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This research paper evaluates the outcomes of the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) regarding the intersection of climate and trade policy. The authors argue that while the conference was largely disappointing due to a lack of binding multilateral agreements and opposition from key members like India, there is still value in utilizing the WTO as a diplomatic forum to coordinate non-binding instruments and revitalize deliberative functions such as the Committee on Trade and Environment.

This research paper analyzes the European Union's strategic partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to diversify critical raw material (CRM) supply chains and reduce dependence on China. It examines the geopolitical tensions between Western security agendas and the industrialization goals of the producing nations, while highlighting significant governance risks and the lack of comprehensive national CRM policies in the DRC and Zambia.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) regarding the Special Rapporteur's report on business, planetary boundaries, and the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, emphasizing the need for mandatory corporate due diligence and the phase-out of fossil fuels.

The FSD Africa Official Travel & Expense Policy (Version 4.0), effective March 6, 2024, establishes the principles and rules for travel and reimbursement for all personnel, including staff, Board and Committee members, contractors, and consultants. The policy aims to balance staff welfare and security with a commitment to reducing CO2 emissions and the responsible use of public funds, specifically targeting that travel and expense costs remain within 2% of overall operational budgeted expenses.

This briefing paper argues that conventional financial analysis for transport infrastructure is inadequate because it fails to integrate externalities—the costs or benefits impacting third parties. The author contends that neglecting these factors leads to continued investment in carbon-intensive road transport over sustainable alternatives.

This executive summary describes a bottom-up carbon analysis of the United States building stock conducted by RMI to identify which building segments produce the most operational emissions and where capital flows should be prioritized for decarbonization.

This report introduction highlights that US trucks contribute 23% of the transportation sector's carbon footprint and identifies inadequate high-powered charging infrastructure (50 to 750+ kW) as the primary bottleneck for electrification. Using Geotab ITS telematics data, the report analyzes 15 states implementing the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule to guide policymakers and utilities on energy demand, grid impact, and infrastructure investment.

This case study examines Colombia's integration of Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) targets into its 2020 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), highlighting the role of a collaborative National SLCP Strategy in achieving these goals.

A statement by Marco Lambertini, Convenor of the Nature Positive Initiative, arguing for the integration of biodiversity and nature-positive goals into international trade policies, specifically through the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This case study describes how Chile's 2022 Climate Change Framework Law decentralized climate policy implementation, moving responsibility from the Ministry of the Environment to 17 government ministries and subnational authorities to accelerate the country's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

This case study describes France's implementation of a 'Green Budget' process to align public finance with the Paris Agreement and net-zero goals, utilizing a specific rating methodology for state expenditures and setting minimum environmental thresholds for recovery funding.

This case study by the World Resources Institute describes the transformation of Denmark's power sector from 1990 to 2020, detailing the policy mechanisms and institutional supports that enabled a shift from coal-dominated generation to a system primarily powered by renewables.

This case study by the World Resources Institute examines Costa Rica's 2019 National Decarbonization Plan, highlighting how its detailed implementation framework and ability to attract significant international funding ensured policy continuity despite a change in presidential administration in 2022.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) criticizes the 2024 Budget from National Treasury for its continued reliance on austerity measures and private sector investment, arguing that these policies undermine public services, socio-economic rights, and climate change efforts.

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) welcomes the Public Service Amendment Bill for shifting HR and administrative authority to departmental heads and banning senior public servants from political office. However, PARI contends the Bill does not fully implement the 2022 Professionalisation Framework and fails to sufficiently prevent political corruption in the appointment of Heads of Department (HoDs).

This report provides a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of Metro Line 1 in Bogota, Colombia, the country's first modern metro system. The assessment evaluates the economic, social, and environmental impacts of the fully electric and automated mass rapid transit (MRT) system, focusing on its ability to reduce congestion and increase employment access for a population exceeding 8 million.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides a detailed analysis and commentary on the Revised Zero Draft of the international plastics treaty. It evaluates various options for the treaty's structure and obligations, advocating for legally binding mandates ('shall' instead of 'should'), a full life-cycle approach to plastic pollution, and the inclusion of human rights and health dimensions. CIEL emphasizes the necessity of controlling primary plastic polymer production and eliminating hazardous chemicals to achieve the treaty's objective of ending plastic pollution.

The Electrical Utilities Criteria, published by the Climate Bonds Initiative in March 2024, provide a framework for certifying electrical utilities and related debt instruments. The criteria are aligned with a 1.5-degree science-based decarbonisation pathway to net zero by 2050, focusing on reducing emission intensity and phasing out fossil fuel generation.

The Electrical Utilities Criteria (March 2024) by the Climate Bonds Initiative establish a technical framework for certifying electrical utilities and their debt instruments. To achieve certification, entities must align their emission intensity with a transition pathway targeting net-zero by 2040, commit to no fossil fuel expansion after January 1, 2023, and phase out fossil fuel trading by 2030-2040. The criteria set strict thresholds for hydrogen carbon intensity, biomass emissions, and CCS capture rates (90%), while requiring methane leakage controls for gas plants and comprehensive climate adaptation and resilience risk assessments.

The 'Electrical Utility Criteria' (March 2024) by the Climate Bonds Initiative provides a framework for certifying electrical utilities, sustainability-linked debt (SLD), and use-of-proceeds (UoP) bonds. It establishes a transition pathway for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity, aiming for net-zero by 2040 to align with a 1.5C goal. The criteria set specific thresholds for existing and new power generation capacities, including strict limits on non-combustion emissions for low-carbon sources and a phase-out schedule for unabated fossil fuel plants.