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This briefing describes a study by the Climate Policy Initiative, PUC-Rio, and Fundação Getulio Vargas on the impact of flex-fuel vehicles on the retail fuel market in Brazil. It highlights how the adoption of flex-cars, which can run on any mix of gasoline or ethanol, has reduced fuel prices for both flex-car owners and those driving gasoline-only vehicles, supporting Brazil's goals to increase sustainable biofuel consumption under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) proposes a risk-based framework for selecting ownership models and finance instruments for clean power investments. The authors argue that minimizing the overall cost of the low-carbon energy transition requires allocating specific investment risks—such as construction, price, and curtailment—to the party (private investors, public entities, or consumers) best placed to manage, understand, and bear them.

This document provides the technical annexes for the Renewable Energy Scale-Up Facility (RESF), detailing the financial modeling, assumptions, and expected impacts of a proposed USD 100 million equity fund designed to scale up wind and solar projects in developing regions, particularly Latin America.

This fact sheet describes the role of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in implementing and enforcing minimum energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. It details the economic and environmental benefits of these standards, the distinction between mandatory federal standards and voluntary programs like ENERGY STAR, and the impact of regional standards on heating and cooling equipment.

A briefing by Energy Innovation detailing the potential climate impact of a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that vacated an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard for regulating hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) through the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program.

This report by Dick Clark of Consult Hyperion for FSD Africa provides an analysis of biometric technologies and their application in retail payments and financial services, specifically within emerging economies. It distinguishes between biometric identification (1:N matching) and verification (1:1 matching), concluding that while identification is costly and complex, biometrics are increasingly valuable for strong authentication and customer verification in digital financial services.

This report examines the potential of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), including public blockchains like Bitcoin and private distributed ledgers, to improve funds transfers and financial inclusion in emerging markets. It analyzes how these technologies can reduce remittance costs, streamline inter-institutional clearing and settlement, and enhance regulatory oversight for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes.

This report, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in August 2017, evaluates the legal and policy framework of the mining sector in Mauritania. Using the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework, the assessment analyzes six thematic pillars: legal and policy environment, financial returns, socio-economic returns, environmental management, post-mining transition, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The report identifies strengths in the country's geological information systems and fiscal attractiveness, but highlights significant gaps in legislative consolidation, environmental monitoring capacity, and the formalization of the emerging ASM sector.

This report provides an assessment of Rwanda's mining laws and policies against the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework (MPF). Conducted between December 2016 and February 2017, the evaluation identifies strengths in Rwanda's regulatory framework and government willingness to improve the sector, while highlighting significant gaps in environmental monitoring, socioeconomic impact assessments, and mine closure planning. The report concludes that while Rwanda has robust laws, it lacks the technical and human capacity to fully implement and enforce them.

This briefing booklet details alleged systemic corruption and 'state capture' at Eskom, South Africa's primary power utility, between 2009 and 2017. It highlights how political interference in board appointments—specifically those linked to the Gupta family—led to the repurposing of governance to facilitate fraudulent procurement in coal, nuclear generators, and consulting services. Key examples include the R659 million pre-payment to Tegeta for the purchase of Optimum Coal Holdings, the irregular award of the Koeberg generator tender to Areva, and R500 million in payments to Trillian Capital Partners. The document argues that these actions resulted in billions in irregular expenditure, a qualified audit in 2017, and a severe decline in the utility's financial and operational integrity.

This case study examines the state of e-commerce in South Africa as of 2017, analyzing its scale, regulatory environment, and potential for economic inclusion. It highlights a growing market dominated by a few key players and a legislative framework primarily governed by the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 2002. The document identifies significant supply-side infrastructure gaps and demand-side trust issues as primary barriers to growth, while suggesting that e-commerce could be a vital tool for the empowerment of women and the poor.

This policy brief examines the transition of Sweden's heat energy system toward low-carbon sources, noting significant reductions in fossil fuel use while identifying systemic lock-ins regarding energy demand and waste incineration.

The Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for USAID Clean Power Asia provides a framework to integrate gender equality into renewable energy planning, policy, and investment across ASEAN and Lower Mekong countries. It identifies the energy sector as heavily male-dominated and proposes a 'twin-track approach' that combines project-cycle mainstreaming with the development of 'gender champions' to address systemic biases. Key recommendations include adopting gender-lens investing, ensuring at least 33% female participation in activities, and shifting M&E from output-based to outcome-based tracking.

This report examines the policy provisions, opportunities, and challenges associated with scaling up climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices in Nepal, utilizing a qualitative approach involving desk studies, expert consultations, and field observations.

This working paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) discusses the application of six models and frameworks to help organisations prioritise learning, specifically within the complex context of integrating climate change into development action.

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has initiated legal action against the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and the Minister of Energy regarding the requirement of a Ministerial determination under section 34 of the Electricity Control Act (ECA) for licensing Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

This research paper examines the relationship between transparency and accountability within multilateral climate politics, specifically regarding the 2015 Paris Agreement's "pledge-and-review" approach and its "enhanced transparency framework".

This document is a Notice of Objection filed on July 24, 2017, by a coalition of environmental and health organizations—including the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and the David Suzuki Foundation—against the Pest Management Regulatory Agency's (PMRA) re-evaluation decision (RVD2017-01) on glyphosate. The objectors argue that the PMRA failed to consider critical evidence regarding glyphosate's impact on the monarch butterfly, human and soil microbiomes, and carcinogenic risks, while relying on flawed risk management strategies such as riparian buffer strips and product labelling.

This case study details legal challenges brought by groundWork and the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) against the environmental and water authorizations granted for the proposed KiPower coal-fired power station in South Africa.

This executive summary from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) outlines recommendations and best practices for urban resettlement and relocation as a strategy for managing disaster risk, emphasizing the social and economic risks associated with these interventions.