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The Climate Policy Initiative analyzed public climate commitments from over 350 private financial institutions across four sectors. While assets committed to net zero have grown to over USD 93 trillion, the report finds a significant lack of interim targets, detailed transition plans, and comprehensive fossil fuel phase-out strategies.

This briefing from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) provides a three-month financial review for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, comparing actual expenditures against the budget approved at the 29th Conference of the Parties and detailing the status of country contributions as of September 30, 2021.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate's mid-term report for the 2021-2022 intersessional period details progress in science, capacity building, and communication. Key achievements include the expansion of the Science, Technology and Policy (STeP) fellowship program, the launch of the IAI Transdisciplinary (TD) Academy, and the securing of approximately 1.3 million Euros for a drought information project in the La Plata basin. The Directorate also reports contributions to the IPCC 6th Assessment Report and the development of climate-health tools in the Caribbean.

This October 2021 briefing from the Global Climate and Health Alliance argues that achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement is a critical priority for global health. It calls on governments to integrate health into climate policy through transitions in energy, transport, food systems, and healthcare infrastructure to mitigate rising health threats and inequalities.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International argues that major corporations and industry groups are using "net zero" commitments as a "con" to greenwash their images and block effective climate policy ahead of COP26. The document details how six specific entities—BP, Microsoft, IETA, BlackRock, Shell, and Drax—continue to invest in fossil fuels, lobby governments, and rely on unproven technologies or offsets while maintaining a public image of climate leadership.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International argues that major corporations and industry groups are using "net zero" pledges as a strategy to delay meaningful climate action and greenwash their images ahead of COP26. The document details how six specific entities—BP, Microsoft, Drax, IETA, BlackRock, and Shell—employ false solutions, accounting loopholes, and aggressive lobbying to maintain business-as-usual fossil fuel extraction and emissions while appearing to align with the Paris Agreement.

This policy briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative examines the expansion of carbon pricing into trade and economic policy, specifically focusing on the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). It argues that carbon pricing, when combined with preferential treatment for green goods and a 'Just Transition' spending policy, can drive global green capital flows and decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors.

This statement from the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that climate change adaptation must be treated as a global, transboundary ambition rather than a local matter, while emphasizing that adaptation cannot replace the urgent need for emissions mitigation.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) mechanisms are becoming a reality as countries increase climate ambition. The author proposes a set of international principles and best practices to prevent BCAs from becoming protectionist tools and suggests the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the ideal forum for these discussions.

This fact sheet provides guidance on Adaptation Communications (ADCOMs) under the UNFCCC, explaining their purpose, voluntary nature, and flexible submission options. It specifically details how countries can align ADCOMs with National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes to reduce reporting burdens and provide input for the first global stocktake.

The September 2021 Global Update from Climate Action Tracker reports that global climate action continues to lag behind the requirements for limiting warming to 1.5°C. While some countries have updated their NDCs, the 2030 emissions gap remains significant (20-23 GtCO2e). The report introduces a new rating system where only The Gambia is rated as overall 1.5°C compatible, while most developed nations are rated as 'Insufficient' or worse due to inadequate climate finance and policy implementation. It further critiques the lack of transparency and robustness in most national net zero targets and highlights the continued reliance on coal and gas in several major economies.

The G20, responsible for 75% of global GHG emissions, currently has commitments that put the world on a trajectory for 2.4°C of warming. While announced but non-formalized pledges could lower this to 2.1°C, only a comprehensive shift where all G20 members align with 1.5°C pathways and mid-century net zero targets could limit warming to 1.7°C. The report identifies a 23 GtCO2e emissions gap for 2030 and warns that many net zero pledges are unrealistic without significantly stronger near-term (2030) targets. Achieving the 1.5°C goal will require G20 leadership, action from non-G20 countries, and the fulfillment of climate finance commitments to developing nations.

This research paper analyzes the first 29 long-term low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission development strategies (LTSs) submitted to the UNFCCC by June 2021. The authors identify common trends in midcentury targets, mitigation modeling, sectoral transitions, and governance frameworks, noting a significant shift toward net-zero goals and a broader focus on societal transformation beyond simple mitigation modeling.

The 51st meeting of the IAI Executive Council, held on June 22, 2021, resulted in the approval of a Gender Policy (to be expanded to include equity, diversity, and inclusion) and a new initiative for national climate assessment capacity building in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Council also approved the IAI's financial reports, the 2021-2022 budget, and a new Whistleblower Policy, while recommending these for final approval by the Conference of the Parties (CoP-29).

This guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in August 2021, provides a framework for establishing financial assurance for mine closure in Argentina. It aims to ensure that funds are available for environmental rehabilitation and physical stability if a mining company is unable to execute its closure plan. The document details best practices for calculating closure costs, selecting financial instruments, and managing these guarantees throughout a mine's life cycle, drawing on regional examples from Chile and Peru.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the readiness of governments to manage mine closures and post-mining transitions. Based on a 2019-2020 survey of 17 countries and 14 Mining Policy Framework (MPF) assessments, the document finds that while governments recognize the importance of mine closure, many lack the necessary policies, financial instruments, and technical capacity to implement them effectively.

This policy brief examines the evolution of global hazardous waste regulation, from early marine pollution treaties to the Basel Convention and its Ban Amendment. It highlights the risks of 'toxic colonialism,' the challenges of managing rapidly growing e-waste streams, and the need for proactive governance to protect vulnerable populations during the energy transition.

This report by Dr. Ranajit Sahu evaluates the technical and environmental feasibility of adding 1,500 MW of new coal generation as proposed in South Africa's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The author argues that 'clean coal' is a myth, asserting that any new capacity will inevitably cause significant air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of the high-efficiency, low-emission (HELE) technologies employed.

A World Resources Institute briefing analyzing the outcomes of the UN Climate Change subsidiary bodies sessions held online prior to COP26. The document reports that progress on implementing the Paris Agreement was uneven and limited, hampered by both virtual logistical challenges and deep political divides between nations.

This guide from the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines strategies for governments to communicate the concept of net-zero emissions to the public to increase support for climate policies. It emphasizes moving away from technical, future-oriented descriptions toward tangible, local, and inclusive messaging supported by positive imagery.