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This report from the Chair of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) outlines the activities and recommendations of the EC during the 2020-2021 intersessional period for the 29th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-29).

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on green finance and development, contrasting the robust recovery packages in the global North with the funding gaps and systemic challenges in the global South. It highlights the risk that urgent health-sector spending may undermine environmental sustainability and advocates for institutional reforms, increased South-South cooperation, and coordinated global efforts to bridge the climate finance gap.

The document is an auditors report for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), presenting the financial statements for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2020, and June 30, 2019. It includes an independent auditor's opinion, balance sheets, statements of operations, and detailed notes on scientific programs and core budget contributions.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate during the 2020-2021 intersessional period. It outlines progress in science, capacity building, and science-policy interfaces, specifically highlighting the adaptation of programs to the COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of transdisciplinary research and strategic partnerships across the Americas.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Directorate's summary report for the 2020-2021 intersessional period details progress in scientific research, capacity building, and science-policy interfaces despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Key achievements include the launch of the Science, Technology and Policy (STeP) fellowship program, the establishment of new strategic partnerships with entities like the Wellcome Trust and Mitacs Canada, and the implementation of transdisciplinary projects on climate-driven infectious diseases in the Caribbean.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the industrial policy of the Zona Franca de Manaus (ZFM), arguing that while it is named a 'free zone,' it functions conceptually as an 'enterprise zone' focused on regional development rather than international trade. The authors suggest that the current incentive structure fails to drive productivity or wage growth and recommend redefining the ZFM's identity to align its fiscal incentives with either international competitiveness or sustainable regional development.

This executive summary, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in May 2021, analyzes the potential for hydrogen resource usage in Estonia between 2020 and 2050. It evaluates the hydrogen value chain—production, storage, distribution, and consumption—across the transport, industrial, building, and power sectors. The report identifies the transport and chemical industries as the primary areas for decarbonization and outlines the necessary investments, infrastructure, and policy measures required to transition to a hydrogen economy.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes global coal-fired power plant development in 2020, highlighting a significant surge in China that offset retirements in other regions. While the US, EU, and several Southeast Asian nations reduced their coal capacity or planning, China's increased activity led to the first growth in global coal capacity since 2015.

The report 'Boom and Bust 2021' analyzes the global coal plant pipeline, highlighting a divergence where a surge in coal development in China offset a general global retreat. While many countries in South and Southeast Asia, the US, and the EU are retiring plants or cancelling projects, China's commissioning of new capacity led to the first increase in global coal capacity since 2015.

The 2020 global coal power landscape was characterized by a sharp increase in capacity in China, which offset declines elsewhere and led to the first global increase in coal capacity since 2015. While the US and EU saw record closures, China's provincial governments accelerated coal projects as economic stimulants. Conversely, several Southeast Asian and South Asian nations began canceling planned projects due to financing difficulties and shifting policies.

The report 'YÜKSELIŞ VE ÇÖKÜŞ 2021' analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants in 2020, highlighting a stark divergence between China's continued expansion and a general global decline. While the rest of the world saw record retirements and project cancellations—particularly in the US, EU, and Southeast Asia—China's surge in new capacity led to a net global increase in coal power. The document details the financial challenges facing coal, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on project timelines, and the gap between current national trajectories and the IPCC 1.5°C pathway.

The report 'BÙNG NỔ VÀ THOÁI TRÀO 2021' analyzes global coal power trends in 2020, highlighting a stark contrast between China's surge in new capacity and a general global decline. While many nations in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the OECD are canceling projects or accelerating closures, China's rapid development has caused total global coal capacity to increase for the first time since 2015.

This policy brief provides a stocktaking of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) negotiations on e-commerce as of February 2021. It examines how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption while widening the digital divide, and analyzes the current state of play in the JSI negotiations, including areas of convergence and persistent divergence among the 86 participating members.

This report from the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) outlines the council's activities between sessions and presents recommendations for approval by the 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP-29) in June 2021. Key focus areas include financial approvals, the establishment of a grievance mechanism, and the adoption of a gender policy.

The Report of the IAI Executive Council, prepared for its fifty-first meeting on 22 June 2021, outlines the council's activities during the 2020-2021 intersessional period. The report focuses on the review of financial documents, the development of new institutional policies regarding whistleblowing and gender, and the performance evaluation of the Executive Director.

This briefing from the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), dated March 18, 2021, outlines the council's activities between sessions and its recommendations for the 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP-29). The document focuses on financial approvals, the implementation of a whistleblower mechanism, the development of a gender policy, and the performance evaluation of the Executive Director.

This case study by Ember evaluates the transition strategy of ENGIE, a France-based global energy company. The report argues that ENGIE's reliance on converting coal plants to fossil gas and biomass, its lack of a comprehensive coal phase-out schedule, and its 2°C Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) accreditation are not aligned with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C objective.

This report summarizes a virtual workshop held on January 21, 2021, organized by the European Forest Institute, Climate Policy Initiative, and UNDP. The event brought together over 200 participants from more than 60 countries to discuss the mapping and tracking of domestic climate finance, focusing on how these tools can drive policy ambition, improve reporting under the Paris Agreement, and mobilize both public and private investment.

This annex to the 2021 NYDF Goal 7 Progress Report provides technical and economic mitigation potential estimates for forest-related activities, analyzes the ambition of forest targets in National Determined Contributions (NDCs), and estimates the global finance needs and public finance flows for forest mitigation.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines four critical technical and political areas that UN negotiators must resolve by COP26 in November 2021. It reviews the outcomes of the 2020 Climate Dialogues and highlights significant gaps in the Paris Agreement rulebook, climate finance commitments, and mechanisms for loss and damage and adaptation.