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This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) can alleviate poverty for the estimated 500 million smallholder farmer families globally, focusing on access to resources, opportunities, and power.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) provides guidance and lessons for Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states on enhancing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It emphasizes the need for inclusive stakeholder engagement, alignment with long-term development goals, and the use of quantifiable targets and evidence-based analysis to increase climate ambition and ensure effective implementation.

A statement by several African policy leaders criticizing the imposition of unilateral travel bans on Southern Africa following the detection of a COVID-19 variant, arguing that such measures are ineffective, economically damaging, and ignore the systemic inequities in global vaccine distribution.

This case study describes the 'Closing the Loop on Textile Waste in Kenya' partnership, a multistakeholder initiative that uses chemical recycling technology to transform post-production textile waste into high-quality raw materials for new clothing. The project aims to address the environmental impact of Kenya's growing garment industry while providing employment for local women.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the relationship between forest degradation and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2017 to 2020 using data from the DETER and PRODES monitoring systems. The study finds that while direct local conversion from degradation to deforestation is low, there is a strong spatial association, with a significant portion of deforestation occurring in the immediate vicinity of previously degraded areas, particularly in medium or large private properties, rural settlements, and undesignated areas.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the intersection of COVID-19 recovery and climate finance, arguing that the pandemic recovery period offers a critical window to 'build back better' through sustainable investment. It highlights the failure of developed nations to meet the $100 billion annual climate finance pledge and emphasizes the specific needs of African countries for increased adaptation funding and systemic reform of the global finance architecture.

The document introduces the Local2030 Coalition, a United Nations-led platform and network created to accelerate the local implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the structural decline of the coal mining sector in Colombia, using the 2020 crisis and the surrender of mining titles by Prodeco as evidence of the challenges facing a just transition toward a decarbonized economy.

This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute outlines how international financing institutions (IFIs) can direct resources toward sustainable agricultural water management, drawing on a study of IFI investments in irrigation and drainage infrastructure from 2010 to 2019.

A briefing note from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other health and environmental groups calling for the modernization of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), 1999, to address current public health threats and environmental justice issues.

This legal briefing examines the impact of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) Komstroy decision on intra-EU investment disputes under the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). It argues that the ruling, alongside the Achmea and PL Holdings decisions, effectively bars investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) between EU investors and Member States, creating significant legal and financial obstacles to the enforcement of arbitration awards. The document specifically analyzes how these rulings and EU State aid laws could impede claims by energy companies RWE and Uniper against the Netherlands regarding its coal phase-out policy.

This guide identifies 69 strong policy provisions from existing Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) to assist financial institutions in creating or improving their accountability frameworks. It emphasizes the need for IAMs to be independent of management, accessible to project-affected communities, and capable of providing both institutional learning and material remedy for harms.

This report analyzes the role of the Brazilian National Development Economic and Social Bank (BNDES) in providing investment credit for the Brazilian agricultural sector, focusing on the financing of machinery and equipment.

This report analyzes the link between forest fires and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon (2013-2020). It finds that while only 11% of fire-affected forest is directly converted to clear-cut deforestation within three years, fire is a strong indicator of regional risk, with high rates of nearby deforestation. This association is particularly strong in rural settlements and public land holdings, suggesting fire's role in land grabbing. Regional disparities exist, with significant intensification of this pattern in states like Acre and Pará.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the relationship between forest degradation and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2017 to 2020 using data from INPE's DETER and PRODES systems. It finds that while direct local conversion from degradation to deforestation is low, a significant portion of deforestation occurs in the vicinity of previously degraded areas, suggesting that degradation can serve as a regional risk indicator for future forest loss.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) proposes a methodology to track incremental energy efficiency investments in certified green buildings. Using a global database of over 16,000 certifications from 2019-2020, the report argues that current green certifications are often inconsistent indicators of actual energy performance and that energy efficiency investments represent only a small fraction of total building construction costs.

This technical note by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes a legislative report by Senator Carlos Fávaro regarding Bill (PL) nº 510/2021, which proposes changes to the legal framework for land regularization in Brazil. The authors argue that the report favors medium and large land occupants while offering no benefits to small farmers, potentially incentivizing illegal deforestation and land grabbing (grilagem).

This report analyzes the energy transition in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India, highlighting the state's struggle to meet renewable energy targets despite its significant role in India's total power demand. The authors argue that UP's heavy reliance on coal-fired power creates financial and operational vulnerabilities, and they propose reforms for the state's distribution companies (Discoms) to facilitate a shift toward solar and biomass energy.

This policy brief by Energy Innovation outlines the building electrification and energy efficiency provisions within the House version of the Build Back Better Act (BBBA). It details $12.5 billion in incentives for residential and commercial building decarbonization, alongside significant investments in affordable housing, workforce training, and the adoption of zero-energy building codes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumer costs.

This report examines the adoption of new mining technologies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and their impact on local procurement. While large-scale mining projects like Kibali and Kamoa-Kakula utilize advanced automation and green technologies, local suppliers struggle to capture high-value contracts due to gaps in capital, skills, and infrastructure. The report analyzes the 2018 Mining Code's efforts to mandate local content and identifies systemic barriers—including a weak manufacturing sector and outdated intellectual property laws—that hinder the transfer of technology to Congolese enterprises.