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The briefing examines the design and implementation of a fossil fuel extraction levy, comparing four specific proposals: the Windfall Profits Tax, the Climate Damages Tax, the Multilateral Carbon Tax Treaty, and the Wellhead Carbon Tax. It argues that levies based on carbon content are more effective at discouraging production and providing stable revenue than those based on windfall profits. The authors highlight tensions between the goals of revenue generation and emission reduction, noting that high revenues could create a moral hazard by incentivizing continued extraction. The document also discusses implementation challenges in low-income countries, such as 'stabilization clauses' in contracts and the opacity of national oil companies. To encourage adoption, the authors suggest mechanisms similar to the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, where importing countries impose taxes if exporting countries fail to do so.

The report identifies a significant 'charging access gap' for U.S. residents in multifamily housing (MFH), who often lack on-site charging and must rely on public infrastructure. Analyzing 69 cities, the study found that no city achieved a 'best in class' ranking, with many cities—particularly in the Upper Midwest and Texas—showing high ratios of MFH units per public charger. The authors argue that this lack of reliable charging is a critical barrier to equitable EV adoption, especially for lower-income and non-white drivers. To address this, the report recommends a combination of EV-ready building codes, right-to-charge laws, curbside charging expansions, and streamlined utility interconnection rules.

The report finds that Australia, Canada, and the UK (the "Big Three") have historically and currently dominated fossil fuel extraction emissions within the Commonwealth. While these wealthy nations have the highest emissions, they are the least economically dependent on fossil fuel rents. In contrast, lower- and middle-income countries like Nigeria and Papua New Guinea are more exposed to financial risks from carbon liabilities. The report concludes that Commonwealth production plans are inconsistent with the 1.5°C goal, with the Big Three's share of the gap between Business as Usual and Net Zero scenarios exceeding 50%.

The research examines the drivers of ecosystem boundary shifts across diverse environments. In the Venezuelan Andes, warming is pushing tree lines upward, though human disturbance can reverse this trend. In Brazil and Canada, the growth-stimulating effects of increased atmospheric CO2 are being offset by water scarcity. Additionally, the study highlights that 80% of the Gran Chaco dry forest has been deforested due to land-use changes driven by remote markets, such as soy, and facilitated by increased precipitation.

The research examines how ecotones are defined by plant functional traits and their vulnerability to climate and human intervention. Findings indicate that while climate warming in the Venezuelan Andes pushes treelines upward, human disturbance can move them downward. In the Gran Chaco, deforestation is driven by land use and increased rainfall. Additionally, the study challenges the assumption that higher CO2 levels always boost plant growth, noting that in Canada and Brazil, this effect is offset by decreasing water availability.

The report finds that G20 governments provided at least USD 168 billion in public financial support for renewable power in 2023, which is less than one third of the USD 535 billion provided in fossil fuel subsidies. Advanced economies and China account for 95% of this support, leaving many emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) at risk. To meet the 2030 tripling target, public support in G20 countries may need to double to approximately USD 336 billion per year. The report highlights a shift from feed-in tariffs toward market-based mechanisms like auctions and a growing emphasis on domestic manufacturing support in the US, EU, and India.

The paper explores adaptations for UK energy network regulation to address net zero uncertainties, drawing on adaptive regulation theories, experiences from water and airport regulators, and a consultation with 41 stakeholders.

The report identifies currency risk—specifically the mismatch between local currency revenues and hard currency debt—as a primary barrier to climate investment in EMDEs. It argues that while long-term solutions require macroeconomic reform and deeper local capital markets, immediate needs must be met through innovative hedging mechanisms. The document analyzes five specific models: a TCX donor-funded guarantee, Eco Invest Brasil, the Delta onshore DFI platform, FSD Africa's MDB portfolio transfer, and a CPI FX Hedging Facility for India. It concludes that concessional capital is essential in the short term to make these tools affordable and to catalyze private investment.

The document analyzes the relationship between human emotions and climate action, highlighting that while different emotions trigger different policy preferences, negative emotions like fear and distress can be powerful motivators when paired with a sense of personal threat and collective efficacy. Key findings include the link between guilt and support for personally costly policies in the US, the role of identity-linked threats to the Great Barrier Reef in driving personal energy reduction in Australia, and the influence of personal threat perception on electric vehicle adoption in India.

The document analyzes the negotiation timelines of the Rotterdam, Minamata, and BBNJ agreements to demonstrate that international legal instruments often exceed their initial deadlines. It argues that the current process for the plastics treaty, governed by UNEA resolution 5/14, provides sufficient flexibility for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to continue meetings beyond 2024 if necessary, as the resolution expresses an 'ambition' rather than a strict mandate for completion by that date.

The report analyzes the competition between Western and Chinese narratives in Africa, specifically debunking the 'debt-trap' narrative and arguing that African states exercise strategic agency by viewing both the US and China as viable partners rather than choosing one in a zero-sum game.

The document analyzes the JET-P model as a mechanism to catalyze international and private investment for Colombia's energy transition. It highlights a significant funding gap, noting that public investment currently represents only 0.01% of required resources. By reviewing JET-P experiences in South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Senegal, the report identifies risks such as increased public debt and the need for transparent, community-led project design. It proposes prioritizing projects like energy communities and the phase-out of coal plants, while warning against financing fossil fuel infrastructure or inefficient consumption subsidies.

The Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC) produced a scorecard to assess political parties' positions on basic income grants (BIG) in South Africa. The analysis focuses on whether parties commit to expanding the social protection floor, providing adequate grant values, ensuring universal eligibility for adults aged 18-59, and removing conditionalities. The report highlights a wide disparity in party commitments, with Action SA, the ANC, and GOOD scoring highly for their progressive proposals, while many other parties either lack a clear policy or propose conditional grants that UBIC argues could increase exclusion and dependency.

The report analyzes national and international frameworks to support the creation of the Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy for land use. It highlights the significant variance in sustainability measurements—ranging from 1% to 44% of rural credit for the 2022/23 year depending on the criteria used—and recommends a technical, scientific, and gradual implementation process. The document details specific criteria from the EU, Colombian, and Mexican taxonomies, as well as domestic initiatives like the ABC+ Plan and FEBRABAN, to identify areas of consensus and points of attention such as the 'do no significant harm' (DNSH) principle.

The report analyzes national and international sustainability taxonomies to propose criteria for the Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy's land-use sector. It highlights the high sensitivity of sustainable finance measurements to the chosen classification, demonstrating through a rural credit case study that alignment varies from 1% to 44% depending on the reference used. The authors recommend a technical, science-based approach with granular application levels and a gradual implementation roadmap to prevent greenwashing and attract international investment.

The report argues that GDP is an insufficient measure of national success because it ignores the depletion of assets and non-market well-being. By analyzing data from 1995 to 2020 for Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Trinidad and Tobago, the study demonstrates that comprehensive wealth (CW)—which includes natural, human, social, produced, and financial capital—reveals critical sustainability trends invisible to GDP. Key findings include the unsustainable depletion of fossil fuel assets in Trinidad and Tobago, the inefficient management of natural capital in Indonesia, and the critical need for increased agricultural productivity and wealth accumulation in Ethiopia.

Ember reports that Germany's official coal mine methane (CMM) emissions are likely underestimated by 28 to 220 times. The current reporting relies on a single emission factor from a 1989 study that does not account for depth, geological variability, or surrounding strata. Independent estimates suggest annual emissions could be as high as 307,000 tonnes, compared to the 1.39 thousand tonnes officially reported for 2022. Ember recommends that Germany implement deposit-specific emission factors, direct measurements for active and closed mines, and pre-mine drainage to mitigate emissions.

The study finds that while induction stoves are more energy-efficient and generally welcomed by users, they are viewed as supplementary rather than full replacements for LPG due to constraints in kitchen space, power capacity, and the inability to replicate certain cooking styles effectively.

The report examines 'state capture' in South Africa, defined as a systematic project to redirect state resources for private gain by weakening democratic institutions. It focuses on the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture (Zondo Commission), detailing its findings on the targeting of state-owned enterprises like Transnet and Eskom, and the role of the Gupta family. The document also analyzes other South African commissions (e.g., Nugent, Mokgoro, Mpati) and provides a comparative analysis with Kenya's Bosire Commission to illustrate the limitations of commissions in achieving individual accountability. Finally, it discusses necessary reforms in public procurement, whistle-blower protection, and the professionalization of the public service to prevent future capture.

The UK has adopted a heavily regulated asset base (RAB) model for its CO2 transport and storage (T&S) infrastructure to mitigate 'cross-chain risks' and attract investment. Under the Transport and Storage Regulatory Investment (TRI) model, private Transport and Storage Companies (T&SCo) operate networks under licenses from Ofgem, with revenues derived from user tariffs and supported by a Revenue Support Agreement (RSA) and a Government Support Package (GSP) for high-impact risks. This contrasts with the Netherlands and Denmark, where infrastructure is more commercially driven or involves direct state equity stakes in storage. The UK intends to transition toward a more competitive market for storage after 2035, while onshore transport is expected to remain regulated.