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The document analyzes the proposed changes to Mozambique's Petroleum Law, arguing that while the government aims to attract investment and economic development, the law remains vague on community rights. It emphasizes that legally binding agreements between oil companies and affected populations are only effective if communities have independent legal and technical support. The text warns that the inclusion of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) may be used to justify continued fossil fuel extraction without addressing the costs borne by local populations. It calls for 'real consultations' and specific, verifiable benefit-sharing mechanisms to ensure that extractive wealth does not solely benefit the elite while locals suffer land loss and pollution.

The document examines the revision of Mozambique's Petroleum Law, highlighting the risks that the new framework may prioritize investor confidence over community rights. It identifies key changes, such as the introduction of binding agreements with affected communities, human rights compliance reports, and the inclusion of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technology. The author argues that without specific, enforceable rules on land rights, compensation, and benefit-sharing, these legal changes may remain symbolic and fail to protect local populations from the costs of extractive development.

The Uganda Development Bank (UDB) has developed a Currency Risk-Sharing Facility (CRSF) to mitigate the foreign exchange (FX) risks associated with borrowing in hard currencies (USD/EUR) and lending in Ugandan shillings (UGX) for climate projects. The CRSF employs a layered risk-sharing approach, combining a partial hedge (e.g., currency swaps) with a tail-risk FX guarantee to protect against severe UGX depreciation beyond a dynamic threshold. Financial modeling indicates that the CRSF offers a more affordable and stable funding cost (average 9.82%) compared to full hedging (10.96%) or unhedged exposure (average 8.39% but highly volatile). The instrument is designed to be replicable for other public development banks in emerging markets and developing economies facing similar currency mismatches.

The July 2025 ICJ Advisory Opinion affirms that states have a legal obligation to prevent significant environmental damage and provide financial support to developing countries, a duty embedded in customary international law. The brief argues that this ruling provides a legal foundation for reparative justice—including restitution and compensation—and reinforces the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC). It highlights that while the Baku to Belém (B2B) Roadmap aims for US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035, it currently lacks binding targets and transparency. The document urges that COP30 use the ruling to ensure developed countries lead in delivering at least US$300 billion per year by 2035, primarily through grants and concessional resources, to support ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Global Goal on Adaptation.

The statement argues that current scientific advice for fishing limits is insufficient for ecosystem recovery and that the EU has failed its legal obligations to end overfishing and achieve Good Environmental Status. It calls for catch limits to be set significantly below maximum scientific advice, particularly for forage fish and mixed fisheries, to safeguard marine biodiversity and resilience against climate change.

The document outlines a strategic framework for negotiating protocols under the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UN FCITC). It identifies two 'early protocols'—cross-border services and tax dispute resolution—and several 'possible protocols' including the digital economy, illicit financial flows, high-net-worth individuals, and environmental challenges. The report argues that the UN FCITC can provide a more inclusive and effective alternative to OECD-led frameworks, particularly for developing countries, by establishing global standards for taxing the digital economy, combating tax evasion, and coordinating climate-related fiscal policies.

The document assesses the failures of the 2014 EU Public Procurement Directives, noting that their voluntary nature and legal fragmentation have hindered the mainstreaming of green public procurement (GPP). It highlights that public procurement represents approximately 15% of EU GDP and 10% of its greenhouse gas emissions, presenting a significant opportunity for climate impact. The authors propose three primary reform opportunities: making GPP mandatory to simplify procedures and reduce legal uncertainty, linking 'buy European' initiatives to environmental requirements to boost green competitiveness, and implementing systemic data collection to improve monitoring and accountability.

The document argues that current EU legislation, including the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), is insufficient to prevent PFAS pollution and cannot replace a REACH restriction. It highlights gaps in the IED's scope, a lack of specific emission limit values for most PFAS, and weak monitoring and reporting requirements. Furthermore, it finds that occupational health and waste management regulations fail to provide robust protection against PFAS risks. The briefing concludes that while emission controls are a necessary complement, only a REACH restriction can effectively cut pollution at the source.

The document identifies a rapid increase in climate lawsuits against major fossil fuel producers, noting that annual filings nearly tripled since 2015. It categorizes these cases into primary types—most notably compensation for climate damages, misleading advertising, and emissions reductions—and highlights emerging trends such as criminal liability claims and challenges to project permitting. The analysis emphasizes the role of attribution science in quantifying corporate liability and the potential for landmark rulings, such as the one against Shell in the Netherlands, to set global precedents.

The paper examines the tension between SADC's economic-driven digital agenda and the protection of fundamental human rights. It identifies systemic threats including state-sanctioned internet shutdowns, surveillance, and algorithmic bias, while analyzing the influence of digital geopolitics involving the US, China, and the EU. The authors advocate for the recognition of the 'right to Internet access' and the adoption of 'data justice' frameworks to ensure an inclusive digital future by 2035.

The Center for International Environmental Law identifies a 'Dirty Dozen' of insurers that have restricted coverage for California homeowners, citing climate risks, while maintaining significant financial ties to fossil fuels. This practice is described as a 'vicious cycle of uninsurability' that shifts the economic burden of the climate crisis onto households.

The document analyzes the constitutional crisis in Senegal following President Macky Sall's decision to postpone the February 25, 2024, elections. It argues that the move is illegal and unconstitutional, reflecting a trend toward authoritarianism and 'hyper-presidentialism'. The text details the roles of key political figures like Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade, the repression of civil society, and the potential for regional instability in West Africa if the impasse is not peacefully resolved.

The document examines the potential for EU and UK deforestation regulations to drive legislative reform in Côte d'Ivoire's cocoa sector. While the EUDR's benchmarking and traceability requirements offer incentives for better forest governance and transparency, the report warns of risks to smallholder farmers, including potential exclusion from markets due to compliance costs and the persistence of child labour driven by poverty.

The document examines the potential for the EUDR and UK Environment Act to act as levers for change in Ghana's cocoa industry. It highlights that while these regulations impose strict deforestation-free and legality requirements, they offer Ghana opportunities to improve forest governance, establish a centralised traceability system, and better regulate child labour. However, the author warns of risks to smallholder farmers, who may face increased compliance costs or exclusion from the EU market, and emphasizes the need for international partnerships to support a just transition.

The document evaluates Madagascar's legal framework for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) in the mining sector. While it identifies strengths such as up-to-date environmental texts and established institutions like the Office National pour l'Environnement (ONE), it highlights critical weaknesses. These include broad stability clauses that may freeze outdated laws, the ability of the environment minister to override ONE's technical objections, and a permitting sequence that allows mining licenses to be granted before environmental permits. The report recommends removing or limiting stability clauses, making environmental permits a prerequisite for mining licenses, and increasing public participation during the early stages of ESIA report drafting.

The Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) is a plurilateral initiative involving over 110 WTO members aimed at streamlining foreign direct investment (FDI) through transparency and administrative efficiency. While much of the text is 'clean,' key disputes remain regarding the scope of obligations, the implementation of responsible business conduct (RBC) standards, and the legal architecture for integrating the agreement into the WTO framework. The agreement includes special and differential treatment (S&DT) for developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs), modeled after the Trade Facilitation Agreement.

The report analyzes the proposed modernization of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), concluding that the reforms are too modest to ensure the treaty does not obstruct ambitious climate mitigation. Key concerns include the continued protection of fossil fuel investments in the EU and UK for at least 10 years, the lack of flexibility for contracting parties to create fossil fuel carve-outs, and the retention of broad investment protection standards that limit states' policy space.

The report identifies a critical lack of satisfactory federal legislation to resolve the overlap of Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) inscriptions on Indigenous Lands (TIs), noting that such overlaps are often used for land grabbing. It finds that most Brazilian states lack specific strategies for identifying and cancelling these irregular registrations, often relying on optional federal filters that only detect overlaps with fully homologated TIs, thereby leaving lands in the demarcation process vulnerable. The document analyzes state-level experiences—highlighting Pará as the only state with a specific cancellation strategy—and evaluates two pending bills (PL 4450/2021 and PL 486/2022) that aim to prohibit CAR inscriptions on public lands but still contain administrative gaps. It concludes with policy recommendations, including the need for the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) to revise Portaria 121/2021 and for Funai to maintain updated georeferenced data for all TIs to support fair and effective cancellation processes.

The report argues that the climate goals of Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru are heavily dependent on the carbon sequestration provided by IPLC lands, yet these lands are insufficiently recognized in national climate policies and face severe threats from illegal activities and governance gaps.

The report argues that the Socio-economic Assessment (SEA) tool used in REACH authorisations is flawed due to a narrow focus on quantitative cost-benefit analysis (CBA), which prioritises business-as-usual over innovation and substitution. It claims that ECHA's guidance encourages a micro-economic perspective focused on applicant companies rather than a broad societal perspective. The authors recommend abandoning the current SEA model in favour of integrating socio-economic factors into a broader analysis of alternatives and reforming the SVHC listing and authorisation process to increase the incentive for substitution.