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This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that South Africa should expand its foreign policy by reconceiving its engagement with Latin America and Africa as a unified 'South Atlantic Zone'. The authors suggest that this framework can enhance maritime security, promote the 'blue economy' through initiatives like Operation Phakisa, and increase trade and cultural ties among littoral states.

A policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law arguing that a specific climate provision within the Customs Bill would hinder domestic and international climate action, weaken the United States' negotiating position, and block potential trade cooperation benefits.

This fact sheet describes a Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) initiative launched in January 2015 that examines fossil fuel supply investments, infrastructure, and institutions to determine their impact on climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

This policy brief examines South Africa's two terms as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2007–2008 and 2011–2012. It focuses on South Africa's efforts to strengthen the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) by formalising institutional links between the UNSC and the African Union (AU), advocating for predictable financial resources, and promoting the role of regional organisations in security management under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.

This policy brief analyzes Turkey's 2015 G-20 presidency, focusing on its priorities of inclusiveness, investment, and implementation, and their implications for Africa and low-income developing countries (LIDCs). The authors argue that while Turkey has expanded its diplomatic and economic engagement with Africa through a 'bottom-up' approach, the G-20's institutional framework remains problematic due to the underrepresentation of African nations and a disconnect between its finance and development tracks.

This working paper analyzes the experiences of seven Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) between 2011 and 2014 to identify strategies for driving private sector investment in climate resilience, specifically within agriculture, water-intensive industries, and infrastructure.

This case study examines the Olkaria III geothermal power plant in Kenya, the first privately funded and developed geothermal project in Africa. It analyzes how a combination of public sector risk mitigation, phased development, and international development finance enabled a private developer, Ormat Technologies, to successfully deploy a 110 MW binary plant. The document highlights the role of the Kenyan government in reducing exploration and credit risks to attract private capital and provides lessons for scaling geothermal energy in East Africa.

This executive summary analyzes the use of private financing to accelerate geothermal energy deployment in Indonesia, focusing on the Sarulla Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP Sarulla) as a case study. It highlights the role of public support in mitigating exploration risks and providing financial guarantees to attract private investment to meet national capacity targets.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes Ontario's successful phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation, which was completed by the end of 2014. The study examines the factors that enabled this transition—categorized as context, champions, concerns, and complementary policies—and evaluates the resulting impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, public health, and the economy.

This World Bank Group report provides a framework for using investment contracts to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of large-scale agricultural projects in developing countries. It identifies five key positive outcomes and five primary weaknesses associated with these investments, offering specific legal and contractual options to ensure sustainable development and the protection of local communities.

This research paper, published by the World Bank Group in June 2015, examines the role of investment contracts in large-scale agricultural projects in developing countries. It provides a framework for designing contracts that maximize positive socio-economic outcomes—such as job creation and food security—while minimizing risks like land loss and environmental degradation. The document integrates empirical evidence from UNCTAD and World Bank field studies with legal analysis from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

This briefing by RMI explores the potential of residential demand charges as a tool for electricity rate design. It argues that as distributed energy resources (DERs) like rooftop solar and electric vehicles increase load variability among residential customers, traditional energy-only charges become inequitable. Demand charges, which bill based on the maximum power used in a cycle, can more accurately reflect grid infrastructure costs, promote customer equity, and provide price signals that encourage load shifting and the adoption of demand-management technologies.

This research paper examines the strategic importance of the South Atlantic Zone for South Africa's foreign policy, arguing that treating the region as a single entity can bridge the divide between African and Latin American engagements. It highlights opportunities for cooperation in maritime security, the 'blue economy' through Operation Phakisa, and South-South economic and cultural collaboration, while noting that current trade levels remain low despite significant potential.

This research paper examines the coherence between climate change mitigation and energy security policies within the European Union, specifically focusing on the residential, industry, and power sectors.

This executive summary introduces a report by RMI that examines the value of battery-based energy storage on the U.S. electricity grid, specifically focusing on the impact of deployment location, the potential for 'stacking' multiple services to increase value, and the regulatory barriers preventing such utilization.

An essay by Amory Lovins arguing that investing in energy efficiency and renewables in Iran could strengthen its economy and security while displacing its nuclear power program and preventing a regional nuclear arms race.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the conflict between extractive industries and the conservation of Protected Areas (PAs) and World Heritage (WH) sites in Africa. It argues for the strict enforcement of 'no-go zones' in WH sites and the implementation of rigorous biodiversity management standards for mining in other PAs to prevent irreversible ecological damage.

A letter from several international organizations to Member of the European Parliament Bernd Lange expressing concern that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could weaken public health and environmental standards for toxic chemicals, specifically endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

This report, produced by PBL, NewClimate Institute, IIASA, and Ecofys, analyzes projected greenhouse gas emissions for seven major emitting countries through 2030. It evaluates the impact of current, planned, and enhanced mitigation policies to determine their potential to narrow the gap between expected emission levels and those required to meet the 2°C climate target.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the maritime security challenges facing Benin in the Gulf of Guinea, focusing on piracy, illegal fishing, and environmental degradation. It examines the resource disparities between Benin's navy and other maritime agencies, the economic impact of insecurity on the port of Cotonou, and the transition from temporary security measures to a sustainable national maritime strategy.