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The briefing presents Transformative Transparency, a data-driven platform developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Global Canopy Programme. It aims to increase transparency in the trade of agricultural commodities—specifically those linked to deforestation—by linking production landscapes to consumer countries using customs data, bills of lading, and subnational production data. The platform is designed to help investors, retailers, governments, and consumers identify risk factors and monitor sustainability commitments, such as 'zero deforestation' pledges, by providing a more comprehensive and cost-efficient alternative to footprint analyses and bespoke traceability systems.

The document examines the Vattenfall v. Germany II arbitration, initiated by the Swedish-owned energy company Vattenfall after Germany accelerated its nuclear power phase-out following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Vattenfall is claiming compensation for the shutdown of the Krümmel and Brunsbüttel plants, with claims reported as high as 4.68 billion EUR. The briefing highlights a lack of transparency in the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) process, noting that procedural orders and submissions remain confidential despite the significant public funds at stake. It argues that ICSID rules do not mandate confidentiality and that the public interest in environmental and energy policy should justify the release of case documents.

The document defines energy poverty as the lack of access to adequate, affordable, and sustainable energy services, highlighting its severe impacts on health, economic productivity, and the environment. It notes that 1.3 billion people lack electricity and 2.7 billion rely on biomass for cooking, with the highest concentrations in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The author argues that while energy consumption is a necessary condition for development, universal access could be achieved by 2030 with an annual investment of 30-35 billion USD, a sum significantly lower than current global fossil fuel subsidies.

The document frames climate change as a mainstream public health crisis and advocates for a transition to clean energy and active transport to reduce early deaths and healthcare costs. It highlights the importance of health-aligned investment choices, citing the British Medical Association's divestment from fossil fuels and HESTA's restrictions on thermal coal. The guide also lists several high-level events in New York, including a WHO-ILO session on 'Climate, Health and Jobs' and a forum on sustainable diets.

The briefing examines the uncertainty surrounding the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by the US Congress. It outlines three scenarios: a full renewal for 40 eligible countries, a renewal that excludes South Africa, and a transition to a reciprocal trade agreement similar to EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The author argues that a full renewal, extended for 10 to 15 years and coupled with infrastructure investment and export diversification, is the most beneficial path for both Africa and the United States.

The document outlines the critical role of rural women in economic growth and food security while highlighting the systemic barriers they face, including gender-based violence, lack of land rights, and limited access to education and technology. It argues that empowering rural women through legal reforms, capacity building, and strategic networking is essential for sustainable development and climate adaptation.

The document presents findings from a 2013 South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) survey of 60 diplomats and experts in Pretoria and Addis Ababa. It argues that while South Africa's commitment to an 'African Agenda' and peace resolution is respected, its overall strategic direction has become 'confusing' and 'obfuscated' under President Zuma. The briefing warns against 'trophy diplomacy'—attempting to project global influence before maturing as a geopolitical entity—and recommends reviewing the Foreign Policy White Paper to better balance relations between Africa, the West, and the emerging South. It specifically suggests that South Africa leverage shared priorities between East and Southern Africa to resolve stalled negotiations for the Tri-Partite Free Trade Area between COMESA, the ECA, and SADC.

The document argues that while climate change threatens agro-value chains and the financial institutions that support them, the banking sector's integration of climate risk remains limited. It highlights the potential for innovative finance models and information and communication technologies to reduce vulnerability, using the coffee value chain in Uganda as a primary case study. The authors recommend that banks explicitly integrate climate risk into management strategies, incentivize adaptation through climate-proofed instruments, develop new products via partnerships, and target financial services toward women.

The document analyzes the legal and scientific interpretation of Article 2(2) of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). It asserts that to achieve the objective of maintaining fish stocks above Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) levels, the EU must set exploitation rates below FMSY. The briefing argues that setting rates exactly at FMSY is insufficient due to environmental variables and would breach the CFP's precautionary approach and other EU and international legal obligations.

The indigenous Jogbahn clan in Liberia successfully forced the UK-based company Equatorial Palm Oil (EPO) to retreat from their land following advocacy by the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) and Friends of the Earth Liberia. In a March 5 meeting, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf committed the Liberian government to protecting over 20,000 hectares of community land from further encroachment. This is significant as over 50% of Liberia's land (5.02 million hectares) has been leased to corporations. The conflict escalated between 2012 and 2013 when EPO cleared community farmland and conducted forced land surveys, leading to reports of intimidation and violence by company security and the Liberia National Police's Police Support Unit (PSU). In response, the communities filed a complaint with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) on September 18, 2013, demanding an end to land surveys and expansion onto customary land.

The Kenyan agricultural sector, which accounts for over a fifth of the GDP, is highly sensitive to climate change, facing risks from unpredictable rainfall, droughts, and pests. While the sector is a significant emitter of greenhouse gases—primarily from livestock—the document emphasizes that adaptation to ensure food security and export earnings is the priority. It suggests climate-smart practices such as agroforestry and conservation tillage to build resilience and reduce emissions, while noting that the carbon market currently offers limited financial benefits due to high monitoring costs.

The document examines the vulnerability of Kenya's manufacturing sector to climate change, specifically highlighting risks to energy security and supply chains, while outlining mitigation strategies such as energy efficiency and industrial ecology.

The tourism sector in Kenya is highly climate-sensitive, with climate change already causing infrastructure damage and threatening key attractions. While the sector contributes less than one per cent of national greenhouse gas emissions, the document encourages businesses to adopt sustainable practices and low-carbon operations to build resilience and capture the growing market for sustainable tourism.

The transport sector in Kenya, which accounts for approximately 10 per cent of GDP, is highly vulnerable to climate impacts such as flooding and sea level rise, while simultaneously contributing 10 per cent of national greenhouse gas emissions as of 2010. The document outlines specific physical risks to infrastructure, such as the warping of rail tracks from higher temperatures and damage to ports from storms, noting that the 1997-98 El Niño floods caused transport infrastructure damage of Ksh 62 billion. To mitigate emissions, which are projected to reach 19 per cent of total national emissions by 2030, the briefing recommends the 'avoid-shift-improve' approach, increasing fuel efficiency in vehicle fleets, and shifting freight from road to rail. It also highlights the potential and controversies surrounding biofuels in Kenya, specifically the 'food versus fuel' debate.

The document outlines how climate change poses an existential threat to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through sea level rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather. It emphasizes that while adaptation can reduce risks, SIDS face high economic costs due to a lack of economies of scale and limited resources. The briefing advocates for the integration of adaptation, mitigation, and development strategies, highlighting the potential for renewable energy to enhance energy security and the necessity of international cooperation to avert dangerous climate change.

The document advocates for 'no and low regrets' investments in the Caribbean water sector, which provide benefits regardless of climate change uncertainty. It highlights Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and the CCORAL platform as key tools for identifying and implementing these resilient strategies across policy, legislative, planning, budget, and project levels.

The document outlines the existential threats posed to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) by climate change, specifically sea level rise and ocean acidification. It emphasizes that while adaptation can reduce risks, SIDS face high per-capita costs due to a lack of economies of scale. The report advocates for integrating climate adaptation with broader development goals and transitioning to renewable energy to enhance energy security.

The document outlines SEI's approach to climate adaptation, emphasizing that vulnerability is driven more by socioeconomic conditions than by climate exposure. It argues that adaptation and development are inextricably linked and that adaptation has inherent limits, meaning it cannot replace mitigation. The briefing also details SEI's global initiatives, such as the weADAPT platform and the Asia Adaptation Knowledge Platform, and identifies future research priorities including the role of gender, culture, and the private sector in adaptation.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) develops consumption-based accounting tools, such as multi-regional input-output (MRIO) models, to reveal environmental costs often ignored by territory-based emissions tracking. SEI argues that while consumers play a role, systemic shifts driven by government and business are essential to overcome infrastructure and business models that lock in unsustainable patterns. Their research also highlights how complex global supply chains can transfer vulnerabilities and environmental risks between producer and consumer regions.

The SEI Initiative on Behaviour and Choice focuses on understanding why technical solutions in developing countries often fail due to a lack of user adoption. By collaborating with experts in behavioural economics and design research, the initiative seeks to create a framework that accounts for individual, relational, and structural drivers of behaviour. Initial empirical work focuses on the adoption of advanced biomass-pellet cookstoves in Kenya, specifically in Kiambu and Nakuru, to address high mortality rates from household air pollution. The initiative intends to produce a set of tools to help public and private sector actors design policies and products that better respond to user perspectives.