX market creation capacity and exploring SDR-backed guarantees via the JET-FIT proposal. For development risk, the roadmap advocates for increased funding for existing project preparation models and a shift toward more sustainable MDB financing for project development. Finally, it proposes aligning MDB staff KPIs with mobilization targets and implementing 'originate-to-distribute' models through standardized underwriting criteria.

The guide describes 'book and claim' as a flexible chain of custody model where producers 'book' emissions savings from clean fuels or materials in one location, and customers 'claim' those benefits for climate disclosures elsewhere via certificates. This system is designed to channel finance into nascent decarbonization technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), by allowing corporations to cover the price premium of cleaner alternatives when physical offtake is impractical. To ensure accountability, the system relies on independent verification of the physical supply chain, the use of registries to prevent double counting, and adherence to standardized reporting guidelines.

The document examines the scale and transparency of global plastics trade, noting that the 2021 trade value reached at least $1.2 trillion. It argues that current statistical classification methods hinder the transparency needed for effective policymaking to end plastic pollution.

The paper reviews 15 criteria used in literature to determine the sequencing of a global oil extraction phase-out, arguing that the choice of criteria significantly alters which countries phase out first and that current gaps in these indicators risk undermining just transition goals.