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The fact sheet analyzes three organizational models for smallholder oil palm farmers in Central Kalimantan: individual partnerships, cooperatives, and company-managed plasma schemes. It finds that larger, integrated models—specifically cooperatives and company-managed schemes—yield higher harvests and profits per hectare compared to individual partnerships. Cooperatives are highlighted as the most effective for risk management and farmer control, though they face institutional and financial barriers to establishment. Individual partnerships show the lowest performance, achieving only 52% of potential yields and facing high legal, supply, production, and market risks.

The report identifies a significant opportunity for carbon capture in the Brazilian Amazon, estimating that natural regeneration of deforested areas could sequester up to 26 GtCO₂. It proposes the Reversing Deforestation Mechanism (RDM), a jurisdictional results-based payment system, which could mobilize up to US$ 784 billion over 30 years at a carbon price of US$ 50 per ton. The RDM is presented as a complementary tool alongside JREDD+ (focused on reducing deforestation) and the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF, focused on conserving standing forests) to help Brazil meet its NDC targets and transition to a low-carbon economy.

The document highlights that Indonesia's nickel processing sector relies heavily on captive coal, with capacity exceeding 15 GW in 2024 and potentially reaching over 32 GW by 2031. It argues that while coal is currently the cheapest and easiest option, the industry faces market-access risks as global supply chains demand cleaner materials. The briefing recommends a combination of efficiency improvements, industrial clustering, and hybrid renewable energy systems, supported by policy alignment and international cooperation—specifically with China and Australia—to establish green nickel certifications and standards.

The report argues that the United States can leverage its vast offshore wind potential to provide 10-25% of its total electricity generation by 2050 without significantly increasing wholesale costs. It details three ambition scenarios (Low, Medium, and High), noting that a High Ambition target of 750 GW by 2050 would result in wholesale costs only 0.25% higher than a baseline scenario. The analysis emphasizes that offshore wind complements land-based renewables, reducing the required installation rate of the latter. However, scaling the industry requires substantial capital investment—exceeding $260 billion in the supply chain through 2045—and a shift toward clustered transmission planning to reduce interconnection costs by 35%. The report also projects that a High Ambition scenario could support approximately 390,000 jobs by 2050.

The document argues that expanding fossil gas production in Africa is a 'fallacy' that risks creating stranded assets, increasing national debt, and exacerbating climate vulnerability. It highlights that gas reserves are concentrated in a few nations, meaning expansion will not benefit the continent broadly. Furthermore, it asserts that fossil gas infrastructure often involves high foreign ownership and poor contractual terms, pulling wealth out of Africa. The report contrasts this with the potential of renewables, noting that Africa possesses vast solar and wind resources that could provide cheaper, more accessible energy and more sustainable jobs. Environmental risks cited include the destruction of biodiversity hotspots, such as mangroves and coral reefs, and the health impacts of gas flaring and fracking. The briefing concludes that Africa should leapfrog extractive energy systems in favor of a clean, distributed energy future supported by international climate finance.

The report analyzes how MEFMI countries utilized external financing, including emergency facilities from the IMF and World Bank, to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. It details the shift in creditor composition toward bilateral and private lenders, the deterioration of debt risk ratings, and the specific policy responses adopted by member states. The document concludes with ten key lessons for public debt management during crises, emphasizing the importance of official external finance, operational risk management, and transparency.

The Green Economy Coalition advocates for a systemic shift from narrow economic metrics like GDP toward a 'green economy' that prioritizes human wellbeing and ecological health. The report identifies five key action areas: redefining progress through new metrics, reforming financial flows to reduce short-termism, greening high-impact sectors (energy, food, housing, transport), investing in people to ensure inclusive growth, and managing natural systems to protect essential ecosystem services. It concludes with nine guiding principles for a fair and inclusive transition, emphasizing the need for multi-stakeholder engagement and a move away from resource-intensive growth.

The report examines the relationship between natural capital and human prosperity, arguing that current economic systems fail to accurately measure, value, and manage nature. It highlights that while human wealth has increased, renewable natural capital is being depleted due to a lack of appropriate price signals and a flawed assumption that nature is easily substitutable by man-made capital. The authors propose integrating natural capital into comprehensive national wealth accounts and using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for protecting critical natural capital. Key recommendations include establishing Natural Capital Committees, using non-market valuation techniques, and supporting R&D for technologies that reduce pressure on nature.

The report details Ghana's economic crisis in 2022, characterized by credit rating downgrades from Moody's, S&P, and Fitch, and a sharp depreciation of the cedi. It identifies the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2017 banking sector clean-up, and the Russia-Ukraine war as primary drivers, with the latter specifically impacting fertilizer costs and agriculture. Inflation rose to 31.7% by July 2022, driven by imported inflation and rising food prices. The government responded with policy rate hikes by the Bank of Ghana, increasing the rate from 14.5% in January to 22% by August 2022, and attempted to curb forex irregularities. However, the report notes skepticism regarding these measures, emphasizing the need for expenditure cuts and anti-corruption efforts to restore stability.

Global Witness argues that switching European home heating from fossil gas to hydrogen would be unaffordable for consumers and potentially cost €240 billion in infrastructure expenses. Based on analysis by Element Energy, the report claims hydrogen energy could cost more than double the price of gas, potentially exacerbating energy poverty for up to 80 million Europeans. The document further alleges that gas companies and distribution system operators (DSOs) are lobbying the European Commission to 'mutualize' these costs, meaning all gas users—including those not using hydrogen—would pay for the new infrastructure. Global Witness recommends that the EU limit hydrogen use to heavy industry and transport, instead prioritizing heat pumps and district heating for residential use.

The National Pricing Strategy for Water Use Charges outlines a hybrid tariff system for South Africa, combining national and catchment-level charges. It defines six water use categories and five main charge types: Water Resources Management, Infrastructure (including O&M, Depreciation, FIBC, and Capital Use), Waste Discharge, Water Research Commission, and Economic Regulator charges. The strategy emphasizes the 'user pays' and 'polluter pays' principles while providing targeted subsidies and phased-in charges for resource-poor farmers and foresters to support racial and gender equity. Implementation began on 1 April 2016, introducing multi-year tariffs and a structured process for budget planning and price setting.

The document presents a data-driven overview of Cape Town's green sectors, highlighting a total of 600 assessed companies. It breaks down the energy, water, and waste industries by company size and function, while detailing municipal budget figures and investments in green infrastructure, including the Atlantis Special Economic Zone for Green Technologies.

The document presents data on 600 companies in Cape Town's green sectors, highlighting that the majority are micro-enterprises and that the sector contributes R312 billion to the city's total GDP.

The document identifies that urban agriculture (UA) in Cape Town is often viewed only as a food security solution rather than a viable economic activity. It highlights that small urban farmers are frequently locked out of formal markets due to a lack of economies of scale, high investment requirements, and insufficient business management skills. To overcome these, the report suggests the use of formal co-operatives to aggregate produce, the adoption of specific food safety accreditations (such as SAGAP or GlobalGAP), and the development of local physical markets like agrihubs and farm stalls. It also emphasizes the role of online marketplaces and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture's Market Access Programme in bridging the gap between producers and off-takers.

A group of over 75 economists and experts argue that South Africa's initial economic responses to COVID-19 were insufficient in scale compared to other nations. They propose a comprehensive five-pillar strategy to support households, protect workers, sustain businesses, strengthen public health, and stabilize the broader economy, emphasizing the need for fiscal and monetary expansion to protect the most vulnerable populations.

The document examines how progressive taxation can address extreme poverty and economic inequality, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa. It evaluates several tax instruments, including Financial Transaction Taxes (FTTs), net wealth taxes, property taxes, and Resource Rent Taxes (RTT), detailing their potential to generate revenue for social protection and climate justice. Using South Africa as a case study, the brief provides specific revenue estimates for various progressive measures, such as a net wealth tax that could raise between R70 and R160 billion.

Nepal's textile and clothing exports, particularly ready-made garments and hand-knotted wool carpets, remain key revenue sources despite structural obstacles like high logistics costs and labor shortages. While the sector has survived through niche branding and LDC preferential market access, the impending loss of LDC status threatens to increase tariffs and tighten rules of origin. The authors argue that the government should replace inefficient ad valorem subsidies with investments in market information, business development, and inter-institutional coordination to maintain competitiveness.

The document examines the intersection of the circular economy and international trade, highlighting how shifting from primary to secondary raw materials can significantly reduce carbon emissions. It discusses the growth of secondary material markets, the rise of circular business models like sharing economies and product longevity, and the need for trade policies to eliminate barriers to circular goods and services. The authors advocate for international standards, the use of bilateral and regional free trade agreements, and a more proactive role for the WTO in facilitating a low-carbon circular economy.

Nepal's textile and clothing sector, particularly ready-made garments and hand-knotted wool carpets, remains a key export source despite structural limitations and declining manufacturing value added. Competitiveness is currently sustained by unique craftsmanship, niche branding, and LDC-based preferential market access. However, the sector faces significant hurdles, including high logistics costs due to its landlocked status, skilled labor shortages, and low productivity, with unit costs estimated to be at least 25% higher than competitors like Bangladesh. The upcoming LDC graduation threatens to increase tariffs and tighten rules of origin, potentially reducing garment exports by 13.3%. The authors argue for a shift in policy from ad-valorem subsidies toward market intelligence, business development services, and improved inter-ministerial coordination, citing Ethiopia's export coordination model as a potential example for success.

The analysis examines how US universal and sectoral tariffs affect Latin American countries, noting that while Mexico and Central American nations face higher effective tariff rates, South American nations are more vulnerable to indirect shocks from China. It highlights that China's ability to implement counter-cyclical fiscal and monetary policies to mitigate US tariff impacts will determine the stability of commodity prices and growth in South America.