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The policy brief analyzes the gap between international guidelines, sectoral manuals, and the actual implementation of environmental studies for land infrastructure in the Legal Amazon. It finds that studies prioritize socio-economic and physical factors over the biotic environment, often fail to comply with their own terms of reference, and lack coordination between the EVTEA and EIA phases. The authors recommend making EVTEAs mandatory before EIAs, incorporating international standards into binding terms of reference, and establishing transparent approval criteria to reduce environmental risks and transaction costs.

The document analyzes 14 large-scale railroad and highway projects in the Legal Amazon, finding significant gaps in the viability phase. Key issues include the lack of a mandatory sequence between Technical, Economic and Environmental Viability Studies (EVTEA) and Environmental Impact Studies (EIA), and a severe lack of transparency, with 57% of essential documents unavailable. The authors recommend mandating that EVTEA precede EIA to identify risks earlier and establishing a centralized database for all concession documents.

The report analyzes the Mataven and Kaliawiri REDD+ projects in Colombia, finding they generated approximately 21 million more carbon credits than justified by official government reference values. These 'hot air' credits were used by companies, primarily Primax Colombia SAS, to avoid paying the national carbon tax, leading to an estimated US$62 million in potential forgone tax revenues. The document attributes this to a system failure involving conflicts of interest for verification bodies, lack of stringency from standards like Verra (VCS) and ProClima, and insufficient enforcement by the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.

The report highlights the critical role of youth-led organisations, particularly the YoNeLCR, in fostering resilience and peacebuilding in communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. It finds that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly hindered these efforts by limiting face-to-face community interaction and reducing donor funding, with some programme implementation dropping to less than 20% of usual levels. The document argues against the narrative of youth as merely victims or perpetrators, showcasing their roles as peace messengers, ICT innovators, and CSO leaders. It recommends that the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and African Union (AU) create formal plans to integrate youth-led organisations into regional stabilisation strategies.

The document analyzes the 'arduous' journey of Zambian civil society in the APRM process, highlighting the establishment of a dedicated CSO APRM Secretariat in 2007 and its eventual closure in 2011. It details how the process was hindered by resource constraints, political instability following the death of President Levy Mwanawasa, and overlaps with a contentious national constitutional review. Key achievements include the production of an independent CSO thematic report that influenced the Country Self-Assessment Report and the Country Review Report. The author argues that the lack of a plan to monitor the National Programme of Action (NPoA) after the Secretariat's closure was a fundamental flaw, and emphasizes the need for long-term funding and collective capacity building for effective governance oversight.

The document identifies six peculiarities of rural credit in the Amazon, noting that credit is heavily skewed toward cattle production, which is closely linked to illegal deforestation. It highlights that producers in the Amazon have less access to credit than those in other Brazilian regions, face low competition due to the dominance of public banks (Banco do Brasil and Banco da Amazônia), and operate with a less business-oriented approach. The brief argues that aligning credit access with Forest Code compliance and utilizing initiatives like the Green Credit Bureau (Bureau Verde) are essential to reducing deforestation and increasing agricultural productivity.

The document argues that the innovative policy responses used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic can be repurposed to mitigate systemic climate-related risks. It details how prudential regulations, such as stress testing and capital buffers, and monetary instruments, including collateral frameworks and corporate financing facilities, can be 'greened' to support a sustainable recovery in the ASEAN region. The brief emphasizes the need for clear roadmaps and mandatory climate disclosures to manage both physical and transition risks.

The document identifies three primary narratives in Russia: a dominant 'keep coal' discourse supported by political leadership, an emerging 'low-carbon trend' discourse focused on economic competitiveness, and a 'local environmental' discourse centered on pollution and health. It concludes that while external pressures like the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and declining demand are increasing, there is currently no active 'coal phase-out' or 'just transition' discourse within Russian national politics.

The document identifies three primary discourses in Russia: a dominant 'keep coal' vision supported by political leadership, an economically-driven 'low-carbon trend' discourse, and a 'local environmental' discourse focused on pollution and health. It concludes that while external pressures like the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and declining demand may force long-term adjustments, there is currently no active 'coal phase-out' discourse or just transition planning in Russia, leaving coal communities vulnerable to economic instability.

The document addresses the challenge of managing fishing capacity amid WTO negotiations to prohibit capacity-enhancing subsidies. It notes that the global fleet grew to 4.56 million vessels by 2018, coinciding with declines in stock abundance and catches per unit effort. To manage overcapacity, coastal states must define objectives, assess capacity, and implement monitoring measures, using qualitative indicators like profitability and fishers' knowledge in data-poor environments.

The document finds that cattle productivity in the Legal Amazon is uniformly low and extensive, meaning that disseminating the practices of the region's most productive municipalities would only increase production value by 17.6-29.4%. This is significantly lower than the potential gains seen in grain production. To achieve major productivity increases without deforestation, the authors argue for the adoption of new technologies—such as crop-livestock integration systems (ICLS)—and the combatting of land grabbing and illegal deforestation, which currently incentivize low-productivity extensive ranching for land speculation.

The document examines the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) in supporting smallholder farmer resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a study of six countries and commodities, it finds that VSS compliance can provide higher incomes through premiums, stronger buyer relationships, and better access to training. However, VSSs do not fully protect farmers from international price volatility or asymmetric power dynamics in supply chains. The brief recommends that governments leverage VSSs alongside social protection programs, minimum producer prices, and sustainable sourcing frameworks to enhance farmer livelihoods.

The document assesses the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) in enhancing the resilience of small-scale farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. While VSS can provide higher incomes through price premiums, stronger supply chain links, and better access to training, they do not fully protect producers from international price volatility or asymmetric power dynamics. The brief recommends that governments complement VSS with social protection, minimum pricing, and policies to stimulate demand for sustainable products.

The document assesses the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) in enhancing the resilience of small-scale farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a study of six countries and commodities, it finds that VSS can provide higher prices, stronger buyer relationships, and better training, which help farmers mitigate shocks. However, VSS alone cannot protect against global price volatility or asymmetric power dynamics in supply chains. The brief recommends that governments complement VSS with social protection programs, minimum price guarantees, and policies to stimulate demand for sustainable products.

The document provides a stocktaking of the e-commerce JSI negotiations among 86 WTO members, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption while exacerbating the digital divide. It details the establishment of ten small negotiating groups to narrow differences on issues like consumer protection and spam, while noting persistent divergence on data flows and privacy. The brief also examines the separate WTO Work Programme on E-Commerce, specifically the contentious moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, and the limited progress in addressing the needs of MSMEs, LDCs, and gender equality.

The document examines the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) in supporting smallholder farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. While VSSs generally do not protect farmers from global price volatility or asymmetric power dynamics, they can enhance resilience through higher prices/premiums, stronger buyer-producer relationships, market diversification, and better access to training. The study analyzes six sectors: rice in Cambodia, cotton in India, avocado in Colombia, banana in Guatemala, cashew in Guinea-Bissau, and coffee in Rwanda. It concludes that governments should complement VSSs with policies such as minimum producer prices, expanded social protection, and incentives for sustainable consumption to further build farmer resilience.

The document argues that the US shift away from coal has occurred without adequate planning, leaving workers and communities to face economic upheaval. It proposes a support package including wage replacement, educational benefits, and community infrastructure investments, estimating the cost between $33 billion and $83 billion. The brief identifies 462 'coal counties' and highlights the need for environmental remediation of mine and plant legacies to enable future economic diversification.

The Institute for Economic Justice proposes a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) for South African adults aged 18-59 to address widespread hunger and job losses. The brief argues that a universal, unconditional grant is superior to targeted measures due to administrative ease and broader reach. It suggests starting with a grant at the food poverty line (R585 per month), funded by R158 billion in progressive tax increases, including a Social Security Tax and the elimination of certain tax credits. In the medium term, the document recommends a wealth tax to increase the grant to lower-bound (R840) or upper-bound (R1,268) poverty lines. Immediate recommendations include extending and increasing the COVID-19 social relief grant and incorporating caregivers.

The document identifies off-grid renewable energy, batteries, and information and communication technologies (ICT) as 'transformative' tools capable of increasing agricultural productivity while reducing environmental costs. It focuses on solar-powered irrigation as a key application, noting that dramatic price drops in solar PV and lithium-ion batteries are making these systems more accessible to smallholders. While these technologies offer opportunities for increased yields and income, the brief warns of risks such as groundwater over-extraction and market price drops due to overproduction. It concludes with eight policy recommendations for governments and financial institutions to ensure an inclusive and sustainable transition, including targeted subsidies, responsible lending regulations, and improved digital infrastructure.

The document argues that urban climate resilience in dryland Africa requires alternative models of knowledge production and decision-making that prioritize social inclusivity and innovation. It highlights that rapid, expansive population growth in African cities increases land use change and leaves residents of informal settlements vulnerable to climate risks such as flooding and landslides due to a lack of basic services and secure tenure. Based on stakeholder interviews from the "Peri-Urban Resilient Ecosystems" partnership, the brief emphasizes democratic accountability, transparent decision-making, and community co-production as essential themes for scalable and replicable urban policy.