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The April 2022 Peace & Security Council Report examines the security crisis in Burkina Faso, the implementation of the African Union's (AU) youth, peace and security agenda, the appointment of the fifth Panel of the Wise, and Senegal's priorities as AU chair.

This case study by Trend Asia and partners argues that the World Bank Group's (WBG) continued financial and technical support for gas infrastructure in Indonesia undermines the Paris Agreement and the country's own decarbonisation goals. The document highlights how WBG strategies encourage a transition from coal to gas rather than leapfrogging to renewables, potentially locking Indonesia into fossil fuel dependency for decades.

This research paper analyzes the Indonesian government's plan to replace 3.4GW of coal-based power generation at Suralaya with grid-connected solar PV capacity in the Java-Bali grid, evaluating the potential impacts on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and identifying necessary policy and international support mechanisms.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign (LAC), submitted comments on the Second Amendment Bill of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) 94 of 2006. The CER argues that the amendments fail to integrate climate change obligations and a just transition, while granting excessive discretionary power to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy. The submission calls for stronger regulatory oversight by NERSA, increased transparency in licensing and procurement, and the protection of public participation rights in line with PAJA and PAIA.

A briefing by Ember, E3G, RAP, and Bellona stating that the European Union can eliminate all Russian fossil gas imports by 2025 through the accelerated deployment of clean energy and efficiency measures, rather than new gas infrastructure.

This policy brief examines the global challenge of providing universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation, tracing the history of international efforts from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights the gap between political targets and actual infrastructure needs, the disproportionate impact of water risk on poor and marginalized populations, and the critical intersection between water security, environmental health, and climate change.

This RMI briefing analyzes Georgia Power's December 2021 20-year energy plan, concluding that while the plan significantly reduces coal reliance, it remains inconsistent with a 1.5°C-aligned pathway and the parent company's 2050 net-zero goal due to continued gas reliance and underestimated load growth.

This policy brief examines the macroeconomic policy development in Tanzania, specifically focusing on the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It details the Bank of Tanzania's (BoT) monetary and fiscal interventions to avert recession, the economic impacts of the pandemic on GDP and tourism, and provides recommendations for social protection, debt management, and climate-resilient economic growth.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the evolving nature of sovereign debt in Africa, highlighting a shift from traditional multilateral creditors to private bondholders and emerging economies like China. It argues that current debt relief mechanisms are insufficient because they lack statutory, human rights-based frameworks and fail to compel the participation of private creditors, leaving African nations vulnerable to economic shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.

This research paper by Jamie MacLeod and David Luke discusses the implementation challenges of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). While African leaders maintain a strong political commitment to the agreement as a tool for post-COVID-19 recovery and industrialization, the transition from negotiation to actual trading has been stalled by unresolved technical details, most notably the rules of origin.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the differences between the European Commission's proposal for a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and the draft report released by the rapporteur of the EU Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). The author, Aaron Cosbey, identifies six primary areas of divergence, noting that the rapporteur generally advocates for greater speed and ambition than the Commission.

This policy brief examines the use of end-user subsidies to bridge the affordability gap for electricity access, specifically focusing on solar home systems (SHSs) in high-impact countries. It analyzes methodologies for calculating affordability gaps, outlines key design attributes for subsidy programs, and evaluates case studies from Ghana, Uganda, and Togo to identify factors contributing to program success or failure.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) advocates for an integrated approach to climate change by linking adaptation and mitigation planning and implementation. It argues that treating these two strategies in siloes is inefficient and can lead to counterproductive outcomes, proposing instead a coordinated framework to identify synergies and manage trade-offs to achieve sustainable development.

This policy brief by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) examines the use of end-user subsidies to bridge the affordability gap for electricity access, specifically focusing on solar home systems (SHSs). It analyzes methodologies for calculating affordability gaps, outlines key design attributes for subsidy programs, and compares case studies from Ghana, Uganda, and Togo to identify best practices and data requirements for improving energy access in high-impact countries.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs, commissioned by Oxfam South Africa, examines the potential role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in supporting South Africa's transition to cleaner energy. It discusses the IMF's integration of climate risks into its global financial stability mandate and the specific macroeconomic challenges facing South Africa, while cautioning against the IMF's historical policy orthodoxies.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines how the Government of Indonesia can utilize public funding and public financial institutions to attract private investment to meet its renewable energy targets, particularly in the context of its 2022 G20 Presidency.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the historical and current tensions between international trade rules and environmental protection. It highlights the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), arguing that the removal of harmful subsidies in fossil fuels, fisheries, and agriculture is essential for achieving sustainable development and meeting climate goals.

This op-ed argues that universal access to electricity is a critical prerequisite for ending poverty and driving socioeconomic development in South Africa. The author contends that the South African government incorrectly defines 'access' as mere physical connection to the grid, ignoring the essential components of affordability and reliability. This narrow focus, combined with an inadequate Free Basic Electricity policy and a cost-recovery model, traps low-income households and small enterprises in poverty by making the electricity needed for economic growth unaffordable.

This commentary, authored by four policy institutes, evaluates the partnership between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) ahead of the sixth EU-AU Summit. It argues that for the partnership to move beyond institutional circles in Brussels and Addis Ababa, both parties must shift away from donor-recipient models toward a more balanced relationship based on African ownership, private sector engagement, and a recognition of divergent interests in areas such as the green transition and digitalization.

This briefing provides financial institutions with an overview of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) scenario, specifically regarding the implications for oil and gas capital allocation. It explains why limiting global warming to 1.5°C precludes the development of new oil and gas fields and discusses the role of the finance sector in aligning investments with Paris goals.