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This executive summary evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), focusing on forest governance, the rule of law, and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. It concludes that while some progress has been made in transparency and law enforcement, improvements are too slow to quantifiably reduce deforestation, with significant gaps remaining in land rights and the protection of environmental defenders.

This policy brief evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which focuses on improving forest governance, transparency, and the rule of law while empowering indigenous peoples and local communities. The report concludes that while some progress has been made in transparency and demand-side measures, governance improvements are too slow to effectively reduce deforestation, and violence against land defenders is increasing.

This executive summary evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), focusing on forest governance, the rule of law, and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. It concludes that while some progress has been made in transparency and international cooperation, governance improvements are too slow to measurably reduce deforestation, which continues at an alarming rate.

The IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment for Kyrgyzstan (2018) evaluates the country's mining governance across six pillars. While Kyrgyzstan shows medium progress in legal, financial, socioeconomic, and environmental frameworks—highlighted by fair tax rates and updated mining codes—it shows low progress in post-mining transition and artisanal mining. Key gaps include reliance on outdated Soviet-era technical standards, unpredictable tax administration, and a lack of specific legislation for mine closure and the formalization of artisanal mining.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the flow of public money in G20 countries that supports fossil fuel production and consumption. It argues that despite international commitments like the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, G20 governments continue to provide substantial subsidies, credit support, and state-owned enterprise (SOE) investments to the fossil fuel sector. The document provides eight case studies of reforms in countries such as Indonesia, Canada, Argentina, and India, as well as the European Union, to illustrate how public resources can be shifted toward a low-carbon economy and sustainable development.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how G20 governments can reform public support for fossil fuels to align with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. It provides eight case studies of reforms in consumption and production subsidies, public financing, and taxation, while offering a framework for transitioning public funds toward clean energy and social needs.

This November 2018 report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes recent activities of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC), focusing on institutional reforms led by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, political instability in Somalia, the 2018 elections in Madagascar, and the fragile peace process in South Sudan.

This report examines the intersection of gender and migration in South Africa, arguing that current migration policies are largely gender-neutral or geared toward men, which increases the vulnerability of women migrants. Through focus groups and interviews with mixed migrant women in the Western Cape, the study highlights the 'triple discrimination' of xenophobia, racism, and misogyny faced by African women migrants, and calls for rights-based, gender-sensitive policy reforms.

This guide from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) introduces the Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA), explaining its mechanism as a financial instrument for corporate renewable energy procurement. It distinguishes VPPAs from physical PPAs, detailing how they allow companies to support new renewable energy capacity and meet sustainability goals without taking ownership of physical electricity or altering their existing utility relationships.

This research paper examines the political economy of border economies in the SADC region, focusing on the Beitbridge and Chirundu border posts. It analyzes the causes of 'standing time' (truck delays) and the tensions between trade facilitation efforts and the sustainability of local border economies, providing policy recommendations to improve driver wellbeing, support small-scale traders, and diversify border town economies.

This policy briefing examines the potential for developing a domestic sunflower value chain in Malawi, identifying bottlenecks in production and processing while highlighting opportunities for industrial growth and diversification from traditional crops.

This research paper examines arsenic contamination in Cambodian rice, finding that the increasing use of groundwater for dry season irrigation facilitates the uptake of naturally occurring arsenic into rice grains. While arsenic in drinking water is a known issue, the document highlights a significant lack of awareness and data regarding rice as an exposure pathway. It identifies Kandal and Prey Veng as high-risk areas and notes that Cambodian rice can have higher arsenic levels than rice from Thailand or Viet Nam. The authors recommend improving surface water irrigation and diversifying crops to reduce reliance on contaminated groundwater.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the interactions between energy transition and agricultural transformation in Rwanda. Using scenario modelling up to 2050, the authors identify critical resource competition hotspots—particularly regarding water, land, and biomass—and argue that a lack of coordinated planning between sectors threatens the country's sustainable development goals and ecosystem preservation.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) analyzes Estonia's progress in implementing the Paris Agreement, focusing specifically on climate change mitigation. It evaluates Estonia's alignment with the European Union's 2020 and 2030 climate and energy targets, examining greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy shares, and energy efficiency. The report concludes that while Estonia is likely to meet its 2020 commitments, achieving the more ambitious 2030 targets will require additional measures across all sectors.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) examines the interdependencies between water, energy, and food security in Rwanda's Akagera Basin. Using a 'nexus toolkit' comprising policy coherence analysis and quantitative scenario modelling (WEAP and LEAP), the study evaluates how national development goals—such as agricultural intensification and energy transition—interact and compete for limited natural resources. The research highlights criticalS significant trade-offs, particularly regarding water availability for irrigation versus hydropower and the persistent risk of deforestation despite efforts to transition to cleaner cooking fuels.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) has developed the 'Village propre–Village productif' (Clean Village–Productive Village) framework to improve rural sanitation by integrating risk management with the productive recycling of local waste. The framework uses a phased certification system to motivate communities to move from basic sanitation to a comprehensive system that protects health and enhances agricultural productivity.

This report examines the expansion of geothermal power in Kenya, highlighting its role in the country's climate mitigation goals and the challenges of attracting private investment due to social, political, and environmental risks.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the barriers to creating a sustainable charcoal sector in Kenya, where charcoal serves over 80% of the urban population's cooking energy needs.

This document is a formal comment by groundWork submitted to the South African Department of Energy regarding the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018. The author argues that the IRP 2018 fails to address the urgency of the climate crisis, underestimates the health and environmental costs of coal, and maintains an outdated energy model that prioritizes coal and gas over a rapid transition to renewables.

This document is an independent reasonable assurance report issued by Ernst & Young (EY) on 26 October 2018. It evaluates whether the Treasury Corporation of NSW (TCorp) 2018 Green Bond pre-issuance process and its Sustainability Bond Framework align with specific international standards, including the Climate Bond Standard (CBS) v2.1 and the ICMA Sustainability Bond Guidelines.