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The briefing analyzes forest degradation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2007 to 2016, defining it as the partial loss of forest biomass. It finds that degradation is more widespread than clear-cut deforestation, averaging 11,000 km2 per year, and is concentrated in the 'Arco do Desmatamento', specifically in Mato Grosso and Pará. The study highlights that the relationship between degradation and subsequent deforestation varies by land tenure category: while conversion is low in protected territories, it is higher in small private properties and rural settlements, where degradation may serve as a low-cost precursor to total forest removal. The authors argue that degradation should be used as an indicator of imminent environmental damage to better allocate scarce public resources.

The document outlines the critical need for low-carbon transport in Mexico, where the sector is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. It highlights the potential for green bonds to fund electric mobility, rail infrastructure, and fleet renewals, while noting that only 1.27% of green bond proceeds from Mexican issuers have been allocated to transport as of January 2021.

The document assesses Indonesia's energy landscape in 2020-2021, highlighting a trend where the government continues to support fossil fuels, particularly coal, despite global shifts toward green recovery. It details the decline in fuel and LPG subsidies due to the pandemic, the promotion of coal derivatives like dimethyl ether (DME) to reduce LPG imports, and the regulatory and financial hurdles facing renewable energy projects.

The document argues that while climate and energy scenarios are essential for target setting, they often rely on legacy modeling that can constrain imagination and overlook non-linear transformations. It distinguishes between scenarios (future snapshots), pathways (adaptive courses), and roadmaps (deterministic methods), and advises decision-makers to use a combination of top-down models and bottom-up assessments to identify a broader 'opportunity space'. The author highlights critical gaps in current scenarios, including a lack of stakeholder diversity, neglect of equity and non-emissions benefits, and a failure to account for learning curves in technological innovation and demand-side efficiency.

The document examines the role of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) in combating corruption. While these efforts can reduce local-level bribery and increase transparency, they often fail to address 'institutional capture'—where elite interests manipulate state policies for private gain. Using a case study of rosewood logging in Madagascar's Makira Natural Park, the authors demonstrate that high-value resources can drive national-level corruption that overrides local conservation efforts. The briefing recommends a multi-level approach that integrates local social accountability with national-level democratic reforms and political economy analysis.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) hosted a 'Climate Camp' briefing series focusing on the federal budget and appropriations process for fiscal year 2022. The series aimed to provide guidance on utilizing stimulus packages to advance climate action, energy and environment programs, and environmental justice goals during the 117th Congress.

The document defines confidence-building measures (CBMs) as actions intended to increase trust and transparency between conflict parties. It categorizes CBMs into five types—political, economic, environmental, societal, and cultural—and outlines ten characteristics of successful measures, emphasizing the need for gendered conflict resolution analysis. The briefing highlights specific cases where women's engagement influenced peace processes in Yemen, Kenya, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Colombia, Northern Ireland, and the former Yugoslavia, concluding with recommendations for gender-inclusive, multi-track approaches to peace.

The briefing argues that while climate change is unlikely to be the primary ideological driver for terrorist groups, it acts as a risk multiplier. It identifies three channels of impact: the creation of recruitment opportunities due to food and livelihood insecurity; the erosion of state legitimacy when governments fail to respond effectively to climate-induced disasters; and the security instabilities caused by the global energy transition, which may strand assets in hydrocarbon-exporting states and increase the value of critical minerals in fragile regions.

The document advocates for a specific amendment to the UK Environment Bill to ensure the country adopts the 2005 WHO air quality guidelines for PM2.5, which recommend an annual mean concentration of no more than 10 µg/m3. It argues that current UK legal limits, derived from EU Directives, are twice as high as WHO recommendations and are insufficient to protect public health. The briefing highlights that approximately 15 million people in the UK live in areas exceeding WHO guidelines, including 8,549 schools and colleges. It asserts that achieving these targets by 2030 is technically feasible, citing Defra and King's College London analysis, and argues that setting these parameters on the face of the Bill prevents delays in target-setting that would otherwise occur until October 2022.

Urban air pollution in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) poses a severe risk to children's health and development, with significant burdens found in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Children are more vulnerable due to their developing bodies and higher inhalation rates per unit of body weight. Key pollution sources include inefficient biomass combustion for cooking and heating, vehicle emissions, and waste burning, with residents of informal settlements facing the highest risks. The document advocates for integrating air quality management into climate change commitments (NDCs), investing in monitoring infrastructure—including citizen science—and adopting multi-sectoral interventions that target pollution sources rather than just symptoms.

The document examines the potential impacts of deep seabed mining, highlighting risks to biodiversity, ocean cycles, and the global fisheries economy. It challenges the necessity of seabed mining for the energy transition, suggesting that material efficiency and recycling could reduce mineral demand by 60-90%. WWF calls for a moratorium on these activities to protect the 'Common Heritage of Humankind' and promote a circular Blue Economy.

The briefing argues that biological weapons remain a viable and rational strategic option for some states due to their low cost, potential for deniability, and asymmetric impact. It challenges the notion that these weapons are tactically useless or too risky to develop, noting that historical precedents and the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate that leaders may prioritize state status or regime survival over the risks of blowback. The authors further contend that bioweapons programs are not always top-down initiatives and that current international norms, specifically the Biological Weapons Convention, lack the enforcement and verification mechanisms necessary to effectively stop such programs.

The briefing examines the critical role of cold chains in COVID-19 vaccine distribution, highlighting the gap between current infrastructure and the requirements of new vaccine candidates, some of which need ultra-low temperatures (-70C to -80C). It identifies significant barriers in low- and middle-income countries, including unreliable energy access, outdated equipment, and high upfront costs. The report argues that achieving herd immunity requires a massive expansion of sustainable, energy-efficient cold chains and proposes strategies such as 'Cooling as a Service' (CaaS), public-private partnerships like Project Last Mile, and a 'last mile' planning approach to ensure equitable access.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other groups are calling for the modernization of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), 1999, asserting that the law is outdated and fails to address current environmental and health risks. The briefing highlights the disproportionate impact of toxics on marginalized groups, including Indigenous people and lower-income Canadians, and advocates for the implementation of 87 recommendations made by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development in 2017. Proposed amendments include banning highly hazardous substances, establishing national air and drinking water quality standards, and recognizing the human right to a healthy environment.

The document examines how COVID-19 disrupted the livelihoods of millions in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, highlighting the failure of many governments to provide specific pandemic support and the negative impact of lockdowns on mineral supply chains. It notes that while the informal sector served as a critical economic safety net, the pandemic exacerbated gender inequalities. The briefing argues that the recovery phase offers an opportunity to 'build back better' through public-private cooperation to formalize the sector and establish trust between miners and government institutions.

The document examines how the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone led to a sharp decline in energy sector financing as Official Development Assistance (ODA) was redirected toward immediate health emergencies. It argues that this siloed approach undermined long-term healthcare resilience, as reliable electricity is critical for medical services. To avoid repeating these mistakes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the brief recommends integrated planning between the energy and health sectors, increased de-risking of private investments, and the use of renewable energy for economic recovery.

The document examines the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA), a preparatory body created in 1960 that bypasses the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) when tabling work to the Council. ClientEarth argues this 'historic oddity' lacks a clear legal basis and conflicts with Coreper's exclusive competence to prepare Council work. Because the SCA is viewed as an 'expert group' focused on national interests rather than a horizontal policy perspective, the author suggests it may be structurally unable to ensure the environmental integration and consistency required by the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork strategy, and the Biodiversity strategy.

The document argues that Article 113 of the Control Regulation allows EU Member States to unconditionally veto the disclosure of fisheries data, which contradicts the Aarhus Convention, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and Regulation 1049/2001. It criticizes the General Court's judgment in Malta v Commission for upholding this veto power without requiring a statement of reasons. ClientEarth proposes amending Article 113 to require reasoned refusals and explicitly align the regulation with EU and international transparency frameworks.

The briefing advocates for mainstreaming anti-corruption objectives into financial investigations of natural resource crimes. It argues that while 'follow the money' (FTM) techniques are emerging, they often focus on the proceeds of crime rather than the corruption that facilitates it. The authors suggest that integrating anti-corruption efforts can help identify high-level criminal actors and disrupt the supply chains of illegal wildlife, timber, and fisheries trade. The document highlights barriers such as inter-agency silos and political disincentives, and provides policy recommendations for public agencies, private financial institutions, and donors to enhance detection and enforcement through multi-agency taskforces and tailored risk assessments.

The document examines the challenges of Africa's transition to renewable energy, highlighting a significant skills gap and the persistent under-representation of women in energy value chains. It argues that while gender-mainstreaming policies exist, they often lack the monitoring, evaluation, and comprehensive support systems—such as financial and technical assistance—necessary to create tangible change. The briefing specifically calls for the AU-EU strategic partnership to better integrate gender dimensions into its green transition and energy access pillars, particularly for youth and those in fossil-fuel-dependent economies to ensure a just transition.