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This research paper from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the role of technology transfer and co-development in combating climate change and achieving Sustainable Development Goals, specifically focusing on the needs of low- and middle-income countries.

This research paper by Nazareth and Ghosh examines the intersection of structural inequality and climate change, arguing that current economic systems based on extractive resource use reinforce power imbalances and hinder climate action. The authors advocate for a restructuring of global environmental governance to be more inclusive and highlight the disproportionate impact of the wealthiest individuals on the global carbon budget.

This executive summary, published by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, analyzes how the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can be leveraged to support Africa's green transition. It argues that while the AfCFTA agreement contains minimal environmental references, it can be adjusted to eliminate trade barriers for environmental goods and services. The document emphasizes the need for a phased decarbonization approach for fossil-fuel-dependent nations and recommends that development partners increase climate financing and align initiatives like the European Green Deal with African realities to avoid duplicating existing continental climate strategies.

A report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzing Bill (PL) No. 2374/2020, which proposes extending the amnesty period for illegal deforestation of Legal Reserve areas in Brazil from July 2008 to May 2012.

This report by Energy Innovation analyzes the monthly ownership costs of electric vehicles (EVs) compared to gasoline equivalents in the United States. It finds that for many models and states, EVs are cheaper to own on a monthly basis from the start of the loan term, primarily due to fuel and maintenance savings, provided the $7,500 federal tax credit is available.

This report by the Electrifying Canada task force outlines the requirements and barriers to scaling up Canada's clean electricity system to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It argues that current utility planning is insufficient to meet the projected demand growth and proposes five catalysts—including regulatory mandates and private investment—to accelerate the transition.

This policy brief argues that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) cannot reach its full potential without a unified industrial policy to address systemic supply-side constraints. The author contends that the current landscape of overlapping national, regional, and continental policies creates coordination failures and proposes a consolidated strategy focusing on pooled infrastructure resources, regional product specialisation, SME growth, clean energy, and indigenous technology.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the bidirectional relationship between structural inequality and climate change, arguing that current economic systems and global environmental governance frameworks fail to address the inequitable distribution of resources and ecological space.

This SEI discussion brief argues that nature-based solutions (NbS) are often framed as apolitical, leading to the neglect of social equity and justice in their design and implementation. The document proposes five core principles to ensure NbS do not reproduce existing inequalities and provides a case study from Kaptembwa, Kenya, to illustrate the integration of these principles in an urban informal settlement.

This policy brief examines how Aid for Trade (AfT) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) can be leveraged to help developing and least developed countries transition to sustainable trade and circular economies to combat plastic pollution. It highlights a significant mismatch between the limited funding for plastic pollution mitigation and the massive financial flows supporting the petrochemical sector, while proposing specific short- and medium-term deliverables for WTO members through the Informal Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP).

This policy brief examines the role of the World Customs Organization's (WCO) Harmonized System (HS) in tracking international trade across the life cycle of plastics. It argues that current HS classifications lack the granularity needed for evidence-based policymaking to tackle plastic pollution and proposes specific amendments for the 2022–2027 cycle to improve transparency in trade flows of feedstocks, primary plastics, manufactured products, and waste.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the complex relationship between climate change and violent conflict in Africa. It argues that while climate change acts as a 'risk multiplier' that can exacerbate existing political, social, and economic tensions, the link to violence is indirect and highly contextual. The document emphasizes the need for conflict-sensitive climate adaptation strategies, particularly in fragile contexts, and calls for the Global North to fulfill climate finance commitments to support the Global South.

This research paper explores the multi-dimensional challenges and pathways toward achieving sustainable urban development. It examines the historical evolution of global urban policy, the disparate needs between the Global North and Global South, the role of various governmental and non-governmental actors, and emerging trends such as nature-based solutions and inclusive planning.

This statement from RMI argues that the United States must rapidly expand its long-range transmission infrastructure to cost-effectively decarbonize the economy, as the most efficient wind and solar resources are often distant from consumption centers. It supports a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) aimed at improving regional planning and cost allocation for transmission projects.

A joint analysis by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Heinrich Boell Foundation examining the discrepancies between the IPCC Working Group III report's consensus and the mitigation pathways presented in its Summary for Policymakers.

This report by RMI examines the environmental implications of the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), arguing that a lack of data transparency regarding the origin and emissions intensity of stored oils hinders climate goals. It highlights a mismatch between the SPR's lighter crudes and the heavy-oil capacity of the refineries that primarily receive them, and calls for the strategic refilling of the SPR with low-emissions intensity oils to reduce greenhouse gas impacts.

This research paper examines the drivers and consequences of the increased issuance of Eurobonds and sovereign credit ratings in Africa. It argues that while Eurobonds were intended to reduce reliance on aid, the dominance of the 'big three' rating agencies—Moody's, Fitch, and Standard & Poor's—has often led to deteriorating credit ratings, higher borrowing costs, and constrained policy space for African governments, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This research paper examines the relationship between business, human rights, and climate change within the ASEAN region, specifically analyzing the Philippines’ National Inquiry on Climate Change and its implications for regional governance and corporate responsibility.

This briefing by RMI argues that digital traceability tools are essential for managing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks in international supply chains, particularly for materials critical to the energy transition. It highlights the need to move beyond greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting to include human rights and environmental impacts, proposing a decentralized digital system to ensure a just and equitable transition.

The 'China Green Finance Policy Analysis Report 2021' examines the evolution of China's green bond market and the impact of national and regional policy frameworks. It highlights a significant market rebound in 2021, the unification of domestic standards through the Green Bond Endorsed Project Catalogue, and a positive correlation between local policy efficacy and green bond issuance. The report identifies challenges in information disclosure and asset selection, recommending the development of transition finance standards and enhanced transparency to attract further international and domestic capital.