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The Biden-Harris administration has issued a series of executive orders to reverse Trump-era environmental rollbacks, focusing on rejoining the Paris Agreement, canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, and reviewing methane and fuel economy standards. The administration is also reviewing chemical safety regulations, water protections, and wilderness conservation, including a moratorium on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. These actions are intended to restore science-based policy and environmental justice across federal agencies including the EPA, Department of Energy, and Department of the Interior.

The paper explores 'Buen Vivir', an indigenous-rooted concept from Latin America that challenges anthropocentrism and infinite economic growth. It examines the concept's formal introduction into EU-Latin American relations via a 2015 EuroLat resolution and contrasts it with the 'Green Economy' and 'European Green Deal', which the authors argue maintain a growth-centric logic. While governmental adoption in Europe remains limited, the text identifies local 'post-developmentalist' practices in countries like Spain, Greece, and the Netherlands—such as agroecology and the recognition of nature's rights—as aligned with Buen Vivir principles.

The report finds that Spain has generally maintained steady progress in implementing the EU IUU Regulation, particularly in catch certificate verification and risk assessment. However, it notes a concerning decline in the number of refused imports and a lack of progress in the prosecution of IUU fishing activities.

The document reviews the Global Programme of Action (GPA), a non-binding framework established in 1995 to combat land-based marine pollution. It highlights the GPA's transition toward three key global partnerships focusing on wastewater, nutrient management, and marine litter. While the GPA helped establish Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14.1 and 6.3 and supported 107 countries in creating policy frameworks, the briefing notes that marine pollution has increased, with over 500 'dead zones' identified. It concludes that the GPA's influence has waned as the international community shifts toward legally binding treaties for specific pollutants, such as plastics.

The document traces the history of UN development goals from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the 2030 Agenda. It contrasts the MDGs, which focused on specific time-bound targets for poverty and health but lacked a multidimensional approach, with the SDGs, which are universal and integrated across social, economic, and environmental pillars. The briefing highlights the role of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement in supporting the SDGs and argues that the 2030 Agenda provides a critical roadmap for recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic through inclusive and resilient growth.

The document examines how corruption—including bribery, collusion, nepotism, and favoritism—affects the trade of wild plants and fungi (NTFPs). It identifies key risk points from harvesting and permitting to international export and final product manufacturing. To address these, it recommends improved resource governance, the use of voluntary certification standards like FairWild, and the implementation of traceability technologies such as blockchain.

The document examines urban flood challenges in five Sub-Saharan cities, highlighting the transition from traditional grey infrastructure to Integrated Flood Risk Management (IFRM) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). It details specific interventions across Accra, Cape Town, Durban, Nairobi, and Mombasa, emphasizing that effective flood governance requires multi-stakeholder collaboration and the integration of social principles to protect vulnerable populations in informal settlements.

The document analyzes the legal mechanisms for accessing justice in environmental matters within the EU, focusing on the Aarhus Convention and EU directives. It details the rights to access environmental information, public participation in decision-making, and the ability to challenge acts or omissions that affect the environment. The guide examines standing requirements for individuals and NGOs, the scope and standard of judicial review, and the necessity of effective remedies, including injunctive relief. It also addresses the specific challenges of challenging decisions made by EU institutions.

The document details the 'externalities' of fossil fuels—costs not reflected in market prices—across climate, environmental, and health dimensions. It highlights significant U.S. impacts, including $606.9 billion in extreme weather costs (2016-2020) and 350,000 premature deaths in 2018. It also emphasizes the disproportionate burden on communities of color and low-income areas, such as 'Cancer Alley' in Louisiana. Proposed policy solutions include eliminating subsidies, increasing the social cost of carbon, implementing a federal clean electricity standard, and establishing carbon pricing.

The document outlines the financial landscape for rooftop solar PV in South Africa's commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors. It highlights that while high upfront costs are a perceived barrier, a variety of funding options exist, including traditional commercial bank loans, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and emerging models like Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and Pay As You Save (PAYS). It also details specific tax incentives and grants available to reduce the cost of solar installations.

The report examines South Africa's nascent electric vehicle (EV) market, highlighting a strong existing internal combustion engine (ICE) automotive sector that must transition to avoid losing key export markets. It identifies four primary investment opportunities: the electrification of public transport, local lithium-ion battery production, passenger vehicle manufacturing for export, and EV application in mining and construction. While global EV sales are rising, South Africa lacks specific subsidies and policies to accelerate uptake, and faces barriers such as high import duties (25% for EVs) and a lack of charging infrastructure. The document also details the potential macroeconomic impact of EV adoption, including reduced oil imports and a projected loss in government revenue from fuel levies.

The document outlines best practices for mine closure, emphasizing the necessity of early planning and robust financial assurance to prevent the state from inheriting liabilities from abandoned mines. It specifically examines the comprehensive national laws in Chile and Peru, noting that while both align with international standards for physical and chemical stability, they lack significant emphasis on social transition and post-mining land use. The study details the specific legal milestones, financial instruments, and reporting requirements used in both countries to ensure mine sites are safely reclaimed.

The report examines how Ghana and British Columbia manage mine waste, focusing on tailings facilities and waste rock. It outlines a 'plan-do-check-act' model for governance, emphasizing risk-based standards, corporate accountability, and financial guarantees for closure. In Ghana, the focus is on integrating artisanal mining and strengthening corporate accountability. In British Columbia, the framework has evolved following the 2014 Mount Polley dam failure, leading to the creation of a dedicated Mine Audits and Effectiveness Unit and stricter requirements for independent reviews.

The case study analyzes mine waste governance in Ghana and British Columbia, highlighting the importance of risk-based frameworks, financial assurances, and corporate accountability. It details Ghana's efforts to formalize artisanal mining and British Columbia's regulatory evolution following the 2014 Mount Polley tailings dam failure.

The document details updates to six specific energy subsidies in India, covering electric buses, energy conservation, regional fuel support, natural gas infrastructure, and hydrocarbon research. It provides financial data from FY 2014 to FY 2020, highlighting a significant increase in the cost of concessional GST for electric buses and substantial spending on the Phulpur Dhamra Haldia Pipeline Project and the National Seismic Programme.

The 2021 state of global environmental governance was characterized by a heavy reliance on voluntary commitments and a transition toward hybrid and virtual negotiation formats due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some substantive outcomes were achieved—such as the finalization of the Paris Agreement rulebook at COP26 and the adoption of the Marseille Manifesto by the IUCN—many multilateral environmental agreements were limited to procedural decisions. The report highlights a growing gap between political promises and actual implementation, alongside increasing global inequalities in vaccine access and digital connectivity that hinder inclusive environmental governance.

The document assesses Turkmenistan's institutional capacity for climate adaptation, highlighting the vulnerability of its water and agricultural sectors. It recommends the development of a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the use of the Inter-Sectoral Commission on Environmental Protection to coordinate cross-sectoral integration. The report also identifies key drivers for success, including high-level political support and the need for a National Clean Climate Fund, while drawing lessons from adaptation processes in Turkey, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

The document outlines Saint Lucia's comprehensive climate policy environment, highlighting the role of the Department of Sustainable Development and the National Climate Change Committee in coordinating national efforts. It details the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan (2018-2028), the development of Sectoral Adaptation Strategies and Action Plans (SASAPs), and the submission of an Updated Nationally Determined Contribution in January 2021. The paper also examines the integration of gender considerations, the challenges of climate finance, and the emerging focus on loss and damage policy.

The document examines the legal frameworks governing the appointment and removal of senior officials in South Africa's criminal justice system, specifically the NPA, SAPS, DPCI, and IPID. It argues that these processes are currently susceptible to political manipulation and patronage, which undermines the rule of law and institutional legitimacy. The author highlights a lack of rigorous selection criteria and the absence of independent oversight panels, noting that the President and Ministers often exercise unchecked discretion. To remedy this, the document proposes the institutionalisation of independent selection panels, the adoption of more specific 'fit and proper' criteria, and the implementation of non-renewable terms of office to prevent favour-seeking. It also suggests that removal processes should be guided by independent boards chaired by judges to ensure impartiality.

The report advocates for a paradigm shift in sanitation and wastewater management, moving from a 'waste disposal' model to a 'resource recovery' model. It details how the safe recovery of water, nutrients, organic matter, and energy from human excreta and wastewater can improve public health, enhance agricultural productivity, and mitigate climate change. The text provides a comprehensive framework for sustainable systems, covering technical design, health risk management, environmental protection, institutional governance, and financial models. It emphasizes that sustainability depends on adapting technologies to local geographic, social, and economic contexts rather than applying universal solutions. The report includes diverse global case studies—ranging from potable water reuse in Namibia to biogas production in China and fuel briquettes in Kenya—to demonstrate the practical viability of these systems.