In this Opinion Paper, Fabián Andrés León Peñuela and Valentina Muñoz Bernal from the Business and Human Right Resource Center in Colombia take a look at the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) that was passed by the EU in March 2024. The Act aims to ensure a secure, diversified, affordable, and sustainable supply of 37 minerals considered critical or indispensable for strategic sectors of the Union, such as renewable energy, digital, space, defence, and health industries.

Floods, heatwaves, and record temperatures have seen the climate crisis reach a new peak in 2024. However, there have also been positive signs. The energy transition, for example, is gaining momentum across the world, forward-looking technology such as energy storage systems and heat pumps are becoming increasingly competitive, and the demand for coal, oil, and gas could soon fall. Nevertheless, political measures need to be implemented quickly to achieve the Paris Agreement goals. The policy paper answers the most important questions about the UN climate talks and makes clear what Germanwatch expects from the negotiations.

COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, offers a pivotal chance to build on the historic agreements made at COP28, where nations committed to transition away from fossil fuels, triple renewable energy capacity, and double the energy efficiency improvement rate. To drive a just and lasting energy transition, COP29 must send a powerful message for the ambitious, equitable, and timely implementation of the COP28 energy package. In this context, our briefing paper presents key actions for an ambitious energy outcome at COP29.

From heavy rainfall to rising sea levels, there is no doubt that the climate crisis is having a significant impact on global food security. At the same time, agriculture is contributing to climate change. Food systems will therefore also be discussed at COP29 in Azerbaijan. Germanwatch is calling for this issue to be prioritized and is following the negotiations on site. What should the international community achieve in Baku?

The path towards a fair and effective New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance has been fraught with intense global debate: Who should contribute, and how should contributions be assessed, particularly government funding? These questions have brought to the fore principles of equity and the notion of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’ – core tenets of climate justice. With the stakes high, the NCQG’s structure will shape international climate finance and our collective response to the escalating climate crisis.l

In 2023, six multilateral development banks have reached their self-imposed deadlines for the alignment of their projects with the Paris Agreement. We have analysed 60 of their projects and present the somewhat sobering findings in our blog post – with recommendations for greater transparency.

The issue of Loss and Damage is now firmly anchored within the UNFCCC. However, little knowledge exists on the aggregate (financial) needs of developing countries related to Loss and Damage. One way to close this knowledge gap is a dedicated report. Our policy paper provides recommendations for the preparation of a L&D Gap Report and how this Report should address finance.

Partnerships between the EU and the Global South are essential for navigating increasingly complex climate geopolitics. However, the EU’s approach to partnerships currently lacks a clear strategy, coherence, and the capacities to fulfil its potential. In this policy brief, we outline the EU's current approach to climate partnerships, examine the portfolios of the relevant Commissioners, and make recommendations on how the EU can turn its partnerships into a strategic tool and make them more attractive to partners.

The debate on Loss and Damage in the context of the UNFCCC has a long and fractious history. As much of the Loss and Damage institutional framework is still in its early stages, there is room to develop synergies, connections, and functionality. Our policy brief ahead of COP29 looks into this potential. To spur the conversation on L&D, we address key points such as the L&D subgoal of the NCQG, a permanent agenda item, the WIM review, and progress on the FRLD.

With the establishment of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage, loss and damage finance has been firmly institutionalised under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. However, little knowledge exists on the financing gap that the Fund would ideally close. In our report, we discuss methodological challenges and propose solutions to change that.