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The report identifies that while Peruvian SMEs represent 99.5% of registered companies and face higher proportional energy costs than large firms, significant barriers—including lack of information, low economic incentives due to low energy prices, and limited financial mechanisms—hinder energy efficiency adoption. A pilot study of 12 SMEs in Lima's energy-intensive sectors (primarily manufacturing) demonstrated a strong business case for investment, with an average reduction in energy consumption of 15%, total annual financial savings of US$750k, and an average payback period of two years. Key recommendations include government-led market analysis, improved auditing standards, and the creation of partnerships between finance providers, consultants, and equipment suppliers.

The report details the expansion of China's green bond market in H1 2017, highlighting a 33.6% year-on-year growth in issuance and a shift toward more diverse issuers. It examines the alignment of these bonds with international standards, the impact of new domestic policies, and the potential for green municipal bonds to drive local low-carbon transitions.

The Chinese green bond market grew by 33.6% in the first half of 2017, reaching a total issuance of $11.52 billion. The market saw a diversification of issuers, with non-financial enterprises and policy banks increasing their share as commercial bank dominance declined. While most bonds maintain high credit ratings and align with both domestic and international definitions, the report highlights a push toward standardization and the potential for growth in green municipal bonds.

The document outlines Belgium's legal framework for the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), noting that while the penalty regime allows for high fines and imprisonment, enforcement is hindered by low human and financial resources. Between March 2013 and mid-July 2017, the Competent Authority conducted only 26 checks on operators. It also details the limited legal avenues for NGOs to challenge inaction by the Competent Authority regarding substantiated concerns.

The document analyzes the SDG indicators used in voluntary reviews from nine countries, comparing them to the global framework developed by the UN Statistical Division. It recommends that countries strengthen reporting capacities using existing systems, complement global metrics with national ones where gaps exist, and ensure reporting covers challenging areas like sustainable consumption and production rather than only convenient metrics.

The report finds that the UK-to-Africa remittance market is heavily cash-based, with cash-to-cash transfers accounting for approximately 90% of flows. While digital MTOs and payment hubs offer more competitive pricing, their impact is limited by a 'stickiness of cash' among UK migrants and a lack of digital payment infrastructure and formal identification in African receive markets. The authors argue that digitising the entire value chain is the only way to significantly drive down costs. Key recommendations for donors include researching consumer behavior in the UK, promoting non-cash transfers, piloting access for UK providers to the SADC Integrated Regional Settlement System (SIRESS), and supporting the expansion of remittance hubs in FCAS.

The document examines how decentralisation can enhance citizen engagement in governance, specifically at the regional level. Using South Africa as a primary case study, it argues that while basic participation methods are consistent across government levels, regional effectiveness is often hindered by unclear institutional design, a lack of authority to address demands, and the dominance of party-based political structures. The author evaluates various strategies—such as public hearings, petitions, and participatory budgeting—and concludes that robust participation requires a combination of clear division of responsibilities, adequate resourcing, responsive representation, and the strategic use of technology.

The report analyzes the economic and social trajectory of coal mining in South Wales, from its industrial growth to its disappearance in the 1990s. It evaluates the effectiveness of mitigation policies, specifically the role of the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) and European Union funding, and emphasizes the impact of global economic factors and the necessity of local resilience during industrial transitions.

The paper examines interactions between six specific SDGs (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, and 14) using a seven-point scale to categorize relationships as reinforcing, enabling, or constraining. It finds that positive interactions generally outweigh negative ones, particularly for gender equality, which acts as a lever for multiple other goals. However, it highlights significant institutional barriers to integrated implementation, as most governments operate through sectoral ministries that lack joint agendas. The author argues for the creation of an international open knowledge platform to systematize SDG interaction analysis and suggests that 'mission-oriented innovation' and strategic foresight mechanisms can help overcome short-termism in infrastructure and industrial policy.

The document argues that replacing a portion of Midwest corn and soybean acreage with diverse crop rotations—including oats and alfalfa—can increase yields and maintain profits while significantly reducing soil erosion, chemical runoff, and greenhouse gas emissions. Based on Iowa State University research and Union of Concerned Scientists modeling, the report suggests that such systems could be scaled to 20-40% of Iowa's farmland, potentially saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in water cleanup costs. However, adoption is hindered by market, financial, and technical barriers, necessitating federal policy reforms in crop insurance, USDA loan funding, and agricultural research.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) argues that the draft mid-term review (MTR) of the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) is methodologically flawed, outdated, and fails to demonstrate progress toward its goals. The CER highlights widespread non-compliance with national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), a deteriorating monitoring network, and significant data gaps in industrial emissions reporting. It specifically criticizes the lack of functional monitoring stations and the failure of key industrial facilities to reduce emissions, concluding that the overall objective of achieving NAAQS compliance in the HPA is not being met.

The document details CDKN-supported projects in Nepal aimed at climate-smart agriculture, adaptive hydroelectricity, and resilient irrigation systems, while also addressing the country's US$2.4 billion adaptation deficit through improved access to climate finance.

The report introduces Integrated Energy Productivity (IEP), a metric that expands the traditional economic definition of energy productivity to include social and environmental benefits, weighed against fossil fuel energy inputs. Analyzing data from 2012 to 2014 for seven IFIs—ADB, EBRD, EIB, IDB, KfW/DEG, OPIC, and the World Bank—the study finds that while most energy investments are IEP-positive or relevant, energy efficiency projects are significantly underfunded, representing only 14% of energy portfolios. The report identifies a lack of standardized IEP targets across IFIs and recommends mainstreaming energy efficiency through operational safeguards and a joint IFI framework for tracking impact.

The report assesses the legal responsibilities of states to protect World Heritage-listed coral reefs, using the Great Barrier Reef as a case study. It argues that Australia, as a high per-capita emitter with significant resources, is failing its obligations by not sufficiently reducing greenhouse gas emissions, permitting new fossil fuel infrastructure in the Galilee Basin, and failing to mitigate non-climate stressors such as the expansion of the Abbot Point coal port. The document recommends that the World Heritage Committee inscribe the Great Barrier Reef on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The document examines the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) package, specifically Action 13, which introduces Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR) to combat profit shifting by multinational enterprises (MNEs). While CbCR aims to increase tax transparency and domestic resource mobilisation, the authors argue that the technical and legislative requirements are onerous for resource-constrained African revenue authorities. The paper discusses the role of technology in bridging information gaps, the specific commitment levels of African states to the CbC Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA), and the potential benefits of public disclosure over government-to-government exchange.

The document highlights the ecological risks of neonicotinoid pesticides, noting their toxicity to insects, birds, and fish, and their potential to disrupt pollination services vital for food security. It details Ontario's efforts to reduce neonic-treated seed acreage and Health Canada's proposed phase-out of imidacloprid to protect aquatic environments.

Ethiopia is positioned as a climate leader, being the first Least Developed Country to submit an Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC). The government aims to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions from 150 Mt CO2eq in 2010 to 145 Mt CO2eq by 2030. To support these goals, CDKN has assisted the Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation (MoFEC) in achieving accreditation as a National Implementing Entity for the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund in March 2016. Infrastructure investments include a 34-km light rail transit in Addis Ababa and a 750-km railway to Djibouti. Additionally, CDKN is supporting the development of geothermal risk insurance and research into greening the industrial sector, specifically leather, garments, and cement.

The report examines the transition of the carpet industry toward a circular economy, focusing on the French and European markets. It finds that the vast majority of carpets end up in landfills or incinerators, with actual recycling rates for industry leaders like Interface and Desso being significantly lower than their public commitments. The document specifically highlights the 'scandal' of single-use carpets in the French events sector and provides recommendations for manufacturers, policymakers, and consumers to implement closed-loop systems and eco-design.

The report highlights a critical lack of transparency in the antibiotic supply chain for the French market, noting that while formulation often occurs in Europe, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are primarily sourced from India and China. It documents severe environmental pollution and the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria around production sites in these countries, linking specific manufacturers like Aurobindo and Mylan to these impacts. The document argues that current French public procurement processes fail to account for these environmental risks and calls for a global audit and stricter transparency requirements to combat antimicrobial resistance.

The report concludes that the Polish Draft Act on the Capacity Market constitutes State aid and is incompatible with EU law. Key issues include the exclusion of foreign capacity providers, potential environmental harm through subsidies for high-emission units, and a lack of competitive pricing mechanisms. The report estimates that the capacity market will cost end users approximately EUR 16.8 billion (PLN 73.5 billion) between 2021 and 2035. Furthermore, the Draft Act conflicts with the EU's 'Winter Package' proposal, particularly regarding decarbonisation goals and the requirement for cross-border participation.