Published annually since 2005, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an independent monitoring tool that tracks the climate mitigation performance of 63 countries and the EU. It aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate mitigation efforts and progress made by individual countries.
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 environment and development organization Germanwatch is deeply concerned about the outcome of the US presidential elections. “Donald Trump's election victory has the potential to fundamentally reshape the world order that we have seen since the Second World War. Germanwatch is committed to global justice and the protection of human rights and the fundamentally threatened ecological foundations of life. Donald Trump has announced that the United States will oppose progress in all these areas,” says Christoph Bals, Policy Director of Germanwatch.
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.
Developing countries face an increase in financial needs to continue progressing on the SDGs, including on climate. The reform of the international financial architecture (IFA) has gained momentum over the past years in response to these growing needs as well as a shift towards an increasingly multipolar world. The surge in momentum has coincided with the negotiations on the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG). In two policy briefs, we analyse how the IFA reform agenda and the NCQG are interlinked in their objectives and goals.
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.
