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This executive summary from the Global Climate and Health Alliance examines the emerging threat of wildfire smoke and climate change on human health, focusing on case studies from Canada, Australia, and Brazil.

The 2021 report 'Energizing Finance: Understanding the Landscape' analyzes finance commitments for electricity and clean cooking in 20 high-impact countries (HICs) based on 2019 data. It finds that investment levels for both sectors fall critically short of the requirements to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), with electricity finance declining in 2019 and clean cooking investment remaining stagnant.

This case study describes the implementation of a decentralized, off-grid wastewater treatment system at the Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn to replace an inefficient reed bed system and reduce municipal water demand.

This case study by GreenCape examines The Clothing Bank, a non-profit intermediary in South Africa that diverts excess retail clothing from landfills to create entrepreneurial opportunities for unemployed single mothers, demonstrating a circular economy model that addresses both waste and poverty.

This case study by GreenCape examines resilience-led economic interventions implemented in 2020 to support the green business community in Cape Town and the broader South African economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy follows a 'survive, adapt and thrive' framework, focusing on supporting small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) through international collaborations, innovative funding, and policy alignment to ensure a green recovery.

This case study examines the implementation of a Cooling as a Service (CaaS) model at a Pick ‘n’ Pay supermarket in Ceres, Western Cape Province. By replacing an inefficient, end-of-life simplex refrigeration system with a high-efficiency multiplex rack configuration provided by Energy Partners Refrigeration (EPR) via a shared savings model, the store reduced average refrigeration energy consumption by 35% and overall cost per refrigeration-hour by 30%.

This case study details how Excellent Meat, a wholesale meat supply and packaging company, reduced its water consumption by 30% between 2017 and 2020 through the implementation of smart water flow meters, a monitoring system, and internal awareness campaigns.

This case study by GreenCape examines the Century City Urban Square (CCUS), a mixed-use development by Rabie Property Group in Cape Town. The project demonstrates how the integration of treated effluent (TE) for non-potable uses—such as irrigation, cooling towers, and toilet flushing—reduces potable water demand, lowers operating costs, and increases resilience against climate-related shocks like droughts.

This 2021 industry brief by GreenCape provides a guide for businesses and water users in South Africa on the sustainable use and management of groundwater. It outlines the legal framework under the National Water Act, the risks associated with unmonitored abstraction, and technical recommendations for borehole monitoring to ensure long-term water security.

This case study examines mine closure policies in South America, focusing on the transition from relying on international best practices to establishing national legislation. It details the frameworks of Chile and Peru, highlighting the critical role of financial assurance in preventing the state from inheriting liabilities for abandoned mines.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines mine closure policies in South America, with a detailed focus on the legislative frameworks of Chile and Peru. It outlines international best practices for mine closure, emphasizing the critical role of financial guarantees to prevent abandoned sites and protect the public interest. The document compares the national approaches of Chile and Peru, highlighting their use of mandatory financial assurances and periodic plan updates, while noting a general lack of emphasis on social transition and post-closure land use in both jurisdictions.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines mine waste management legal frameworks in Ghana and British Columbia, Canada. It outlines international best practices for minimizing waste volume and ensuring long-term stability, while analyzing how both jurisdictions apply these principles to manage risks associated with tailings facilities and legacy mining sites.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines mine waste management frameworks in Ghana and British Columbia, Canada. It outlines international best practices, such as the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), and compares how these two jurisdictions implement standards, corporate accountability, and financial mechanisms to mitigate the environmental and social risks of mine waste.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines watershed-level water management frameworks in Mongolia and the Antofagasta region of Chile, focusing on the intersection of mining activities and water security in arid environments.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines water management frameworks in Mongolia and the Antofagasta region of Chile. It emphasizes the necessity of basin-level governance to balance the high water demands of the mining sector with the needs of other users and the environment, particularly in arid regions facing climate change.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the importance of watershed-scale governance for mine water management, focusing on the experiences of Mongolia and the Antofagasta region of Chile. It outlines a framework for effective water governance based on risk-based planning, stakeholder collaboration, and clear policy implementation, while highlighting the specific challenges of managing water in arid mining regions.

The African Environmental Defenders Fund (AED Fund), launched in 2019 by Natural Justice and the International Land Coalition, provides emergency financial assistance to land and environmental defenders across Africa facing imminent threats. Between March 2020 and October 2021, the fund processed 45 applications, approving 27 for support including legal representation, relocation, and medical aid. The report highlights a significant volume of applications from Uganda and a particular vulnerability of female defenders to gender-based violence.

This report by the International Network of Energy Transition Think Tanks (INETTT) provides case studies on the status of climate and energy policies across twelve countries. It examines the gap between national commitments (NDCs) and actual implementation, highlighting the role of independent think tanks in driving decarbonization through research, stakeholder dialogue, and policy advocacy in major and emerging economies.

This report details the outcomes of the ENHANCE project (2017-2020), an Interreg Europe initiative designed to improve regional policy instruments that support the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) to increase resource efficiency and promote the circular economy. The project involved six partners across Europe who identified 24 good practices and implemented 31 actions, primarily focusing on regulatory reliefs and promotional incentives for EMAS-registered organizations.

The 'HANDBOOK for Developing Urban Eco-Islands with Smart Solutions' is a guide published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in 2021. It provides a strategic framework for the integrated development of small islands located near urban areas, aiming to transform them into sustainable tourism destinations. The handbook details a 'Smart and Sustainable Island Development Model' that balances environmental, economic, social, and cultural dimensions, and advocates for the use of digital technology and citizen science to monitor ecosystems and manage visitor flows.