Climate Change
News
Figuring out China’s coal goal
Xi Jinping’s vow to end China’s international coal is puzzling China watchers with details on how far the promise goes still unclear.
African environment ministers renew support for green recovery
Environment ministers from the African continent last Thursday pledged mobilization of additional resources to accelerate a post-pandemic recovery that is green and inclusive.
Want a clean energy future? Look to the tax code
There’s one thing holding public power back as the industry strives to meet the ambitious clean energy goals — the federal tax code. As it currently stands, federal tax policy puts public power communities at a disadvantage by having them pay more for the same clean energy outcomes as customers in other market.
Reports
Sustainable Recovery Tracker (IEA)
The new IEA Sustainable Recovery Tracker measures global recovery plans against this target level of spending by monitoring energy-related policies and government spending on clean energy measures by country and by sector in the wake of the pandemic.
G-20 Member Countries Support Fossil Fuels at Levels Untenable to Achieve Paris Agreement Goals (BloombergNEF, Bloomberg Philanthropies)
BloombergNEF and Bloomberg Philanthropies report reveals G-20 member countries have given more than $3.3 trillion in subsidies for coal, oil, gas, and fossil-fuel power from 2015-2019.
Financing an inclusive circular economy: De-risking investments for circular business models and the SDGs (Chatham House)
Circular economy activities aim to reduce overconsumption, design-out waste and restore and regenerate ecosystems and natural capital. However, new financial instruments and investments are needed to support the growth of these business models and innovations at scale.
Policy Briefs
How to Manage Public Investment during a Postcrisis Recovery (IMF)
This How to Note discusses how countries should manage public investments to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and similar crises. It provides countries with guidance on making efficient use of public investment to support economic recovery on three different capacity levels: basic, medium, and advanced.
Discussion paper on governmental carbon-pricing (UNEPFI)
The UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance recommends strengthening of current carbon-pricing instruments and regulations across global economy. Explicit mechanisms for escalating binding carbon-price floor and ceiling are detailed in this
Tax Policy and Climate Change: IMF/OECD Report for the G20
This report focuses on carbon pricing, taking stock of current pricing patterns, identifying reform needs to meet mitigation pledges, impacts, and opportunities, and comprehensive approaches to address political economy concerns.
