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This working paper by Joel Pearson surveys South African literature on the role of traditional authorities in land governance, analyzing the institution through the lenses of democracy, bureaucracy, and capitalism. It argues against a monolithic view of the chieftaincy, highlighting the diversity of local practices and the ongoing tensions between traditional leaders, rural residents, and the state in the post-apartheid era.

This report presents the consolidated findings of action research conducted between 2022 and 2024 across 12 local municipalities in South Africa as part of the COMPACT project. It evaluates the effectiveness of public participation in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process, the functionality of ward committees, and the alignment of operational planning and performance management. The research identifies systemic failures, including the perception of public participation as a mere compliance exercise, severe communication gaps between municipalities and residents, and the negative impact of political interference and coalition instability on service delivery.

The Nigeria Energy Transition & Investment Plan (ETIP) Update (2024) provides a strategic roadmap for Nigeria to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. The plan emphasizes a massive shift toward renewable energy, electric mobility, and clean cooking to address energy poverty and climate goals. It estimates that reaching net-zero will require $500 billion in capital investment above business-as-usual (BAU) levels, which is offset by projected fuel savings of $686 billion.

This briefing examines the challenges of implementing just transition policies in South Africa, highlighting the gap between national ambitions and local priorities, institutional capacity deficits at the subnational level, and the limitations of current financial mechanisms. It specifically analyzes the role of green hydrogen as a potential new value chain and emphasizes the need for transparent decision-making to maintain public legitimacy.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the challenges South Africa faces as it moves from the planning phase to the implementation of its just transition away from coal. It identifies critical misalignments between national and subnational priorities, institutional capacity gaps in coal-dependent regions, and the inadequacy of current financial mechanisms to support transformative, high-risk projects.

The 'SEI strategy 2025–29' outlines the Stockholm Environment Institute's strategic framework to address global environmental and sustainable development challenges. The strategy focuses on three primary impact areas—climate transitions, nature and resources, and health and wellbeing—while introducing 'accelerating implementation' as a new strategic outcome to move from policy goals to on-the-ground action.

The report provides an overview of global climate finance trends between 2018 and 2022, highlighting a total reach of USD 1.46 trillion in 2022 and noting significant disparities in growth between advanced economies and emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) criticizes the 2024 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as a continuation of austerity measures that prioritize debt stabilization over social needs. The IEJ argues that the budget fails to support the Government of National Unity's (GNU) goals of inclusive growth and poverty reduction, specifically citing cuts to social grants and underfunding of public services and industrial development.

This report discusses how Indian banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) can utilize integrated transition planning to address structural bottlenecks and bridge the climate finance gap, drawing on 10 lessons from the experiences of global banks.

The Government of Bermuda has nearly achieved 100 percent electric daily bus operations as of 2024 by deploying 70 electric buses, with a target for full fleet electrification by 2030.

This case study analyzes the socio-economic crisis in La Jagua de Ibirico, Colombia, following the 2020 closure of a major coal mine. It highlights how the resulting loss of resources severely limits the institutional and financial capacity of local authorities to lead a just transition in a region already burdened by armed conflict and social inequality.

This report from the Stockholm Environment Institute, part of the Bolivia WATCH I project, analyzes the impact of forest fires on the water balance of the Chiquitania region. It examines the degradation of the Chiquitano Dry Forest caused by deforestation, agricultural expansion, and climate change, while exploring the use of modeling tools like WEAP, Tableau, and GEE for sustainable water and forest resource management.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the proposal to expand the contributor base for climate finance to include emerging economies. It argues that while some emerging countries already contribute voluntarily, mandating their contributions at the current rate of developed countries would only provide an additional USD 51.19 billion, which is approximately 5.12% of the estimated USD 1 trillion annual need for developing countries. The document emphasizes that developed countries must maintain primary responsibility and calls for clearer definitions of 'developed countries' and 'climate finance' during the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) negotiations at COP29.

This report by Ember evaluates the feasibility of three clean flexibility proposals put forward by the COP29 Presidency in Azerbaijan: achieving 1,500 GW of global energy storage by 2030, expanding grid infrastructure by 25 million kilometres by 2030, and unlocking a global clean hydrogen market. The analysis concludes that while the storage goal is highly achievable due to surging battery manufacturing capacity and falling prices, the grid expansion goal requires a significant increase in build rates and faces substantial regulatory and supply chain hurdles. The report also notes that the deployment of hydrogen electrolysers remains highly uncertain despite large-scale announced projects.

The report outlines a portfolio of nine 'clean flexibility' tools categorized into storing, shifting, sharing, and supplying electricity to ensure grid stability in a renewable-heavy power system. It emphasizes that while storage and grids are critical, a comprehensive approach including demand-side management and flexible generation is necessary to achieve a fully clean electricity supply every hour.

The AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol (AfCFTA DTP), adopted in February 2024, is a comprehensive framework designed to facilitate digital trade across Africa. It aims to create an enabling regulatory environment by addressing market access, data governance, and digital inclusion, while bridging infrastructure and regulatory gaps to unlock the continent's digital economy potential.

This research paper by Shamika N. Sirimanne of the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the environmental footprint of the rapidly growing e-commerce sector. It identifies key drivers of environmental degradation—including warehousing, packaging, and high return rates—and proposes a multi-stakeholder agenda for action involving governments, the private sector, consumers, and international organizations to balance economic growth with sustainability.

The paper argues that current international trade law is insufficient to handle the complexities of global data governance, particularly regarding privacy, cybersecurity, and the 'data divide' between developed and developing nations. It suggests moving away from polarized narratives of 'free flow' versus 'sovereignty' toward a multi-layered framework that integrates soft law, multistakeholder cooperation, and specific support for developing countries to ensure digital inclusion and fair competition.

This guide outlines how US states can leverage carbon dioxide removal (CDR) for economic development and climate goals. It recommends that states adopt approach-neutral, performance-based definitions of CDR, set intermediate removal targets based on carbon budgets, and create streamlined regulatory environments. The document emphasizes the necessity of inclusive community engagement, transparency, and the prioritization of co-benefits for disadvantaged communities to ensure safe and equitable deployment.

The COP29 South African Youth Statement, presented by the Youth Policy Committee Global Change Working Group via Youth@SAIIA, outlines a comprehensive set of demands for the South African government delegation to COP29. The statement advocates for a climate justice approach that integrates human rights, gender equality, and social justice, calling for urgent reforms in water sanitation, waste management, and the energy transition to protect marginalized communities.