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The study finds that Canadian municipalities spend millions annually managing single-use plastic (SUP) waste, though specific costs are often undertracked. Plastics comprise approximately 15% of both garbage and recycling streams by weight. The report highlights significant data gaps for items like vaping devices and tampon applicators, which are frequently found in wastewater screenings but rarely in solid waste audits. Environmental analysis shows cigarette butts are the most abundant SUP by count, while bottles and cups dominate by mass. A critical economic finding is the potential risk to Canadian agriculture, where microplastic pollution could lead to annual crop production value losses between CAD 0.5 and 2.16 billion. To address these issues, the authors developed a Plastic Waste Cost Calculator for local authorities and recommend transitioning to volumetric waste measurements and establishing a universal flushability standard for wipes.

The study evaluates the financial and environmental burden of eight common single-use plastics in Canada. It finds a significant lack of consistent data across municipalities, with costs often underestimated because they are based on weight rather than the high volume these plastics occupy. The report highlights that cigarette butts are the most frequent litter item, while plastic bottles and cups generate substantial management costs. It also estimates that microplastic pollution could risk between 0.5 and 2.16 billion CAD annually in Canadian agricultural production for wheat and corn. To address these gaps, the authors developed a 'Plastic Waste Cost Calculator' tool for local authorities and recommend shifting toward volumetric waste measurement and standardized data collection.

The paper proposes a six-step intersectional framework for climate risk assessments (CRAs) to move beyond general geographic or sectoral analysis. It emphasizes identifying 'intersecting systems of inequity'—such as racism, ableism, and patriarchy—to understand why specific groups face disproportionate or unique climate impacts. The framework is currently being tested through action research in Nepal and South Africa.

The Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Zimbabwe documents 10 NbS for adaptation projects across five regions, focusing on ecological restoration, livelihood resilience, and inclusive governance. Key interventions include reforestation, wetland rehabilitation, and climate-smart agriculture to combat risks such as prolonged droughts, flooding, and habitat loss. The inventory highlights a strong concentration of projects in the Southern region and emphasizes the integration of traditional knowledge and gender-responsive approaches to ensure equitable benefits for vulnerable populations.

The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) transitioned from a reporting-only phase to a definitive period on January 1, 2026, introducing financial liabilities for importers of iron, steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, electricity, and hydrogen. Exporters must now provide verified actual emissions data to avoid high default values, which include annual markups of +10% in 2026, +20% in 2027, and +30% from 2028 onward. Financial liability is calculated based on embedded emissions, adjusted by a Free Allocation Adjustment (FAA) that phases out by 2034, and monetized through CBAM certificates linked to EU ETS prices. The guide emphasizes that verified actual emissions and documentation of carbon prices paid in the country of origin are critical for maintaining competitiveness and reducing costs.

The report argues that while mining companies are increasingly adopting renewable energy for operational decarbonization, these investments should be leveraged through policy to benefit host communities. It provides a framework for integrating renewable energy into local content policies, emphasizing shared infrastructure, skills development, and long-term planning for post-closure transitions to ensure sustainable local development.

The report analyzes the transition from traditional input subsidies to sustainable public support for agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. It argues that while inorganic fertilizer subsidies provide short-term yield gains, they often lead to soil degradation, fiscal strain, and inequitable access. Through case studies in Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia, the document demonstrates that integrating soil health management, utilizing digital eVoucher systems for better targeting, and aligning subsidies with broader land tenure and market reforms are essential for long-term food system resilience.

The report identifies a gap between the African Union's (AU) normative ambitions for civilian protection and operational reality, which is often dominated by military-heavy, counter-terrorism mandates. It argues that current community engagement is largely consultative and lacks agency. To improve outcomes, the report recommends shifting toward genuine community partnerships, reforming financing to support civilian roles, and integrating community-based early warning systems into mission responses.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach to developing adaptation indicators, emphasizing that they must be grounded in a Theory of Change (ToC) and national context rather than solely in global frameworks. It details a 10-step process (grouped into design, implementation, and learning phases) to move from clarifying objectives to institutionalizing data collection and conducting regular reviews. The guide highlights the importance of using a mix of quantitative and qualitative indicators, ensuring gender and social inclusion (GESI) through data disaggregation, and piloting systems before full-scale rollout to ensure feasibility and data quality.

The roadmap operationalizes Somalia's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for the education sector from 2026 to 2030. It organizes adaptation efforts into five strategic pillars: curriculum integration, resilient infrastructure, education in emergencies, community awareness, and local actor training. The framework emphasizes gender equity, social inclusion (GESI), and conflict sensitivity to protect vulnerable groups such as IDPs and pastoralists. Implementation is led by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education (MoECHE) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), coordinated through a strengthened Climate Change and Education Taskforce. The estimated investment required for these activities is USD 80 million.

The paper argues that the armed organization to which a person belongs is the most powerful predictor of whether they become a perpetrator of conflict-related sexual violence. Using datasets like SVAC and ACLED, it finds that while state forces have historically been more frequent perpetrators, there is a recent trend of increasing reports involving rebel groups. The author identifies key organizational risk factors, such as forced recruitment and child soldiering, which use sexual violence as a socialization tool for group cohesion. Conversely, restraint is linked to strong internal governance, such as electoral leader selection and ideological norms. The paper suggests that policy interventions should target organizational structures and use risk factors as early warning indicators rather than focusing solely on individual perpetrators.

The paper argues that LGBTQI+ individuals are specifically targeted for their nonconformity to cis-heteronormative norms, with visibility acting as a primary risk factor. It highlights that such violence occurs on a continuum across public and private spheres, perpetrated by state actors, armed groups, and family members. The authors advocate for an intersectional framework to avoid homogenizing the LGBTQI+ community and emphasize the agency of survivors in creating their own support systems.

The 17th edition of the Banking on Climate Chaos report finds that the world's largest banks committed $906 billion to fossil fuel companies in 2025, an 8% increase from 2024. Financing for fossil fuel expansion rose by over 27% to $508 billion. The report highlights a high concentration of finance, with a 'Dirty Dozen' of banks providing nearly 39% of global fossil deals. It also notes a trend of policy backsliding, where banks are weakening climate commitments and abandoning net-zero targets, particularly in the US. The report argues that this financing amplifies energy instability and inequality, especially during geopolitical crises like the 2026 US-Israel war on Iran.

The report argues that many planned coal plants in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are candidates for reconsideration due to declining costs of solar and battery storage, evolving grid needs, and the risk of long-term financial lock-in. It introduces a five-indicator framework—fuel source, initiation date, sunk costs, designed grid role, and evolution of grid needs—to prioritize plants for reevaluation. RMI's analysis suggests that solar paired with battery energy storage systems (BESS) is increasingly cost-competitive with new ultra-supercritical coal, potentially offering a more affordable and flexible alternative for modernizing grids.

The document advocates for a human rights-based approach (HRBA) to ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), emphasizing that biodiversity-led climate strategies are most effective when they address power imbalances and protect the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities. It highlights Section C of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) as a critical guide for ensuring equity and avoiding maladaptation. Case studies from Benin, focusing on the protection of sacred forests through Indigenous knowledge, and Kenya, focusing on rangeland restoration in Mount Marsabit via pastoralist stewardship, demonstrate how inclusive practices enhance resilience. The brief recommends establishing national coordination mechanisms to track EbA across sectors and increasing climate finance for locally led actions, noting that currently less than 0.2% of such finance specifically targets locally led outcomes.

Bosnia and Herzegovina faces a significant investment gap of EUR 3.5 billion to meet EU wastewater standards, with only 20 operating treatment plants. The report compares the fragmented institutional landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Sweden's more integrated approach, highlighting the role of trade organizations like Svenskt Vatten and inter-municipal collaborations like NSVA. It suggests that Bosnia and Herzegovina can 'leapfrog' traditional centralized systems by adopting circular resource recovery principles for water, nutrients, and energy, and by tailoring solutions to the specific scale of urban and rural agglomerations.

The report finds that granting legal personhood to rivers is a symbolic starting point that often fails to produce material ecological recovery due to fragmented governance, anthropocentric interpretations, and the marginalization of local knowledge. In Bangladesh, a state-led guardianship model lacks enforcement power and community representation, while Colombia's shared guardianship model incorporates biocultural knowledge but remains constrained by financial limitations and sectoral fragmentation.

The report highlights a growing 'e-mobility divide' where the Global North adopts high-value lithium-ion systems while the Global South relies on affordable but toxic lead-acid batteries. It identifies critical failures in traceability and international governance, specifically within the Basel Convention, which allow for 'waste colonialism' and hazardous informal recycling. The authors argue for mandatory extended producer responsibility, the creation of regional recycling hubs, and the integration of informal workers into formal systems to ensure a just energy transition.

The report finds that while the 2022 consultation law has enabled some marginal influence, it often fails to provide meaningful impact on central issues. Major deficiencies include late involvement of Sámi representatives, inadequate timeframes, and a tendency for authorities to delegate responsibility to third-party applicants. The study highlights a significant 'educational burden' placed on Sámi parties to explain the law to officials and notes that many critical land-use matters remain exempt from the law's scope.

The document argues that Indonesia's critical minerals industry, particularly nickel, is characterized by 'green extractivism' where global decarbonization narratives mask local ecological destruction and human rights abuses. It highlights the role of National Strategic Projects (PSN) in bypassing environmental protections and the heavy dominance of Chinese capital and technology in the supply chain. The report documents severe impacts including fatal workplace accidents, massive deforestation in North Maluku, health crises such as spikes in respiratory infections, and the systemic impoverishment of local communities.