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This policy brief, prepared by the Climate Bonds Initiative in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank and commissioned by the Brazilian Ministry of Economy, explores how subnational consortia in Brazil can utilize innovative financial modeling to fund sustainable municipal infrastructure. It analyzes the legal barriers facing Brazilian municipalities, proposes the adoption of pooled financing mechanisms (MFGCs), and provides international case studies to support a green economic recovery.

This policy brief, prepared by the Climate Bonds Initiative and supported by the Inter-American Development Bank, examines the potential for Brazilian subnational consortia to use Pooled Finance Mechanisms (PFMs) to fund sustainable infrastructure. It identifies significant regulatory and financial barriers facing Brazilian municipalities and proposes updates to the legal framework and the adoption of blended finance models to attract private and international capital for climate-resilient projects.

This technical note by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes Bill (PL) No. 2633/2020, which proposes changes to the legal framework for land regularization of federal public lands in Brazil. The authors argue that the proposed environmental safeguards are insufficient and ineffective, potentially rewarding illegal deforestation by granting titles without requiring the regularization of environmental liabilities.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the public contracting processes for socio-environmental studies—specifically Technical, Economic, and Environmental Feasibility Studies (EVTEA) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)—for federal land transportation projects in the Brazilian Amazon. The researchers identify significant gaps in transparency, budget allocation, and the timing of socio-environmental analyses within the project life cycle, providing recommendations to improve the robustness of infrastructure projects and their mitigation measures.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the public procurement processes for socio-environmental studies—specifically Technical, Economic, and Environmental Viability Studies (EVTEA) and Environmental Impact Studies (EIA)—for land transport infrastructure projects in the Brazilian Amazon. The analysis identifies significant gaps in transparency, a lack of clear selection and evaluation criteria in bidding documents, and an imbalance in budget allocation that favors diagnostic data over impact assessment and mitigation. The authors recommend increasing transparency in bidding, specifying budget allocation for socio-environmental components, and introducing a 'pre-feasibility' phase to filter projects before they reach the environmental licensing stage.

This briefing paper by the Forest Declaration Assessment examines how the global transition to low-carbon technologies increases the demand for minerals, thereby posing a significant threat to forest ecosystems, particularly Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs) in the Amazon and Congo Basin.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines South Africa's transition from a secret apartheid-era nuclear weapons programme to a state committed to nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It details the country's normative frameworks, governance structures, and the challenges facing its nuclear energy expansion plans, including the legacy of state capture during the Zuma presidency and the current cautious approach under President Cyril Ramaphosa.

This working paper by the World Resources Institute examines the role of nature-based solutions (NBS) as carbon offsets within corporate climate mitigation strategies. It argues that while NBS are critical for achieving global net-zero goals by 2050, their use as offsets is controversial due to risks of 'greenwashing' and technical challenges regarding credit quality. The authors advocate for a 'both/and' approach where companies combine aggressive direct fossil fuel abatement with high-quality NBS investments, emphasizing the need for robust standards to ensure environmental and social integrity.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the flow of climate finance in South Africa for 2017 and 2018, identifying a significant gap between current investment levels and the funding required to meet the country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It details the roles of public and private finance, highlighting a lack of coordination between the two and recommending the development of a central registry and innovative blended finance tools to scale investment.

This fact sheet explains the structure and application of revolving loan funds (RLFs) as a financing mechanism for environmental and climate resilience projects. It details the operational history of Maryland's Shore Erosion Control RLF and a feasibility study for a proposed RLF in the Puget Sound region of Washington state to support shoreline restoration and hazard mitigation.

This statement from RMI argues that Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker's veto of bill S.2995, which included a net-zero stretch code, contradicts state research and economic realities. The document asserts that electrification of new buildings is essential to meet the state's 2050 net-zero carbon emissions target and is already economically viable for single-family homes and affordable housing developers.

This briefing analyzes the potential impacts of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (IF) on the mining sector, specifically focusing on the Pillar One and Pillar Two blueprints. While some extractive industries are excluded from certain new taxing rights, the document warns that other elements of the reform could undermine revenue collection in resource-rich developing countries and erode national sovereignty through mandatory binding dispute resolution.

This report, produced as part of the Critical Challenges of Coastal Southeast Asia (3CSeas) project, explores how social protection mechanisms can build resilience to slow-onset climate change impacts, particularly for coastal communities.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice examines the South African government's strategy to mobilize up to R1 trillion in private sector financing for infrastructure via an Infrastructure Fund over 10 years. The document critiques the 'de-risking' mechanisms used to attract private capital—such as blended finance, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and the conversion of infrastructure into asset classes—arguing that they often transfer excessive risk to the public fiscus and may fail to deliver developmental outcomes.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute maps the green bond landscape in Africa as of January 2021. It identifies the market as nascent and underdeveloped, dominated by a few states and entities, and outlines the structural barriers and opportunities for scaling up green finance to meet climate mitigation and adaptation needs across the continent.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute describes Thailand's strategic promotion of a bioeconomy to overcome the middle-income trap, reduce social inequality, and mitigate environmental impacts. It focuses on the industrial use of sugarcane and cassava to create value-added products like biofuels and bioplastics, while highlighting regulatory hurdles, land and water scarcity, and social issues such as low wages and food insecurity.

This 2021 report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) provides a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the Brazilian Forest Code (Law No. 12.651/2012) across Brazilian states. It focuses on the progress of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA), identifying significant bottlenecks in the analysis and validation of registries and the low rate of producer adherence to regularization programs. The report highlights disparities between states, noting that while registration is advanced nationwide, the transition to actual environmental recovery remains a major challenge.

This 2021 industry brief by GreenCape examines the regulatory requirements for Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) in South Africa, specifically the distinction between registration with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and applications for connection with electricity distributors.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores the intersection of circular economy solutions and international trade policies to support global decarbonization. It argues that transitioning from primary to secondary materials and extending product lifespans are essential for meeting Paris Agreement goals, as resource extraction and processing account for half of global greenhouse gas emissions. The authors advocate for the removal of trade barriers to circular goods and services and the use of bilateral and regional trade agreements to establish standards for low-carbon circularity.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the importance of watershed-scale governance for mine water management, focusing on the experiences of Mongolia and the Antofagasta region of Chile. It outlines a framework for effective water governance based on risk-based planning, stakeholder collaboration, and clear policy implementation, while highlighting the specific challenges of managing water in arid mining regions.