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The document argues that for international market mechanisms under the Paris Agreement to be effective, they must ensure that the transfer of emission units does not result in higher global emissions than if targets were met through domestic action. It identifies four critical factors for environmental integrity: the ambition of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), incentives for future mitigation, the integrity of the units themselves, and robust accounting to prevent double counting. The brief warns that unambitious NDCs or poorly designed crediting mechanisms can create perverse incentives that discourage comprehensive climate policy or lead to the overestimation of emission reductions. It recommends that only countries with targets below business-as-usual emissions participate in Article 6.2 mechanisms and that NDCs be converted into absolute multi-year emission trajectories to ensure robust accounting.

The document argues that relying on future negative emissions to offset current insufficient climate action is a high-risk strategy. It identifies three primary risks: technological and biophysical infeasibility, unacceptable social and ecological impacts, and the potential for these measures to be less effective than expected due to reversals or irreversible climate tipping points. The authors conclude that while some land-based sequestration is possible, it cannot reach the scales often assumed in climate models without severe trade-offs.

The document argues that non-state actors—including cities, companies, and non-profits—can provide independent expertise and accountability to strengthen the Paris Agreement's review mechanisms. It specifically examines the enhanced transparency framework, the implementation and compliance mechanism, and the global stocktake, suggesting that formalizing the role of non-state actors through public access, written submissions, and oral interventions would improve the effectiveness of these processes.

The document presents the Transnational Climate Impacts (TCI) Index, which measures country-level exposure to climate risks transmitted across borders. It identifies four primary risk pathways—biophysical, finance, people, and trade—and argues that globalization makes even wealthy, low-vulnerability countries susceptible to transnational climate shocks. The authors advocate for integrating these risks into national adaptation plans and UNFCCC processes to enhance global cooperation and adaptation finance.

The document examines the operationalization of the Paris Agreement's enhanced transparency framework, focusing on the need for 'built-in flexibility' for developing countries, the transition from existing UNFCCC reporting systems, and the integration of transparency data into the global stocktake. It highlights critical gaps in climate finance accounting and the necessity of sustainable funding for the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) to ensure all Parties can meet reporting requirements by 2018.

The document analyzes the climate impact of phasing out federal fossil fuel leases in the U.S. It finds that while current policies project an 11% increase in production by 2040, a 2°C pathway requires a 40–60% reduction. Ceasing new federal leases could reduce global CO2 emissions by approximately 100 million tonnes per year by 2030, primarily through reduced coal and offshore oil production.

The document evaluates the impact of planned hydroelectric expansion in Colombia's Magdalena River basin on the Mompox Depression, one of the world's largest wetland systems. Using an enhanced Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model, the study finds that while new dams may not prevent extreme floods, they could significantly alter seasonal and low flows, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem services. It also warns that reducing connectivity through flood-control structures like dikes could increase peak flow magnitudes downstream, potentially raising flood risks for urban areas like Barranquilla.

The document analyzes the trade-offs between Lesotho's water exports via the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) and its domestic needs for water, agriculture, and industry. Using the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system, it finds that while climate change introduces uncertainty in precipitation, strategic investments in the Polihali Dam and the Lesotho Lowlands Water Supply Scheme (LLWSS) can simultaneously secure water transfers to South Africa and improve domestic water and food security.

The document consists of two appendices: a comprehensive household survey questionnaire and a matrix of potential citizen participation avenues. The survey collects detailed data on household characteristics, the use of various energy sources (including grid electricity, solar PV, kerosene, and biomass), and the impact of energy access on health and education. The participation framework identifies the roles of women's groups, youth groups, community leaders, and administration in mobilizing resources, advocating for services, and implementing energy projects in Migori County.

This research paper examines the transition to advanced cookstoves in Kenya and Zambia, distinguishing between the motivations for initial purchase and the factors that ensure long-term adoption. While financial accessibility, fuel savings, and aesthetic appeal drive initial sales, the study finds that actual adoption depends on the stove's performance and the availability of post-purchase support. The authors recommend hands-on trials, high-quality manuals, and consistent fuel quality to prevent users from abandoning the technology.

The document outlines a research initiative to break down barriers between disaster risk reduction (DRR), adaptation, and development. It argues that development processes often create the very risks they seek to mitigate, and proposes a framework based on understanding risk trade-offs, promoting 'equitable resilience' to address social injustice, and implementing adaptive governance. The brief highlights the Sendai Framework as a key opportunity to integrate these transformative practices globally.

The report examines how stakeholders in Swedish forestry perceive climate change risks and opportunities. It finds that while some anticipate increased growth, others fear storm damage and pests. Adaptation is driven by personal experience of extreme weather and trust in advisers, but hindered by distrust of climate science and conflicting views on effective management strategies. The document emphasizes the need for user-oriented, interactive communication between researchers and practitioners to foster adaptation.

The report advocates for a paradigm shift in sanitation and wastewater management, moving from a disposal-centric model to a circular economy approach that recovers water, nutrients, and energy. It details the technical, institutional, and financial frameworks necessary to implement sustainable systems that protect human health and the environment while providing economic benefits.

The Stockholm Environment Institute has developed Resource Value Mapping (REVAMP), a tool designed to help urban planners and investors identify the economic and material value of resources recoverable from sewage sludge, faecal sludge, and organic solid waste. Unlike previous tools, REVAMP operates at a city-wide scale and is specifically tailored for the Global South by incorporating on-site sanitation data. A 2016 trial in Kampala, Uganda, demonstrated that 100% collection of the city's organic waste could generate significant daily revenues and substitutes for firewood and chemical fertilizers, with solid combustion fuel offering the highest potential daily revenue of US$225,500.

The document identifies and assesses behaviour change techniques (BCTs) for improved cookstove (ICS) adoption, noting a shift from financial incentives toward 'shaping knowledge' and 'social support'. It highlights the importance of tailoring messages to gender and local contexts and proposes a modified framework that integrates individual, social, structural, and locational determinants of behaviour.

The report defines the bioeconomy as the part of the business sector based on biomass resources, estimating its 2013 value at approximately 5% of Sweden's GDP. It explores four future scenarios for 2050—ranging from global circular welfare to regional self-sufficiency—concluding that while biomass demand will likely increase, sustainable growth requires strong public-private cooperation, investment in biorefineries, and a shift toward circular material flows.

The document evaluates the 'adaptation readiness' of ASEAN countries, categorizing them based on their policy engagement and institutional frameworks. It identifies the Philippines and Vietnam as pioneers, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Myanmar as emerging champions, and Laos, Malaysia, and Thailand as 'wait-and-see' adaptors. The analysis highlights critical gaps in funding, sub-national engagement, and the failure to address structural inequalities and the specific needs of smallholders. It recommends a regional agenda for smallholder adaptation, increased direct engagement with rural populations, and the establishment of regional knowledge-sharing and monitoring systems.

The document examines the psychological and social drivers of climate action, arguing that values, social norms, and trust are more influential than scientific knowledge alone. It provides strategic principles for communicators, emphasizing the need to avoid alarmism, tailor messages to specific audiences, and leverage trusted messengers to overcome political polarization and the 'information deficit' myth.

The document examines the tension between treating fossil fuel suppliers as polluters and recognizing extraction as a sovereign right for development. It argues that meeting Paris Agreement targets requires leaving a majority of proven reserves in the ground, which would disproportionately impact lower-income regions through the loss of significant resource rents.

The document argues that while the SADC region faces severe energy pressures and a heavy reliance on coal and hydropower, renewable energy mini-grids offer a viable complement to national grid extension, particularly for rural populations. However, most current projects remain in the pilot phase due to unsustainable business models, vague policy frameworks, and a lack of private investment. The brief recommends adopting anchor-business-community (A-B-C) models and establishing clear regulatory frameworks to scale these solutions.