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This research paper by Kholofelo Kugler and Tani Washington analyzes the impact of the Trump administration's 2025 tariff policies on African nations. It details the structure of the new tariffs, the specific vulnerabilities of countries like Lesotho and Madagascar, the potential advantages for Egypt and Kenya, and the precarious future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

This seminar report, co-hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UNOSAA) on 27 September 2024, examines the implications of the UN's Pact for the Future for Africa. The document discusses the alignment of the Pact with Africa's Agenda 2063, the need for reforming international financial institutions, and the shift toward a more political, rather than military-centric, approach to peace and support operations (PSOs) on the continent.

This policy brief argues that Africa's maritime transport and ports sector requires a dual strategy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience to protect its blue economy. It highlights the risks posed by sea level rise and extreme weather, the impact of new global carbon levies, and the need for a modernized continental governance framework to coordinate the transition to green logistics hubs.

This policy brief examines whether South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency, occurring alongside Brazil's hosting of COP30, can re-energise the global climate action agenda. It argues that while the G20 is a powerful 'minilateral' platform capable of driving climate finance and policy, its effectiveness is threatened by rising nationalism, geopolitical tensions, and the potential for a diluted climate focus under the subsequent 2026 US presidency.

This guide by Transforma explains the "ambition cycle" of the Paris Agreement, an iterative process designed to help countries progressively improve their climate commitments through formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. It details the key instruments involved—such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Strategies (LTS)—and provides a roadmap for national implementation to align short-term actions with long-term goals like net-zero emissions by 2050.

This briefing paper by Trend Asia discusses the impact of climate disasters in Indonesia and criticizes the government's energy planning documents—the National Electricity General Plan (RUKN) 2025-2060 and the Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) 2025-2034—for continuing reliance on fossil fuels and 'false solutions' like biomass co-firing. It details legal challenges filed by a coalition of civil society organizations and affected citizens against these plans in the Jakarta Administrative Court (PTUN Jakarta).

This research paper by Global Energy Monitor analyzes India's steel industry, arguing that its current strategy of expanding coal-based capacity before implementing decarbonization—a "build now, decarbonize later" approach—risks creating massive stranded assets and locking in high emissions. The document details the industry's heavy reliance on blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) and coal-based direct reduced iron (DRI) production, while evaluating the potential and limitations of green hydrogen, scrap-based production, and renewable energy integration to meet India's 2070 net-zero goal.

This research paper examines the methods for emissions accounting, target setting, and disclosure within Canada's agricultural portfolios, highlighting the role of financial institutions in supporting the transition to net-zero emissions.

This policy brief examines the security, environmental, and geopolitical threats to marine infrastructure in Europe, specifically within the Baltic Sea region, based on a workshop held in Riga on 26 April 2024.

Friends of the Earth U.S. analyzes the Biden-Harris administration's 6-point policy framework aimed at reducing U.S. imports of products linked to deforestation. While commending the framework's direction, the organization advocates for a holistic approach to illegal deforestation, the establishment of a public due diligence system independent of third-party certifications, and the passage of the federal FOREST Act.

This white paper by the Green Economy Coalition argues that transitioning to a circular economy (CE)—characterized by recycling, reusing, and refurbishing—is essential for achieving a green, just, and inclusive transition and meeting global climate and social targets.

This report examines the role of multilateral development banks (MDBs) in promoting low-carbon procurement within the infrastructure sector, identifying both the opportunities for MDBs to lead the transition and the systemic challenges that hinder the adoption of sustainable practices in developing countries.

This briefing analyzes the 'echo' effect of climate-related industrial policies among the world's largest trading economies, finding that subsidies and import curbs in net-zero sectors frequently trigger reciprocal responses from other major jurisdictions within 6 to 24 months.

This report examines the potential for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) to expand its role in the global supply of critical minerals required for digital technology and low-carbon energy, emphasizing the need for formalization to mitigate environmental damage and support local livelihoods.

Ember modelling indicates that the UK can achieve a stable, decarbonised clean power system by 2030 while significantly reducing its reliance on expensive, imported biomass. By reducing biomass capacity by 2 GW—retaining only the equivalent of a single large-scale unit—biomass generation could drop to just 2% of total electricity generation, with the gap largely filled by power imports and a marginal increase in gas use.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues for a holistic approach to menstrual policy that integrates social and environmental factors, moving beyond a narrow focus on waste and product choice to address menstrual justice, climate change impacts, and structural inequalities.

This 2024 report by the Climate Policy Initiative and PUC-RIO monitors the implementation of Brazil's Forest Code (Law No. 12,651/2012), specifically focusing on the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Compliance Program (PRA). It details the progress of various Brazilian states in registering rural properties, analyzing those registrations, and formalizing environmental recovery through Terms of Commitment (ToC).

This toolkit by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines policy options to address carbon leakage—the displacement of production and emissions to countries with lower climate ambition. It analyzes the trade-offs of international frameworks, Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs), carbon cost containment, subsidies, and product standards, noting that while carbon pricing coverage grew to 24% of emissions in 2024, price divergence continues to drive leakage risks.

This policy brief by RMI argues that current electricity rate designs in the United States often overcharge heat pump users, creating a financial barrier to home electrification. The document explains that because many utility costs are driven by summer peak demand, customers who add electricity demand in the winter (via heat pumps) may pay more than the actual cost of service. RMI proposes several rate reform strategies—including seasonal heating rates, time-varying rates, and separate customer classes—to align electricity pricing with actual system costs and support decarbonization goals.

This research paper examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can drive economic growth, enhance security, and foster international cooperation among the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). It argues that while AI cooperation is currently nascent, it can help these nations challenge Western dominance in technology and governance, provided they align their diverse regulatory approaches and address challenges like job displacement and economic imbalances.