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The role of financial institutions in mitigating supply chain impacts – the case of deforestation

In our new policy brief, we analyse along with Climate & Company and Rechtsanwälte Günther why sustainability due diligence obligations for financial institutions are key to achieving the EU's climate goals. As an example for this tool, we draw on due diligence obligations for financial institutions to avoid financing projects that cause deforestation. In addition, the policy brief presents specific recommendations for regulating financial actors through the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

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First page of the policy brief
Building on the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2023

As of July, Spain holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Spanish Presidency has identified four priorities to focus on during its term. In our policy brief, we highlight specific areas of action within these priorities for the Spanish Presidency to make progress on climate and energy diplomacy.

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Learning from the Funding Mosaic

The 27th UN Climate Conference (COP27) concluded with the groundbreaking agreement to establish a new loss and damage (L&D) fund. This significant development aims to enable vulnerable countries to respond to and recover from climate impacts. The report emphasises that the design and operation of the L&D fund will be significantly influenced by its intended scope. With diverse opinions among stakeholders on the fund's optimal design, the selection process for these recommendations is of paramount importance.

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Sign in front of the Inter-American Development Bank, BID, in Washington.

In March 2023 the IDB Group published its “Paris Alignment Implementation Approach: Principles, Methodology, and Technical Guidance” (PAIA). The document is based on the joint MDB framework and lays out how the IDB plans to adapt the framework to its own institutional procedures. This blog post provides an overview on what are promising, concerning and unclear elements in the IDB Group’s general Paris alignment methodology.

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Deutschland überarbeitet derzeit seinen Nationalen Energie- und Klimaplan (NECP) für 2030. Darin werden Maßnahmen festgelegt, um die Klimaziele zu erreichen. Doch der Plan wird nicht allein von Politiker:innen bestimmt, sondern auch von der Zivilgesellschaft mitgestaltet. Sylwia Andralojc-Bodych und Charly Heberer von Germanwatch erklären in einem kurzen Video, wo noch Verbesserungspotenzial besteht, damit Deutschland seine Klimaziele tatsächlich erreicht.
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The legal report points to existing corporate CO2 reduction obligations that are currently not sufficiently taken into account by many companies. It concludes that the increasing density of corporate reporting obligations in the area of so-called ESG risks (Environment, Social, Governance) already results in implicit climate-related duties of conduct for companies, which require preventive and science-based decision-making, including at management level. The report was commissioned by the Dorothea-Laura-Janina Sick Environmental Foundation, Germanwatch, and Protect the Planet, and is based on an analysis of legal developments in the areas of corporate law, directors’ duties, sustainability due diligence duties, as well as tort law.

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Policy Options for Governments: A Discussion Paper

Is the European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism a trade barrier that burdens the economies of the countries concerned? Or can it be a driving force for sustainable energy and industrial transformation, benefiting both trading partners and the climate alike? Our discussion paper analyses the impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on Ukraine and the Western Balkans and identifies how these countries can use the CBAM to accelerate their energy transition and industrial transformation.

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The Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in South Africa marks a significant milestone and serves as a blueprint for future initiatives in other developing countries. The USD 8.5 billion partnership programme is designed not only to help decarbonise South Africa's energy sector to mitigate climate change, but also to catalyse inclusive sustainable development. This background paper by IRID and Germanwatch provides an overview of the partnership process to date, including a general overview, its framework, and guiding principles.

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This background paper by IESR and Germanwatch examines the climate financing landscape in Germany and Indonesia, focusing on climate mitigation in the energy sector. For Germany, this paper provides a comprehensive summary of its climate financing flows, structure, and global trends. With respect to Indonesia, it examines its climate mitigation targets and achievements, energy transition financing trends, and potential avenues for international climate finance support.

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An Overview of Loss and Damage within the Indonesian Context

Climate change is increasingly evident through devastating impacts on lives and livelihoods, such as the destructive floods in Pakistan and Indonesia. The likelihood of global warming exceeding 1.5°C is over 50%, amplifying the severity of climate change effects and associated losses. This background paper discusses Loss and Damage in Indonesia, explaining the concept, its history within the UNFCCC, and providing an overview of financing options.