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Dr. Ranajit (Ron) Sahu provides a critique of the revised Atmospheric Impact Report (AIR) for the proposed Thabametsi Power Plant, asserting that the revised document fails to address most technical deficiencies identified in a previous review of the April 2018 AIR.

This policy brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute explores the role of bioenergy in expanding energy access and use while avoiding deforestation and the use of fossil fuels, particularly in less developed regions of Africa and Latin America.

This research paper proposes principles and a framework for the equitable distribution of costs during the decarbonization transition and provides guidance on prioritizing the remaining extraction of fossil resources.

This policy brief summarizes a three-year study using an ecosystem services framework to assess the environmental and socioeconomic trade-offs of biofuel production and household use in Malawi, Mozambique, and Swaziland.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides a series of recommendations to the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IDB Invest) to strengthen its draft Access to Information Policy. CIEL argues that the policy should align with international human rights standards and regional agreements, such as the Escazú Agreement, to ensure the safety and meaningful participation of affected communities, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This guide outlines the methodology used by the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) to assess and include debt instruments in its Green Bond Database. It details a three-step screening process based on the Climate Bonds Taxonomy to ensure that listed bonds align with climate science and the 2-degree Celsius warming limit set by the Paris Agreement.

The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) employs a rigorous screening methodology to identify eligible green bonds for its database, requiring at least 95% of proceeds to align with the Climate Bonds Taxonomy. The taxonomy spans eight sectors, including energy and transport, while strictly excluding fossil fuel-related assets. Bonds certified under the Climate Bonds Standard are automatically included, and the CBI maintains a dynamic process for the re-classification of bonds based on updated information or evolving scientific criteria.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the relationship between energy efficiency and productive efficiency in Brazilian industry from 2003 to 2015. It finds that while individual firms have improved their resource use, the overall market share of the most efficient firms has declined, hindering aggregate productivity. The report argues that Brazil's energy efficiency policies have historically been reactive and focused on the residential sector, neglecting the industrial sector, which is the largest energy consumer.

The Distributed Energy for Social Housing (DESH) instrument is a third-party ownership and rental model designed to provide low-income tenants in Brazil with access to distributed solar energy without upfront costs. By utilizing a dual-class fund structure with a first-loss tranche for concessional capital, DESH aims to overcome barriers such as high interest rates, lack of upfront capital, and perceived credit risk associated with low-income borrowers.

This research paper evaluates whether legal territorial protection in the Brazilian Amazon effectively shields forests from deforestation. Using a spatially explicit panel dataset from 2006 to 2014, the author finds that protected territories successfully reduce forest clearing in high-risk areas compared to unprotected cells under similar pressure. However, the study concludes that this protection does not reduce the overall level of regional deforestation but instead deflects clearing activity to unprotected areas.

This report by BFA for FSD Africa examines the financial needs and economic enablers of forcibly displaced people (FDPs) in Rwanda. It analyzes the barriers preventing financial service providers (FSPs) from serving refugees, such as unclear Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirements and perceived credit risks, while highlighting the potential for business growth through improved documentation, mobility, and targeted credit products.

Concor Infrastructure recycled 77,000 m3 of concrete waste during the expansion of the City Deep container terminal in Johannesburg, exceeding a 24% landfill diversion target. By using High volume pulverized flue ash concrete (HVPFAC) and Geopolymer concrete—the latter reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%—the project saved R10.8 million in virgin material costs and avoided R23 million in landfill gate fees.

This case study, prepared by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) for the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (IGF), synthesizes interviews with 20 stakeholders to identify practical interventions for increasing women's participation in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). It advocates for a holistic approach combining economic, social, technical, and political empowerment to overcome systemic barriers.

This report provides an assessment of the Kyrgyz Republic's readiness and capacity to implement the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework (MPF). Conducted between December 2017 and May 2018, the study analyzes national laws, policies, and administrative processes across six thematic areas: legal and policy framework, financial benefit optimization, socio-economic benefit optimization, environmental management, mine closure, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The assessment identifies strengths in the general tax regime and the existence of 'social packages' for communities, while highlighting critical gaps in outdated technical standards, unpredictable fiscal changes, and a lack of comprehensive mine closure regulations.

This report assesses Namibia's readiness to implement the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework (MPF). It evaluates the country's mining laws and policies across six thematic areas: Legal and Policy Environment, Financial Benefit Optimization, Socioeconomic Benefit Optimization, Environmental Management, Post-Mining Transition, and Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM). The assessment identifies strengths in geological data and revenue generation, but highlights critical gaps in mine closure legislation, occupational health and safety, and the formalization of the ASM sector.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that integrating climate-related risk assessments into the planning of energy infrastructure is essential for safeguarding Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation. It details how physical climate stressors threaten various energy generation sources and provides a framework for building resilience through robustness, resourcefulness, and recovery, while emphasizing that such measures are critical for project bankability and attracting private investment.

The September 2018 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines challenges to democracy in Africa, the complexities of peace initiatives in the Central African Republic, political instability in Lesotho, the fragile peace deal in South Sudan, and the ongoing evolution of the African Standby Force.

This guide, produced by the Stockholm Environment Institute as part of the ENLARGE project, uses a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' (CYOA) format to educate policymakers and stakeholders on participatory democracy in the sustainable energy sector. It presents realistic, though fictional, scenarios involving a local government's attempt to implement an energy efficiency plan, including the construction of a wind farm and building renovations. The document explores the tensions between technical requirements, political consensus, and citizen engagement, providing strategies to improve social legitimacy, institutional sustainability, and political effectiveness.

This WRI briefing argues that the distinction between climate adaptation and traditional development is a false dichotomy that hinders the effective use of scarce finance. The authors advocate for 'doing development differently' by integrating a strong climate rationale into all development planning, building national adaptive capacity, and empowering local stakeholders through devolved decision-making to ensure long-term resilience.

A statement by EESI Board Chair Jared Blum reflecting on Senator John McCain's early bipartisan leadership on climate change and its influence on business, state policy, and national security perspectives.