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Global Witness reports a surge in unregulated heavy rare earth element (HREE) mining in Myanmar's Kachin State, with exports to China rising from 19,500 tonnes in 2021 to 41,700 tonnes in 2023. The report details devastating environmental damage caused by in-situ leaching, including poisoned watercourses and severe health issues for workers. These minerals are vital for permanent magnets used in EVs and wind turbines, linking global brands like Tesla and Volkswagen to a supply chain dominated by Chinese state-owned firms and Myanmar-based militias. The report argues that the trade finances conflict and calls for strict supply chain due diligence and import restrictions on Myanmar-sourced HREE.

The report alleges that ADNOC, led by COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber, pursued nearly $100 billion in fossil fuel deals during the UAE's year as host, contradicting public claims that the summit was not used for commercial gain. It details specific targets in countries like Brazil, Azerbaijan, and China, and argues that the COP28 final text's ambiguous language on 'transitioning away' from fossil fuels allows ADNOC to expand production while appearing compliant with climate goals.

Global Witness asserts that the influence of corporate money in US politics, exacerbated by the Citizens United decision, has led to climate inaction and the failure to implement the Cardin-Lugar anti-corruption provision. The organization argues that the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) proposed rules are insufficient because they do not require project-level payment disclosure, which is essential for detecting corruption in the extractive industries, as evidenced by cases involving Shell, Eni, and Glencore.

A Global Witness investigation found that up to 20 million barrels of Russian ESPO crude, valued at $1.5 billion, were likely sold above the G7 price cap of $60 per barrel between December 2022 and January 2023. The report highlights the involvement of British and European shipping, insurance, and trading firms, while noting a severe lack of enforcement and attestation collection by authorities in Switzerland, Greece, and the UK.

Global Witness reports that Cargill has purchased soy from farms in Bolivia where over 20,000 hectares of forest have been cleared since 2017. The investigation finds that Cargill fails to collect necessary origin data for its soy, undermining its public commitments to deforestation-free supply chains. Furthermore, a leaked map suggests Cargill may be targeting an additional 3 million hectares of standing forest for future soy sourcing. The report also highlights that global banks, including Barclays, BNP Paribas, HSBC, and Santander, continue to provide billions in financing to Cargill despite their own pledges to reduce deforestation in their portfolios.

An investigation by Global Witness, Der Spiegel, and Mediapart reveals that the Ngoki oil project in the Republic of the Congo is linked to the family of President Sassou-Nguesso and businessman Claude Wilfrid Etoka, whose bank accounts were closed by BNP Paribas due to corruption risks. The report argues that the project's environmental impact assessments are obsolete and fail to account for the presence of carbon-rich peatlands, which could store 1.34 gigatonnes of carbon in the Ngoki block alone. Furthermore, evidence suggests that the announced oil reserves of 359 million barrels may be economically unviable, as major firms like Shell and Total previously rejected the project based on seismic data.

A Global Witness and Public Eye investigation reveals that the world's top three commodity traders—Vitol, Glencore, and Trafigura—engaged middlemen linked to Brazil's 'Car Wash' corruption scandal. The report details how these intermediaries, including the 'Deacon of Bribes' and professional money-launderers, allegedly facilitated bribery schemes and insider information trades to secure oil and fuel contracts with Petrobras. While the companies deny wrongdoing, the report highlights 'corruption red flags' and calls for investigations by authorities in the UK, US, and Switzerland.

An investigation by Global Witness reveals that the Nsuta manganese mine in Ghana, operated by the Chinese company Ningxia Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group (TMI), is causing severe health and environmental damage to surrounding communities. Local residents report chronic respiratory, skin, and eye conditions, while academic research indicates that mine pit water is concentrated with toxic metals like arsenic, potentially causing cancer and stillbirths. The mine's tailings dump is described by an expert as unstable and steeper than industry standards, posing a risk to nearby homes. Despite the mine's role in supplying manganese for EV batteries used by companies like Tesla, Ford, and General Motors, local communities report inadequate government regulation and erratic distribution of mining revenues. The expansion of the open-cast mine also threatens the Neung Forest Reserve, a critical biodiversity hotspot.

The document examines how the 2010 FIFA World Cup created opportunities for corruption and conflicts of interest in South Africa. It details irregularities in stadium tenders in Johannesburg, Durban, and the Eastern Cape, and critiques the lack of transparency in FIFA's global operations and its relationship with exclusive suppliers like Match Event Services. The report argues that the pressure to meet FIFA's stringent requirements often led the South African government to prioritize the interests of the event organizers over the long-term public interest and developmental needs of the host cities.

The report documents the link between European meat consumption and the destruction of the Gran Chaco ecosystem in Argentina and Paraguay. It highlights how major agribusiness traders, specifically Cargill and Bunge, facilitate the expansion of industrial soy monocultures, leading to illegal deforestation, biodiversity loss, and severe health impacts on local communities due to glyphosate use. The document argues that this destruction is avoidable through the use of degraded lands and the implementation of traceability systems similar to the Brazilian Soy Moratorium.

The report critiques the Indonesian government's plan to move its capital to East Kalimantan, specifically in the Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kartanegara regencies. It argues that the project is a 'political commodity' designed to benefit oligarchs and corporations who hold extensive mining, forestry, and plantation concessions in the area. The document highlights significant environmental threats, including the destruction of mangrove ecosystems in Balikpapan Bay, the risk of floods, and continued reliance on coal power. It also warns of the marginalization and potential eviction of indigenous peoples, such as the Balik tribe, and criticizes the lack of transparency in financing and public participation.