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The document analyzes the foreign policy of Nigeria under President Buhari, highlighting a lack of coherence between domestic goals and regional aspirations. Key issues discussed include the 2019 land border closures, which aimed to curb smuggling but increased food inflation and harmed regional trade; the delayed ratification of the AfCFTA due to domestic productivity concerns; and the decline of the oil sector caused by insecurity and poor governance, which deterred foreign direct investment. It also evaluates the role of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in managing relations with Nigerians abroad amidst increasing economic migration.

The document examines the 2023 Nigerian elections, highlighting the role of ethno-regional configurations over ideology and the specific platforms of the APC, PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP. It assesses how different winners would impact domestic security, economic policy—specifically regarding oil and fuel subsidies—and Nigeria's energy relationship with Europe.

The document analyzes the relationship between trade and climate change in Latin America, highlighting the region's relatively low greenhouse gas emissions intensity but high vulnerability to climate hazards. It examines domestic climate commitments in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—such as electromobility, sustainable agriculture, and circular economy initiatives—and their trade implications. The paper also assesses external pressures from trading partners, specifically the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and deforestation regulations. It concludes by recommending strengthened international cooperation, technology transfer, and the expansion of 'Aid for Trade' to support a just transition to a low-carbon economy.

Following its 2021 pledge to stop financing overseas coal projects, China faces a choice between investing in natural gas or renewable energy. The document argues that China lacks the domestic market maturity and technical export edge to compete with countries like Japan and the US in gas power generation, where it ranked 13th in investment from 2001 to 2022. Conversely, China dominates global renewable manufacturing, controlling 72% of solar and 50% of wind turbine markets. While high demand in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries and low equipment costs favor a green pivot, challenges such as geopolitical tensions, regulatory unevenness, and limited insurance capacity from Sinosure hinder the bankability of renewable projects.

The report identifies a critical need for coordinated transmission planning to integrate projected offshore wind (OSW) generation, which could reach 200-460 GW by 2050. It argues that current incremental, project-by-project interconnection processes are inefficient and costly. Proactive planning is projected to save U.S. consumers at least $20 billion, reduce shore crossings and onshore upgrades by 60-70%, and decrease marine cable installations by 50%. The document outlines significant barriers, including siloed planning, lack of HVDC technology standardization, and uncertain tax credits. It provides a phased roadmap of 12 recommendations, ranging from immediate staffing increases and the creation of multi-state decision-making bodies to long-term grid operation and wholesale market design modifications.

The document advocates for a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG), defined as a government commitment to ensure all adults receive a regular payment sufficient to meet basic needs. It argues that UBIG is not merely a safety net but a tool for economic empowerment and growth. Evidence from Kenya, Zambia, Mexico, and Namibia is cited to show that guaranteed income allows people to invest in education, start small businesses, and increase agricultural production. Furthermore, the text highlights a 'multiplier effect' where cash transfers stimulate local economies, citing examples from Ghana and Zambia where spending by low-income recipients boosted local business activity and overall national income.

The document highlights the economic contributions of natural infrastructure in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, noting that the sector provides jobs and GDP growth while increasing resilience to climate-related weather extremes. In Alberta specifically, the sector directly employed over 21,000 people and contributed CAD 2.9 billion to the provincial economy in 2022. The report argues that increased annual investments—such as CAD 20 million or CAD 50 million in Alberta—would further drive job creation and GDP while addressing water infrastructure gaps and buffering against floods, droughts, and wildfires.

The document examines the economic and social impacts of climate change in Africa, specifically focusing on forced displacement. It advocates for the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund to include non-economic losses and provide accessible, non-debt financing for displaced persons, women, youth, and pastoralists.

The document argues that while Chinese lending is not the primary cause of Africa's debt distress, specific features of the 'China model'—including lack of transparency, resource-backed loans, and the exclusion of collective restructuring clauses—exacerbate financial vulnerabilities. It highlights how these factors, combined with broader economic shocks, can lead to socio-economic instability, reduced spending on essential services, and increased risks of conflict. The brief recommends enhanced loan transparency, the adoption of legally binding reporting protocols, and improved national debt management to protect human security and development.

The report finds that water retention projects in Manitoba's Seine, Rat, and Roseau watersheds provide significant economic returns, with an average benefit-to-cost ratio of 2.45 over 20 years. For livestock-specific operations, this ratio increases to 3.16, delivering benefits such as flood protection, extended grazing, and improved water quality.

The document argues that Canadian oil producers face an existential threat as global oil demand is projected to peak around 2030. While Canada's heavy reliance on U.S. refineries provides a temporary buffer, this will not shield the sector from falling global prices and declining demand. The brief concludes that ESG credentials and production costs are insufficient to maintain competitiveness against Middle Eastern producers, necessitating urgent economic diversification.

The document argues that Canadian oil producers are highly vulnerable to declining global demand and falling prices. While the heavy reliance on U.S. refineries provides a temporary buffer, this will not shield Canada from global price volatility or the long-term decline in petroleum consumption. The author contends that ESG credentials and production costs will not allow Canada to compete against lower-cost Middle Eastern producers in a shrinking market. Consequently, the brief warns of an existential threat to the sector, including job losses and reduced tax revenues, urging the Canadian government to diversify its economy.

The briefing highlights the economic and environmental value of urban nature—such as forests, street trees, and wetlands—as a tool for climate mitigation and adaptation. It asserts that the global value of urban nature's benefits is nine times its costs and provides specific examples from Sacramento, Ahmedabad, and Curitiba to demonstrate how nature-based solutions can reduce building energy demand, lower the carbon footprint of stormwater management, and decrease transportation emissions. The document concludes by calling for an increase in annual investment in urban nature projects from $32 billion to $135 billion by 2030 to realize an estimated $2 trillion in annual net benefits.

The document contends that the current energy crisis is a "natural gas market crisis" caused by fossil fuel price volatility, specifically citing the Russian invasion of Ukraine and post-pandemic recovery. It argues that natural gas is incompatible with the 1.5°C and 2°C Paris Agreement targets, noting that global gas emissions rose 23% between 2010 and 2019. The briefing highlights that solar and onshore wind are now cheaper than gas for two-thirds of the global population and that new gas projects face significant stranded asset risks, such as a USD 13 billion risk in the UK by 2050. It dismisses Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as an effective solution, noting that only 27 of over 260 projects undertaken between 1995 and 2018 were completed. Finally, it argues that for Africa, renewables are the fastest and cheapest way to expand energy access, as gas costs are projected to be double those of solar and wind by 2030.

The report outlines the economic and environmental benefits of transitioning India's trucking sector to zero-emissions vehicles (ZETs), specifically battery-electric and fuel cell electric trucks. It highlights the potential for significant reductions in logistics costs, oil expenditures, and carbon emissions, while proposing four strategic pathways—policy action, charging infrastructure deployment, technology/manufacturing localization, and innovative financing—to accelerate adoption and establish India as a low-carbon manufacturing hub.

The US Inflation Reduction Act, investing $370 billion over 10 years, threatens to divert private capital away from Canada. The Canadian Climate Institute outlines three responses: strengthening existing policies like carbon pricing, implementing broad subsidies similar to the US model, or adopting a targeted approach based on Canada's competitive advantages.

Zambia is positioned to benefit from the global demand for copper and cobalt driven by the energy transition, but faces challenges from a history of unstable mining taxes and poor relations with investors. The briefing recommends adopting a profit-based Mineral Royalty Tax (MRT) to encourage capital investment and exploration, particularly as ore grades decline and underground mining costs rise. It also calls for clarifying the role of Zambian Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) and resolving disputes with companies like Vedanta Resources to restore investor confidence.

The report analyzes the African medical manufacturing landscape, highlighting a heavy reliance on imports (over 70% for health technology) and a concentration of capabilities in North Africa, South Africa, and Nigeria. It identifies critical gaps in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production and medical device manufacturing, while noting that vaccine production is limited to four countries. The study argues that localization is a political project requiring a shift from generic-drug business models to more complex technologies, supported by patient capital, innovative public procurement, and the establishment of specialized pharmaceutical parks. It emphasizes the need for regulatory harmonization and the development of local 'notifying bodies' for medical devices to reduce compliance costs.

The document contends that social grants do not cause labour market withdrawal but instead increase agency and the ability to search for work. It provides evidence from South Africa and other low-and middle-income countries showing that cash transfers can stimulate local economic growth, increase self-employment, and improve human capital. The text argues that a universal basic income guarantee (UBIG) is necessary to address immediate hunger and gender injustice, as it supports unpaid care work and provides workers with an 'exit option' from exploitative employment.

The document examines the role of Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) in facilitating the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy in five emerging economies. It argues against the use of natural gas as a 'bridging fuel,' citing price volatility, the risk of stranded assets, and methane emissions. Instead, it advocates for 'leapfrogging' directly to renewables, noting that solar and wind are cost-competitive and better suited for expanding energy access in rural areas. The brief emphasizes that a gas-led transition would be economically disadvantageous and inconsistent with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal.