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This research paper examines the water crisis in Johannesburg as a symptom of broader systemic failures in South Africa's municipal and national governance. It argues that the inability to deliver basic socio-economic rights, such as water and sanitation, is driven by a combination of severe capacity constraints, corruption, and a national government strategy of fiscal consolidation that prioritizes debt reduction over constitutional obligations to citizens.

This 2025 report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) provides a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the Brazilian Forest Code (Law No. 12.651/2012), specifically focusing on the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA) across Brazilian states. It details the transition of the National CAR System (Sicar) to a digital public infrastructure managed by Dataprev and the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI), the adoption of automated analysis tools to accelerate CAR validation, and the persistent challenges in converting validated registries into effective forest restoration through the PRA.

This research paper examines the governance challenges of solar radiation modification (SRM), arguing that the current fragmented landscape risks unilateral deployment and the marginalization of the Global South. The authors advocate for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to formally integrate SRM into its agenda, specifically suggesting COP29 in Baku as a starting point to ensure that ethical, social, and justice-based considerations guide the technology's development.

This report presents the consolidated findings of action research conducted between 2022 and 2024 across 12 local municipalities in South Africa as part of the COMPACT project. It evaluates the effectiveness of public participation in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process, the functionality of ward committees, and the alignment of operational planning and performance management. The research identifies systemic failures, including the perception of public participation as a mere compliance exercise, severe communication gaps between municipalities and residents, and the negative impact of political interference and coalition instability on service delivery.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines global trends in the governance, management, and reprocessing of tailings from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). It highlights the severe environmental and health risks associated with the indiscriminate use of mercury and cyanide, the lack of specific regulatory frameworks for tailings management at international, regional, and national levels, and the potential for recovering critical minerals from these waste products.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the governance challenges facing critical mineral supply chains in Africa. It argues that while the global energy transition increases demand for minerals like lithium and cobalt, a lack of transparency and accountability risks causing environmental and socio-economic harm. The document advocates for the implementation of the African Mining Vision and a coordinated approach between national governments, private companies, and civil society to ensure the energy transition does not entrench global inequalities.

This joint report from the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) details the activities, membership status, and recommendations of the two advisory bodies of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) for the period leading up to the 32nd Conference of the Parties (CoP-32) in May 2024.

This report examines the state of global forest governance, highlighting the critical link between strong legal frameworks and the ability to curb deforestation. It evaluates progress across protected areas, national policy reforms, industrial logging practices in developed nations, trade regulations, and the legal recognition of Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' land rights.

The 2022 Forest Declaration Assessment Theme 4 report evaluates global forest governance systems and their capacity to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. It finds that while some countries have implemented effective legal tools like moratoria and inclusive policies, overall progress is insufficient, with persistent issues including widespread corruption, tenure insecurity for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and the rollback of environmental protections in several major tropical forest nations.

This February 2022 report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the composition and challenges of the newly elected African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), the outcomes of the February 2022 AU Summit regarding governance and conflict prevention, and the ongoing debate over equitable regional representation within the Council. It also examines the tensions between the African Union and the European Union regarding the green energy transition and critiques the application of the principle of subsidiarity in the relationship between the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

This special report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the first and second African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) reports for Kenya, Mozambique, and Uganda. It examines patterns of progress and regression in democracy, political governance, and socio-economic development, noting that while legislative improvements are evident, practical implementation often lags, particularly regarding corruption, poverty, and gender inequality.

This case study by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the governance and environmental risks associated with four federal transport infrastructure projects in the state of Pará: Ferrogrão, BR-155/158, BR-163/230/MT/PA, and BR-230. Using a 'market access approach' to quantify deforestation risks, the study finds that these projects collectively threaten nearly 7,000 square kilometers of Amazonian native vegetation, with over half of the impact concentrated in Pará. The report highlights significant transparency issues regarding project documentation and urges the Pará state government to engage in dialogue with the federal government to integrate deforestation control funding into project designs.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the governance challenges associated with the over-exploitation of natural resources. It argues that current resource use is unsustainable and unevenly distributed, calling for transformative change through inclusive decision-making, the protection of human rights for marginalized groups, and a shift toward circular economies.

The Joint Report of the Science-Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) outlines the activities, membership updates, and strategic contributions of these two bodies to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) leading up to the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties in June 2021.

The report 'État de la gouvernance environnementale mondiale 2021' analyzes the state of global environmental governance during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting a shift toward voluntary commitments, the challenges of virtual diplomacy, and the exacerbation of socio-economic inequalities that hinder environmental progress.

This July 2020 issue of the Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines critical political and security challenges across Africa, focusing on the Central African Republic's electoral turning point, the diplomatic impasse between Somalia and Somaliland, insecurity in the Sahel, and the impact of COVID-19 on governance and elections across the continent.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) filed a Form 990 for the tax year beginning October 1, 2020, and ending September 30, 2021. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity focused on global environmental challenges, including climate, food, forests, water, ocean, cities, and energy. For the reported period, WRI recorded total revenue of $289,669,226 and total expenses of $151,998,641, ending the year with net assets of $402,845,763.

The report details the 2nd Joint Meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, held on 18 June 2018 in Antigua, Guatemala. The meeting focused on the Small Grants Program (SGP), the coordination between the SAC and SPAC, and the need for a new IAI Strategic Plan.

This research paper examines the governance challenges associated with the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach, which seeks to manage the interdependencies between these three sectors to enhance sustainability and climate resilience. Drawing on research from Indonesia, Kenya, and the Amazon basin, the author argues that the effectiveness of nexus approaches is heavily dependent on horizontal (cross-sectoral) and vertical (between levels of government) coordination, which are often hindered by political economy factors, institutional power struggles, and limited local capacity.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the governance of marine and coastal resources in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. It advocates for the adoption of integrated spatial planning, ecosystem-based management, and inclusive, community-led conservation models to support a sustainable 'Blue Economy'. The author emphasizes that marine conservation must be integrated with socio-economic development agendas to ensure the resilience of biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal populations.