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This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the intersection of infrastructure development and peace and security (P&S) within the African Union's (AU) framework. It argues that while the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) is central to continental integration, it lacks sufficient integration of conflict-sensitive planning, particularly for projects in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS). The document recommends establishing cross-sectoral coordination, developing specific conflict-assessment tools for the PIDA Service Delivery Mechanism, and creating a knowledge centre to bridge the gap between infrastructure goals and peacebuilding outcomes.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines the policy processes and priorities for African nations leading up to COP26. It emphasizes the necessity of aligning Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-term Low Emissions Strategies (LTSs) with net-zero trajectories and COVID-19 green recovery plans to achieve a climate-resilient world by 2050.

A World Resources Institute briefing analyzing the outcomes of the UN Climate Change subsidiary bodies sessions held online prior to COP26. The document reports that progress on implementing the Paris Agreement was uneven and limited, hampered by both virtual logistical challenges and deep political divides between nations.

This report by RMI argues that current US tax regulations create perverse incentives that discourage regulated utilities from deploying clean energy. It proposes two specific policy changes—eliminating tax normalization for the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and implementing direct pay for tax credits—to align utility financial interests with the goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2035.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute discusses the role of the G7 in decarbonizing the steel industry, noting that steelmaking accounts for approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions annually.

The document argues that electrifying ridehailing services, specifically mentioning Uber and Lyft, can accelerate the electric vehicle (EV) transition by reducing operational costs and creating profitable opportunities for fast-charging infrastructure that expands charging capacity equitably.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) outlines key concerns regarding the UN Climate Change Conference, Sessions of the subsidiary bodies (SB52), which began on May 31, 2021. The document highlights critical gaps in climate ambition, the need for rigorous rules on carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the omission of 'loss and damage' from the formal agenda, and the challenges posed by the virtual negotiation format for civil society and Indigenous Peoples.

This research paper by Chux Daniels and Mafini Dosso examines the limitations of current science, technology, and innovation (STI) policies in Africa and proposes the adoption of Transformative Innovation Policy (TIP) and Smart Specialization Strategies (S3) to achieve broader societal and economic transformations, using Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria as case studies.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes 517 energy-related policies approved by G7 nations and invited guests between January 1, 2020, and March 3, 2021. It evaluates whether COVID-19 recovery spending aligns with climate goals and 'build back better' pledges.

This report discusses the necessity of integrating conservation finance into broader economic recovery and climate goals to address the rapid degradation of Africa's natural resources.

This executive summary analyzes the impact of Decree No. 9,760/2019 on the administrative enforcement procedures of IBAMA, Brazil's federal environmental agency. It argues that changes to the sanctioning process, combined with a shift toward military-led operations and the dismissal of technical staff, have weakened the state's ability to combat illegal deforestation and fires in the Amazon.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the socio-environmental components of Technical, Economic, and Environmental Viability Studies (EVTEA) and Environmental Impact Studies (EIA) for federal land infrastructure concessions in the Brazilian Legal Amazon. The analysis reveals significant gaps in the inclusion of biotic components, a lack of correlation between EVTEA and EIA, and inconsistent adherence to sectoral manuals and Terms of Reference (TRs).

This policy brief by Climate Policy Initiative/Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the viability phase of 14 large-scale federal land transport infrastructure projects in the Legal Amazon. The analysis identifies significant procedural gaps, a lack of logical sequencing between environmental studies, and a systemic lack of transparency regarding project documentation, which increases environmental risks and investor uncertainty.

This policy brief examines the role of nuclear science and technology in advancing Africa's sustainable development, specifically aligning with the AU's Agenda 2063 and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights applications in healthcare and agriculture, the existing infrastructure of research reactors, and the legal frameworks ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy on the continent.

The report 'Killed by Breathing' analyzes the global crisis of cooking poverty, where 3.83 billion people in 71 countries rely on solid fuels and low-quality stoves. It argues that the current 'clean cooking' sector is not on track to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) due to fragmented governance, insufficient funding, and a lack of focus on end-user behavior. The authors propose a shift toward the term 'cooking poverty' to reflect the scale of the problem and recommend integrating cooking solutions into existing electrification infrastructure to leverage its finance and technical support systems.

This research paper proposes a phased, risk-based framework for development finance institutions (DFIs) to align their indirect investments—those channeled through financial intermediaries (FIs)—with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The authors argue that while DFIs have focused on direct project financing, the substantial volume of intermediated lending creates a risk of supporting climate-misaligned activities. The proposed framework relies on four pillars: mitigation, adaptation, governance, and transparency.

This report analyzes the role of COVID-19 fiscal stimulus packages in South Korea and Indonesia, evaluating how these recovery efforts align with each country's energy transition goals. While South Korea has integrated climate challenges into its recovery via the Green New Deal, Indonesia's National Economic Recovery program focuses primarily on short-term social and economic survival with minimal allocation to the energy transition.

This policy brief examines transboundary climate risks, using the 2007-8 global food price crisis to illustrate how interdependent national responses to climate impacts and the far-reaching effects of such impacts can exacerbate global damage and disruption.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the 2021 New Bidding Law in Brazil, arguing that it provides a critical opportunity to improve the planning of infrastructure projects. The authors propose the introduction of a pre-feasibility analysis to better anticipate socio-environmental risks and prevent the implementation of low-quality or infeasible projects.

This policy brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that the United States must prioritize industrial emissions in its climate policy to act as a global leader in decarbonization. It emphasizes the necessity of public-private partnerships to leverage industrial finances, technical knowledge, and workforce skills, specifically focusing on the cement, iron and steel, aluminum, and chemicals sectors.