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This executive summary evaluates progress toward Goals 3 and 4 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), focusing on reducing deforestation caused by extractive industries and infrastructure, and supporting sustainable livelihoods. The report finds that natural forest loss has increased since 2014, failing the 2020 target of a 50% reduction. While some governments and companies have adopted policies and commitments, progress is hindered by a widespread lack of transparency, weak enforcement, and a continued economic reliance on resource extraction.

The 2020 NYDF Progress Assessment executive summary evaluates progress toward Goals 3 and 4 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which focus on reducing deforestation from infrastructure and extractive industries and supporting sustainable livelihoods. The report finds that natural forest loss has increased since 2014, failing the 2020 target of halving the rate. While some policy frameworks and corporate commitments exist, progress is severely hindered by a lack of transparency, weak enforcement of regulations, and a continued global economic reliance on resource extraction.

This executive summary from the NYDF Assessment Partners evaluates progress toward Goals 3 and 4 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), focusing on reducing deforestation from infrastructure and extractive industries while promoting sustainable livelihoods. The report finds that natural forest loss has increased since 2014, and progress toward these goals is slow due to systemic barriers, lack of transparency, and a continued global economic reliance on resource extraction.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines youth climate advocacy in Africa, focusing on the roles of civil society, government, and international networks. It documents how young people are transitioning from symbolic participants to active agents of change through networking, social media, and policy engagement, while highlighting the systemic barriers—such as the digital divide and tokenism—that hinder meaningful intergenerational equity in climate governance.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores the precautionary principle, a guide in international environmental law that advocates for taking protective action even in the absence of full scientific certainty to avoid serious or irreversible damage.

This joint report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra examines the role of services and international services trade in supporting circular economy business models, identifying key service types, trade modes, and regulatory barriers.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative and SynTao Green Finance analyzes the potential for green bond issuance in China to support its transition to a low-carbon economy. It details the investment needs under the 13th Five-Year Plan, the role of green finance pilot zones, and the regulatory framework governing green bonds. The document emphasizes the need for private sector capital to fill a significant funding gap and advocates for the harmonization of green definitions to attract international investors.

This report, co-authored by the Climate Bonds Initiative and Syntao Green Finance and sponsored by UK PACT, analyzes the potential for green investment and the issuance of green bonds in China. It identifies significant funding gaps for the transition to a low-carbon economy, evaluates the impact of national and local green finance policies, and highlights opportunities within green finance reform and innovation pilot zones. The document emphasizes the need for standardized green definitions, increased transparency in disclosure, and the potential for 'new infrastructure' and 'brown' industry transitions to drive future green bond issuance.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the evolution of international efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade, focusing on the role and limitations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

This policy brief outlines the international governance of biodiversity, focusing on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its associated protocols. It details the shift from species-based to area-based conservation, the challenges of ensuring fair benefit-sharing from genetic resources, and the regulatory complexities introduced by emerging technologies like synthetic biology and digital sequence information (DSI). The document emphasizes the urgency of moving away from "business as usual" to reverse biodiversity loss and achieve sustainable development goals.

This policy brief examines the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, detailing its origins, the diplomatic tensions between developed and developing nations, and its lasting impact on international environmental law and the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

This briefing describes the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, as the foundational event for modern environmental diplomacy. It details the conference's origins, the tensions between developed and developing nations, the resulting Stockholm Declaration and Action Plan, and the subsequent establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

This research paper by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) evaluates the local government fiscal framework in South Africa, arguing that the structural assumptions made in the 1998 White Paper on Local Government are fundamentally unsound and have led to widespread municipal financial distress and the erosion of the social wage.

This fact sheet from the World Resources Institute provides a comparative analysis of net-zero targets adopted by 19 countries and the European Union as of July 2020, evaluating their design robustness, target years, sectoral coverage, and legal status.

This policy brief by the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) examines the role of blended finance in mobilizing commercial capital for sustainable development goals (SDGs) in developing countries. It emphasizes the importance of anchoring blended finance to local contexts, priorities, and financial market development, providing recommendations for Development Finance Organizations (DFOs) to improve their organizational strategies, partnerships with local actors, and the use of local currency financing.

The 'CHINA GREEN BOND MARKET 2019 RESEARCH REPORT', published by the Climate Bonds Initiative and CCDC Research, analyzes the growth, policy landscape, and alignment of China's green bond market in 2019. It highlights a significant increase in issuance, a shift toward non-financial corporate issuers, and the emergence of municipal green bonds, while noting persistent discrepancies between domestic and international green definitions.

The 2019 Research Report on China's Green Bond Market, published by the Climate Bonds Initiative and the China Central Depository & Clearing (CCDC) Research Center, analyzes the growth, policy environment, and alignment of Chinese green bonds with international standards. It highlights China's position as a global leader in green bond issuance, the diversification of issuers to include more non-financial enterprises and local government platforms, and the ongoing gap between domestic and international green definitions.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) evaluates Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) practices for green bonds in China, comparing them to international standards. It identifies significant gaps in reporting quality and transparency, particularly among enterprise bonds, and provides regulatory and incentive-based recommendations to enhance market trust and effectiveness.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment within the mining sector. It examines immediate disruptions to labor and supply chains, the varying risks across the mining lifecycle, and the short-term responses from governments and corporations. The document concludes with strategic recommendations to build long-term resilience through automation, local procurement, and updated regulatory frameworks.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative outlines the state of global climate adaptation finance, highlighting the gap between estimated needs and tracked investments, while discussing the importance and challenges of tracking adaptation finance.