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The report evaluates Nigeria's strategy to expand LNG production to offset declining oil revenues, warning that such investments risk becoming stranded assets as global demand shifts toward clean energy after 2030. It highlights that while Nigeria is the world's sixth-largest LNG exporter, the sector has not significantly improved domestic energy access or reduced poverty, and continues to be linked to environmental degradation and social conflict in the Niger Delta.

The petrochemical industry is a growing driver of global oil demand and greenhouse gas emissions, with nitrogen fertilisers and plastics as primary contributors. Rapid capacity expansion, particularly in China, is projected to increase emissions beyond 1.5°C warming limits. While technical solutions and recycling are proposed, the low cost of virgin plastics and the limitations of 'downcycling' hinder progress, suggesting that policy should prioritise reuse and the reduction of single-use materials over simple substitution or recycling.

The EPA is reviewing a petition from Earthjustice and community groups regarding the use of Significant Impact Levels (SILs) for ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Louisiana and Texas. While the EPA has rejected the Title VI administrative discrimination portion of the petition due to ongoing litigation, it is conducting a broader national evaluation of SIL guidance through an internal workgroup convened in September 2023, with results expected by the end of 2024. In Louisiana, the EPA is monitoring the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's (LDEQ) progress in addressing modeled National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) violations. LDEQ has identified 15 PSD permit actions since 2018 with predicted exceedances and is conducting case-by-case reviews to determine if these are indicative of actual violations or results of conservative modeling assumptions.

The report analyzes the Paris 2024 climate strategy, noting that while efforts in construction and food procurement are robust, there is significant opacity regarding carbon credit purchases, energy sourcing, and the overall carbon budget. It criticizes the evolution of public communication from 'carbon neutrality' to 'climate positive' as misleading and highlights the incompatibility of many official sponsors with the Paris Agreement. The document argues that incremental improvements are insufficient and proposes a radical redesign of the Olympic model, such as distributing events globally to reduce international air travel and infrastructure needs.

The U.S. clean energy sector saw record growth in 2023, particularly in solar installations and EV sales, supported by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. However, the transition faces significant headwinds from rising interest rates, supply chain shortages for transformers, and a lagging transmission system. To meet 2035 carbon-free electricity goals, annual renewable installation rates must nearly double, and transmission capacity may need to double or triple.

The 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that the world is largely off track to meet its 2030 forest goals. In 2023, 6.37 million hectares of forest were permanently lost, exceeding the target required to eliminate deforestation by 45 percent. Tropical deforestation remains high, particularly in Asia, while primary forest loss is 38 percent higher than necessary to be on track. Forest degradation is widespread, with 62.6 million hectares losing ecological integrity in 2022. The report also highlights an escalation in forest fire frequency and intensity, with 138 million hectares of tree cover burned between 2001 and 2023. Restoration efforts are hindered by a lack of transparent monitoring, though tropical forest regrowth increased significantly after 2015. Biodiversity in forests is also under threat, with tree cover loss in forested Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) spiking by 10 percent in 2023.

The 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that the world is far from meeting its 2030 goals to stop deforestation and degradation. In 2023, 6.37 million hectares of forest were permanently lost, with tropical Asia and Africa seeing significant increases. The report highlights that unsustainable production of agricultural commodities and minerals remains the primary driver of loss, often impacting Indigenous Peoples and local communities. While some progress is noted in Brazil and Indonesia, and through new EU regulations like the EUDR, global efforts are hampered by a massive gap between 'green' and 'grey' financing, with trillions in harmful subsidies continuing to incentivize forest destruction.

The document evaluates various digital interventions to protect elections, including content moderation, algorithmic adjustments, and transparency measures. It highlights a significant gap in data access for researchers and a geographic imbalance in mitigation efforts, which primarily focus on Western contexts. The authors argue for a multi-stakeholder approach and standardized data access to improve the efficacy of electoral safeguarding.

The document examines 'Free to Grow', a curriculum-based intervention delivered during work hours to address risk factors for violence against women and children. Implemented at Tikketai in partnership with the Seven Passes Initiative, the programme uses a human-centred design to improve interpersonal communication, stress management, and parenting skills. Findings indicate that the programme is feasible for busy workplaces and results in positive outcomes for both employees—who report improved home relationships and emotional regulation—and businesses, which observed increased productivity and reduced workplace conflict. The brief emphasizes the importance of quality facilitation and the need for ongoing refresher sessions to sustain behavioral change.

The workshop report details discussions on the progress of South Africa's recovery from state capture, highlighting systemic obstructions in law enforcement, the need for institutional independence, and proposals for a new Office of Public Integrity. It emphasizes the role of grassroots activism and the necessity of reforming public procurement and local government governance to prevent 'state capture 2.0'.

Reclaim Finance challenges the credibility of Crédit Agricole's December 2023 climate objectives, citing a lack of precise definitions for terms like "low-carbon energies" and "clean technologies." The organization argues that the bank's targets—including a goal to reach 3 billion euros in annual renewable energy funding in France by 2030—are insufficient to meet the 1.5°C warming limit and fail to align with the IEA's recommended 6:1 ratio of sustainable electricity investment versus fossil fuel financing.

The report analyzes EU energy data from 2021 to 2023 to demonstrate how reliance on gas as a marginal electricity generator increases price volatility and energy inflation. It highlights that gas set electricity prices 55% of the time in 2022 and notes that energy inflation (HICP energy) typically rises between 20% and 45% when electricity prices exceed 150€/MWh. The author criticizes the EU's expansion of LNG infrastructure as a source of further volatility and calls on the European Central Bank to support renewable energy and energy efficiency to maintain long-term price stability.

The IISD welcomes the launch of a new coalition for fossil fuel subsidy (FFS) reform at COP 28, which aims to increase transparency, evaluate barriers to reform, and develop national phase-out strategies. However, the IISD warns that public financial support for fossil fuels reached a record USD 1.7 trillion in 2022 and notes that only 16 countries have included FFS reform in their current nationally determined contributions (NDCs). To ensure success, the IISD recommends establishing a 2025 deadline for FFS removal in OECD countries and 2030 for non-OECD countries, reinvesting savings into just transition programs, and avoiding narrow definitions of subsidies that have historically delayed action.

The paper argues that the dominant 'Billions to Trillions' agenda, which prioritises private sector mobilisation and de-risking, often conflicts with international human rights standards. It evaluates this architecture through five principle clusters: national responsibilities, national sovereignty, procedural fairness, responsibilities of financial investment, and obligations during crises. The author contends that this model commodifies public goods, undermines state policy autonomy through investment treaties, and lacks transparency. Using South Africa's Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) as a case study, the report highlights gaps in public transport funding and the risks of private-sector dominance. It concludes by proposing a research agenda to bridge the gap between human rights norms and the actual implementation of climate investment plans.

The document reports that global public financial support for fossil fuels reached a record high of over USD 1.7 trillion in 2022, driven largely by USD 1.3 trillion in subsidies. It notes a discrepancy in G7 financing, where USD 20 billion was provided for fossil fuels compared to USD 10 billion for clean energy. The briefing argues that these flows contradict the Paris Agreement and COP 26 pledges, calling for a total phase-out of fossil fuel production and consumption and a shift of public finance toward clean energy and just transition measures.

The IEJ argues that South Africa's current fiscal strategy over-prioritizes stability and business confidence at the expense of poverty and inequality. The submission recommends replacing austerity with a developmental framework that includes increasing the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to the Food Poverty Line, implementing a wealth tax, and reducing reliance on private finance for growth.

The analysis of 25 countries reveals a gap between international climate targets and national policy implementation, noting that many countries increase their NDC ambition without adopting the necessary policies to achieve them. This disconnect is particularly evident in oil- and gas-producing states and countries reliant on fossil fuels for economic growth, which undermines the Paris Agreement's goal of bridging current efforts with long-term climate targets.

The document examines the implementation of the Public Forest Management Law (LGFP) in the Amazon, noting that federal and state concessions have fallen short of targets. Focusing on Pará, the study identifies governance failures—including annulled bids, non-conceded areas, and terminated contracts—driven by administrative errors and restrictive legal limits on concession size and quantity. It recommends enhancing the training of public officials and removing legal caps on the area a single company can manage to attract more qualified operators.

The document examines the prevalence and quality of benefit-sharing agreements in the voluntary carbon market (VCM). Based on an Öko-Institut study, it finds that most carbon standards and projects lack clear, enforceable mechanisms to distribute financial and non-financial benefits to local communities. It highlights a critical confusion between 'benefit-sharing' and 'payment for results' (such as salaries or payments for ecosystem services), arguing that the former should be a separate share of profits. The brief concludes that the absence of uniform definitions and the opposition of major standards to mandatory rules hinder the equitable distribution of carbon credit revenues.

The report argues that private equity firms have consolidated the US Durable Medical Equipment (DME) industry, using high-debt strategies that lead to severe cost-cutting. This has resulted in delayed critical repairs for wheelchair users, fraudulent billing practices in respiratory care, and active lobbying against 'right to repair' legislation. The authors recommend state and federal interventions to ensure timely repairs, combat fraud, and limit industry consolidation.