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This briefing paper by the Climate Bonds Initiative explains the structure of covered bonds and argues for their application to low-carbon finance. It highlights how the dual recourse structure of covered bonds—providing claims over both a dedicated asset pool and the issuer—can lower funding costs for banks and increase institutional investment in green infrastructure and energy-efficient buildings.

This briefing paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) advocates for the widespread ratification of the Mauritius Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration. The document explains how the Convention provides a mechanism for states to 'opt-in' to the UNCITRAL Rules on Transparency for disputes arising from investment treaties concluded before April 2014, thereby increasing public accountability and democratic governance in investor-state arbitrations.

The 'Green Bonds Highlights 2016' fact sheet by the Climate Bonds Initiative reports that 2016 was a record-breaking year for the green bond market, with annual issuance aligned with international definitions reaching USD 81 billion. The document highlights the market's diversification across countries, issuer types, and sectors, noting the significant rise of China as a leading issuer and the emergence of sovereign green bonds, starting with Poland.

This policy brief explores how the Planetary Boundaries framework can be used to define the 'global level of ambition' for the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It argues that by downscaling global environmental limits to national or regional levels and combining them with consumption-based accounting, countries can better implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 on Sustainable Consumption and Production.

This briefing examines the 'cascading' principle—the idea that wood should be used for its most valuable purpose for as long as possible before being used for energy. While adopted in several EU policy documents, implementation is complicated by conflicting stakeholder interests and the difficulty of defining 'value' outside of market dynamics. The author warns that rigid legislative eligibility criteria can distort markets and suggests that a combination of cross-sectoral policy measures is more effective than strict adherence to the cascading model.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International marking the 5th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, arguing that these principles have failed to stop corporate impunity or provide access to justice, and advocating for a binding UN treaty on business and human rights.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides recommendations for G20 countries to reform fossil fuel subsidies. It advocates for the use of voluntary peer review processes to increase transparency, the establishment of an ambitious and defined timetable for phasing out inefficient subsidies, and the implementation of targeted support to protect the poorest populations during the transition.

This research paper analyzes the 2016 EU-Turkey migrant deal, arguing that while it has succeeded in its primary goal of deterring arrivals via the Aegean Sea, it has done so at a significant humanitarian and legal cost. The author contends that the deal, combined with border closures across Eastern and South Eastern Europe, has trapped refugees in squalid conditions and pushed migrants toward more dangerous smuggling routes, while potentially undermining the international principle of non-refoulement.

A statement by the Stockholm Environment Institute urging immediate action on climate pledges and the rapid ratification of the Paris Agreement to ensure early entry into force.

This technical report by the Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre, commissioned by Nordic Energy Research, analyzes the potential for Estonia to transition to a carbon-neutral power sector by 2050. It evaluates the current state of Estonia's energy system—which is heavily dependent on oil shale—and uses three quantitative models (LEAP, Balmorel, and EMPS) to simulate various low-carbon scenarios, including the impacts of electrification in transport and heating and the necessary developments in transmission grids and international interconnections.

The report reviews the European power sector in 2015, noting a record increase in renewables generation that was largely offset by increased electricity demand and a decline in nuclear and hydro output. Consequently, power sector CO2 emissions fell by only an estimated 0.5% in 2015, following a much larger 7.5% drop in 2014. The author maintains a forecast that EU ETS emissions will fall 21% from 2014 to 2020, potentially leading to 30% economy-wide CO2 cuts by 2020.

As of 2016, Europe dominated the global offshore wind market, with the UK, Germany, and Denmark leading in installed capacity. The United States, while possessing vast potential (over 4,000 GW), was in the early stages of deployment with its first commercial project at Block Island. The document highlights the technical advantages of offshore wind—such as stronger winds and proximity to coastal population centers—and notes the significant job creation potential in the EU sector.

The 'GREEN FINANCE: GREEN BOND DIRECTIONS COP22 Highlights' report by the Climate Bonds Initiative details the rapid growth of the green bond market in 2016, emphasizing its role in funding climate mitigation and adaptation to meet Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It highlights the shift toward private sector issuance, the emergence of China as a dominant market, and the necessity of reaching USD 1 trillion in annual issuance by 2020 to substantively address climate change.

The Green Economy Barometer 2016, published by the Green Economy Coalition (GEC), assesses the global transition toward green and fair economies. The report assigns a score of 4 out of 10 to the transition, noting that while international policy architecture, renewable energy investment, and corporate awareness of natural capital risks have improved, the transition lacks the depth and breadth to address extreme poverty, the informal economy, and systemic structural reform.

This directory, compiled by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) with financial support from Denmark, provides an inventory of assistance and capacity-building programmes available to African states in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) areas. It details the offers of nearly 50 states, various international and regional organisations, and civil society entities, primarily within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and other international non-proliferation treaties.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines six critical areas of climate finance to monitor during the COP 21 negotiations in Paris. It emphasizes the need for developed countries to meet the $100 billion annual funding goal by 2020, the importance of increasing adaptation funding, and the necessity of transparent reporting and a predictable finance cycle to support developing nations.

This technical annex assesses progress toward Goal 2 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which aims to eliminate deforestation from the production of agricultural commodities—specifically palm oil, soy, paper, and beef—by 2020. The report uses market share of certified commodities and the number of corporate and governmental commitments as proxy indicators for progress, noting significant data gaps and varying levels of ambition across different sectors.

This research paper argues that using land for bioenergy creates intense competition with food, feed, and carbon storage, potentially widening the global crop calorie gap. The authors contend that most bioenergy is land-inefficient compared to solar energy and that current greenhouse gas accounting often 'double counts' biomass, erroneously suggesting that bioenergy is carbon-free. The paper recommends phasing out bioenergy from dedicated land use and prioritizing biomass derived from true wastes.

This 2015 research paper argues that removing fossil-fuel subsidies could reduce global GHG emissions by 6-13% by 2050, though this potential is maximized when combined with binding emission caps and investments in low-carbon infrastructure. It provides a roadmap for countries to integrate subsidy reform into their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) and other UNFCCC processes to unlock government savings and accelerate the energy transition.

This 2015 report by SEI Tallinn analyzes food waste in Estonia's retail and food processing sectors. It finds that while Estonia generates less food waste per capita than several other European nations, significant losses occur in retail (approx. 12,000 tonnes annually) and the meat industry. Key drivers include poor sales forecasting, consumer behavior, and production process residues. The report highlights barriers to food donation, such as transport and legal ambiguity, and recommends national strategies to reduce food loss.