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The document identifies infrastructure, human settlements, and mining as the primary non-agricultural drivers of deforestation, while logging is the main driver of forest degradation. Due to a lack of disaggregated global data, the report does not define quantitative indicators but instead reviews public policy interventions and private sector sustainability initiatives. Key public measures include import bans on illegal timber in the US, EU, and Australia, and the use of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) for infrastructure. Private sector efforts are highlighted through forest certification schemes like FSC and PEFC, though their global impact remains limited, and emerging responsible mining initiatives like IRMA and the Oro Verde Program in Colombia.

The document evaluates five indicators of financial support for reducing forest emissions: international public climate finance, domestic public spending, private sector investment, indigenous peoples' investments, and civil society investments. It finds that while international public finance from OECD countries has increased, there is a critical lack of harmonized global data for domestic and private sector spending. The report highlights the role of payment for ecosystem services (PES) in developing countries and the emerging potential of South-South cooperation, notably China's commitment of US$3.1 billion in climate finance.

The document assesses the level of federal investment in sustainable agriculture, specifically agroecology, using a five-level classification system. It finds that the vast majority of USDA funding supports incremental efficiency gains rather than transformative agroecological practices. The authors call for increased funding and a shift toward systems-based research that integrates ecological and socioeconomic sustainability.

The research paper examines the fiscal pressures facing South Africa, highlighting high government debt, sluggish economic growth, and rising public sector costs. It details specific budget allocations for infrastructure and energy, including the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme and nuclear procurement, while framing these economic realities against the backdrop of student demands for tertiary education funding.

The document describes neonicotinoids as systemic insecticides that spread through plant tissues and are linked to large-scale honey bee colony losses. It cites a Worldwide Integrated Assessment finding these pesticides toxic to most insects and capable of impairing bee learning and fertility. In Canada, specifically Ontario, significant winter colony losses were reported in 2013 and 2014, leading to provincial legislation to reduce neonic-treated seed planting by 80% by 2017. The European Union also implemented a two-year ban on agricultural neonic use starting in January 2013.

The report analyzes how battery energy storage can provide thirteen different services across three grid levels: transmission, distribution, and behind-the-meter. It argues that while single-use batteries are often underutilized and economically unviable, 'stacking' multiple services—such as combining demand charge reduction with wholesale grid services—can make storage a cash-positive investment. Through four U.S. case studies, the report demonstrates that behind-the-meter systems are technically capable of providing the widest array of services, though significant regulatory barriers currently hinder this potential.

The IMF's October 2015 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa describes a 'gloomy picture' for the region driven by falling commodity and oil prices, high energy costs, and a weak global financial environment. South Africa is highlighted as having the worst growth projection among its middle-income peers, with its economic performance hindered by critical electricity supply failures, poor export growth despite currency depreciation, and social unrest. The IMF recommends fiscal adjustments, currency depreciation, and long-term investments in productivity-enhancing infrastructure and education to counter these trends.

Rooftop solar in the United States experienced rapid growth between 2008 and 2014, driven by a 45% decrease in household system prices from 2010 to 2014 and the rise of third-party ownership models. The technology provides significant environmental benefits, including zero carbon emissions and minimal water use during electricity generation, while supporting a domestic industry that employed over 170,000 people by 2014. Growth is further sustained by federal and state policies such as net metering, feed-in tariffs, and a 30% federal investment tax credit.

The report examines how California's local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) can develop effective measurable objectives to avoid 'undesirable results' and achieve sustainable yield by 2040. It outlines six characteristics of effective objectives—including clear baselines, quantitative thresholds, and adaptive management—and recommends that the state provide a common framework, identify consistent data sources, and define shared assumptions for modeling sustainable yield.

The research finds a strong theoretical case for the TFTA due to high trade complementarity between Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa, though actual trade is currently limited by significant tariff and non-tariff barriers. While South Africa views the TFTA as a tool for 'developmental regionalism' to reduce poverty through industrialization, secondary powers like Kenya and Egypt may face competition from South African exports in their respective regional markets. The document emphasizes that the success of the TFTA depends on massive upgrades to transregional transport and energy infrastructure, noting that while some progress has been made in port and road corridors, large-scale energy projects in the DRC and Ethiopia face severe financial and technical obstacles.

The report argues that achieving sustainable groundwater management in California requires the establishment of clear, quantitative measurable objectives to avoid 'undesirable results' such as land subsidence and seawater intrusion. It advocates for an adaptive management approach involving clear baselines, quantitative thresholds, and protective triggers. The authors propose a six-step preliminary framework for setting thresholds and recommend that the state develop a common framework to ensure consistency in data, assumptions, and metrics across different groundwater sustainability agencies.

The report analyzes the legal processes for converting forests in the Republic of Congo into agricultural or mining land. It highlights a critical lack of a national land-use plan, which leads to overlapping land use and insecurity. The document details the requirements for declassifying permanent forest estates and obtaining deforestation permits, while arguing that the rights of local communities and indigenous people (LCIP) are insufficiently protected. It also notes that the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) does not adequately cover the legality of conversion timber.

The document argues that populations in fragile states are highly vulnerable to climate variability due to geography, reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and weak governance. It aims to bridge the gap between peacebuilding and climate adaptation by guiding practitioners on how to utilize climate information to strengthen resilience and long-term stability in contexts where such data is often missing or weak.

The report examines how credit-enhancement mechanisms—such as guarantees, first-loss provisions, and contingent loans—can mitigate the perceived high risks of green infrastructure to mobilize private capital. It analyzes the offerings of major MDBs (including the World Bank, ADB, and EIB) and provides case studies from India, Nigeria, and Mexico to demonstrate how targeting specific risks, such as exploratory costs or tariff volatility, makes projects bankable. The authors conclude that while MDBs have the tools to catalyze green investment, a lack of knowledge among governments and a lack of specialized approval processes for green projects hinder widespread adoption.

The report examines the intersection of domestic law, international investment law, freshwater law, and human rights law in the context of large-scale agricultural investments in Africa. It highlights how foreign investors often secure formal statutory water rights through contracts and treaties that prevail over the informal customary rights of local communities. The document emphasizes the increasing pressure on water resources due to population growth and climate change, particularly in Southern and Northern Africa. It analyzes the role of river basin organizations, such as those for the Senegal, Niger, and Lake Chad basins, in managing transboundary water resources. The report concludes that host states must integrate these parallel legal regimes to ensure sustainable water management and protect the human right to water.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provides submissions on the first draft of the Nkangala District Municipality (NDM) Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). The CER identifies significant gaps in technical and financial capacity, a lack of alignment with the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) AQMP, and deficiencies in health impact assessments and monitoring. The submissions call for the NDM to prioritize staffing, ensure transparency in air quality data, and implement stricter dust control regulations.

The document examines how different hydrogen sourcing methods—ranging from fossil-fuel-based steam methane reforming to renewable electrolysis and biomass gasification—affect the total lifecycle emissions of fuel cell electric vehicles. It highlights that while current natural gas-based production already reduces emissions compared to gasoline vehicles, transitioning to renewable feedstocks and distributed production can further minimize the climate impact.

The document outlines a study designed to inform Indonesia's domestic fuel pricing policy by comparing international experiences. It aims to establish a baseline of Indonesia's current system, summarize global pricing knowledge for policy-makers, and identify viable policy options to manage fuel price volatility and enforce the pricing mechanism introduced in 2015.

The report argues that the Mabola Protected Environment (MPE) was correctly proclaimed due to its high biodiversity and hydrological importance. It concludes that de-proclaiming the MPE to allow the Yzermyn coal mine would set a dangerous precedent, risk irreplaceable ecosystems, and contradict South Africa's climate change goals. While the mine's current underground plan has moderate short-term impacts, the report warns of long-term risks including acid mine decant and permanent loss of critical water-producing wetlands.

The report examines how China's industrial development zones (IDZs), which account for approximately 35% of total national emissions, are responding to a shift from growth-oriented policies to low-carbon mandates. It identifies a trend toward market-based instruments, such as the national cap-and-trade system, and highlights the role of eco-industrial park certifications in improving resource efficiency. Based on a survey of 230 firms, the document reveals significant gaps in GHG inventory management and policy awareness, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises. It recommends streamlining administrative procedures, increasing transparency in carbon trading, and establishing a capacity-building platform called 'Low Carbon, 2030' to support the national goal of peaking emissions by 2030.