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This report analyzes energy subsidies in South Africa for financial year (FY) 2025, finding that they totaled at least ZAR 198 billion (USD 10.8 billion). The analysis highlights a heavy reliance on fossil fuel subsidies, significant financial bailouts for the state-owned power company Eskom, and inefficiencies in the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy. The document recommends a comprehensive action plan for subsidy reform, a financial recovery plan for Eskom, and a redesign of the carbon tax and liquid fuel subsidies to better support low-income households and the energy transition.

The 'Guidebook on the Management and Financing of Soil Rehabilitation Projects in China' is part of a five-year project supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explore green finance approaches and financial mechanisms for remediating contaminated soils in China.

This report analyzes National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) to determine their role in addressing loss and damage. It finds that 49% of developing countries' NAPs reference loss and damage and 95% mention disaster risk management, positioning the NAP process as a key tool for identifying country-specific risks and implementing actions to minimize climate-related losses.

This research paper examines the critical role of financial resources and technological transfer in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. It traces the evolution of international development policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to current frameworks like the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, highlighting a persistent funding gap and a digital divide that hinder progress in developing nations.

This research paper by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics, and Environment (SAWTEE) analyzes the challenges and drivers of competitiveness in Nepal's textile and clothing sector. It examines the impact of Nepal's impending graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the limitations of current industrial policies, and the necessity of shifting from direct export subsidies to structural support and better institutional coordination to maintain global market presence.

This research paper by Nicolas Lamp explores the emergence of 'multi-purpose trade policy,' a paradigm shift where trade policy is no longer focused solely on economic efficiency and liberalization, but is instead used as a tool to achieve broader goals such as climate mitigation, national security, and labor rights.

This research paper analyzes the impact of US tariffs on Latin American economies and the subsequent indirect risks posed by China's potential policy responses. The authors argue that while direct US tariffs hit Mexico and Central America hardest, South American countries are more vulnerable to a slowdown in Chinese demand for raw materials.

This guide outlines the grievance mechanism for the SUNCASA project in Johannesburg, South Africa, specifying that labour disputes are handled by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for workers employed by the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership (JICP).

The 'Step Off the Gas' report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes international public finance for natural gas expansion in the Global South, arguing that such funding locks countries into high-carbon pathways despite the availability of cheaper renewable alternatives.

This research paper analyzes the transition of international trade and climate discussions from abstract principles to practical implementation. It examines the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in managing climate-related trade measures, such as carbon border adjustments and deforestation regulations, ahead of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14).

This research paper analyzes the impact of US tariffs on Latin American economies and the subsequent indirect risks posed by China's economic response. The authors argue that while direct US tariffs heavily affect Mexico and Central America, the greater risk for South American nations lies in a potential decline in Chinese demand for raw materials resulting from US-China trade tensions.

This report traces 50 years of UN sustainable development and climate policy, detailing the transition from the 1992 UNFCCC and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the 2015 Paris Agreement. It examines the shift from rigid distinctions between industrialized and developing nations toward a more dynamic model of 'common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities' (CBDR-RC). While the Paris Agreement achieved universal participation through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the document notes that current collective promises remain insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C, potentially leading to a temperature rise exceeding 3°C if not significantly increased.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the shift in international trade and climate discussions from abstract principles to practical application. It focuses on the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in managing Climate-related Trade Measures (CTMs), specifically carbon border adjustment mechanisms and deforestation regulations, ahead of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14).

This research paper by Kitrhona Cerri and Maria Mexi examines the evolution of industrial policy in the digital age, using Kenya as a primary case study. The authors argue that without strengthened data governance, worker protections, and national value capture mechanisms, digitalization in low- and middle-income countries risks creating structural dependency and "industrial thinness" rather than inclusive development.

This research paper by Iryna Bogdanova analyzes the role and effectiveness of technological sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. It examines the transition from the vague sanctions of 2014 to the extensive export controls of 2022, the impact of private sector withdrawals, and Russia's strategies to circumvent these restrictions through self-sufficiency, reliance on China, and parallel imports.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the agricultural negotiation priorities for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It emphasizes that while food security is a central goal, success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments, particularly regarding export restrictions for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), domestic support, and public stockholding.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the state of agricultural negotiations ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14). It identifies persistent deadlocks regarding domestic support, public food stocks, and market access, while highlighting three specific areas where Least Developed Countries (LDCs) could achieve tangible progress: reducing cotton subsidies, improving market access for cotton products, and securing exemptions from export restrictions.

This research paper analyzes the state of agricultural negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). It details persistent disagreements over domestic support, public food stocks, and market access, while identifying three specific areas where Least Developed Countries (LDCs) could achieve tangible progress: the reduction of trade-distorting cotton subsidies, improved market access for cotton products, and exemptions from export restrictions.

This research paper analyzes the state of electronic commerce debates within the World Trade Organization (WTO) leading up to the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in February 2024. It examines two parallel tracks: the multilateral Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and the plurilateral Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on Electronic Commerce, focusing on the tension between developed and developing economies regarding digital trade rules and the moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions.

The paper argues that the current divide between the WTO's non-binding environmental dialogues and unilateral trade measures (like the EU's CBAM) is insufficient for global environmental governance. It advocates for 'hybrid' plurilateral agreements—such as the one initiated by New Zealand—that integrate trade and environment goals into binding, cooperative frameworks.