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A statement from World Resources Institute President & CEO Andrew Steer regarding the Climate Ambition Summit, noting progress in net-zero commitments from various nations and non-state actors while criticizing the lack of bold 2030 emission targets and insufficient financial support for developing countries.

The Green Finance Mapping Report 2020, published by the Climate Policy Initiative, analyzes the 2019 green finance commitments of the International Development Finance Club (IDFC). It details a rebound in green finance to $197 billion in 2019, with a heavy concentration in climate mitigation and a growing trend in adaptation finance. The report also examines the distribution of these funds between OECD and non-OECD institutions and their alignment with the Paris Agreement.

An analysis of European electricity generation in October 2020, showing that zero-carbon sources—driven by favorable weather and recovering nuclear output—outpaced fossil fuels as the primary power source.

This report by Ember analyzes the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of EU countries to assess the trajectory of the EU power sector toward 2030. It finds that while renewable energy is expected to grow, the EU is not on track to meet the European Commission's recommended 55% emissions reduction target due to slow fossil fuel phase-outs and insufficient wind and solar deployment, particularly in seven specific member states.

This November 2020 report assesses progress toward Goal 7 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which focuses on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation within the framework of a post-2020 global climate agreement. While the goal of including forests in the global agreement was considered met with the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the report identifies significant barriers to the operationalization of REDD+ and a lack of quantifiable detail in many Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores the precautionary principle, a guide in international environmental law that advocates for taking protective action even in the absence of full scientific certainty to avoid serious or irreversible damage.

This policy brief examines the scale and structure of the illegal wildlife trade, the historical evolution of international regulatory frameworks—specifically CITES—and the emerging debate over whether a new, legally binding international instrument is needed to address wildlife crime and zoonotic disease risks in a post-COVID-19 world.

This briefing explores the precautionary principle as a guide for decision-makers to protect the environment, public health, and security in the face of scientific uncertainty. It traces the principle's evolution from national laws in Sweden to its integration into major international treaties and the law of the European Union, while discussing the ongoing tension between environmental safeguarding and economic development.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the evolution of international efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade, focusing on the role and limitations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

This policy brief examines how the European Union (EU) Green Deal operationalizes the concept of 'just transition' through a territorial approach. It analyzes the use of the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) to engage subnational carbon-intensive regions, aiming to bypass national-level political resistance to carbon neutrality by 2050. The author identifies several risks, including the potential for national governments to block funding, the lack of monitoring for vulnerable groups, and the need for the EU to address the global geopolitical impacts of decarbonization on fossil fuel-producing countries.

This policy brief argues for a strategic AU-EU partnership to facilitate sustainable energy transitions, emphasizing that such cooperation can provide Africa with increased energy access and jobs while helping the EU meet its carbon neutrality goals. It highlights the need for diplomatic sensitivity, tailored incentives, and a focus on 'just transitions' to ensure that fossil-fuel-dependent African nations are not unfairly penalized by European climate standards.

This policy brief examines the strategic opportunities and challenges for cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Africa following the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It argues that the AfCFTA allows the EU to move beyond traditional development aid toward a political partnership based on equal terms, while highlighting the need for the EU to align its investment and trade support with the AfCFTA's goals to foster African economic resilience and productive capacity.

This report by Ember analyzes monthly electricity generation data in Europe, noting that EU electricity demand nearly returned to 2019 levels by August 2020, which contributed to a rise in coal generation.

This report by the NewClimate Institute examines how the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recovery efforts influence global greenhouse gas emission projections through 2030. It evaluates various 'what-if' scenarios based on IMF, IEA, and Global Carbon Project data, and introduces a classification framework ('green', 'grey', and 'colourless') to analyze the environmental impact of government stimulus packages, applying this framework to a case study of Germany.

This fact sheet details a debut green bond issuance by Enexis Holding NV, a Dutch electricity and gas grid group, which raised EUR 500 million in June 2020 to fund grid improvements for renewable energy, green buildings, and smart meters.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the instruments and public policies used for agricultural risk management in Brazil. It examines the strengths and failures of current systems, including insurance programs and price guarantees, and provides recommendations to improve efficiency and sustainability in the face of climate change.

The report evaluates agricultural risk management in Brazil, finding that while the insurance market has grown, it remains highly concentrated and underfunded compared to rural credit. It highlights that nearly 60% of municipalities lack insurance and suggests redirecting public funds from credit to insurance and expanding the use of Agricultural Climate Risk Zoning (ZARC) to improve productivity and land use.

This briefing by Energy Innovation examines the role of offshore wind in achieving zero-emissions climate goals, focusing on cost reductions, technological advancements like floating turbines, and policy recommendations for the United States to scale its capacity.

This fact sheet details a EUR 500 million green bond issued by Hypo Neo on June 25, 2020, with a maturity date of June 25, 2024. The bond is issued by a government-backed entity in Austria and is intended to finance a broad range of green projects including renewable energy, energy-efficient buildings, sustainable agriculture, and water management.

In the first half of 2020, renewable electricity generation exceeded fossil fuel generation for the first time in the EU-27, driven by new installations, favorable weather, and a COVID-19-related drop in electricity demand.