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The document proposes tripartite contracts to address high electricity prices and market volatility in Europe, which currently hinder industrial decarbonisation. By placing a public contracting entity between clean energy generators and industrial consumers, these agreements aim to provide long-term revenue certainty for developers and fixed price certainty for industries. The brief highlights that while technologies for low- to medium-heat processes are ready, market gaps and electricity taxation remain barriers. It notes that the European Commission is developing such agreements for offshore wind, grids, and storage, drawing on practices from Spain, France, and Italy.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) warns that modest GDP growth and improvements in network industries (energy, freight, and ports) in 2025 must be used as a springboard for structural transformation rather than a reason for complacency. Despite a projected 1.2% GDP expansion in 2025, unemployment remains critical at 31.9% (narrow) and 42.4% (expanded), while poverty affects 66.7% of the population. The IEJ argues that growth in finance and commodities does not create sufficient jobs and calls for a developmental macroeconomic framework. This includes a dual policy rate regime from the South African Reserve Bank, increased public investment in infrastructure and social services, and the implementation of a net wealth tax to fund these initiatives.

The report argues that proactive investment in adapting Canada's public infrastructure to climate risks can save governments billions in annual costs while protecting the economy from cascading disruptions.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) asserts that while South Africa saw modest GDP growth of 1.2% in 2025 and improvements in energy and logistics, these gains have not reduced high unemployment, poverty, or food insecurity. The IEJ calls for a shift from market-centric policies to a developmental macroeconomic framework that prioritizes industrial policy, progressive taxation, and expanded social security to achieve inclusive growth.

The author contends that American steel producers, such as U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs, are falling behind Asian competitors by abandoning decarbonization plans in favor of coal-intensive production. This failure to adapt to demands for greener steel, exemplified by the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, threatens U.S. market access and causes billions in annual health damages. The text highlights that while a Korean company, Hyundai, is investing $6 billion in low-carbon steel in Louisiana, major U.S. firms continue to rely on polluting methods despite minimal cost increases for end-products like vehicles.

The document examines the application of the Polluter-Pays Principle (PPP) to the PFAS pollution crisis, noting that clean-up costs in Europe could exceed €100 billion per year. It argues that the PPP must be expanded to cover legacy, present, and future pollution, regardless of whether it was legal at the time, and should target both producers and users. The authors recommend combining taxes, fees, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes with strict phase-out measures and criminal penalties to ensure that the financial burden of direct and indirect societal costs is shifted from citizens to polluters.

The document examines the systemic failure to apply the Polluter-Pays Principle (PPP) to PFAS pollution, noting that clean-up costs in Europe could exceed €100 billion annually. It proposes a framework where the PPP covers legacy, present, and future pollution—regardless of legality—and targets both producers and users. The authors advocate for a combination of taxes, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, and risk-pooling funds to prevent public funds from bearing the cost of remediation, while emphasizing that the PPP must be paired with a total phase-out of PFAS.

The document highlights the role of vehicle-grid integration (VGI) and bidirectional charging in supporting California's transition to a clean grid. It notes that while the state requires massive investments in new energy resources and transmission to meet the 100 Percent Clean Energy Act (SB 100) targets, the use of electric vehicle (EV) batteries as energy storage can lower these costs. Specifically, it suggests that 50 percent V2G enrollment could save over $10 billion annually in grid costs by 2045.

The document examines the 'Commodity Trap' facing the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) industry, where attempts to displace low-cost bulk protein and synthetic fertilisers have struggled due to prohibitive price gaps and scaling hurdles. It recommends that producers shift toward high-value functional additives and bioactive soil amendments, leveraging partnerships with established suppliers to overcome farmer skepticism and regulatory barriers in South Africa.

The document argues that electric micro-mobility is commercially viable for South African last-mile delivery, particularly on high-frequency urban routes. While higher upfront costs (CAPEX) are a barrier, they can be mitigated through leasing, Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), and Electric Vehicle-as-a-Service (EVaaS) models. The brief highlights that E2Ws can achieve break-even within 7 to 24 months and reduce operating expenses by 30-50% per kilometre compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycles. To achieve significant emissions reductions of 40-60%, the document emphasizes integrating renewable energy into charging infrastructure to offset South Africa's coal-heavy grid. It also identifies the Western Cape's Atlantis SEZ as a developing hub for local micro-EV manufacturing to improve supply chain resilience and affordability.

The document examines the 'greying' of Europe and the resulting political tensions, the failure of pronatalist policies in Hungary and Poland, the role of digital platforms in youth-led protests in Nepal and Africa, and the structural challenges of the kafala system in the Middle East. It advocates for institutional reforms to ensure intergenerational justice and a shift away from growth-oriented economics toward a model centered on care.

The document examines the health and economic impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," and advocates for a categorical regulatory approach. It highlights that current U.S. efforts, such as EPA drinking water limits, are insufficient because manufacturers can replace banned individual PFAS with other similar chemicals. The brief notes that annual health damages in the U.S. are estimated between $920.91 million and $62.6 billion across different studies, though these are likely underestimates. While cleanup technologies for water exist, those for soil and air remain undeveloped, making restrictions and bans the most cost-effective way to address ongoing contamination.

The briefing outlines a phased strategy for Jharkhand to transition from a mining-dependent economy to a green industrial base. It identifies four high-potential sectors—Clean Power, Green Molecules, Sustainable Mobility, and Green Equipment Manufacturing—which could generate USD 1.43 billion in annual state tax revenue. The transition requires a total cumulative investment of USD 41.4 billion, implemented across three phases from 2026 to 2070.

Nepal's textiles and clothing sector, particularly readymade garments and hand-knotted woollen carpets, remains a key export earner despite structural constraints and a decline in manufacturing's share of GDP. While the sector leverages unique craftsmanship and LDC-based preferential market access, it faces high logistics costs, skilled labour shortages, and a 25% higher unit cost compared to competitors like Bangladesh and India. LDC graduation threatens this competitiveness through potential tariff increases and stricter rules of origin. The authors argue that the government should move away from ineffective ad-valorem subsidies and poorly located special economic zones, instead focusing on market intelligence, inter-agency coordination, and productivity improvements to adapt to a changing global trade landscape.

The statement asserts that the global economy is highly exposed to nature and climate risks, with potential GDP losses of $2.7 trillion annually by 2030. It identifies key opportunities for transformation, including the alignment of trade policy with the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the elimination of environmentally harmful subsidies. The author calls for a shift from short-term crisis management to strategic, long-term sectoral pathways consistent with net-zero and nature-positive goals, suggesting the use of plurilateral agreements and initiatives like the Integrated Forum on Climate Change and Trade.

Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions, Russia has pivoted its fossil fuel exports toward Asia. While this has partially offset revenue losses from the European market, the report argues that Russia remains locked in a hydrocarbon-centric model that is increasingly misaligned with the decarbonisation trajectories of its primary Asian customers. China and India have leveraged discounted Russian oil and coal to support economic growth while simultaneously diversifying their energy portfolios and expanding renewable capacity. Vietnam has seen modest growth in Russian coal and nascent LNG trade, balancing energy security with sustainability goals. The report highlights structural bottlenecks, such as limited rail capacity for coal and the risks of a 'shadow fleet' for oil, as significant constraints on Russia's long-term export viability.

The document argues that wealth taxation is an appropriate tool for redistribution in South Africa due to extreme inequality, where the richest 0.01% owned 15% of wealth in 2017. It examines three primary instruments: Financial Transaction Taxes (FTTs), dividend taxes, and net wealth taxes. International evidence from France shows that increasing dividend taxes from 15.5% to 46% led to a 15% increase in investment. Net wealth taxes in countries like Argentina, Spain, Norway, Switzerland, and Colombia have raised between 0.2% and 1.5% of GDP. The brief highlights administrative challenges for the South African Revenue Service (SARS) but notes the existence of a High Wealth Individual Unit as evidence of feasibility. It recommends a combination of moderate net wealth taxes, increased dividend taxes, and the introduction of an FTT, supported by tighter capital controls and international cooperation via the UN Framework Convention on International Taxation and Cooperation.

Nigeria holds 33 percent of Africa's gas reserves and is implementing the 'Decade of Gas' (2021-2030) to transition toward a gas-powered economy. While the country is a top global LNG exporter, it faces significant internal challenges, including high gas flaring (188 Bcf in 2022), inadequate pipeline infrastructure, and poor payment discipline in the power sector. The document argues that natural gas can serve as a bridge fuel toward Nigeria's net-zero 2060 goal and a catalyst for African industrialization in sectors like fertilizers and petrochemicals. However, the global energy transition is leading International Oil Companies (IOCs) to divest from onshore assets, and geopolitical instability—specifically Niger's 2023 coup—threatens major cross-border projects like the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline.

Ember argues that Indonesia's JETP 2025 scenario is insufficiently ambitious, particularly regarding the captive power sector, where it suggests that integrating solar PV could significantly reduce emissions. The brief calls for the inclusion of captive power in peaking emission targets, the removal of solar quotas, and the redirection of JETP investments toward coal-producing provinces to mitigate fiscal vulnerabilities and job losses.

The briefing presents an economic case for investing in natural capital, asserting that nature-based solutions can provide over 50% of the cost-effective global mitigation needed for a 2°C pathway. It highlights that wetlands and forests generate trillions in annual ecosystem services, far exceeding the costs of their protection and the adaptation finance needs of developing countries. The text notes that while rehabilitating nature and transforming food systems can yield returns between 6.8 and 51 times the investment, current financial flows remain misaligned, with significant funding still directed toward harmful environmental subsidies.