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The policy brief argues that current Free Basic Services (FBS) in South Africa provide only a 'survival' level of access that fails to lift households out of poverty. It proposes increasing free electricity to 150kWh and water to 8kl per month for households earning below the minimum wage, while shifting administration from municipalities to a social grant system (SASSA) to reduce exclusion and administrative inefficiency.

The report finds that a significant portion of future capital investments in Canadian oil and gas (2025–2040) are at risk of becoming stranded, particularly under a 1.5°C climate scenario where up to 66% of investments could be lost. It argues that restricting oil and gas development would mitigate economic risks for investors and government, suggesting that Canada should limit expansion and redirect revenues toward clean industries.

The report examines the environmental impacts of agricultural subsidies, noting that total global support ranges from $610 to $842 billion per year. It argues that while production-linked supports—such as market price support and input subsidies—are often the most harmful, impacts are highly context-specific. The authors propose several frameworks for identifying harmful subsidies, including the use of meta-analyses of farming practices and the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model. To address these issues internationally, the report suggests options such as enhanced transparency, the use of 'rebuttable presumptions' to shift the burden of proof to subsidizing countries, and special and differential treatment for developing nations to balance environmental goals with food security and livelihoods.

The 2024 Independent Assessment finds that Canadian carbon pricing systems are effective, delivering between a third and a half of all projected emissions reductions by 2030. While systems have harmonized in coverage and stringency since 2020, some large-emitter trading systems (LETS) in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan are at risk of losing effectiveness due to credit oversupply and adverse policy interactions. The report also notes that while LETS generally mitigate competitiveness risks for large emitters, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face varied exposure, with some sectors like water and truck transportation showing high vulnerability.

The report examines the intersection of trade and climate sustainability from an African perspective, focusing on the economic impacts of energy transitions, the risks and opportunities of voluntary carbon markets, and the challenges of transition mineral value chains. It critically analyzes the role of the WTO in green trade and provides specific policy recommendations to ensure that climate-related trade measures, such as Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM), do not disproportionately harm developing nations.

The document distinguishes between 'safe bet' concentrated-stream carbon capture and 'wild card' unconcentrated applications, noting that while the former is commercially viable for certain heavy emitters, the overall sector has a history of underperformance and high costs. In Canada, the technology is projected to contribute between 17 and 50 megatonnes of emissions reductions in the oil and gas sector by 2030, supported by federal investment tax credits of up to 50%. However, the author cautions that deployment depends on policy durability and prudent use of public funds, particularly as demand for oil and gas is expected to decline during the energy transition.

The report evaluates the integration of permanent carbon removals—specifically BioCCS and DACCS—into the EU ETS. It identifies a critical tension: while direct integration can drive deployment and maintain market liquidity as the emissions cap approaches zero, it risks 'abatement deterrence' where removals substitute for necessary emissions reductions. The authors warn that without supply controls, BioCCS deployment could exceed sustainable biomass limits, potentially harming biodiversity and LULUCF carbon sinks. To mitigate these risks, the report recommends a gradual integration strategy that maintains the gross emissions cap, implements technology-specific supply controls, and introduces differentiated allowances. It also emphasizes that the EU ETS alone is likely insufficient to incentivize high-cost technologies like DACCS or to achieve net-negative emissions post-2050, necessitating additional public funding tools and long-term policy frameworks.

The document advocates for a progressive tax agenda to address extreme poverty and wealth concentration, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. It proposes several instruments: Financial Transaction Taxes (FTTs) to curb speculation and raise billions annually; net wealth taxes to target the super-rich; property taxes to leverage immobile assets; and Resource Rent Taxes (RTT) for the extractives sector. Using South Africa as a case study, the brief demonstrates that a combination of these taxes could generate substantial revenue to fund social protection, healthcare, and a Universal Basic Income Guarantee, potentially increasing GDP growth.

The analysis finds that complying with revised Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) is technically achievable for SaskPower without jeopardizing grid reliability. While the Saskatchewan government previously claimed rates would double by 2035, this modelling indicates that residential electricity rates would only increase by 6–9% relative to a baseline scenario. The CER would significantly reduce cumulative greenhouse gas emissions between 2025 and 2050 by accelerating the adoption of carbon capture and storage and increasing imports of clean electricity from Manitoba.

The report argues that Manitoba requires a massive, publicly led effort to implement deep energy retrofits (DERs)—defined as improvements reducing energy use by at least 50%—to meet 2050 net-zero targets. It estimates that 200,000 home retrofits are needed, requiring an annual investment of CAD 1.2 billion. The authors propose the creation of a Manitoba Green Bank to provide low- or no-interest financing and the adoption of a retrofit code by 2025. The strategy emphasizes a 'just transition' by prioritizing low-income renters and utilizing social enterprises to train underrepresented groups, including women and Indigenous Peoples, for the thousands of green jobs expected to be created.

The report finds that Alberta can almost completely decarbonize its electricity generation within the next decade using wind, solar, and gas with carbon capture. While federal Clean Electricity Regulations are a point of political contention, modelling suggests they have little impact on the long-term supply mix compared to the massive projected growth in electricity demand driven by industrial electrification. The transition's success depends on scaling up transmission infrastructure and maintaining policy stability to attract private investment.

The report details a collaborative modelling effort by the International Food Policy Research Institute, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, IISD, and Kiel University to address challenges in Indonesia's agrifood systems, such as food insecurity, malnutrition, and deforestation. By using three economic models, the project aims to provide technically sound and politically feasible policy interventions to support Indonesia's medium- and long-term development planning and climate commitments.

Bulgaria is at a pivotal energy transition point as coal's share of electricity generation fell below 30% in 2023. While solar power has grown rapidly, wind energy has stagnated since 2012. The report highlights a technical offshore wind potential of 4.3-5 GW in the maritime exclusive economic zone near Romania, which could lower wholesale power prices by 45% by 2030 if combined with increased onshore wind and better interconnections. To achieve this, the report recommends the swift adoption of a new offshore wind law, the implementation of Contracts-for-Difference (CfDs), and the update of the National Energy and Climate Plan with explicit 2030 targets.

The report examines the potential effects of International Maritime Organization (IMO) candidate mid-term GHG measures on African economies. Using a CGE model, it finds that a USD100/t carbon levy would generally reduce GDP and household incomes across Africa, increase global food prices, and reduce the supply of maritime services. A case study of Ghana highlights existing freight cost imbalances and the risk of a stranded fleet of older vessels. The authors argue that for such measures to be equitable, revenues must be redistributed as direct grants (not loans) for out-of-sector climate resilience and mitigation, based on criteria including climate vulnerability and historical emissions contributions.

The document presents findings from the EEIST programme in Brazil, arguing that risk-opportunity analysis (ROA) is a more effective tool for policymakers than traditional cost-benefit analysis (CBA) when assessing the green transition. It highlights how Brazil's specific financial and landscape dimensions can facilitate low-carbon re-industrialisation, supporting these claims with empirical and modelling case studies.

The analysis finds that exempting natural gas and heating oil from the federal carbon price would increase emissions and reduce household affordability, particularly for low-income Canadians, due to a decrease in the value of Climate Action Incentive Payments.

The Canadian Climate Institute's analysis indicates that CCS projects in the oilsands sector are economically viable under current and proposed federal and provincial policies, including carbon pricing and investment tax credits. The study finds that these projects can generate substantial private returns, suggesting that additional public subsidies beyond those already announced are unnecessary and could lead to excessive corporate profits. While CCS can improve carbon competitiveness and reduce the risk of stranded assets in a declining global oil market, it does not eliminate long-term transition risks associated with the Paris Agreement goals.

The report outlines a strategy to transform food systems in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Nigeria, requiring an average additional public investment of USD 10 billion per year from 2023 to 2030. This investment, split between donors (USD 5.8 billion) and countries (USD 4.2 billion), aims to reduce undernourishment to under 3% by 2030, double the incomes of 29 million small-scale producers, and transition 248 million people to healthier diets while meeting greenhouse gas emission goals.

Ethiopia is not on track to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, with poverty and hunger projected to increase due to conflict, pests, economic slowdown, and climate change. The report argues that sustainable food system transformation is possible within a decade if public investment is increased by USD 4.6 billion and targeted toward interventions that provide multiple development outcomes. It highlights a critical funding gap where long-term investments for Sustainable Development Goal 2 are significantly underfunded compared to short-term emergency food assistance, which increases the country's vulnerability to future shocks.

The report identifies a significant financing gap of USD 10 billion per year needed to achieve sustainable food system transformation in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Nigeria. It argues that current funding is overly skewed toward short-term emergency assistance rather than long-term agricultural development. By investing in on-farm productivity, social protection, and climate-resilient infrastructure, the report projects that undernourishment could drop below 3% and the incomes of 29 million small-scale producers could double by 2030, all while meeting nationally determined contribution goals for greenhouse gas emissions.