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The paper examines how subnational governments, with a focus on Washington State, can effectively use carbon tax revenues for greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation. It argues against a narrow focus on the lowest-cost reductions, which often leads to pitfalls such as overpayment, lack of additionality, and long ramp-up periods. Instead, it recommends a strategic approach that targets market failures, promotes social equity, and leverages existing state programs to ensure rapid and effective deployment of funds.

The report evaluates how to communicate the link between anthropogenic climate change and extreme weather events, testing various phrasings for probability, frequency, intensity, and uncertainty. Findings indicate that while high-level decision makers often prefer technical percentages and 'probability' terms, the general public finds these confusing, preferring simpler terms like 'worse' or 'more often'. The study highlights significant translation challenges in Swahili and Hindi and recommends that attribution information be downscaled to high spatial resolutions and co-developed with local communication experts and trusted sources, such as national meteorological agencies.

The study finds that while agricultural leasing is a preferred asset financing method in developed markets, it remains nascent in sub-Saharan Africa due to systemic market failures. Key barriers include high down payment requirements (20-40%), a lack of secondary markets for used equipment, and informational asymmetries that lead financial service providers to perceive agriculture as high-risk. Demand is limited by the predominance of smallholder subsistence farmers and low financial literacy. The report identifies Ghana, Kenya, and Zambia as high-potential markets and recommends targeted technical assistance for banks, awareness campaigns for farmers, and the creation of risk-sharing funds to reduce down payment barriers.

The document examines the scale of fossil fuel subsidies in China and India, arguing that reforming these payments is essential for improving urban air quality and meeting Paris Agreement targets. It highlights specific reform mechanisms, such as India's Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG and China's voluntary G20 peer reviews, while drawing on Indonesia's experience in reallocating subsidy savings toward social welfare and infrastructure. The brief emphasizes that successful reform requires phased approaches to protect vulnerable consumers and workers, as well as the reallocation of funds toward renewable energy and social services.

The document examines the global push for beneficial ownership transparency to combat illicit financial flows, money laundering, and corruption. It focuses on the G20 High-Level Principles and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines, analyzing how these standards are applied across diverse institutional contexts. A significant portion of the paper is dedicated to South Africa's efforts to align its domestic laws, such as the FIC Amendment Bill, with these global norms. It also provides a comparative analysis of implementation in G20 countries (including the UK, US, China, and Russia) and African nations (Nigeria and Ghana), highlighting common obstacles such as weak institutional capacity, political resistance, and the misuse of shell companies and trusts.

The study compares two different implementers of improved biomass-powered cookstoves in Kenya to determine how social relations and specific behaviour change techniques (BCTs) affect adoption rates. It finds that an implementer who targeted existing social groups with shared identities and provided ongoing post-sales support achieved significantly higher user satisfaction and a 'social multiplier effect,' where users recruited new users outside the original target groups.

The NATION project (2013-2017) examines national identity as a dynamic process rather than a static entity, focusing on how it is negotiated through top-down state actions, mediated public discourse, and bottom-up everyday experiences. Using data from Norway, France, and the UK, the research highlights the tension between static, often racialized conceptions of nationhood and the plural, heterogeneous reality of modern European societies. Key findings emphasize the role of 'first impressions' and race in shaping boundaries of belonging, the use of national symbols like the Norwegian King to foster inclusive identities, and the impact of religious buildings as sites of resistance and negotiation. The report argues for a plural conception of the nation to counter neo-nationalist populism and promote democratic preparedness.

The document argues that mismatches between management units (TACs) and scientific advice units (ICES) make it difficult to monitor whether fishing levels comply with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Analysis of 112 comparisons shows that only about 28% are directly comparable, while the majority suffer from area or species mismatches that require additional, non-public data to resolve.

The document explores the application of transitional justice—traditionally used to transition societies from injustice to peace—to the climate context. It identifies five key similarities between the two fields: the tension between backward- and forward-looking claims, unavoidable interdependencies, limited judicial capabilities, the management of profound loss, and inherent power imbalances. The brief concludes that ignoring historical justice claims risks the unraveling of climate agreements and suggests that a combination of mechanisms, such as truth commissions and reparations, is needed to build trust and legitimacy for future-oriented regimes.

The report examines the relationship between policy design and investor behavior in the European renewable energy sector. It argues that a diverse range of investors—from small households to large utilities—can lower the overall cost of capital, but that policy choices (such as the shift from feed-in tariffs to auctions) can either encourage or exclude specific investor groups. The document provides comparative analysis of the UK, Germany, Iberia, and the Nordic region, highlighting how different regulatory environments have led to varying levels of deployment and cost-effectiveness across solar PV, onshore wind, and offshore wind technologies.

The document analyzes how neoliberal trade and investment frameworks, characterized by 'mega-regional' agreements and bilateral investment treaties, prioritize corporate profitability over human rights and ecological sustainability. It contrasts the 'agro-industry' model—which emphasizes large-scale production of 'flexible crops' for export and financial gain—with 'agroecology,' which focuses on small-scale producers, biodiversity, and the social function of land. The report highlights the role of the European Union in driving this industrial model, particularly in Africa, and recommends a systemic shift toward policies that protect small-scale farmers, recognize land as a common good, and hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights violations.

The document analyzes the state of democracy in Africa, arguing that while electoral democracy has increased since 1989, it is often constrained by neopatrimonialism and a lack of governance capacity. It explores the 'sequencing debate' regarding whether democracy precedes or follows economic development, noting that while authoritarian models have sometimes delivered rapid growth, long-term human development is robustly linked to high-quality electoral democracy. Using the International Futures (IFs) system, the author forecasts that a 'Fourth Wave' of democracy could significantly increase Africa's GDP and reduce extreme poverty by 2070 compared to an 'Authoritarian Regress' scenario.

The guide examines the politics of climate change in three Latin American mega-cities, finding that while political leadership and local framing drive policy adoption, implementation is often hindered by a lack of broad social coalitions and low electoral salience of climate issues.

The document examines the US YieldCo model, which raised $23 billion by mid-2015 but saw valuations crash due to aggressive growth targets that introduced market-correlated risks. It argues that by prioritizing sponsor objectives—such as recycling capital and monetizing undeveloped pipelines—these vehicles sacrificed the low-risk, bond-like characteristics of renewable assets. The authors propose a 'Clean Energy Investment Trust' (CEIT) consisting of a closed set of assets with no growth expectations, which they argue would better align with the needs of institutional investors and lower the overall cost of renewable energy deployment.

The document examines the complexities of land tenure in Africa, highlighting the tension between customary and statutory systems. It argues that while formal titling is a long-term goal, the immediate priority should be adapting informal systems to provide legal security, improving state administrative capacity, and addressing gender-based barriers to land ownership to foster economic development and reduce conflict.

The report examines the regressive nature of LPG subsidies and explores strategies for reform that protect energy access for the poor. It specifically analyzes Indonesia's situation, noting that the government spent IDR 713.5 trillion on energy subsidies in 2024, with nearly 90% supporting fossil fuels. The document identifies electric induction cooking as the most practical alternative to subsidized LPG for Indonesia to reduce costs and improve public health.

The document outlines strategies for Indonesia to reform its regressive LPG subsidies, which currently allow high-income households to capture a disproportionate share of benefits. It identifies four international pricing mechanisms—deregulated, automatic adjustment, pre-determined increases, and stabilization mechanisms—and argues that the ideal goal is market pricing achieved through gradual transitions. The report emphasizes that reforms must be paired with targeted social protections to ensure low-income households maintain access to clean cooking fuels. It details various international targeting models, including El Salvador's mobile-phone based vendor payments, India's Direct Benefits Transfer (DBTL) and voluntary 'Give it Up!' campaign, Peru's FISE voucher system, and Thailand's electricity-consumption based eligibility. Finally, it highlights the critical role of communication and the demonstrable effectiveness of alternative subsidy delivery systems in securing public approval for reform.

The report analyzes global LPG pricing mechanisms and subsidy reform strategies, highlighting the need for targeted assistance to protect vulnerable populations. It details specific case studies from El Salvador, India, Mexico, Peru, and Thailand, emphasizing that successful reform requires a combination of gradual price adjustments, effective targeting technologies, and comprehensive communication strategies to maintain public support.

The authors contrast the 'abuse of memory'—where past injustices are manipulated to legitimize violence—with an 'anamnetic' approach that uses personal and collective memory to find common human ground. Drawing on Paul Ricoeur, they argue that memory carries a 'duty of justice' toward others, particularly victims. To provide a practical alternative to divisive memory, the authors analyze the works of Augustine, Dante, and Petrarch, arguing that these thinkers view memory as a path from particular, personal experience toward universal truths and divine love. The paper concludes that while ideological memory separates, a conscious 'work of memory' can facilitate dialogue and reconciliation by recognizing shared human patterns of existence.

This collection of papers analyzes regional integration efforts in three key areas: South America, Southern Africa, and Russia. It argues that while traditional trade-led integration has often stalled, new drivers such as regional value chains (RVCs), energy pooling, and strategic investment shifts offer paths toward deeper cooperation. In South America, the report finds a lack of a clear 'hub country' and significant infrastructure gaps hindering RVCs. In Southern Africa, it highlights the potential of the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) and the dual role of South Africa as both a catalyst and a diverter of regional investment. In Russia, the analysis focuses on a strategic 'turn to the East,' shifting investment focus from Europe toward the Asia-Pacific region and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).