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The report advocates for the adoption of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in the mining sector to integrate environmental and social considerations into high-level policies, plans, and programs (PPPs). Unlike project-level Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), SEA provides a broad perspective to manage cumulative effects, balance sectoral interests with other development goals, and improve governance. Through case studies in Namibia, Ghana, Romania, and Mozambique, the report demonstrates that SEA can lead to optimized infrastructure, sustainable mine closures, and better regulation of artisanal and small-scale mining. Key obstacles identified include limited institutional capacity, lack of political will, and insufficient stakeholder awareness. The report recommends that governments prioritize capacity building, inter-ministerial collaboration, and the active involvement of Indigenous and local communities, particularly when managing critical minerals for the energy transition.

The report advocates for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a high-level tool to integrate environmental, social, and economic considerations into mining plans, policies, and programs (PPPs). Unlike project-level Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), SEA provides a long-term, iterative perspective that helps balance competing interests and address cumulative impacts. The document details how SEA has been applied in countries like Namibia, Ghana, Romania, and Mozambique, highlighting its role in optimizing infrastructure, improving regulatory frameworks, and enhancing public participation. It identifies key obstacles such as limited institutional capacity and lack of political will, recommending that governments prioritize inter-ministerial collaboration and inclusive stakeholder engagement, particularly when managing critical minerals for the energy transition.

The document advocates for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a tool to integrate environmental and social considerations into high-level mining policies, plans, and programs (PPP). Unlike project-level Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), SEA provides a broad perspective to manage cumulative impacts and align mining with national development goals. Through case studies in Namibia, Ghana, Romania, Mozambique, and Canada, the report illustrates how SEA can optimize infrastructure, improve regulatory frameworks, and enhance stakeholder engagement, while identifying obstacles such as limited institutional capacity and lack of political will.

The report analyzes the current AI audit ecosystem, identifying critical gaps in auditor independence, data access, and the failure to account for global sociotechnical impacts. It uses New York City's Local Law 144 as a case study to illustrate how regulatory-driven audits often prioritize transparency over actual harm mitigation. To address these issues, the authors propose a comprehensive Global AI Auditing Framework that emphasizes multidisciplinary teams, participatory stakeholder engagement, and the inclusion of labor and environmental criteria to ensure accountability across the AI supply chain.

The report analyzes the Irish Channel's role in spreading misinformation, specifically regarding election interference and immigration. It details the site's connection to the Irish Freedom Party and its operation as part of the Premier Content Network, a content aggregation system. The analysis also suggests the use of generative AI to produce articles containing factual errors and fabricated citations.

The Violence Prevention Forum (VPF) serves as a multisectoral platform in South Africa that bridges the gap between research, policy, and practice. By prioritizing relationship-building and personal transformation alongside evidence-based knowledge, the VPF enables collaboration between government officials, NGOs, and researchers. The document highlights that successful collaboration requires inclusive institutional design, shared goals, and tangible incentives for participants to outweigh the costs of engagement.

The document examines 'Free to Grow', a curriculum-based intervention delivered during work hours to address risk factors for violence against women and children. Implemented at Tikketai in partnership with the Seven Passes Initiative, the programme uses a human-centred design to improve interpersonal communication, stress management, and parenting skills. Findings indicate that the programme is feasible for busy workplaces and results in positive outcomes for both employees—who report improved home relationships and emotional regulation—and businesses, which observed increased productivity and reduced workplace conflict. The brief emphasizes the importance of quality facilitation and the need for ongoing refresher sessions to sustain behavioral change.

The report outlines the activities of the Climate Story Lab Nordic 2023/2024, which supported nine climate films to develop impact strategies and narratives. It argues that storytelling is a critical infrastructure for the energy transition, capable of moving beyond scientific facts to address the emotional and existential dimensions of the climate crisis. The document provides a handbook of essays from scientists, filmmakers, and practitioners, emphasizing the need to reach the 'moveable middle' of the population and the importance of centering climate justice and local contexts in narratives. It concludes by calling for a more robust 'storytelling ecosystem' that supports independent filmmakers and challenges the influence of fossil fuel industry narratives.

The report analyzes renewable energy policies in Germany, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, the United States, and South Africa to determine how legislation can enable energy democracy and community benefits. It finds that while mechanisms like feed-in tariffs (ReFITs) and local procurement rules can drive capacity and job growth, their success is heavily dependent on the existing energy market structure, regulatory simplicity, and the protection of indigenous land rights.

The report analyzes the relationship between the diversion of firearms—the transfer of weapons from legal to illicit realms—and illicit trafficking. It details various diversion typologies, including 'leakage' from state stocks, straw purchases, and the misuse of export documentation. Through 12 case studies spanning Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia, the document demonstrates how the UN Firearms Protocol's requirements for marking, record-keeping, and international judicial cooperation are critical for dismantling trafficking networks. It emphasizes that while diversion can occur domestically, it often serves as a prerequisite for cross-border trafficking, which requires a coordinated international criminal justice response to be effectively countered.

The document examines the shift in global politics as emerging powers in the Global South contest universalist liberal gender norms. Through case studies of Turkey, Brazil, and China, it analyzes how local political contexts—ranging from the rise of political Islam and traditional family values to state-led prioritisation of national prosperity—shape women's rights and the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. The authors argue that a more diverse understanding of gender norms is necessary to avoid cultural relativism while effectively improving women's security and well-being globally.

The document argues that EU readmission agreements are often ineffective because they lack incentives aligned with the national interests of partner countries. Using Nigeria as a case study, it highlights how the decoupling of visa facilitation from readmission agreements has hindered negotiations. The authors recommend that the EU shift toward a 'responsibility sharing' framework that includes legal migration channels and reintegration support rather than focusing narrowly on returns.

The report argues that the 'Cyprus problem' negatively impacts the environment by preventing the collection of island-wide data, isolating the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) from international oversight and funding, and causing political considerations to overshadow urgent ecological needs. While the UN-controlled buffer zone has inadvertently preserved some endemic species, the author warns that this 'green zone by default' is increasingly threatened by illegal dumping and development. The report recommends utilizing bicommunal Technical Committees and UNDP support to create shared environmental datasets and coordinated strategies for water scarcity and wildfire management.

The report examines how Indonesia navigates the rivalry between US-led market-driven digital norms and China's government-centric approach. While Indonesia relies heavily on foreign hardware and cloud services, it leverages its democratic values, the Pancasila ideology, and an independent foreign policy to maintain agency. The study identifies a 'digital norms cycle' in Indonesia, moving from the emergence of norms via foreign 'norm entrepreneurs' to internalization through national frameworks, though it notes significant challenges in digital literacy, budget, and infrastructure.

WeLight Madagascar, founded in 2018, operates a portfolio of 118 solar mini-grids financed by Team Europe (EIB, ElectriFI, and Triodos) with a budget of EUR 23,000,000. These sites provide distributed renewable energy to 540,000 people, including 36,000 households and 1,050 public buildings, while avoiding 1,930 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The project has generated over 8,100 new jobs, electrified more than 250 schools and 100 health centres, and installed over 3,000 streetlights across 15 regions of Madagascar.

The Air Aware campaign, led by Youth@SAIIA as part of the global Breathe Cities initiative, focuses on empowering youth aged 13–25 in South Africa to advocate for clean air. The program utilizes a structured journey including 'Train-the-Trainers' workshops, the appointment of Youth Air Champions (YACs) who implement community-specific campaigns, and engagement with policy frameworks like the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 2004. Key activities included mapping air pollution hotspots in Soweto, linking air quality to biodiversity in the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, and digital campaigns connecting plastic waste to air pollution. The initiative aims to culminate in a Youth-Led Conference on Air Pollution Policy and Implementation to integrate youth lived experiences into the City of Johannesburg's air quality governance.

The report reveals a decline in international public finance for energy access, with electricity commitments peaking in 2018 and clean cooking funding showing extreme volatility. Significant regional and developmental disparities exist, with a heavy concentration of funds in a few countries like India, China, and Bangladesh, and a predominance of debt-based financing over grants. Case studies of Bangladesh and Kenya highlight that while both achieved significant access gains through concerted policy and financial efforts, they face ongoing challenges with system inefficiency and affordability.

The Asia-Pacific region, home to 60% of the global population aged 60 and over, faces severe risks from climate change, including projected heat exposure nearly four times higher than other regions by mid-century. Older adults suffer disproportionately from heatwaves, natural disasters, and air pollution due to physical and socio-economic vulnerabilities. However, the document emphasises that older adults are not merely vulnerable but are 'a reservoir of knowledge and experience' who contribute to resilience through traditional knowledge and community-led initiatives in countries like India and Indonesia. The summary calls for a 'triangular strategy' of Protect, Reduce, and Mobilise to ensure older adults are active participants in climate action and that their human rights are protected through age-sensitive policies and universal social protection.

The document argues that integrating the agendas of the UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCD is essential for effective environmental governance, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. It proposes creating formal dialogue spaces at COP30, aligning national planning instruments (NDCs, NBSAPs, and NAPs), and implementing multi-purpose financial mechanisms to address the interconnected crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

The report details the 'destructive power' of the nickel industry in North Maluku, specifically across Weda Bay, Gebe Island, Buli Bay, Subaim-Wasile, and Obi Island. It highlights a paradox where the province's economic growth exceeds 20% due to nickel exports, while poverty increases and local livelihoods—such as fishing and farming—are destroyed. Key impacts include severe deforestation, water contamination with heavy metals (hexavalent chromium, nickel, and copper), and a surge in Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) cases near coal-fired power plants. The document also records numerous industrial accidents at PT IWIP and the criminalization of residents resisting mining. It concludes that the 'clean energy transition' via electric vehicle batteries is built on an 'unclean and unjust' production chain.