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This discussion brief examines the political economy of large-scale coal production in Colombia, analyzing the conflict between entrenched industry interests and growing social, environmental, and legal opposition. It details how the coal sector, once a pillar of national development, now faces challenges from declining global demand, judicial activism by the Constitutional Court, and local resistance, forcing companies to shift their public relations and political strategies.

This briefing describes a pilot study conducted by GFA Consulting Group and the Stockholm Environment Institute to assess the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus in Zambia. The appraisal examines the interdependencies between governance and bio-physical perspectives, highlighting how agricultural transformation and energy transitions compete for limited resources like water and biomass.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) has launched an initiative to investigate the cross-sector links between water, energy, and food (the WEF nexus) to support sustainable resource management. The initiative employs a 'nexus toolkit' combining the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system and the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) system to provide quantitative assessments and scenario modeling. The program is structured around three themes—governing, understanding, and implementing the nexus—and is being applied through case studies in Myanmar, Zambia, and Colombia to help decision-makers align sector policies and manage resource trade-offs.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the challenges of ensuring equity, transparency, and accountability in adaptation finance for developing countries. It analyzes the fragmented landscape of funding channels, the conflicting interpretations of 'new and additional' resources between developed and developing nations, and the governance structures of UNFCCC-linked funds. The document emphasizes that the lack of common metrics for measuring vulnerability and adaptation success hinders the effective and equitable delivery of finance.

This policy brief examines the impact of the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) (EU-RED) on palm oil production in Southeast Asia. It argues that the EU's focus on greenhouse gas emissions and its reliance on voluntary certification schemes fail to address severe socio-ecological impacts, including water pollution, land disputes, and the marginalization of local communities and smallholder farmers.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the potential conflict between low-greenhouse-gas (GHG) consumption strategies in high-income countries and the economic development of lower-income countries. Using a scenario developed for the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the authors find that while shifting consumption from goods to services can reduce emissions and benefit the domestic economy of a high-income country, it may cause significant GDP declines in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) due to reduced trade in manufactured goods, particularly clothing.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the climate implications of ending the issuance and renewal of U.S. government leases for fossil fuel extraction on federal lands and offshore waters. The analysis suggests that such a policy could significantly reduce global CO2 emissions and align U.S. production more closely with the goals of the Paris Agreement and a 2°C warming pathway.

This policy brief summarizes the outcomes of a regional retreat held in October 2017 in Colombia, organized by the Government of Colombia and the Independent Research Forum (IRF). The event brought together policy-makers from 12 Latin American countries to share experiences and identify strategies for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The brief focuses on five key themes: mainstreaming the SDGs into national policy, building cooperation and partnerships, monitoring progress, financing the agenda, and creating spaces for dialogue and learning.

This policy brief, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute, examines the barriers to the growth of the clean cooking market in India. Based on a 2011-2012 socio-economic study in Haryana and atmospheric research in New Delhi, the document argues that the traditional biomass-burning 'chulha' remains dominant due to a lack of user-centric design in improved stoves and systemic failures in finance, distribution, and sector-wide knowledge. It recommends shifting focus from consumer subsidies toward supporting producers and integrating clean cooking as a cross-government priority.

This policy brief examines the formation and dynamics of the BASIC group (Brazil, South Africa, India, and China) in the context of international climate change negotiations following COP15. It analyzes the group's shared goals, such as maintaining the principle of differentiated responsibility and advocating for developing country interests, while highlighting the significant material and economic differences between the four members that may challenge future cohesion.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines consumption-based emissions (CBEs) within the European Union, highlighting that the EU is a net importer of CO2 emissions. It analyzes the environmental footprint of EU household consumption, evaluates current policy frameworks, and provides detailed case studies of Sweden, Denmark, and France to identify barriers and opportunities for mitigating CBEs.

This policy brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute and UNEP argues that traditional measures of 'water productivity' are too narrow because they often focus solely on agricultural output (e.g., 'crop per drop') while ignoring the essential role of landscape ecosystem services. The document advocates for an integrated water resource management (IWRM) approach that balances agricultural needs with the maintenance of natural water storage and ecosystem functions to ensure long-term sustainability and human well-being.

This report argues that transforming gender relations in sub-Saharan African agriculture is essential for improving agricultural productivity, food security, and overall human development. It posits a causal link between gender equality in households and communities and better agricultural outcomes, asserting that standard development interventions cannot fully succeed unless women and men are on equal footing.

This report chapter outlines a conceptual framework for 'empowerment pathways' to transform gender relations in Sub-Saharan Africa's smallholder farming sector. It argues that sustainable change requires a multi-dimensional approach addressing individual agency, social and legal structures, and collective relations, while actively engaging men as allies to move from 'power over' to 'power with' dynamics.

This report chapter examines the critical role of land access and control in empowering women farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. It argues that while statutory land titles are rare for women, direct access to land improves food security, household livelihoods, and economic agency. Through case studies in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, the document illustrates how gender-neutral or customary land systems often marginalize women—particularly widows and single mothers—and highlights the necessity of combining legal reform with grassroots activism and support for agricultural inputs.

This document is the front matter (foreword and table of contents) of a report titled "Transforming Gender Relations in Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa," published by the Swedish International Agricultural Network Initiative (SIANI) and the Stockholm Environment Institute. It describes the origins of the book, which grew from a 2009 Sida study on gender aspects of agricultural programmes and a subsequent 2011 seminar and "writeshop." The report aims to provide a guide and inspiration for designing agricultural development efforts that empower both women and men by sharing successful approaches and analytical frameworks.

This policy brief, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in June 2015, defines 'frontier landscapes' as remote, sparsely populated areas undergoing rapid transformation due to agricultural expansion and socio-economic shifts. Based on a multi-stakeholder forum at the Global Landscapes Forum in Lima, Peru, the document outlines six propositions to foster sustainable, inclusive, and legitimate development in these regions, emphasizing the need for early action, common ground, institutional capacity, political support, valuation of actor diversity, and robust monitoring.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as successors to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), specifically focusing on food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. It analyzes the shift toward a universal, integrated approach to development and identifies gaps in the current SDG proposals, such as the need for specific implementation strategies and technology transfer.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute proposes a new governance paradigm called "strategic resilience" to address the failures of traditional climate change adaptation. The authors argue that adaptation is currently hindered by its placement within relatively weak environment ministries and a narrow focus on territorial impacts. By relocating adaptation to the center of government and integrating it into a broader resilience agenda, states can better manage complex, cross-border climate risks and avoid a "securitization" approach dominated by defense logics.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines Thailand's bioeconomy, focusing on the use of sugarcane and cassava to drive economic growth, reduce social inequality, and mitigate environmental impacts. It details the policy frameworks, institutional structures, and the specific socio-environmental challenges associated with the industrialization of bio-resources.