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The document examines the evolution of National Youth Policies (NYPs) in Africa, noting a steep increase in adoption that peaked in 2020. While these policies frequently address education, employment, and health, they often neglect youth political participation and face significant implementation gaps. Adoption is driven more by political and institutional factors, such as democracy and administrative capacity, than by demographic needs.

The report examines the state of democracy in Southern Africa, highlighting a gap between public support for democratic values and frustration with governance failures. Through youth consultations and a comparative analysis of West African civil society networks, it argues that cross-border solidarity among civil society organisations (CSOs) is essential to hold governments accountable and protect human rights. It identifies technology, socio-economic inequality, and youth exclusion as primary threats to democracy and recommends that Southern African CSOs leverage regional networks, such as the Southern African Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (Saf-CNGO), to increase their influence and coordinate responses to regional democratic backsliding.

The document examines the potential for scaling up locally led adaptation (LLA) by leveraging the different strengths of bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, vertical climate funds, and private actors. It highlights that LLA can deliver 'double dividends'—combining direct climate resilience with broader socio-economic development—and suggests building on established community and local development (CLD) models. The brief emphasizes the need for better coordination to overcome challenges such as declining official development assistance (ODA) and limited technical capacity, while calling for more robust evidence on the cost-benefit analysis of LLA compared to top-down approaches.

The document examines the proliferation of trade-climate measures and the resulting risks of trade barriers and disadvantages for developing countries. It proposes a multi-level approach to cooperation at the WTO, ranging from high-level legal principles and good regulatory practices to specific design features and technical interoperability of carbon accounting.

The document examines the 'twin transition' of digital and green transformations, highlighting how digital technologies can both enable climate action and contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions. It identifies critical gaps in infrastructure and financing for developing countries and proposes five priority decarbonization levers: green infrastructure, energy-efficient operations, sustainable supply chains, circular economy models, and climate-compatible infrastructure. The authors argue for coordinated international cooperation, targeted financial incentives, and the integration of environmental provisions into digital trade agreements to ensure an inclusive transition to net zero.

The document analyzes the shift in international trade from a focus on liberalization toward 'multipurpose' approaches driven by geopolitics and national security. It argues that this complexity provides opportunities to embed nature and climate goals into trade agendas. The author proposes a new paradigm that reframes trade as a strategic tool for sustainability, emphasizing a 'nature-positive' narrative and the integration of climate mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage. Key recommendations include reorienting trade rules to reward sustainable production, scaling the diffusion of green technologies, and ensuring that developing countries are not unfairly burdened by environmental requirements. The paper identifies multiple entry points for action, including WTO reform, regional agreements like AfCFTA, and the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The briefing examines the Tangguh LNG project in West Papua, Indonesia, highlighting its environmental and social impacts and the role of multilateral development banks (MDBs) in its financing. It argues that the proposed expansion to Train 4 and the implementation of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) are 'false solutions' that prolong fossil fuel dependency. The document criticises the ADB, IFC, and AIIB for inadequate Paris Alignment methodologies and energy policies that allow continued gas investment. It recommends that MDBs cease all fossil fuel funding, plug financial intermediary loopholes, and strengthen accountability mechanisms for affected Indigenous communities.

The report examines the Tangguh LNG project in West Papua, Indonesia, highlighting its negative impacts on indigenous communities, biodiversity, and the climate. It specifically criticises the role of multilateral development banks (MDBs) like the ADB, IFC, and AIIB in providing direct and indirect financing. The document argues that the planned 'train 4' expansion and the implementation of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) are 'false solutions' that lock Indonesia into fossil fuel dependency and hinder the transition to renewable energy. It calls for a total cessation of fossil fuel funding and a strengthening of accountability mechanisms for affected communities.

Indonesia is the world's sixth largest methane emitter, yet investment in methane reduction remains critically low, with only USD 1.5 billion received against an estimated USD 2.5 trillion needed for the Agriculture and Waste sectors. The author proposes that the upcoming TKBI Version 3 (expected Q1 2026) should include granular technical screening criteria (TSC) for high-impact activities—such as leak detection and repair in fossil fuels, alternate wetting and drying in rice paddies, and anaerobic digestion in waste management—to make these projects bankable for private investors. By aligning with global benchmarks like the EU Taxonomy and the Singapore-Asia Taxonomy, Indonesia can pre-emptively meet international requirements, such as the 2024 EU Methane Regulation, and mobilize capital through its sustainable finance framework.

The briefing evaluates the draft second NDC from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the recommendations from the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), arguing that the DFFE's targets lack sufficient ambition and scientific justification compared to the PCC's evidence-based approach.

Reclaim Finance critiques the European Commission's June 2025 proposal to boost the EU securitization framework under the 'savings and investments union' (SIU) strategy. The organization argues that securitization plays a marginal role in financing the economy and, without strict requirements, may increase funding for fossil fuels and polluting activities while hiding ESG risks. Reclaim Finance proposes banning fossil fuel securitization, increasing transparency on harmful assets, and requiring ESG risk management guidelines.

The document examines the practice of gas line extension allowances, where the cost of connecting new buildings to the natural gas system is funded through the bills of existing customers. It argues that this model is failing as customers shift toward electric alternatives, creating a financial risk of stranded investments. Eight US states have already taken action to reduce or phase out these subsidies, which RMI estimates could save up to $750 million in annual utility costs across those states. Evidence from California and Colorado suggests that removing these subsidies encourages developers to choose all-electric options over gas.

The fact sheet advocates for Universal Social Protection Floors to ensure global access to basic healthcare and income security. It notes that nearly 29% of the global population faces hunger and over 575 million people are projected to live in extreme poverty by 2030. The text details the G20's history with social protection, including Indonesia's 'adaptive social protection' and Brazil's 'Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty', while positioning South Africa's G20 presidency as an opportunity to integrate social protection with economic and industrial strategies.

The document asserts that nearly 800 million people face chronic hunger due to a global food system that prioritises corporate profit over people, leading to artificially inflated prices and significant environmental damage.

The document defines green industrial policy as government strategies to develop sustainable industries, such as renewable energy and green steel, while phasing out polluting sectors. It highlights that fossil fuel subsidies, which reached $7 trillion worldwide in 2022, hinder the competitiveness of renewables. While countries like China, the US, and EU members have successfully used national policies to boost green tech, developing nations face barriers including limited financing, skills shortages, and intellectual property restrictions. The author argues that the G20 must ensure a just transition by promoting technology transfer, fair trade, and the creation of decent work, while avoiding policies like the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism that may penalise carbon-intensive developing economies.

The document examines the human and economic impact of the African debt crisis, asserting that high debt costs divert critical fiscal resources from public health, education, and industrial policy. It frames the crisis not merely as a result of poor governance, but as a product of a global system based on neo-colonialism. While borrowing is described as a standard tool to bridge revenue gaps for urgent needs, the text notes that Africa collectively owes approximately $746 billion, a burden that hinders job creation and economic growth.

The report analyzes the intersection of climate and trade policy frameworks to enhance technology transfer for climate change adaptation in the Global South. It examines the roles of the UNFCCC and WTO, identifies barriers to technology transfer, and provides recommendations for aligning national adaptation plans with trade policy mechanisms to improve climate resilience.

The report argues that while coal's share of power generation in China has reached historic lows, institutional inertia—including capacity payments, inflexible dispatch rules, and a lack of a national retirement strategy—continues to drive high levels of new coal capacity additions. It highlights a disconnect where clean energy is growing rapidly but is often offset by the continued expansion and protection of coal assets, which are not fulfilling their intended role as flexible backups for renewables.

The Brazilian competition authority (Cade) has suspended the Amazon Soy Moratorium, a voluntary agreement where soy and animal feed companies pledged not to buy soybeans from areas deforested in the Amazon after 2008. The author contends that the moratorium was an economic and environmental success, saving an estimated 18,000 square kilometers in its first decade while allowing agricultural expansion onto previously degraded lands. The document asserts that the suspension, driven by meat and feed industry lobbyists, is illegal under the Brazilian Constitution's principle of environmental protection. Mighty Earth intends to pressure retail sellers of meat to ensure commercial consequences for deforestation and advocates for a shift toward alternative proteins.

The document identifies barriers preventing Indonesian local governments from accessing climate finance, such as restrictions on direct foreign funding and poor long-term financial planning. It recommends strengthening institutional capacity, improving project preparation to meet higher standards of financial viability, and utilizing blended finance and public-private partnerships to attract private investment.