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The March 2026 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the outcomes of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit, the composition and normative challenges of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), and the adoption of a new memorandum of understanding to coordinate the Africa Standby Force (ASF).

This report analyzes the governance of critical minerals for the energy transition in Chile, specifically copper and lithium. Using case studies from the Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions, it evaluates the application of UN principles on equity and justice, identifying significant gaps in indigenous participation, water management, and the distribution of mining royalties. The document proposes a series of safeguards driven by civil society to ensure a more just and sustainable energy transition.

This report documents a three-day workshop focused on the intersection of climate change and South Africa's food system, specifically exploring how to use the Climate Change Act 22 of 2024 to advocate for justice-based transformations. The workshop brought together diverse stakeholders—including labour, civil society, and small-scale producers—to move beyond technical 'climate-smart' fixes toward transformative alternatives like agroecology and land reform.

This research paper by Ieva Baršauskaitė and Antoine Bonnet analyzes the transition of trade-related climate measures from abstract policy debates to practical implementation between 2025 and early 2026. It examines the evolving roles of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in managing issues of transparency, interoperability, and development equity, positioning the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) as a critical juncture for consolidating these international efforts.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the disconnect between trade policy and climate change adaptation, arguing that 'international technology transfer' remains an abstract concept rather than a practical reality. It proposes aligning trade negotiations with National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) to ensure developing countries can access context-specific hardware, software, and orgware necessary for climate resilience.

This report by RMI examines the role of zero-carbon industrial parks in accelerating China's green transition and high-quality economic growth, analyzing technical, business, and institutional innovations required to meet national climate goals.

This research paper examines the evolving landscape of critical minerals diplomacy, arguing that current multilateral trade rules are insufficient to balance the economic security needs of consuming nations with the industrialization goals of resource-rich developing countries. The author analyzes the rise of non-binding sectoral partnerships and plurilateral initiatives led by developed nations, warning that these may reinforce power asymmetries. The paper proposes utilizing the World Trade Organization (WTO) or regional groupings as more neutral platforms to establish a rules-based system that supports sustainable sourcing and domestic value addition in producer economies.

This briefing note by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines how the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) can collaborate to reform global governance, specifically the UN Security Council (UNSC), amidst a period of systemic rupture and geopolitical fragmentation.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines whether increasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports can guarantee energy security for Southeast Asian nations. While ASEAN members are investing USD 20.4 billion in LNG infrastructure to meet rising demand and declining domestic supplies, the document argues that this dependence exposes the region to geopolitical supply shocks, price volatility, and competition with Europe. It suggests that investing in domestic renewable energy, upgrading grids, and accelerating the ASEAN Power Grid would provide a more resilient and secure energy future.

This research paper argues that the development relationship between Germany and Ghana has narrowed from a strategic industrial partnership to a limited, skills-focused donor model. The author contends that Germany's current emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is misaligned with Ghana's '24-Hour Economy' (24HE) initiative, which requires systemic industrial coordination rather than broad skills diffusion. The paper proposes a 'vanguardist' model based on selective value-chain acceleration and the creation of industrial corridors to drive large-scale youth employment.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the critical state of World Trade Organization (WTO) fisheries subsidies negotiations ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). It highlights the need to move beyond the 2022 Agreement (Fish 1) to establish additional disciplines (Fish 2) targeting overcapacity and overfishing before a sunset clause triggers the termination of the original agreement in September 2029.

This research paper analyzes the gap between policy rhetoric and actual implementation of climate adaptation for sanitation in Nairobi, Kenya. It argues that a prioritization of centralized sewer systems over other sanitation regimes reinforces existing inequalities and threatens the realization of the constitutional right to adequate sanitation.

This research paper argues that increasing domestic clean power production is essential for Japan's national security, economic resilience, and strategic autonomy due to its high dependence on energy imports.

A media statement by the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) issued on 13 February 2026, arguing that Africa's water crisis is a structural emergency caused by a broken global financial system that prioritizes debt repayment over essential public services and climate resilience.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the state of World Trade Organization (WTO) agriculture negotiations ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). It outlines persistent disagreements over domestic support, public stockholding, and market access, while identifying three specific areas where progress could be made for least developed countries (LDCs): reducing cotton subsidies, improving market access for cotton products, and securing exemptions from export restrictions.

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.

This opinion piece by Nele Marien of Friends of the Earth International critiques the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Assessment on Businesses and Biodiversity. The author argues that the report erroneously assumes corporate ignorance is the primary barrier to biodiversity protection, whereas the actual driver is the profitability of destruction. Marien asserts that voluntary corporate actions and market-based instruments are ineffective and that only binding regulations and strict limits on corporate impacts can halt biodiversity loss.

This briefing by RMI discusses the use of 'baseline' large load tariffs and 'Bring-Your-Own' (BYO) tariffs to integrate large energy users, such as data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities, into the United States power grid while mitigating risks to other ratepayers and accelerating clean energy deployment.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) outlines five critical themes and questions the organization will monitor during the 2026 Investing in Africa Mining Indaba in Cape Town. The document focuses on the intersection of geopolitics, industrialization, infrastructure, regional cooperation, and the role of civil society in Africa's mineral sector.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the status of the global plastics treaty following the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee's fifth session (INC-5.3) in February 2026. It specifically evaluates the 'start-and-strengthen' approach—a model where a treaty is adopted with core obligations and progressively enhanced through future decisions—contrasting it with 'bottom-up' models based on voluntary national actions. The brief examines three draft texts from the Chair and various member state proposals, arguing that for a start-and-strengthen model to succeed, the treaty must include legally operative objectives, periodic effectiveness evaluations, and a procedural path for normative evolution, such as voting mechanisms to avoid deadlocks.