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This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative and EsgSolution analyzes the state of green finance policy in China in 2021, focusing on the alignment of green bond standards with carbon neutrality goals, the impact of regional policies, and the expectations of market stakeholders.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) argues that Brazilian presidential decrees from February 2022 exacerbate a regulatory gap in the mining sector, allowing gold mining cooperatives to operate as industrial entities while benefiting from lenient regulations intended for vulnerable individual miners. The authors call for the revocation of these decrees to better protect the environment and improve oversight in the Amazon.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the disparity between large-scale infrastructure projects and local quality-of-life infrastructure in the state of Pará, Brazil. It argues that the prioritization of logistics for commodity exports has neglected basic services such as sanitation, health, and education, particularly in low-density areas and regions surrounding planned major projects.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants as of April 2022. It highlights a stark divergence between the decline of coal in most OECD and non-OECD countries—accelerated by COP26 commitments—and a continued expansion of coal capacity in China. The document examines the impact of international funding withdrawals, the perceived failure of 'clean coal' technologies, and specific national trajectories in major emitters like India, Indonesia, and the United States.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes the global status of coal-fired power plants as of April 2022. It highlights a stark divergence between China, which continues to expand its coal capacity, and the rest of the world, where many countries are committing to 'No New Coal' and accelerating plant closures following COP26.

The report 'YÜKSELIŞ VE ÇÖKÜŞ 2022' provides a comprehensive tracking of global coal-fired power plants as of April 2022. It highlights a contradictory trend: while many countries and G20 nations have committed to ending international public financing for coal and phasing out existing plants following COP 26, China continues to expand its coal capacity. The document details the decline of coal projects in OECD and non-OECD countries (excluding China), the failure of 'clean coal' technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), and specific national trajectories for the US, EU, and Turkey.

The April 2022 report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants, highlighting a stark contrast between the rapid decline of new coal proposals in most countries and the continued expansion of coal capacity in China.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and CUTS International, Geneva, analyzes the development-oriented elements of the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD). It examines the challenges of implementing Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) for developing countries, proposals for promoting sustainable investments through Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) and anti-corruption measures, and the potential role of home state measures in facilitating outward foreign direct investment.

The April 2022 Peace & Security Council Report examines the security crisis in Burkina Faso, the implementation of the African Union's (AU) youth, peace and security agenda, the appointment of the fifth Panel of the Wise, and Senegal's priorities as AU chair.

This case study by Trend Asia and partners argues that the World Bank Group's (WBG) continued financial and technical support for gas infrastructure in Indonesia undermines the Paris Agreement and the country's own decarbonisation goals. The document highlights how WBG strategies encourage a transition from coal to gas rather than leapfrogging to renewables, potentially locking Indonesia into fossil fuel dependency for decades.

This research paper analyzes the Indonesian government's plan to replace 3.4GW of coal-based power generation at Suralaya with grid-connected solar PV capacity in the Java-Bali grid, evaluating the potential impacts on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and identifying necessary policy and international support mechanisms.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign (LAC), submitted comments on the Second Amendment Bill of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) 94 of 2006. The CER argues that the amendments fail to integrate climate change obligations and a just transition, while granting excessive discretionary power to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy. The submission calls for stronger regulatory oversight by NERSA, increased transparency in licensing and procurement, and the protection of public participation rights in line with PAJA and PAIA.

A briefing by Ember, E3G, RAP, and Bellona stating that the European Union can eliminate all Russian fossil gas imports by 2025 through the accelerated deployment of clean energy and efficiency measures, rather than new gas infrastructure.

This policy brief examines the global challenge of providing universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation, tracing the history of international efforts from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights the gap between political targets and actual infrastructure needs, the disproportionate impact of water risk on poor and marginalized populations, and the critical intersection between water security, environmental health, and climate change.

This RMI briefing analyzes Georgia Power's December 2021 20-year energy plan, concluding that while the plan significantly reduces coal reliance, it remains inconsistent with a 1.5°C-aligned pathway and the parent company's 2050 net-zero goal due to continued gas reliance and underestimated load growth.

This policy brief examines the macroeconomic policy development in Tanzania, specifically focusing on the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It details the Bank of Tanzania's (BoT) monetary and fiscal interventions to avert recession, the economic impacts of the pandemic on GDP and tourism, and provides recommendations for social protection, debt management, and climate-resilient economic growth.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the evolving nature of sovereign debt in Africa, highlighting a shift from traditional multilateral creditors to private bondholders and emerging economies like China. It argues that current debt relief mechanisms are insufficient because they lack statutory, human rights-based frameworks and fail to compel the participation of private creditors, leaving African nations vulnerable to economic shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.

This research paper by Jamie MacLeod and David Luke discusses the implementation challenges of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). While African leaders maintain a strong political commitment to the agreement as a tool for post-COVID-19 recovery and industrialization, the transition from negotiation to actual trading has been stalled by unresolved technical details, most notably the rules of origin.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the differences between the European Commission's proposal for a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and the draft report released by the rapporteur of the EU Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). The author, Aaron Cosbey, identifies six primary areas of divergence, noting that the rapporteur generally advocates for greater speed and ambition than the Commission.

This policy brief examines the use of end-user subsidies to bridge the affordability gap for electricity access, specifically focusing on solar home systems (SHSs) in high-impact countries. It analyzes methodologies for calculating affordability gaps, outlines key design attributes for subsidy programs, and evaluates case studies from Ghana, Uganda, and Togo to identify factors contributing to program success or failure.