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The report examines the intersection of climate change mitigation and social equity in Laos. While the country has low emissions and high hydropower capacity, its climate goals—such as increasing forest cover to 70%—risk harming the 70% of the population dependent on agriculture and forestry. The document argues that a 'just transition' requires inclusive planning, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and improved government capacity to prevent the further marginalization of poor and vulnerable communities.

The document analyzes Argentina's challenges in implementing a 'just transition' toward a low-carbon economy, highlighting a critical lack of coordination between government agencies and a tension between climate commitments and the continued expansion of fossil fuels. It identifies the energy sector (51% of emissions) and the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector (39% of emissions) as the primary areas of impact. The report argues that current participatory processes are often 'testimonial' and that a unified national decarbonization plan is necessary to prevent further socio-economic inequalities, particularly for women, ethnic minorities, and small-scale producers.

The report argues that while Kenya is advancing in renewable energy and climate policy, its transition to a low-carbon economy risks marginalizing informal workers, women, and youth. It examines sectoral vulnerabilities in agriculture, energy, transport, industry, forestry, waste, and tourism, highlighting a critical gap between national climate goals and the social protection mechanisms needed to ensure a just transition. The document recommends integrating just transition principles into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Medium-Term Plans, emphasizing the need for reskilling, gender quotas, and the formalization of the informal sector to prevent livelihood losses.

The report examines the challenges of implementing a just transition in Argentina, highlighting a critical lack of coordination between government agencies and a lack of consensus on the necessity of decarbonisation. It identifies the energy sector (51% of emissions) and the agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector (39% of emissions) as the primary areas for mitigation. The document notes that while the government has committed to emission reductions via its NDC, it simultaneously prioritises the expansion of oil and gas resources in the Vaca Muerta basin. Key recommendations include creating a unified national decarbonisation plan, expanding stakeholder participation beyond 'testimonial' processes, and addressing deep-seated gender and ethnic inequalities within the productive sectors.

The report examines the systemic risks posed by the 'new planetary reality' of the Anthropocene, where climate instability and biosphere depletion create non-linear financial risks. It argues that current ESG metrics and macroeconomic indicators (like GDP) are insufficient because they fail to account for planetary boundaries and natural capital. The authors highlight the disproportionate responsibility of high-income countries for ecological breakdown and the role of 'keystone actors'—including transnational corporations and 'Big Three' asset managers (BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street)—in driving or mitigating these risks. The document proposes a shift toward a precautionary approach to financial regulation, the adoption of impact accounting, and the use of social norm shifts to accelerate a just transition.

The South African energy services market is expanding due to rising electricity costs, energy insecurity, and falling technology prices. The market is segmented into small-scale embedded generation (SSEG), energy storage, and energy efficiency, with a total available market estimated at R131 billion by 2035. Key opportunities include rooftop solar PV for commercial and industrial (C&I) and agricultural sectors, behind-the-meter battery storage, and innovative energy efficiency models like Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS). The Western Cape is highlighted as a leading regional hub due to its supportive municipal policies and high uptake of SSEG.

The 2022 Waste Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape identifies significant value-add potential in the waste sectors of Cape Town and the Western Cape, estimating a total potential of R320 million to R5 billion annually. The report highlights organic waste as the greatest opportunity, driven by provincial landfill restrictions aiming for 100% diversion by 2027 and the City of Cape Town's (CCT) goal of 100% organic waste diversion by 2027. Key drivers include rising landfill gate fees—with the CCT having the highest metropolitan fee in South Africa at R557 per tonne (excl. VAT)—and the implementation of mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for paper, packaging, electronics, and lighting as of November 2021. The report details specific opportunities in black soldier fly larvae production, biogas, and composting, while noting barriers such as inadequate source separation and the lack of reliable e-waste data. It also outlines the CCT's planned investments in four new material recovery facilities (MRFs) and its strategic shift toward a circular waste economy.

The report provides an overview of global environmental governance in 2022, noting a return to face-to-face multilateralism after the pandemic. Key achievements include the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the launch of plastics treaty negotiations, and the agreement to establish a loss and damage fund for vulnerable countries. It also examines the integration of human rights into environmental policy and the impact of the war in Ukraine on environmental governance.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of critical minerals, which are essential for renewable energy and low-carbon technologies. It distinguishes between two primary perspectives on criticality: supply security (emphasized by the US, EU, and Japan) and value capture (emphasized by China, Australia, and Canada). The text details the importance of rare earth elements, the drivers of demand—such as electric mobility and decarbonization—and the role of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). It also highlights the significant increase in mineral requirements for electric vehicles and the global demand projections for 2050, while warning governments about supply risks, macroeconomic volatility, and the 'Dutch disease'.

The workshop, organized by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) and funded by the UK's FCDO, brought together 52 stakeholders to address the informality of Niger's ASGM sector. Key discussions focused on the lack of reliable production statistics, environmental degradation, and the security risks posed by the illicit use of explosives and chemicals. Participants identified a need to lower high fixed fees for marketing approval and export taxes to encourage formalization. The report also highlights the socio-economic dynamics in the Agadez region, where 85% of miners work for employers rather than on their own account. The workshop concluded with a set of recommendations to strengthen state presence on mining sites, simplify administrative procedures, and create non-violent conflict management mechanisms.

The 2022 state of global environmental governance was marked by a post-pandemic return to in-person multilateralism, resulting in significant milestones such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the agreement to establish a loss and damage fund for vulnerable countries. The report notes the rise of 'nature-based solutions' across various treaties and the formal recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment by the UN General Assembly. However, geopolitical tensions, specifically the war in Ukraine, and ongoing financial gaps continue to challenge the implementation of these global goals.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) analyzed Redbubble, Etsy, Teespring, Teepublic, and Zazzle, finding that despite existing community guidelines, these platforms continue to host a wide range of extremist and hateful products. The report highlights that while explicit keywords are often blocked, coded language and network-tracing reveal substantial quantities of neo-Nazi, antisemitic, and conspiratorial merchandise. The platforms profit significantly from these sales, often retaining 80% or more of the revenue.

The brief examines gender representation among individuals invited to brief the UN Security Council between 2015 and 2021. While the period remained male-dominated overall, the proportion of male briefers fell from 77% in 2015 to 52% in 2021. Women are more frequently represented when briefing as members of civil society organizations (CSOs) or government institutions, whereas men dominate the UN system and other multilateral organizations. The authors note a positive trend in the consultation of women's CSOs, which have moved from being primarily invited to thematic Women, Peace and Security (WPS) debates to briefing on a wider array of country-specific issues, including Afghanistan, Colombia, the DRC, Libya, and Mali.

Financing for sustainable cooling is complex because needs vary across populations and businesses, requiring a diverse array of financial instruments including public procurement, grants, subsidies, and commercial financing. A significant development in 2021 was the establishment of a USD 157 million Cooling Facility by the World Bank and Green Climate Fund to support nine developing countries. The appropriateness of these financial flows depends on local conditions such as poverty levels and energy access tiers.

The report evaluates sustainable cooling policy progress in the 'Critical 9' countries, finding that while energy efficiency policies exist, they are inconsistently implemented and often fail to cover off-grid devices or reflect best-in-class technology. It highlights a significant gap in integrating cooling demand into national electrification planning and financial incentives, while noting varying levels of adoption of National Cooling Action Plans (NCAPs) and the Kigali Amendment.

The report examines the challenges and opportunities for human-tiger coexistence in Asia, emphasizing that long-term tiger recovery depends on the support of approximately 47 million people living within tiger ranges. It proposes shifting from top-down conservation to inclusive partnerships that respect human rights and provide tangible socio-economic benefits. The document details strategies for managing human-tiger conflict (HTC) through the 'Safe Systems Approach,' explores sustainable financing models like Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) and conservation performance payments, and advocates for the recognition of 'Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures' (OECMs) to expand protected habitats beyond traditional reserves.

The report argues that transitioning to a circular plastics economy by 2050 will result in positive cumulative effects on GDP, employment, and consumer welfare in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and South Africa compared to a business-as-usual scenario. Using computational general equilibrium (CGE) modelling, the study finds that such a transition increases economic activity and reduces the costs of environmental externalities. For Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya, immediate implementation is recommended to maximize environmental gains and avoid sunk costs. For South Africa, an incremental shift is suggested to minimize short-term negative impacts on its more established plastics sector. The report emphasizes the need for national policy instruments—such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) and deposit return schemes—alongside regional coordination via the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and a legally binding global treaty to combat plastic pollution.

The report examines the role of informal waste reclaimers in African cities, highlighting their significant contribution to recycling and waste diversion despite facing severe health risks, social marginalization, and low pay. It argues that the current linear 'take-make-waste' model is unsustainable and that an 'inclusive circular economy' must integrate these vulnerable workers into formal policy and value chains. The document provides a comparative analysis of the informal waste sector in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda, detailing specific policy gaps and opportunities for reclaimer integration and formalization.

Reclaim Finance reports that Amundi continues to support coal-expanding companies despite a 2019 commitment to exit the sector. The analysis finds that 94% of coal companies in the portfolios of major French financial institutions lack satisfactory exit plans, and Amundi is invested in all of them. The document highlights failures in Amundi's passive management strategy, where it voted in favor of 78% of resolutions from 13 coal developers, and criticizes its engagement policy for lacking precise requirements and binding sanctions.

The Changing Markets Foundation and partner organisations inform Groupe Bigard that it scored 0 out of 100 in a ranking of global meat and dairy companies' climate policies, specifically noting a lack of methane emission reporting and reduction targets. The letter demands disclosure of investments in methane abatement and meat alternatives and recommends the adoption of science-based targets aligned with a 1.5°C limit, including scope 3 emissions.