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This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the barriers to and enablers of private sector climate finance in Africa. It argues that while significant investment is required to meet Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals and adaptation needs, private investment is currently limited by regulatory, project, and economic risks. The document proposes a combination of regulatory reforms, credit enhancement mechanisms, and capacity building for borrowers to create a bankable pipeline of projects to attract private and impact investors.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) outlines five key lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic to guide government action on climate change and environmental health. The statement advocates for a shift from risk management to hazard prevention, the application of the precautionary principle in legislation, and an emergency-level response to the climate crisis to protect human health.

This research paper, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), outlines a proposed African climate finance agenda for the COP26 summit. Based on stakeholder dialogues conducted between April and October 2021, the document identifies critical gaps in the quantum and quality of climate finance reaching Africa, emphasizing the need for increased adaptation funding, streamlined access to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the creation of national enabling environments to attract private investment.

This research paper examines the impact of existing primary steel production equipment on global greenhouse gas emissions and argues that the emissions commitment of this infrastructure is lower than previously estimated, shifting the focus of decarbonization toward the deployment of new technologies and demand reduction.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute argues that the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement, initiated at COP26 and concluding in 2023, must integrate long-term low-greenhouse gas emission development strategies to accurately assess collective progress toward long-term climate goals.

This policy brief by GreenCape examines how virtual platforms and international networks can help green small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) overcome trade barriers exacerbated by COVID-19. It highlights the methodologies of the International Cleantech Network (ICN) in using a virtual collaboration platform and a structured 'maturing process' to connect SMEs with global cleantech opportunities, illustrated through case studies in Helsinki and New York.

The Life After Coal campaign, consisting of groundWork, Earthlife Africa, and the Centre for Environmental Rights, issued a statement calling on South Africa to meet the lower bound of its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target range by accelerating the coal phase-out and renewable energy expansion. The campaign urges the South African government to lead developing nations at COP26 in demanding increased financial support from wealthy nations for adaptation and loss and damage.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the investment gap for nature-based solutions (NBS) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It proposes five strategies to leverage private capital—green bonds, land-based financing, blended loans, insurance policies, and endowments—and provides four recommendations to integrate NBS into infrastructure planning and financial models to ensure commercial viability and resilience.

A letter from a coalition of climate, environmental, and health NGOs to the European Commission urging the alignment of the draft Climate, Energy and Environment State Aid Guidelines (CEEAG) with the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement.

This report analyzes the generation and management of bio-waste (kitchen, canteen, garden, and green waste) and textile waste in Tallinn. It evaluates current collection systems, provides forecasts through 2026, and proposes measures to increase recycling rates to meet EU and national targets.

This briefing by Ember compares three expert modeling scenarios—from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), National Grid, and Energy Systems Catapult (ESC)—to demonstrate that the UK can phase out unabated gas-fired electricity generation by 2035 or sooner. The report argues that such a transition is essential for meeting the UK's legislated carbon targets, would reduce dependence on expensive imported gas, and would support a green industrial revolution through the expansion of renewables and energy storage.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) evaluates the feasibility and desirability of transitioning United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meetings to online formats. Based on stakeholder surveys and interviews, it argues that while the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that many UNFCCC activities can be held virtually, a meaningful transition requires addressing deep-seated issues of trust, power imbalances, and the digital divide to avoid exacerbating existing inequities.

This policy brief recommends that the Government of Indonesia implement a coal tax as an immediate, interim measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution while more complex carbon pricing details are resolved.

Ember submitted comments on August 2, 2021, regarding the European Commission's draft 'Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022' (CEEAG). The document argues for a nuanced approach to state aid for coal mine methane (CMM) abatement, distinguishing between active and abandoned mines to ensure environmental benefits are achieved without extending the operational life of coal mines.

This report examines the financial risks faced by African oil and gas producers during the global energy transition, specifically the danger of 'stranded assets' and the vulnerability of National Oil Companies (NOCs). It argues that governments and NOCs often base investment decisions on unrealistic price assumptions and calls for increased transparency and the adoption of Paris Agreement-aligned scenarios to protect public finances.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the feasibility of using municipal green bonds to support Indonesia's goal of achieving a 23% renewable energy contribution in its energy mix by 2025. While identifying a strong case for these instruments based on energy targets and the fiscal capacity of certain local governments, the paper highlights significant bureaucratic, regulatory, and market-driven barriers that have prevented their issuance to date.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of 'other effective area-based conservation measures' (OECMs) in Africa. It argues that OECMs, which are sites outside formal protected areas managed to deliver long-term biodiversity and socio-economic benefits, are essential for engaging local communities and achieving biodiversity targets. Through case studies in South Africa and Kenya, the document demonstrates how community-private sector partnerships can create sustainable livelihoods while protecting ecosystems, and calls for African governments to align on a community-centred conservation agenda for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the strategic position of African states within the World Trade Organization (WTO). It argues that African nations must shift from a strategy of blocking new negotiations to one of active participation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 vaccine TRIPS waiver, the stalled Doha Round, and Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs) on digital trade and investment.

This policy brief argues for the adoption of a 'One Health' approach in Africa to simultaneously address human health, biodiversity loss, and the climate crisis. It specifically highlights the risks of the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and the legal wildlife trade as drivers of zoonotic disease spill-over, warning that blanket bans on wildlife markets could inadvertently increase IWT and habitat destruction. The document recommends integrating IWT combatting into multi-sectoral policies and utilizing green stimulus packages to provide financial incentives and alternative livelihoods for rural communities most affected by economic decline.

This research paper examines the impact of Chinese infrastructure provision, specifically through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), on rail standards in the Global South. By analyzing the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) Network and projects in Southeast Asia, the author provides recommendations for African countries on managing costs, standardization, and trade facilitation to maximize the benefits of rail development while transitioning to low-carbon transport.