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This policy briefing examines the vulnerability of the livestock sector in Southern Africa to climate change, highlighting the severe impact of the 2015/2016 drought. It argues that while regional strategies like the SADC Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan exist, implementation remains sporadic and donor-driven. The document advocates for the use of indigenous animal genetic resources, improved support for small-scale farmers, and enhanced regional collaboration to build a climate-resilient livestock industry.

This policy briefing examines climate adaptation readiness in the agricultural sector of South Africa's Western Cape province following the 2015/2016 El Niño-linked drought. It argues that while comprehensive policy frameworks for disaster risk reduction and management exist, implementation is hindered by bureaucratic bottlenecks, insufficient funding, and a persistent focus on short-term relief over long-term resilience. The document highlights the success of conservation agriculture among grain farmers and calls for strengthened intergovernmental cooperation and adaptive water resource planning.

This policy briefing argues that subnational governments and cities are essential for implementing international climate agreements but are often excluded from the formal negotiating tables of the UNFCCC. It highlights the role of transnational actors like ICLEI in bridging this gap and recommends a shift toward 'co-production' between national and local governments to ensure climate targets are implementable at the local scale.

A briefing by the Green Economy Coalition detailing the rejection of a Swiss Green Party popular initiative that sought a constitutional commitment to a circular economy and sustainable resource use by 2050.

A letter from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) to Minister-President Paul Magnette of Wallonia expressing support for his opposition to the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), arguing that the agreement's Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) chapter threatens EU environmental and health regulations.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines five critical climate finance issues to be addressed at COP22 in Marrakech, focusing on the mobilization of $100 billion for developing countries, accounting modalities, reporting rules, the scaling of adaptation finance, and the future of the Adaptation Fund.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative examines barriers to agricultural productivity and natural resource management in Mozambique. It identifies bureaucratic delays in tax and trade administration, limited access to credit for small farmers, and gaps in energy and irrigation infrastructure as primary obstacles. The authors propose low-cost policy modifications, including streamlining government administration, developing public-private partnerships, prioritizing key infrastructure, and increasing revenue-sharing mechanisms for community-led natural resource protection.

This policy brief discusses the role of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) in translating Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) into bankable low-carbon investments by leveraging public support to mobilize private sector capital.

Lifting Europe's Dark Cloud is a report published in October 2016 by a coalition of environmental and health organizations. It analyzes the health impacts of air pollution from coal-fired power plants in Europe and evaluates the effectiveness of the EU's Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and the proposed revised Large Combustion Plants Best Available Techniques Reference Document (LCP BREF). The report argues that current pollution limits are undermined by widespread 'derogations' (exemptions) and that adopting stricter, proven Best Available Techniques (BAT) would significantly reduce premature deaths and healthcare costs across the continent.

The report details the development of the National Energy Transition Strategy (NETS) for Saint Lucia, a collaborative effort between the Government of Saint Lucia (GoSL) and the utility LUCELEC, facilitated by RMI-CWR and the Clinton Climate Initiative. The strategy uses an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to identify the most cost-effective energy portfolio to reduce diesel reliance and carbon emissions over a 20-year horizon while maintaining grid reliability.

This report by the African Center for Economic Transformation outlines a strategy to transform agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through the generation and diffusion of modern technology and improved management practices. The study identifies rice as a promising crop for a 'Green Revolution' in the region and suggests that technology transfer from advanced regions like South Africa and tropical Asia (specifically India) can help close yield gaps. The paper emphasizes that technological innovation must be coupled with improved agronomic management and marketing to be effective.

This briefing note from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the concept of loss and damage in climate change policy, distinguishing between scientific grounding and political interpretations within the UNFCCC framework.

This report analyzes the potential of the third party financing model to help India reach its target of 40 GW of rooftop solar power by 2022. It identifies high upfront costs, limited debt finance, and perceived performance risks as primary barriers, and proposes specific policy changes and financial instruments to scale the industry, particularly for commercial and industrial consumers.

This research paper examines the intersection of Ghana's emerging offshore oil and gas sector and its artisanal fisheries. It argues that while the oil sector has created specific tensions—particularly regarding exclusion zones and maritime safety—the primary threats to the sustainability of Ghana's fisheries are fleet overcapacity, illegal fishing practices, and environmental stressors. The author advocates for a shift from merely minimizing oil-sector impacts toward a constructive 'socio-ecological compact' and integrated maritime governance to support the long-term viability of artisanal fishing.

This research paper examines the conflict between international regulatory norms, such as the CITES ivory trade ban, and the diverse local values held by communities in elephant range states and consumer markets. Using Cameroon's Congo River basin and Southern African states as primary examples, the authors argue that ignoring local societal values and the impacts of globalisation can lead to adverse reactions, undermining long-term conservation goals.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the implications for Australia of the Paris Agreement's goal to limit global warming to 1.5°C. It argues that the remaining global carbon budget is extremely limited and that Australia's current emissions and reliance on fossil fuel exports are incompatible with these targets.

This World Resources Institute working paper analyzes the alignment between the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted under the Paris Agreement and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. By mapping climate actions across 92 INDCs, the authors demonstrate that climate policies often generate mutual benefits for sustainable development, though these synergies are frequently unrecognized or uncoordinated at the national level due to institutional silos.

This briefing provides a preliminary analysis of consumer fossil fuel subsidies in Saskatchewan, estimating their value in 2015 and discussing the impact of these subsidies on climate goals and G7 targets.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted these written submissions to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in August 2016. The document outlines systemic failures in the environmental governance of the South African mining sector, detailing how poor monitoring, inadequate enforcement, and flawed impact assessment processes lead to the violation of environmental rights in mining-affected communities. It provides evidence of water pollution, ecosystem destruction, and severe health impacts, while recommending a transfer of regulatory authority from the Department of Mineral Resources to environmental authorities.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the economic, social, and environmental consequences of insecure land rights in rural Brazil, highlighting how these insecurities hinder growth and environmental protection while identifying systemic governance obstacles.