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This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the structural and systemic barriers to trade within Africa, highlighting the impact of high tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and the continent's historical exclusion from global and regional value chains.

This report by Ember analyzes the vulnerability of Asian economies to energy supply and price shocks resulting from conflict in the Middle East, specifically focusing on the risks of fossil fuel lock-in. It argues that reliance on imported oil and LNG exposes the region to economic instability, inflation, and geopolitical fragmentation, and advocates for an accelerated transition to renewable energy and regional grid integration to ensure long-term energy security.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines how the European Union's increased investment in wind and solar energy between 2022 and 2025 has reduced its vulnerability to global energy shocks, specifically comparing the impact of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine crisis with a subsequent crisis caused by a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in 2026.

A report by Zero Carbon Analytics explains how conflict in the Middle East is triggering an energy crisis in Bangladesh due to its heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels, particularly those passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The document details the resulting fiscal strain, industrial disruptions, and the systemic risks of delaying a transition to renewable energy.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute analyzes the geopolitical landscape of Africa in 2025, characterized by a shift toward a multipolar world. It examines the impact of US strategic retrenchment, the first G20 summit held on the continent, tensions in the Horn of Africa, and the strategic competition over critical minerals along the Lobito Corridor.

A case study by the World Resources Institute (WRI) detailing a pilot project in Berbere, Ethiopia, where solar-powered irrigation pumps replaced costly and unreliable petrol pumps, significantly increasing farmer incomes and crop yields.

This briefing note by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that the 2026 National Budget should pivot from a narrow focus on fiscal stability and debt reduction toward a 'full employment agenda.' The IEJ contends that current macroeconomic policies are insufficient to address mass unemployment and poverty, proposing instead a developmental strategy based on increased public investment, progressive taxation, and the rebuilding of state capacity to drive structural economic change.

This research paper argues that Nigeria can align its economic growth with its 2060 net-zero emissions goal by shifting from a raw 'extract-and-export' model to domestic value addition of transition minerals. By processing minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt locally, Nigeria could significantly increase its GDP contribution from the mining sector, create high-skilled jobs, and generate revenues to fund national climate initiatives.

This briefing note from the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that while South Africa has seen modest economic improvements in 2025, including better public finances and stabilized network industries, these gains have not translated into reduced poverty, hunger, or unemployment. The IEJ urges President Ramaphosa to use this window of opportunity to implement a state-led structural transformation focused on job-intensive growth, expanded social services, and a developmental macroeconomic framework, rather than relying on marginal reforms or private-sector-led investment.

China is strategically transitioning its coal power fleet from a baseload generation role to providing system flexibility to support the rapid expansion of wind and solar energy. The country is on track to fully retrofit its existing coal fleet for flexibility by 2027, though the report emphasizes that clean flexibility solutions, particularly battery energy storage, must scale up to avoid locking in emissions beyond 2030.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that modest economic improvements in South Africa during 2025 provide a critical window for structural transformation. While GDP and network industries like energy and logistics have stabilized, the IEJ warns that these gains have not translated into significant job creation, poverty reduction, or food security, urging President Ramaphosa to move beyond marginal reforms toward a state-led developmental macroeconomic framework.

This report analyzes the emerging role of grid-scale batteries in the European Union as of 2025, highlighting their ability to compete with expensive gas-fired power during peak demand hours and reduce the curtailment of renewable energy. Using Italy as a primary example and California as a comparative case study, the document details how falling battery costs and widening price spreads are driving a record project pipeline aimed at lowering wholesale electricity prices and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the transition to electric two- and three-wheelers (E2W and E3W) for last-mile delivery in South Africa. It analyzes the economic viability, operational strategies, and environmental impacts of replacing internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycles with electric micro-mobility solutions, highlighting the role of innovative financing and charging infrastructure in overcoming high upfront costs.

This report provides a comprehensive profile of Canada's mining sector, detailing its geological reserves, industrial infrastructure, economic contributions, and the regulatory frameworks governing critical minerals. It highlights Canada's strategic focus on sustainable critical mineral production and the challenges of energy and logistics in northern regions.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines how climate change is reducing the quantity and quality of sparkling wine globally. It details the impact of extreme weather on yields and pricing in key regions like France, Spain, and Italy, the chemical changes in grapes that alter flavor profiles, and the risks to agricultural workers. The document also discusses the limitations and costs of adaptation measures, noting that traditional wine-growing regions face a high risk of becoming unsuitable if global temperatures rise by 2°C or more.

This research paper examines the strategic role of BRICS+ members, particularly African nations, in the global critical minerals market and their evolving relationships with the European Union. It analyzes how the expansion of BRICS+ enhances the bloc's control over essential resources for the green and digital transitions while highlighting internal geopolitical frictions that prevent a unified minerals strategy.

This research paper by Prof. David Luke and Hana AlWakeel argues that for African countries to achieve sustainable industrialization and reduce poverty, they must upgrade the practice of industrial policy-making itself. The authors propose a framework based on five tenets—adaptive, consultative, partner-based, transboundary, and capacitated policy-making—to navigate contemporary challenges such as the climate emergency, digitalization, and geoeconomic fragmentation.

This research paper examines the increasing flow of foreign direct investment from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—specifically the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—into Africa. It details how these states are leveraging Africa's renewable energy potential and mineral resources to diversify their own hydrocarbon-dependent economies and secure food supply chains, while providing Africa with an alternative to Western and Chinese financing to address its infrastructure gap.

This research paper examines the economic activities and value-addition potential of the Lobito Corridor, a strategic transport route linking the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola to the Copperbelt mining regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia via the Benguela Railway. The author argues that while the corridor is designed to catalyze economic development beyond mineral exports, there is a significant disconnect between the high-efficiency logistics used for raw material exports and the inadequate infrastructure available to local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

This case study by Ember analyses the economic viability of 10 MW solar PV projects in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. It examines how Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) pricing, capital expenditures (CAPEX), and the integration of battery storage influence the Internal Rate of Return (IRR), while also discussing policy bottlenecks and regulatory reforms aimed at derisking clean energy investments in the ASEAN region.