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The analysis of 13 Peruvian regional development plans reveals a significant failure to integrate climate change variables, with none of the plans reaching half of the ideal quality score. Key deficiencies include a lack of technical climate projections, the conflation of disaster risk management with climate adaptation, and a near-total absence of mitigation objectives. Furthermore, the study finds that regional authorities are largely failing to comply with the legal requirement to incorporate ERCC measures into their PDRC, with only Piura and Amazonas showing high levels of integration.

ClientEarth argues that the European Commission's December 2025 proposals to accelerate environmental assessments and permit-granting for infrastructure projects will lead to irreversible environmental harm and human health risks. The report claims these measures undermine the Birds and Habitats Directives, restrict access to justice, and violate the precautionary and proportionality principles of EU law. Specifically, it warns that the proposals normalize the killing of protected species, create a biased 'strategic sector' permitting regime, and restrict the ability of Member States to exclude ecologically sensitive areas from Renewable Acceleration Areas (RAAs).

The paper examines the history and current state of EU environmental governance, detailing the roles of the Commission, Parliament, Council, and Court of Justice. It highlights a systemic failure in the enforcement of environmental law by Member States and the Commission, noting that economic interests frequently override environmental concerns. The author argues that the EU's 'good governance' principles of openness and participation are poorly implemented, leaving environmental NGOs with limited influence and citizens with minimal access to justice. While the EU has a comprehensive body of legislation, the author concludes that the lack of political will makes much of it a 'paper tiger'.

The Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) evaluated the MRV systems of four countries—China, Germany, Italy, and the United States—using six criteria: transparency, comparability, reliability, usefulness, timeliness, and completeness. The analysis finds that while emissions tracking is generally well-established, all four nations struggle to comprehensively and consistently track the actual impact of their climate policies. Most systems rely on pre-implementation forecasts rather than retrospective analysis, making it difficult for policymakers to identify the most cost-effective and efficient mitigation actions.

The report identifies 67 planned coal-to-biomass projects in the EU that could increase biomass consumption by 607 PJ per year, potentially tripling the current levels of biomass burnt in coal power plants. This expansion would require approximately 36 million tonnes of wood pellets annually, which is similar to current global production. The authors argue that these projects are expensive, rely on public subsidies, and risk accelerating climate change because the CO2 emitted during combustion is not reabsorbed quickly enough to meet Paris Agreement targets. The report highlights that five countries—Finland, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands—are responsible for most of this potential growth, with the Netherlands accounting for 25%.

The California Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) indicates that a 55 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 is achievable without new technologies and would generate significant economic and social benefits. The scenario projects a $55.4 billion increase in state GDP, the creation of 235,000 total jobs, and the avoidance of 1,829 premature deaths by 2030. Achieving this target requires accelerating the deployment of electrification, hydrogen, and carbon capture in industry, as well as reaching 90% clean energy for grid-scale generation by 2030.

The report examines the EIB's operations in the Global South, specifically in Zambia, Chad, Cameroon, Laos, Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil. It contends that the EIB functions as a demand-driven institution that finances high-yield projects for European firms rather than prioritizing social or environmental goals. Key criticisms include a lack of transparency, failure to adhere to EU environmental and social standards, and the promotion of harmful projects such as large dams and extractive industries. The document concludes with recommendations for a fundamental review of the EIB's project selection, accountability, and monitoring processes.

The document assesses how the COVID-19 pandemic strained sovereign debt management offices (DMOs) in the MEFMI region, highlighting a general lack of comprehensive business continuity plans and procedure manuals. While most countries maintained legal debt limits and audit frequencies, the crisis forced a shift toward remote work and virtual coordination, which increased operational risks and compromised the segregation of duties. The report recommends strengthening operational risk frameworks, investing in digital infrastructure, and introducing 'escape clauses' in regional debt convergence criteria to better handle future crises.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp economic downturn in the MEFMI region, characterized by contracting GDP growth, widening fiscal deficits, and deteriorating external positions. To mitigate these effects, member states implemented a range of fiscal measures, such as VAT exemptions and social protection transfers, and monetary interventions, including cutting policy rates and reducing statutory reserve requirements. However, these responses, combined with lower revenues and higher borrowing costs, accelerated public debt accumulation and eroded debt-carrying capacity across the region. The document emphasizes the need for sustainable debt management, fiscal buffers, and economic diversification to build resilience against future shocks.

The report evaluates South Africa's sustainability transition, arguing that the green economy is often treated as a sector rather than an economy-wide transformation. It critiques the 2011 Green Economy Accord as a 'public relations exercise' due to a lack of enforcement and monitoring, while praising the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS) for improving the inter-disciplinary nature of policymaking despite internal capacity constraints.

The document argues that NAFTA's Chapter XI creates a system of international economic rights for private investors that can override national public welfare regulations. It analyzes key disciplines—national treatment, minimum standard of treatment, performance requirements, and expropriation—concluding that broad interpretations by arbitral tribunals risk creating 'regulatory chill' and undermining environmental management. The author criticizes the lack of transparency and institutional legitimacy in the investor-state dispute settlement process and proposes amendments to promote sustainable investment and protect the state's right to regulate.

Argentina reduced direct budgetary transfers to oil producers, saving an estimated US$ 780 million in 2017. However, the government maintained and prioritized subsidies for unconventional gas production, specifically targeting the Vaca Muerta reservoir through the 'Plan Gas'. These reforms were driven by fiscal pressures, including a US$ 50 billion IMF standby agreement requiring deficit reduction. While oil subsidies fell, the government continued to owe US$ 1.5 billion to oil companies as of January 2019. Environmental concerns persist as gas is treated as a transition fuel, despite the high greenhouse gas emissions and water contamination associated with fracking in Vaca Muerta.

The Western Cape is currently caught in a middle-income trap, characterized by slow GDP per capita growth and significant inequality in access to basic services. The document evaluates three scenarios: an 'Inclusive Economy' focusing on basic services and education, a 'Vibrant Economy' focusing on high-level skills and business environment, and an 'Enterprising Cape' which combines both. The analysis finds that while isolated interventions provide some gains, a comprehensive approach is necessary to significantly raise GDP per capita, improve the Human Development Index (HDI), and accelerate the transition to high-income status by the mid-2030s.

The document examines disarmament as a critical component of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programs in post-conflict African states. It argues that disarmament must be integrated into a broader sub-regional context and a comprehensive national recovery strategy to be effective. By comparing the successful UNAMSIL mission in Sierra Leone with the complex situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the authors highlight the necessity of detailed planning, political will, and the inclusion of 'special groups' such as child soldiers and female combatants. The text emphasizes that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) exacerbates regional insecurity and that sustainable peace requires the destruction of weapons and the creation of viable economic alternatives for ex-combatants.

This research paper examines disarmament as a critical pillar of peace-building in Africa, contrasting the successful model in Sierra Leone with the ongoing challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It argues that disarmament must be integrated into broader political settlements and national recovery strategies, emphasizing the need for comprehensive planning, inclusive lead agencies, and the addressing of 'special groups' like child soldiers. The text highlights the shift from traditional peacekeeping to multifunctional peace support operations and the increasing role of regional bodies in managing African conflicts.

The Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program (APRP), launched in late 2010, has achieved limited results due to rushed implementation, poor coordination, and the absence of a coherent political strategy. While designed to entice low-level insurgents with security and jobs, the program has struggled with slow fund disbursement, inadequate vetting, and a failure to provide genuine security for reintegrees. A significant portion of those reintegrated are from northern and western provinces and may not be genuine insurgents. Furthermore, the tendency to enroll reintegrees in the Afghan Local Police (ALP) may exacerbate local rivalries rather than foster peace. The author argues that reintegration cannot succeed as a standalone military tool and must be embedded in a broader reconciliation process that addresses high-level leadership and systemic grievances.

The 'Scan de la Finance Fossile' evaluates 56 French financial institutions on their policies regarding high-risk oil and gas sectors. The analysis finds that fewer than half of these actors have policies covering any of the five most risky sectors, and existing policies often contain loopholes that allow continued financing of companies and infrastructure that facilitate fossil fuel expansion.

The Ugandan government implemented expansionary fiscal and monetary policies to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 lockdowns. While these measures helped stabilize the financial sector and provided temporary liquidity to businesses, the pandemic caused real GDP growth to drop from 6.8% in FY 2018/19 to 2.9% in FY 2019/20. The industrial and services sectors were most severely affected, contributing to a projected 34.5% increase in the number of people living below the poverty line. Fiscal deficits rose to 7.5% of GDP in FY 2019/20, leading to a 21.7% increase in public debt stock to $15.27 billion.

This policy brief examines the development of railway infrastructure in Ethiopia, comparing the Chinese-funded Addis Ababa-Djibouti standard gauge railway (SGR) with the Turkish-built Awash-Kombolcha-Hara Gebeya/Weldiya (AKH) line. It analyzes the trade-offs between different financing models, the effectiveness of technology transfer and capacity building, and the role of Ethiopian government agency in project design.

The document analyzes Benin's macroeconomic response to COVID-19, noting that while stringent health measures and high citizen compliance kept infection rates low, the economy suffered a GDP growth decline from 6.5% in 2019 to 4.8% in 2020. The government and BCEAO deployed expansionary monetary policies to increase liquidity and fiscal measures including cash transfers and subsidies. While these actions supported the agricultural sector and prevented food price inflation, the overall expansion of the money supply contributed to higher consumer prices, potentially increasing poverty risks for vulnerable households.