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The document analyzes how the 'attention economy' and the rapid integration of AI in advertising contribute to a global information crisis by funding disinformation and eroding trust. It highlights a 'governance gap' where regulatory frameworks fail to keep pace with AI adoption, leading to systemic opacity and the financial decline of independent media. The brief provides specific recommendations for advertisers to demand object-level transparency and for policymakers to establish enforceable labeling and auditing standards for AI-generated content.

The report finds that most major fashion brands are increasing their reliance on synthetic fibres while using 'smoke screen' tactics—such as voluntary industry initiatives and shifting responsibility to consumers—to avoid meaningful regulation and reduction of plastic pollution.

The petrochemical industry is a growing driver of global oil demand and greenhouse gas emissions, with nitrogen fertilisers and plastics as primary contributors. Rapid capacity expansion, particularly in China, is projected to increase emissions beyond 1.5°C warming limits. While technical solutions and recycling are proposed, the low cost of virgin plastics and the limitations of 'downcycling' hinder progress, suggesting that policy should prioritise reuse and the reduction of single-use materials over simple substitution or recycling.

The report analyzes private equity's involvement in the multibillion-dollar Medicare Advantage sector, noting a peak in deal activity in 2021 followed by a slowdown due to interest rates and tighter regulations. It warns that private equity ownership in healthcare can lead to anticompetitive consolidation, fraud, and cost-cutting that harms patients and workers, and recommends policies such as joint liability for owners and increased regulatory scrutiny of deals.

The briefing finds that the global steel industry is not on track for net zero by 2050, as only a third of the top 50 producers have set 2050 targets. It highlights a critical gap in transparency regarding emission scopes and a concerning trend where planned capacity for coal-based blast furnaces significantly outweighs that of low-emissions projects.

The report finds that the fashion industry remains heavily dependent on synthetic fibres, with 25% of analyzed brands increasing their use. It highlights a significant lack of supply chain transparency and an overreliance on recycled polyester from PET bottles rather than fibre-to-fibre recycling. While many brands support proposed EU Textile Strategy legislation, there is a stark gap between their public sustainability marketing and actual decarbonization progress.

The report examines how COP26 outcomes, such as pledges to end deforestation and phase out fossil fuel vehicles, drive demand for critical minerals in Africa. It emphasizes that while the energy transition offers economic opportunities, mining companies must adopt ESG frameworks and UN Sustainable Development Goals to ensure a 'just decarbonisation process' and avoid community conflict. The document highlights the challenge of scope 3 emissions and recommends that African governments create incentive platforms for decarbonisation.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project and partners call for the private equity industry to implement six labor standards—including a $15 minimum wage, paid sick leave, and protections against layoffs—to mitigate the negative impacts of private equity takeovers on millions of workers.

The report finds a significant divide in the fashion industry's approach to sustainable viscose, with a small group of 'frontrunners' making progress while the majority of brands—particularly US and luxury labels—remain inactive. While over 50% of global viscose production is now aligned or committed to EU Best Available Techniques (BAT) standards, the authors argue that voluntary commitments are insufficient and call for mandatory EU legislation on human rights and environmental due diligence to ensure a sector-wide transformation.

The report finds that while some industry frontrunners and major producers have aligned with EU Best Available Techniques (BAT) for closed-loop manufacturing, a significant majority of fashion brands—particularly US and luxury labels—lack transparent policies or commitments. It argues that voluntary initiatives are insufficient to drive sector-wide change and calls for mandatory EU legislation on due diligence and environmental standards to eliminate pollution and deforestation in the viscose supply chain.

The Islamic Finance Toolkit provides a comprehensive overview of Shariah-compliant financial systems, detailing key contracts, the global industry landscape, and specific strategies for integrating Islamic finance into African economies. It identifies significant underdevelopment in Africa—where the region holds only 1% of global Islamic banking assets despite housing 27% of the world's Muslim population—and offers a framework of eleven recommendations covering legal, tax, and regulatory reforms to unlock the potential of Sukuk, Takaful, and Islamic fintech.

The report evaluates the environmental performance and transparency of 91 clothing brands and several major viscose producers. It finds that while some European brands and producers like Lenzing and Aditya Birla Group are moving toward EU Best Available Techniques (BAT) standards, many others—particularly US brands and the Chinese viscose industry—remain laggards. The document argues that voluntary initiatives are insufficient and calls for mandatory government regulation to ensure a sector-wide transition to closed-loop production.

The European automotive industry faces a 'perfect storm' of disruption driven by climate change, autonomous driving, and shared mobility. While Europe was the cradle of the car, it is now lagging behind competitors like Tesla and Chinese manufacturers in electric vehicle (EV) production and battery technology. The author criticizes EU policymakers for being too lax and suggests that the Greens are well-positioned to help steer the industry toward a sustainable and competitive future through pragmatic dialogue and ambitious regulation.

The report examines the carpet sector's failure to transition from a linear to a circular economy, highlighting that most carpets in Europe are incinerated or landfilled. It specifically critiques industry leaders Desso and Interface for 'greenwashing,' noting a significant gap between their sustainability goals and actual collection rates. The document also identifies the event industry as a major source of single-use carpet waste and proposes systemic changes in eco-design, collection infrastructure, and public policy to enable genuine closed-loop recycling.

The report argues that the European carpet industry is far from achieving a circular economy, with the vast majority of carpets in Germany being incinerated and 60% in Europe being landfilled. Despite the public sustainability branding of market leaders Desso and Interface, the study finds that these companies recover only 1.5% to 3% of the carpets they place on the market. The document identifies structural barriers, including poor eco-design, a lack of comprehensive collection systems, and an overcapacity of waste incineration plants in Germany, which creates financial incentives to burn recyclable materials. It recommends the introduction of extended producer responsibility, a waste incineration tax, and mandatory recycling quotas to shift the industry toward genuine material recovery.

The document reports that 55 cellulosic biorefineries were complete, under construction, or planned across 31 U.S. states by July 2008, with an expected capacity of 629.5 million gallons per year. It outlines various conversion technologies and feedstocks, including agricultural residues and energy crops, and details significant financial investments from the U.S. Department of Energy and various state governments to advance the industry.

The document details South Africa's coal landscape, identifying the Highveld and Witbank coalfields as the largest by reserves. It provides a comprehensive inventory of mines, their ownership (including major entities like Anglo Coal, Exxaro, and BHP Billiton), and their production outputs for domestic power (primarily Eskom) and export markets. The report also analyzes the logistics chain, focusing on the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) as the primary export hub, and provides detailed cost breakdowns for opencast mining and rail transport.

The document analyzes the U.S. building energy modeling (BEM) sector, identifying a lack of credibility, fragmented software tools, and a shortage of skilled practitioners as primary barriers. It details the evolution of BEM from early computer programs to modern BIM integration and examines the role of market drivers like LEED and ASHRAE standards. The text proposes a collaborative roadmap to standardize methods, improve education, and enhance the accuracy of energy predictions to support low-energy building solutions.