China-Singapore Green Finance Task Force

In climate finance for the global transition to clean energy, one of the most significant events of 2023 has been the establishment of the China-Singapore Green Finance Task Force. The group is chaired by Dr. Ma Jun, Chair of the China Green Finance Committee, and Ms. Gillian Tan, Assistant Managing Director and Chief Sustainability Officer…(Read more)

New Public Sector Index: Measuring the Capabilities of Local Governments to Solve Critical Challenges

Writing in Project Syndicate, Mariana Mazzucato of University College London and James Anderson of Bloomberg Philanthropies introduce their project to develop a new public sector index of the capabilities of cities to solve critical challenges. “What critical skills, processes, and structures”, the authors write, “will a given municipality need in order to detect emergent issues…(Read more)

Talks toward a global plastics pollution agreement held in Uruguay

In late 2022, the first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including marine litter, was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay. At the conference, UNEP’s Executive Director, Inger Andersen, called for a broad, inclusive and science-driven agreement that provides adequate resources for developing countries. “We…(Read more)

High Ambition Coalition ready to deliver on 30X30 biodiversity commitment

On December 19, 2022, following 116-country member High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, co-chaired by Costa Rica and France, “celebrated the inclusion of a historic target to protect or conserve at least 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030 (30×30) in the United Nations Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework approved today at the…(Read more)

In 2022, green lending exceeded debt financing for the fossil fuel industry

“For the first time, more money was raised in the debt markets for climate-friendly projects than for fossil-fuel companies,” writes Bloomberg’s Tim Quinson.  Data compiled by Bloomberg show that, in 2022, “roughly $580 billion was arranged in 2022 for renewable energy and other environmentally responsible ventures, while the oil, gas and coal industries turned to…(Read more)

US to Triple Climate Change Spending over the Next Ten Years

The World Economic Forum has underscored the significant commitment by the federal government in the United States to triple spending on climate change over the next ten years. Citing a new report by RMI, WEF notes that: “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act include more than…(Read more)

United Nations Environment Assembly Votes for Historic Agreement to Fight Plastic Pollution

On March 2, 2022, in Nairobi, the United Nations Environment Assembly voted for ah historic agreement to fight plastic pollution. As the United Nations Environment Programme reported: “Heads of State, Ministers of environment and other representatives from 175 nations endorsed a historic resolution at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) today in Nairobi to End Plastic…(Read more)