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The Mineral Resources Development Bill 2025 (MRDB) seeks to reform South African mining laws by amending the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002 and introducing artisanal and small-scale mining permits. While the government aims to accelerate projects and increase domestic mineral processing, including minerals for clean energy, the document highlights risks to water, soil, air, and land rights for rural communities. It specifically notes that the Bill requires only "meaningful consultation" rather than the standard of free, prior and informed consent.

The Mineral Resources Development Bill 2025 (MRDB) seeks to amend South Africa's mining laws to boost the economy, speed up project approvals, and regulate artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). While the government aims to increase local mineral processing ('beneficiation') and create jobs, the document highlights significant risks for rural communities, including the lack of a right to give or deny consent to projects and the absence of strict penalties for companies that fail to meet Social and Labour Plan (SLP) commitments.

The document argues that digital public infrastructure (DPI)—comprising digital identity, payments, and data-sharing systems—can increase the visibility of economic activities in Africa's shadow economy, which accounts for roughly 35% of GDP. It contrasts the approach of some African nations, which tax digital financial services (DFS) transactions directly, with the strategies of South Korea and India, which used digital systems to create audit trails and improve broader tax compliance. The brief recommends that African governments adopt a multi-layered DPI ecosystem, prioritize strategic compliance targeting of high-value non-compliant actors, and leverage South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency to foster an 'Africa stack' for scalable deployment.

The document examines the role of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in Malawi's economic transformation and climate adaptation. While CSA is central to national policies like Malawi Vision 2063, widespread adoption is hindered by insecure land tenure, limited finance, and under-resourced extension services. The brief argues for a shift from short-term input subsidies toward long-term resilience investments, improved digital advisory services, and the institutionalization of participatory learning models like Farmer Field Schools.

The document examines the evolving relationship between Tanzania and China, highlighting Tanzania's role as a 'first-mover' in several strategic initiatives. Central to the analysis is the December 2024 establishment of the Tanzania Investment Centre China (Hunan) Investment Cooperation Platform, which is anchored in the 'Hunan Model'—a Chinese strategy to deepen Africa ties through trade exhibitions, industrial clusters, and agricultural 'green lanes'. The author argues that Tanzania's unique position as a founding member of both the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), combined with its historical ties to China, allows it to shape cross-regional economic policy in Africa. The briefing also details other key collaborations, such as the Tazara Railway and the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School, and provides policy suggestions to ensure the Hunan Model serves African development interests.

The document analyzes the institutional strain on BRICS caused by its expansion, noting that while the bloc's global influence has grown, its consensus-based governance struggles with divergent member interests. It evaluates Brazil's 2025 presidency, which attempted to prioritize institutional development but saw most structural reforms deferred in the Rio Declaration. The authors contrast the informal nature of the broader bloc with the formal success of the New Development Bank (NDB) and propose six targeted, low-bureaucracy improvements—including a shared document repository and standardized onboarding—to improve operational effectiveness without sacrificing the group's flexible identity.

The document examines the gap between global SDG indicators and the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples and local communities affected by lithium mining in Argentina. It highlights that while lithium is essential for the global energy transition, extraction processes often ignore local perspectives and reinforce historical inequalities. The authors recommend implementing free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), mandatory benefit-sharing, and the co-creation of SDG indicators with Indigenous Peoples to ensure a socially just and environmentally responsible transition.

The document analyzes the surging demand for critical minerals driven by the energy transition, the environmental impacts of mining, and the strategic trade policies developing countries can employ to add value to their mineral resources while ensuring climate resilience.

The report examines how AI accelerates biological research, creating a 'dual-use dilemma' where tools for medical advancement can be repurposed for bioweapons. It analyzes the 'risk chain' of biological weapon development, the capabilities of foundation models and biological design tools (BDTs), and the geopolitical landscape involving the US, China, and Russia. The document proposes a 'preferred' 2030 scenario characterized by geopolitical stability and responsible AI development, offering specific US policy recommendations across biosecurity foundations, technical governance, and international diplomacy.

Two years after the COP28 agreement to triple global renewable capacity by 2030, national targets remain largely stagnant. As of July 2025, the global sum of national targets has increased by only 2% since COP28, reaching 7.4 TW, which is significantly below the 11 TW required to meet the tripling goal. Only 22 countries have updated their targets, with the majority of these being EU member states revising plans through the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) process. Most non-EU updates occurred through routine planning cycles rather than as a direct response to COP pledges. Major electricity markets, including the US, Russia, and Canada, have either not set explicit targets or are unlikely to update them in 2025.

The document argues that while the core vision of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government remains relevant, the operational assumptions—particularly regarding funding and administration—are outdated. PARI identifies a cycle of decline driven by financial stress, patronage-based appointments, and infrastructure decay. It proposes a differentiated local government design where powers and functions are allocated based on a municipality's capacity and location in the space-economy. Key recommendations include reforming the political-administrative interface to reduce patronage, establishing clear affordability standards for basic services, and integrating climate-appropriate infrastructure requirements into the updated policy framework.

Canada is falling behind its major non-U.S. trading partners in the implementation of key climate and sustainable finance policies, particularly in mandatory climate disclosure and the development of a national climate investment taxonomy. While Canada aligns on net zero commitments and carbon pricing, the lack of progress in other areas creates economic friction and risks exposing Canadian businesses to carbon tariffs. The report argues that accelerating these policies will help Canada diversify its trade and identify new growth opportunities in a global economy increasingly aligned on climate fundamentals.

The Canadian Climate Institute finds that Canada is lagging behind its major global trading partners in the adoption of key climate and sustainable finance policies. While Canada has implemented carbon pricing and net-zero commitments, it lacks a national taxonomy, mandatory climate disclosure, and formal transition plan frameworks. This policy gap risks increasing costs for Canadian businesses and hindering their ability to compete in markets that are increasingly aligning around carbon neutrality and transparent climate risk reporting.

The European Union has shifted from reactive crisis management to a proactive strategic framework for biological risks through the March 2025 EU Preparedness Union Strategy and subsequent July 2025 implementation strategies. These initiatives aim to secure essential medical supplies "under all circumstances," moving away from just-in-time delivery models. Key actions include the expansion of rescEU stockpiles, the creation of the Medical Countermeasure Accelerator (2025), a European Diagnostics Hub (2026), and a European Therapeutics Hub (2027). The strategy emphasizes civil-military integration, aligning with NATO's resilience targets, and expanding health intelligence via a Global Sentinel Hub. However, the document identifies critical gaps in long-term funding, the need for threat-agnostic detection capabilities like metagenomic sequencing, and the requirement for clear distribution protocols during crises.

The BBNJ Agreement, or High Seas Treaty, aims to regulate 64% of the ocean's surface through four pillars: marine genetic resources, area-based management, environmental impact assessments, and capacity building. While the African Group of Negotiators helped shape the treaty, ratification among African states remains low, with only seven of 55 countries having completed the process. Non-ratifying states risk exclusion from the Conference of the Parties (COP) decision-making and benefit-sharing arrangements for marine genetic resources. The document highlights the potential for designating marine protected areas near Africa, such as the Walvis Ridge and Saya de Malha Bank, and suggests that African states coordinate ministries and adopt cost-effective surveillance technologies, like uncrewed vessels, to manage these areas.

China is advancing a 1.3 TW pipeline of utility-scale solar and wind projects, with operating capacity reaching 1.4 TW by 2025. The country has become a global leader in offshore wind, growing its capacity to 42.7 GW by March 2025. While offshore wind is being used to decarbonize coastal industries and produce green hydrogen, the sector faces challenges from the 2021 phaseout of national subsidies and competition from ongoing coal and gas developments. The report suggests adopting hybrid auction mechanisms and centralized marine spatial planning to ensure sustainable growth.

Susanne Riegraf, Deputy of the Federal Government Commissioner for Disarmament and Arms Control, delivered a keynote speech at the Berlin Biosecurity Dialogue on June 19, 2025. She highlighted the increasing risk of biological weapons due to the convergence of biotechnology, AI, and quantum computing, noting that AI-modified proteins can evade conventional detection methods. Riegraf discussed the limitations of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which lacks a verification regime, and the need for NATO allies to enhance collective biodefense and early-warning systems. She also detailed Germany's interagency coordination challenges and its international support efforts through the German Biosecurity Programme and the Global Health Protection Programme.

Since April 2025, the United States has imposed high tariffs on several ASEAN nations, leading these countries to prioritize negotiation and diversification over retaliation. While Vietnam and Thailand faced the highest tariffs (up to 46% and 36% respectively), most members are balancing individual bilateral talks with a coordinated regional response led by Malaysia as the 2025 ASEAN chair. Strategies include increasing U.S. imports of energy and aircraft, leveraging the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and implementing domestic stimulus packages, such as Thailand's USD 15 billion fund, to protect local industries.

The document analyzes the effects of Executive Order 14257, which introduced a 10% universal tariff and higher country-specific tariffs (11% to 50%) on imports to the U.S. While mineral-exporting nations may find relief through exemptions for critical minerals, countries like Lesotho and Madagascar face severe economic risks, particularly in textiles. The authors discuss the precarious future of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and advocate for a coordinated continental strategy via the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area to mitigate these trade disruptions.

Maharashtra aims to produce 500 kilotons of green hydrogen annually by 2030. While green hydrogen is not yet cost-competitive with grey hydrogen, the report finds that state capital expenditure subsidies could reduce the levelized cost of hydrogen by 21–25 percent, from $4.5 per kg to under $3.5 per kg. On-site projects currently offer the lowest cost at approximately $4/kg, though they are limited by land constraints. The report identifies Raigarh and Ratnagiri as potential early-mover hubs and proposes a Green Hydrogen Readiness Plan focusing on seven impact areas across the value chain.