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The report argues that fossil fuel supermajors use the voluntary carbon market (VCM) as a strategic pillar to maintain a green image while continuing carbon-intensive operations. It details how these companies and trade associations like IETA and API lobby for weaker credit quality standards and increased flexibility in offsetting Scope 3 emissions. The document specifically critiques the governance of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) and the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), alleging that the inclusion of industry representatives in decision-making roles creates significant conflicts of interest that risk diluting integrity standards.

The 2025 report by CPI/PUC-Rio reveals a significant but uneven acceleration in the implementation of Brazil's Forest Code. While the proportion of CAR registrations with initiated analysis rose from 15% to 24% nationally, and validated registrations nearly tripled, a deep gap remains between CAR validation and actual environmental recovery via the PRA. Progress is heavily driven by automation and 'compulsory acceptance' of corrections in states like São Paulo and Paraná, while other regions struggle with land tenure insecurity, lack of technical staff, and poor communication with landowners. Federal governance of the Sicar system has improved through a new partnership between MGI, SFB, and Dataprev, and the first national Environmental Reserve Quotes (CRA) were issued in Rio de Janeiro in October 2025.

The Harare City Profiling Report 2025 details the challenges facing Zimbabwe's capital, characterized by rapid informal urban growth, severe infrastructure decay, and a strained relationship between the opposition-led city council and the national government. While Harare serves as the country's economic hub, it suffers from critical gaps in water, sanitation, and waste management, with a significant portion of the population living in informal settlements. The report highlights a severe fiscal crisis where the city relies almost entirely on its own limited revenue sources while facing low payment compliance and high levels of non-revenue water.

The document analyzes the centralized theocracy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan under Emir Haibatullah, focusing on how Provincial Ulama Councils (PUCs) and Provincial Governors operate. It details the history of Afghan education and the current ban on girls' secondary and university education, concluding that while internal disagreements exist within the Taliban leadership, the Emir's centralized control limits the possibility of locally negotiated education opportunities.

The report finds that the development of the 3,500-hectare Kawasan Industri Takalar (KITA) has been characterized by a severe lack of transparency and meaningful public participation, violating the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Residents of Desa Laikang, primarily seaweed farmers and fishers, report minimal official information and feel excluded from planning. The audit reveals a discrepancy between the company's public narrative of 'aquabusiness' and official documents that prioritize heavy industry, such as nickel downstreaming and electric vehicle assembly. Economic compensation is limited to low-value land payments (Rp 5,000 to Rp 11,000 per square meter) without livelihood protection. Furthermore, the project's ownership is concentrated within the family of a national political elite, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. The community has responded with formal protests and a village-level declaration of rejection, which the government has largely ignored.

The document examines the 2024 Climate Change Act in South Africa, highlighting the critical role of local governments as front-end responders to climate impacts. It identifies significant barriers to implementation, including poor financial management, administrative capacity constraints, and a disconnect between political governance and the economy. To address these, the author recommends professionalising the public service through the Public Service Commission and strengthening the use of the Local Government Climate Change Support Programme to ensure municipalities can meet their legal mandate of submitting climate response assessments every five years.

The report examines the environmental and health risks associated with ASGM tailings, which often contain mercury and cyanide. It finds that while large-scale mining (LSM) has robust standards, ASGM lacks specific international and regional tailings governance, relying on general mining codes that are often poorly enforced due to sector informality. The document recommends the creation of an international ASM-specific tailings standard, the implementation of strategic environmental assessments (SEAs), and the development of formalization schemes to improve waste management and recover critical minerals from tailings.

The document maps the governance landscape of the WTO regarding trade and the environment. It details the roles of various committees, the dispute settlement mechanism, and the Trade Policy Review Mechanism in monitoring and negotiating environmental measures. It also highlights three major member-led initiatives—TESSD, DPP, and FFSR—and the role of the WTO Secretariat in facilitating information exchange and technical assistance to support sustainable development and climate goals.

A 2023 study of 13 water infrastructure projects in Makueni County, Kenya, found that most remain functional seven years after implementation. The success of these locally-led adaptation investments is attributed to the integration of local knowledge with technical data and strong partnerships between the county government and communities. While the projects have improved water access and increased agricultural incomes, challenges remain regarding siltation, funding for major repairs, and the need for green energy transitions to reduce production costs.

The longitudinal study evaluates water projects in Kenya's ASAL regions, finding a decline in functionality from 2019 to 2023, while highlighting the benefits of community-led investment and the critical need for dedicated operations and maintenance funding.

The briefing argues that climate change and biodiversity loss are inextricably connected and recommends five key opportunities to align the CBD and UNFCCC agendas. These include developing specific indicators for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), aligning National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), formalizing collaboration between the IPBES and IPCC, establishing a joint work program among the three Rio Conventions, and formalizing the role of CBD Action Agenda High-Level Champions.

The report analyzes producer inclusion across executive, legislative, judicial, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) governance in six agricultural VSSSOs: African Organisation for Standardisation, Better Cotton, Fairtrade International, Rainforest Alliance, Trustea, and VietFarm. It finds that while some organizations reserve seats for producers, there is a widespread lack of voting and veto power, limited transparency in executive decisions, and a significant gap in producer representation within grievance and M&E processes. The document recommends that VSSSOs formally reserve seats for producers, support producer-led networks, and increase the transparency of governance and grievance decisions.

The report evaluates the inclusion of producers—including farmers and workers—within the governance of six agricultural voluntary sustainability standard-setting organizations (VSSSOs) based on principles of representation, participation, transparency, and subsidiarity. While noting promising progress, it argues that more must be done to allow producers to influence decisions affecting their lives. The document recommends specific structural changes, such as granting producers voting and veto power in high-level governance bodies, integrating producer-led networks, and increasing transparency regarding executive and grievance decisions.

The document examines the implementation of the Public Forest Management Law (LGFP) in the Amazon, noting that federal and state concessions have fallen short of targets. Focusing on Pará, the study identifies governance failures—including annulled bids, non-conceded areas, and terminated contracts—driven by administrative errors and restrictive legal limits on concession size and quantity. It recommends enhancing the training of public officials and removing legal caps on the area a single company can manage to attract more qualified operators.

The report finds that while the South African Parliament possesses sufficient legal powers to oversee the executive, its actual capacity to enforce accountability is weak. This failure is attributed to a political environment that disincentivises scrutiny, inefficient committee processes, inadequate technical and research resourcing, and a lack of capability or commitment among many MPs. The authors distinguish between 'explanatory accountability' (giving reasons), which is routinely performed but often procedurally superficial, and 'amendatory accountability' (remedying defects), which is described as 'barely extant'. Key recommendations include establishing a dedicated committee to oversee the Presidency, reforming the appointment of committee chairs to include more opposition members, and creating a formal system to track and enforce executive compliance with parliamentary resolutions.

The report identifies a gap between Indonesia's international climate pledges and its domestic energy policies, which continue to favor coal. It highlights a governance model characterized by sectoral silos, informal decision-making influenced by politically exposed persons (PEPs) from the coal sector, and significant financing shortfalls for renewable energy.

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) was established in 2003 to promote good governance through peer reviews and National Programmes of Action. While it has expanded to 43 member states and seen a leadership-driven turnaround under CEO Prof Eddy Maloka since 2016, the mechanism faces challenges including slow throughput, delayed publication of reports, and a lack of progress in governance outcomes. Data from the Ibrahim Index of African Governance and Afrobarometer suggest that governance on the continent has remained steady or declined despite the APRM's efforts.

The report examines the early exploration phase of the Cabora Bassa Project (Special Grant Permit 4571) in Zimbabwe, highlighting significant gaps in transparency and community engagement. While the project has identified substantial potential liquid natural gas reserves, the authors find a lack of meaningful consultation with local populations in the Muzarabani and Mbire districts, creating an information asymmetry between investors and residents. The document warns of potential risks including securitization, human rights abuses, and environmental degradation in a region already highly vulnerable to climate-induced flooding and drought. It recommends making production and exploration agreements public, conducting an independent review of the Environmental Impact Assessment, and implementing an equity-based benefit-sharing model for local communities.

The report identifies that Canada's federal adaptation governance is currently 'weak' and fragmented, primarily operating at the director general level with limited connection to senior decision-makers. It argues that the upcoming National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) provides a critical opportunity to revitalize this structure. The authors suggest several options for improvement, including establishing a dedicated DM-level committee for adaptation, creating a formal legal mandate through legislation, and developing a specialized knowledge-brokering unit. The report emphasizes that success depends on sufficient funding, senior-level leadership, and a deeper understanding of the distinct characteristics of adaptation compared to climate mitigation and emergency management.

Good Governance Africa evaluates COP27, noting the establishment of a fund for vulnerable developing countries as a major achievement but criticizing the lack of accountability from the Global North. The statement highlights that Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change despite contributing only 4% of global emissions. It identifies critical gaps in adaptation finance, noting that the $100 billion pledge remains unmet and that $300 billion is needed by 2030. The document also critiques African disunity over the role of gas in energy transitions, poor local governance in disaster management, and the failure of oil-wealthy nations like Nigeria and Angola to achieve sustainable development due to corruption.