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This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework's 'Two-Pillar Solution' to address tax avoidance and the digitalisation of the economy. It argues that the current global taxation framework is fragmented, allowing multinational corporations to avoid taxes through profit shifting and the lack of physical presence. The document highlights that developing countries, particularly in Africa, suffer disproportionate revenue losses as a share of GDP and are underrepresented in the negotiations of the global tax deal. It calls for greater transparency, fairer thresholds for profit reallocation, and the potential move of negotiations to a neutral body like the United Nations to ensure equitable outcomes for poorer nations.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the environmental, socioeconomic, and governance (ESG) impacts of Chinese ICT infrastructure projects in Tanzania and Cambodia. It concludes that while environmental impacts were minimal, socioeconomic outcomes were mixed and projects suffered from a lack of transparency.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) and WWF-Brasil analyzes the impact of Decree No. 9,760/2019, which introduced a mandatory environmental conciliation stage in the administrative process for environmental infractions in the Amazon. The study finds that this new system has led to a severe paralysis of punitive actions, with 98% of relevant infraction notices stalled by May 2021 due to Ibama's inability to conduct the required hearings. The report also highlights a broader trend of weakening environmental control since 2015 and significant transparency gaps in Ibama's open data portal.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the legislative report by Senator Carlos Fávaro regarding Bill (PL) no 510/2021 and Bill (PL) no 2633/2020, which propose changes to land regularization laws. The authors argue that the Senator's report favors medium and large land occupants while failing to improve conditions for small farmers, potentially incentivizing illegal deforestation and land grabbing.

This research paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security across Africa, highlighting how economic shocks and trade disruptions exacerbated hunger. It analyzes the varying vulnerability of different income groups and regions, the role of protectionist policies, and the potential for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to build long-term resilience by increasing intra-continental food trade.

This report examines how the African Union's Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can jointly foster resilient and sustainable economic recoveries in six specific African nations.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International arguing that 'Nature-based Solutions' (NbS) are a form of corporate greenwashing used by governments and companies to avoid deep emission cuts, potentially leading to land grabbing and human rights violations in the Global South.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) provides guidance and lessons for Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states on enhancing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It emphasizes the need for inclusive stakeholder engagement, alignment with long-term development goals, and the use of quantifiable targets and evidence-based analysis to increase climate ambition and ensure effective implementation.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the intersection of COVID-19 recovery and climate finance, arguing that the pandemic recovery period offers a critical window to 'build back better' through sustainable investment. It highlights the failure of developed nations to meet the $100 billion annual climate finance pledge and emphasizes the specific needs of African countries for increased adaptation funding and systemic reform of the global finance architecture.

This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute outlines how international financing institutions (IFIs) can direct resources toward sustainable agricultural water management, drawing on a study of IFI investments in irrigation and drainage infrastructure from 2010 to 2019.

This guide identifies 69 strong policy provisions from existing Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) to assist financial institutions in creating or improving their accountability frameworks. It emphasizes the need for IAMs to be independent of management, accessible to project-affected communities, and capable of providing both institutional learning and material remedy for harms.

This technical note by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes a legislative report by Senator Carlos Fávaro regarding Bill (PL) nº 510/2021, which proposes changes to the legal framework for land regularization in Brazil. The authors argue that the report favors medium and large land occupants while offering no benefits to small farmers, potentially incentivizing illegal deforestation and land grabbing (grilagem).

This report analyzes the energy transition in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India, highlighting the state's struggle to meet renewable energy targets despite its significant role in India's total power demand. The authors argue that UP's heavy reliance on coal-fired power creates financial and operational vulnerabilities, and they propose reforms for the state's distribution companies (Discoms) to facilitate a shift toward solar and biomass energy.

This policy brief by Energy Innovation outlines the building electrification and energy efficiency provisions within the House version of the Build Back Better Act (BBBA). It details $12.5 billion in incentives for residential and commercial building decarbonization, alongside significant investments in affordable housing, workforce training, and the adoption of zero-energy building codes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumer costs.

This report examines the adoption of new mining technologies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and their impact on local procurement. While large-scale mining projects like Kibali and Kamoa-Kakula utilize advanced automation and green technologies, local suppliers struggle to capture high-value contracts due to gaps in capital, skills, and infrastructure. The report analyzes the 2018 Mining Code's efforts to mandate local content and identifies systemic barriers—including a weak manufacturing sector and outdated intellectual property laws—that hinder the transfer of technology to Congolese enterprises.

This report examines the adoption of new mining technologies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and their impact on local procurement. While large-scale industrial mines like Kibali and Kamoa-Kakula utilize advanced automation and green energy, local suppliers struggle to access high-value contracts due to gaps in capital, specialized skills, and a weak manufacturing base. The document analyzes the effectiveness of the 2018 Mining Code and the 2017 Subcontracting Law in promoting local content, concluding that a more supportive regulatory and economic environment is necessary to translate technological advancement into sustainable local economic growth.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the application of the principle of subsidiarity within the African Union (AU) and its relationship with regional mechanisms (RMs). It argues that the lack of a clear operational definition of subsidiarity has led to contradictions, competition, and inconsistent decision-making within the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). The authors recommend establishing a comprehensive legal, policy, and financial framework to shift the relationship from competition to collaboration, clearly distinguishing between the region as a 'first responder' and the AU as the 'primary actor'.

This RMI briefing argues that new gas-fired power plants in the United States are becoming increasingly uneconomic compared to Clean Energy Portfolios (CEPs). The document highlights a trend of gas plant cancellations and warns of significant stranded cost risks due to falling renewable energy prices and evolving policy priorities regarding health, jobs, and community impacts.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework's 'Two-Pillar Solution' to address tax avoidance and the digitalisation of the economy. It argues that the current global taxation framework is fragmented, allowing multinational corporations to avoid taxes, and highlights how developing countries, particularly in Africa, suffer disproportionate revenue losses. The document criticizes the Inclusive Framework for the underrepresentation of African nations and the potential for the agreement to favor wealthy nations, recommending a shift toward more inclusive, transparent, and equitable negotiations, possibly under the UN.

This briefing from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the European Union's upcoming methane regulation must encompass the petrochemical sector and the entire supply chain of fossil fuel imports. The document highlights a growing trade in natural gas liquids (NGLs), specifically ethane and propane, from the United States to Europe to fuel plastics production, which the author contends undermines EU climate goals and bypasses domestic fracking bans.