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In H1 2022, GSS+ labelled debt volumes reached USD417.8bn, a 27% year-on-year decrease driven by inflation, rising interest rates, and geopolitical instability. Green bonds remained the largest segment (52% of volume), with China emerging as the most prolific country. While social and sustainability bonds declined, sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) grew by 5.2%, and transition UoP bonds saw a 2.5-fold increase from Q1 to Q2. Key policy shifts included the EU's inclusion of gas and nuclear as transitional activities and the launch of green taxonomies in Colombia and South Africa.

This research paper by the NewClimate Institute compares 2021 greenhouse gas emission projections for G20 countries up to 2030 against projections made in 2015. While absolute projected emissions have decreased and growth rates have slowed, the G20 collectively remains off track to meet the Paris Agreement temperature goals, with emissions still expected to increase slightly by 2030.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative serves as a foundational guide for the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance to analyze challenges and priorities for decarbonizing the buildings sector. It outlines the global investment needs, the role of different financial instruments, and the specific regulatory and environmental contexts of Nigeria and Indonesia.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the renewable energy landscapes of Egypt and Morocco within the broader context of North Africa. It details the region's high technical potential for solar and wind, the current dominance of fossil fuels (gas in Egypt and coal in Morocco), and the strategic shifts toward renewable energy and green hydrogen to enhance energy security and export potential.

This scoping paper by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the challenges and priorities for cities in decarbonizing the buildings sector to reach net zero carbon. It examines the drivers of building stock growth, technical mitigation solutions, and the financial instruments and policies required to scale these solutions, with specific deep dives into Nigeria and Indonesia.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that the 'agreement in principle' to modernize the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is insufficient for achieving international climate goals. The organization highlights that the revised treaty continues to protect fossil fuel investments and allows for investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims, potentially hindering governments' ability to implement environmental measures and meet Paris Agreement objectives.

A report by the NewClimate Institute analyzing the collective impact of updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by 156 countries by January 2022, finding that while ambition has increased, reductions remain insufficient to meet Paris Agreement temperature goals.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International and the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice criticizing the Bonn climate conference for a lack of concrete action, the failure of developed nations to provide loss and damage finance, and the promotion of 'false solutions' such as geoengineering and carbon markets.

This report by Zero Carbon Analytics examines how G7 economies are exposed to cross-border climate risks due to the interconnected nature of global supply chains. It highlights that extreme weather events in production hubs—particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America—can cause global price spikes, industrial production declines, and threats to food security in industrialised nations. The document argues that because manufacturing is often offshored to lower-cost regions, G7 nations must cooperate internationally to fund climate adaptation in developing countries to secure their own supply chains.

The Net Zero Stocktake 2022 executive summary analyzes the status of net zero target setting across 4,000+ entities, including national governments, sub-national governments, and companies. While the report notes a surge in the quantity of targets and an increase in domestic legislation, it highlights a widespread lack of credibility and robustness in these pledges, particularly regarding the use of external offsets and the inclusion of Scope 3 emissions.

This research paper argues that African policymakers must proactively secure digital sovereignty to prevent the continent's digital economy from becoming a battleground for great-power competition. While Africa possesses significant digital potential with a market of over 1 billion people, it remains the least connected region globally and relies heavily on foreign infrastructure, leaving it vulnerable to the unilateral decisions of global tech giants and the geopolitical interests of major powers.

This research paper analyzes a draft World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement aimed at curbing fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing. It details the proposed prohibitions on subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfished stocks, and overcapacity, while examining the balance between strict disciplines and special and differential treatment for developing countries.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the urgent need for reform within the World Trade Organization (WTO). It identifies systemic failures in the organization's negotiating function, dispute settlement system, and transparency mechanisms, while detailing the conflicting priorities of major member blocs and the potential pathways for institutional reform.

This report by FSD Africa provides a first quantitative risk assessment and stress-testing framework for financial institutions in Africa to evaluate nature-related opportunities and risks. Using the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) LEAP approach, the study analyzes the impact of nature loss and nature-positive transitions on equity and lending portfolios across several African countries and private banks. It highlights that while aggregate portfolio impacts may appear small due to limited direct exposure, the risks are material for nature-intensive sectors like agriculture and extractives, where nature-related risks could double expected credit losses by 2030.

A June 2022 briefing by the Climate Action Tracker reporting that progress on updating 2030 climate targets has stalled following the Glasgow Climate Pact. The document warns that current targets and policies are insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C, projecting end-of-century warming of 2.4°C based on 2030 targets and 2.7°C under current policies.

This policy brief, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in June 2022, analyzes the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the global construction and buildings value chain. It emphasizes that decisions made during the early stages of planning and finance heavily dictate the sustainability outcomes of the entire chain. The document advocates for a multi-stakeholder approach involving regulations, green public procurement, and urban planning to transition toward net-zero emissions and higher material efficiency.

This executive summary, published by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, analyzes how the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can be leveraged to support Africa's green transition. It argues that while the AfCFTA agreement contains minimal environmental references, it can be adjusted to eliminate trade barriers for environmental goods and services. The document emphasizes the need for a phased decarbonization approach for fossil-fuel-dependent nations and recommends that development partners increase climate financing and align initiatives like the European Green Deal with African realities to avoid duplicating existing continental climate strategies.

This briefing, published by the Global Climate and Health Alliance in May 2022, summarises health and wellbeing findings from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) on Mitigation of Climate Change. It highlights the synergies between climate mitigation and public health, arguing that immediate action in sectors like energy, transport, and agriculture can deliver significant health co-benefits, such as improved air quality and reduced non-communicable diseases, while addressing systemic inequalities.

The report 'BOOM AND BUST 2022' by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants as of April 2022. It highlights a stark divergence: while many OECD and non-OECD countries are committing to end new coal construction and accelerate closures to meet Paris Agreement goals, China continues to expand its coal capacity significantly, offsetting global reductions.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes the global status of coal-fired power plants as of April 2022. It highlights a stark divergence between China, which continues to expand its coal capacity, and the rest of the world, where many countries are committing to 'No New Coal' and accelerating plant closures following COP26.