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The briefing highlights the risks associated with treating critical minerals as undifferentiated commodities, noting that a lack of transparency hides environmental and social costs. It advocates for a paradigm shift toward commodity differentiation through product-level standards, tracking technology, and regulatory tightening to ensure the energy transition is just and sustainable.

A joint editorial by over 30 global media organisations calling for urgent climate action, increased financial support for developing nations, and a rapid transition away from fossil fuels during the Cop27 summit.

The document outlines four strategic propositions for Sweden's 2023 EU presidency: ensuring energy crisis responses align with long-term climate goals, integrating enforceable sustainability standards into trade agreements, promoting 'just resilience' to address transboundary climate risks, and establishing an EU-wide approach to monitoring consumption-based emissions.

This briefing by Good Governance Africa outlines the economic challenges facing Zambia's mining sector and recommends a profit-based Mineral Royalty Tax (MRT) framework to attract investment and increase copper production for the global energy transition.

The document highlights that building operations and construction account for approximately 40% of India's energy use and warns that consumption could triple by 2050 without intervention. It proposes a whole-system approach—integrating low-carbon design, reduced energy needs, efficiency, and clean energy supply—to potentially reduce buildings-related emissions by a factor of four by 2050 compared to business-as-usual scenarios.

The We Mean Business Coalition calls for the urgent delivery of the $100 billion annual climate finance commitment to developing countries and the implementation of market signals to steer private capital toward net zero. The coalition emphasizes the need for reforming fossil fuel subsidies, implementing carbon pricing, and mandating transparent, comparable sustainability reporting standards aligned with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) to prevent greenwashing and facilitate sustainable investment.

The We Mean Business Coalition calls for governments and corporations at COP27 to support SMEs in the energy transition. It highlights that SMEs are disproportionately affected by climate impacts and energy costs, and urges the implementation of policies to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to renewables, increase investment in climate innovation, and provide accessible tax credits and incentives similar to the US Inflation Reduction Act.

The document argues that the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) must prioritize deep emission reductions over removals and exclude the use of removal offsets to avoid carbon pricing or emission cuts. It calls for a strict definition of permanence in storage, the exclusion of short-term bio-based materials from permanent storage targets, and the removal of Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) from the CRCF's scope. The authors emphasize that certification should be limited to low-reversal risk approaches—such as geological storage and rewetted peatlands—while requiring robust social and environmental safeguards to prevent land grabbing and biodiversity loss.

The document calls for the recognition of the link between the climate crisis and violence against environmental defenders. It proposes specific actions within the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) plan and the Global Stocktake to protect defenders' rights to information and participation, while urging COP host governments to guarantee freedom of assembly for civil society observers.

The authors contend that the climate crisis is a human rights crisis, citing the 2022 Pakistan floods as an example where the right to life, housing, food, education, and health were severely impacted. They argue that wealthy industrialized nations and corporate actors bear the primary responsibility for these harms but have neglected the duty to provide effective remedy. The document calls for COP27 to establish a needs- and rights-centered Loss and Damage Finance Facility and to operationalize the Warsaw International Mechanism and Santiago Network in a rights-compliant manner.

The Global Climate and Health Alliance argues that climate change is a critical health crisis causing millions of avoidable deaths. The organization calls for the complete phase-out of fossil fuels as a public health imperative and demands that wealthy nations fulfill the $100 billion global climate finance goal, with half dedicated to adaptation and increased investment in health systems. The statement emphasizes that health is both a prerequisite and a driver for climate resilience and economic productivity.

The We Mean Business Coalition calls for urgent global action at COP27 to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach, advocating for a partnership between business and government to halve global emissions by 2030. The Coalition emphasizes the need for a sectoral Mitigation Work Programme, scaled-up adaptation finance for vulnerable nations, and the fulfillment of the US$100 billion annual climate finance commitment.

The report estimates that five major meat and ten major dairy companies emit approximately 12.8 million tonnes of methane, representing 11.1% of global anthropogenic methane emissions from livestock. These companies' total greenhouse gas emissions (734 million tonnes CO2 equivalent) exceed those of Germany. The authors highlight a significant lack of transparency, noting that 60% of these companies do not report full supply chain (Scope 3) emissions, and none report supply-chain methane. The document calls for mandatory emissions disclosure and a reduction in livestock numbers to meet the 1.5°C global warming limit.

The report finds that 15 major meat and dairy companies emit approximately 12.8 million tonnes of methane, representing 3.4% of global anthropogenic methane emissions and 11.1% of global livestock methane. The combined greenhouse gas emissions of these companies (734 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent) exceed those of Germany. The document highlights a significant lack of corporate transparency, with 60% of the analyzed companies failing to report total emissions or scope 3 emissions. It calls for binding emission targets, mandatory reporting, and a systemic shift toward agroecology to meet the 1.5°C warming limit.

The report identifies high-risk trade flows and species—specifically squid, Atlantic bluefin tuna, and swordfish—that expose the Spanish seafood industry to IUU fishing and labour abuses. While Spain is noted for its effective implementation of the EU IUU Regulation, the authors argue that government controls are insufficient to eliminate risk. They recommend that seafood businesses adopt voluntary due diligence tools, such as PAS 1550:2017, to ensure supply chain transparency and the protection of human rights.

The report identifies high-risk trade flows and specific species—squid, Atlantic bluefin tuna, and swordfish—that are vulnerable to IUU fishing and associated human rights abuses in the Spanish market. It argues that while Spain effectively implements EU IUU regulations, industry-led due diligence, such as the PAS 1550:2017 specification, is necessary to close remaining gaps.

The report identifies three primary categories of climate security vulnerabilities for China: direct risks to military and critical infrastructure, compounding risks to internal political stability, and external risks that amplify regional tensions in the Indo-Pacific. It notes that while China is investing heavily in hard infrastructure adaptation and disaster response, political incentives and a lack of societal trust may undermine these efforts. The document recommends that the US government improve its predictive data on China's physical risks, use forecasting tools like wargaming, and prioritize climate resilience funding for Indo-Pacific allies to counter Chinese influence.

The report analyzes the current trajectory of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, noting that while sales are growing exponentially and battery costs have fallen by 89% since 2010, market forces alone are insufficient to meet climate targets. It recommends that policymakers target 60% ZEV sales by 2030 and 100% by 2035. The authors advocate for a policy portfolio combining ZEV sales standards and tailpipe GHG emissions standards, alongside consumer incentives, charging infrastructure investment, and critical mineral supply chain development. The document also highlights the role of 'learning curves' and the success of the solar industry in overcoming material bottlenecks as evidence that the EV transition can be accelerated through strategic policy.

The Seal River Watershed in northern Manitoba is a 50,000 km2 area that is 99.97% intact and serves as one of Canada's largest free-flowing drainage basins. The report highlights its critical role in biodiversity, storing 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon and supporting species at risk such as polar bears and barren-ground caribou. Economically, the watershed provides at least CAD 214 million in annual ecosystem goods and services (EGS), including ecotourism and caribou harvesting, while the stored carbon is valued at CAD 314.5 billion. The document advocates for the creation of an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) led by the Sayisi Dene, Northlands Denesuline, Barren Lands First Nation, and O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation to prevent threats from mining, hydroelectricity, and road development. It suggests the Manitoba government implement interim protections, establish a feasibility committee, and provide technical support for Indigenous Guardians programs.

The document analyzes Ethiopia's struggle with democratization, tracing a cycle of autocratic rule from the imperial era to the present. It argues that the state's historical hegemony, combined with the organizational weakness of social forces, creates a resilient autocracy. While peaceful protests can trigger short-lived liberalizations, they often fail to consolidate democracy because the state can swiftly recuperate power. Conversely, armed insurgency further deepens authoritarianism by destroying material foundations for democracy and creating militaristic rebel groups that transplant autocratic traditions into the state upon victory. The author recommends using a national dialogue to create incentive structures for elites to commit to democratic reforms.