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The report examines how WTO rules prohibiting subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfished stocks, and overcapacity would affect shrimp fisheries in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. It finds that many regional shrimp stocks are overfished and that subsidies, particularly for fuel, often support industrial fleets and contribute to overcapacity. The study suggests that while subsidy reform can lead to stock recovery and increased efficiency, it must be paired with broader fisheries management and stakeholder consultation to be effective.

The report analyzes how proposed WTO rules to prohibit subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overcapacity, and overfishing would affect shrimp fisheries in Latin America. It highlights that fuel subsidies are the most common form of support, primarily benefiting the industrial sector. The document argues that while subsidy reform is crucial for ecological sustainability and economic efficiency, it must be accompanied by broader fisheries management policies and gradual implementation to protect vulnerable communities.

The report finds that despite the Mnangagwa administration's rhetoric of being 'open for business,' substantial foreign direct investment has not materialised due to a combination of bureaucratic red tape, policy inconsistency, and a lack of respect for property rights. While net FDI rose from US$247 million in 2017 to US$744 million in 2018, this remains far below the US$27 billion in deals signed by the president. The document highlights critical barriers including a 'dead asset' land tenure regime in agriculture, a lack of an independent central bank, and the pervasive influence of the military in the private sector. It concludes that the government's 'command and control' philosophy and the high-risk profile created by US sanctions and a history of bad debt continue to deter international investors.

The report examines the technical and economic feasibility of electrifying heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) in the US, highlighting their potential to significantly reduce NOx, PM2.5, and greenhouse gas emissions. It argues that current battery technology is sufficient for the majority of HDV operating ranges and that total cost of ownership is becoming competitive with diesel. The document recommends a combination of financial incentives, infrastructure investment, and regulatory standards to drive the transition.

A consortium of social justice and consumer organisations has written to several major institutional investors, including BlackRock, Aviva Investors, and Norges Bank Investment Management, to raise concerns about Kellogg's business practices in Mexico. The authors allege that since 2013, Kellogg's has reduced or removed two-thirds of essential micronutrients from its most popular cereal brands in Mexico to save costs. According to the consortium's analysis, Kellogg's saved an estimated 85 million USD over five years, while the minimum cumulative social cost to Mexico for the reduction of iron, calcium, and folic acid was 250 million USD. The letters argue that this practice contradicts Kellogg's public commitments to tackle food security and undernutrition, and poses a reputational and financial risk to investors who adhere to sustainable investment and ESG principles.

The document analyzes the inverse correlation between the size of pasture areas and livestock productivity in Brazil. It argues that low productivity is driven by land-use inefficiencies and economic incentives, such as low land costs relative to capital. The authors suggest that combating illegal deforestation, reducing agricultural modernization bottlenecks, and improving credit access can incentivize the transition to more intensive livestock production or high-productivity agriculture, thereby reducing pressure on the Amazon and Cerrado biomes.

The report analyzes the intersection of China's climate policies and public health, arguing that achieving NDC targets—primarily through reducing coal dependence and expanding renewables—would significantly reduce premature deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It highlights a budgetary contradiction where China continues to provide substantial fossil fuel subsidies despite the high health and environmental externalities associated with them. Quantitative models cited in the report suggest that the economic value of avoided premature deaths would far outweigh the costs of implementing climate policies by 2050.

The report presents a business case for crossbreeding dairy cows (Holstein and Jersey) with beef bulls (such as Angus and Limousin). It highlights that crossbred calves command higher market prices ($128-$330) compared to dairy calves ($35-$100) and offer better carcass quality and feed efficiency. For a 1,500-head dairy, the report estimates feed cost savings of $77,102 and an overall value increase of nearly $300,000 across the value chain. Additionally, crossbreeding can improve cow conception rates by up to 55%, reducing insemination and veterinary costs. Environmentally, the practice is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption per pound of beef because crossbred calves require less feed to reach marketable size.

The report argues that current carbon pricing and innovation funds are insufficient to transform the basic materials sector. It proposes a five-part policy package: a Climate Contribution to ensure full carbon cost internalisation, project-based Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs) to hedge investment risks, Contracts for Difference (CfDs) for renewables to lower electricity costs, Green Public Procurement (GPP) to create lead markets, and long-term Product Carbon Requirements to phase out carbon-intensive materials.

The report argues that austerity—defined as fiscal policy aimed at solving debt and growth problems through spending cuts and regressive taxes—leads to economic deterioration, rising unemployment, and increased inequality. It highlights that South Africa is deepening its implementation of austerity despite moderate debt levels compared to international norms. The author contends that these policies undermine constitutionally enshrined rights to health and education and proposes a shift toward a stimulus-based fiscal plan focused on progressive taxation and structural transformation.

The document examines Russia's return to Africa through the lens of its 'multi-vector' foreign policy, which seeks to establish a multipolar world order and reduce dependence on the West. It details Russia's focus on niche markets—specifically nuclear energy, arms, and extractives—and its use of 'state champions' like Rosatom and Rosneft. The paper highlights Russia's military-security cooperation, including the use of private military companies in the Central African Republic and Libya, and its strategic relationship with South Africa via the BRICS framework. It concludes that while Russia offers an alternative to Western conditionalities, its engagement often prioritizes elite networks and resource extraction over broad development.

The policy brief contends that new natural gas capacity is a primary driver of increased grid emissions in the US and that avoiding 90% of proposed gas plants could save electricity customers over $29 billion. It advocates for a transition to 'clean energy portfolios'—combinations of wind, solar, batteries, demand flexibility, and energy efficiency—to support economy-wide decarbonization and meet international climate targets.

This executive summary by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the economic transition of the Berau District in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, from a coal-dependent economy to one based on palm oil. The study finds that shifting from coal to a palm oil mono-crop is unsustainable and risks food security. It recommends a transition plan focusing on RSPO certification, increasing production efficiency, diversifying into other high-value crops like pepper and cocoa, and developing downstream processing refineries to capture added value and increase government revenue.

The Coalition for Healthy Ports (CHP) and Earthjustice advocate for the New Jersey DEP to adopt the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Rule and the Heavy-Duty Omnibus Low-NOx Rule to reduce harmful emissions in environmental justice communities. They argue that MHDV electrification is economically viable and technically feasible, citing a projected $8.9 billion net societal benefit for New Jersey from 2020 to 2050 under the ACT Rule. The coalition emphasizes that the burden of pollution and the costs of vehicle upgrades fall disproportionately on misclassified contract truck drivers and low-income communities of color, particularly in the Ironbound section of Newark. They further recommend a lower fleet-reporting threshold, the adoption of cargo-handling equipment and ocean-going vessel regulations, and the implementation of zero-emission zones to address the cumulative impacts of the goods-movement industry.

The report details IISD's Bioeconomy project (2017-2019) focusing on harvesting unconventional biomass from water retention sites and roadside ditches in Manitoba. It argues that this practice removes phosphorus to protect Lake Winnipeg, improves habitat health, and provides a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels or a means of soil carbon sequestration. The document analyzes harvesting methods, the shift from bioenergy to livestock bedding and compost, and evaluates global and North American carbon market verification methodologies to identify frameworks suitable for these watershed management activities.

The paper argues that Zambia is caught in a 'commodity trap' and 'quiescence trap', where over-reliance on copper exports and a lack of economic complexity hinder broad-based growth. While copper production has improved social indicators like the Human Development Index since 2000, the country faces a severe fiscal crisis with government debt projected to reach nearly 150% of GDP by 2020. The author identifies policy volatility, specifically frequent changes to the Mineral Royalty Tax (MRT), as a primary deterrent to long-term investment and exploration. To overcome these barriers, the paper suggests replicating 'islands of effectiveness'—local-level collaborative governance models—such as the town of Kalumbila, which integrates mining with upstream and downstream linkages. Key recommendations include securing property rights, reducing the cost of doing business, and reversing the 5% concentrate import tax to fully utilise smelting capacity.

The document details various direct and indirect U.S. tax subsidies for coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as federal R&D funding and overseas financing. It highlights the contradiction between these subsidies and global climate targets, noting that global fossil fuel subsidies reached $5.2 trillion in 2017. The text also analyzes the 'externalities' of fossil fuels, including the social cost of carbon, public health crises, and environmental degradation, while reviewing legislative efforts in the 116th Congress to reform energy tax credits.

The briefing argues that while private sector financing is often promoted to bridge Africa's infrastructure deficit, it carries significant risks including higher costs, a lack of development mandates, and extreme risk aversion. It suggests that public funds should be strategically targeted toward social infrastructure and project preparation where private interest is low, while emphasizing the need for capacity building to prevent exploitation and improve project quality.

The report analyzes the economic fragility of Berau Regency due to its heavy reliance on coal mining and the risks of replacing it with a palm oil monoculture. It argues for a multi-dimensional transition focusing on palm oil productivity efficiency over expansion, diversification into high-value crops like pepper and cocoa, and the development of downstream processing industries. The document also proposes optimizing local government revenue and implementing innovative ecological fiscal transfer mechanisms to incentivize sustainable land management.

The document highlights that EVs in Colorado produce significantly lower emissions than gasoline cars, with an average of 2.71 metric tons of CO2e per year compared to 4.9 metric tons. It notes substantial fuel savings for drivers, particularly in rural areas where savings can reach $602, and cites a 71 percent increase in Colorado EV sales between 2017 and 2018. The text advocates for the extension of federal tax credits and the expansion of Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) programs to lower upfront costs and increase vehicle variety.