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The document analyzes the tension between the push for stronger international intellectual property (IP) protections—led primarily by the United States through GATT, NAFTA, and 'Special 301' actions—and the needs of developing countries for technology transfer and fair compensation for biological resources. It explores how IP rights can act as both a potential barrier to the dissemination of environmentally sound technologies and a possible incentive for sustainable innovation. Specifically, it discusses the conflict surrounding the Convention on Biological Diversity, where the US refused to sign due to concerns that 'fair and equitable' sharing of biotechnology benefits would undermine IP rights. The author concludes that while IP monopolies can increase costs for poorer nations, they are not inherently inimical to environmental protection and may actually encourage the development of green technologies.

The document examines the tension between Africa's fossil fuel endowments and the global push for decarbonization, highlighting the risks of stranded assets and the dominance of Global North financing. It argues for a Just Transition that ensures energy access while moving toward low-carbon sources.

The document argues that while loans from development partners have helped launch social protection schemes in Kenya and Tanzania, they create long-term debt sustainability risks and may undermine national autonomy. It advocates for a shift toward grant-based financing and domestic resource mobilization to ensure the sustainability of social protection floors.

The report argues that 'Big Carbon' (fossil fuel and agribusiness) and 'Big Tech' collaborate to create a 'false social reality' that makes the vast majority of people who support climate action feel like a minority. It details a history of obstruction, from the 1959 warnings to oil executives to the 2009 'Climategate' hack-and-leak attack, and analyzes modern digital tactics used to sabotage UN COPs. The document highlights specific disinformation trends in Brazil leading up to COP30, including the use of generative AI to create fake flood imagery. It concludes by proposing structural solutions such as the EU's Digital Services Act, greenwashing laws in France, and the Global Initiative on Information Integrity on Climate Change (GIIICC).

The report analyzes the regulatory landscape of aesthetic pesticides in Canada, noting that while over 200 municipal bylaws have been adopted since the 2001 Supreme Court decision in Hudson v. Spraytech, effectiveness varies by scope and enforcement. It highlights that 'white lists' of safe products and broad bans covering all landscaping elements are more effective than narrow bans limited to lawns. Evidence from Ontario and Toronto shows significant reductions in pesticide presence in water and usage (up to 83% and 57% respectively) following bans. The document recommends removing exceptions for golf courses, implementing permit systems, and combining legal mechanisms with public awareness and enforcement.

The analysis finds a significant funding gap for European carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects that cannot recover costs through carbon pricing alone. By 2023, 55% of excess costs are uncovered, and a total shortfall of €10 billion is projected by 2030. While some countries like Norway, the UK, and the Netherlands have established specific incentive schemes, the report argues that additional targeted funding is required, particularly for high-cost sectors, to kickstart deployment and develop infrastructure.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) study of 15 coal mines in Pennsylvania found that the state's program for placing coal combustion waste (CCW) in mines is failing, with 10 of the 15 sites showing groundwater or stream contamination. The report highlights severe pollutant levels at specific sites, such as the Ernest, McDermott, and Swamp Poodle mines, and calls for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to implement strict safeguards, long-term monitoring, and enforceable regulations to protect human health and the environment.

The briefing evaluates the pre-zero draft of the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, praising its commitment to quantified targets and inclusion of vulnerable groups, but criticising its structural logic and insufficient integration of climate change, finance, and conflict-affected states.

The report examines flood risk in Jamaica, noting that while tropical cyclones cause the largest losses, flooding is not strictly related to storm intensity but often to preceding rainfall. It highlights that public infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, suffers the most damage. Despite repeated recommendations for hazard mapping and watershed management, the report finds a persistent lack of enforcement regarding 'no build zones' and a critical shortage of digital spatial data for planners.

The document critiques the pre-zero draft of the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction for lacking ambition and failing to sufficiently integrate with other global agendas. It argues that the draft relies too heavily on the previous Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) narrative and lacks a clear organising logic connecting its goals to its priorities for action. Key gaps identified include a poor articulation of financing requirements, insufficient detail on monitoring and accountability, and a passive approach to coordinating with climate change and sustainable development frameworks. The authors recommend a more explicit focus on conflict-affected states, a stronger integration of ecosystem services, and the establishment of an international science advisory mechanism for disaster risk reduction.

The India-UK partnership focuses on making Indian cities climate-smart by integrating climate risk data into urban planning and infrastructure. Key initiatives include the 'Future Proofing Indian Cities' programme, which assessed 59 cities for environmental risks, and the 'Disaster Proofing Indian Smart Cities' project, which provides guidance on the resilience of Digital Information Technology (DIT). The partnership has delivered specific action plans and investment strategies for cities such as Mysore, Madurai, Bangalore, Aluva, and Kolkata, while also supporting the development of national Heat Action Plans to combat increasing extreme heat waves.

The document highlights the critical need for climate-resilient investment in the Caribbean water sector to mitigate high economic losses from hazards like hurricanes and droughts. Between 2010 and 2012, USD 8.3 billion in ODA was disbursed to the Caribbean, with USD 172 million allocated to the water sector; of this, only USD 12 million was tagged as climate change relevant. In contrast, global climate funds provided USD 14 million to the water sector during the same period, showing a stronger focus on strategy development and technical studies compared to the infrastructure focus of traditional ODA. The brief identifies five key global climate funds that disbursed a total of USD 44 million to the Caribbean, with 32% targeted at water. It recommends that water sector planners use online platforms like Climate Finance Options to identify funding and suggests matching specialist climate finance with traditional sources to leverage larger investments.

The document assesses the integration of renewable energy (RE) targets in Asian countries, highlighting national goals in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and China. It emphasizes that while RE technologies are feasible and market-oriented, their deployment in Asia is hindered by a lack of financing mechanisms and inadequate management capacity. The author argues for the use of legal instruments, South-South collaboration for 'appropriate' (small-scale) technologies, and innovative financing like revolving funds to overcome high upfront costs.

This report examines gender gaps in climate change mitigation financing and proposes solutions to improve project efficacy and sustainability. It argues that mitigation efforts have historically been 'gender-neutral,' often overlooking the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and their potential as leaders in solutions. Through case studies in Nepal, Mali, and Colombia, the document demonstrates that integrating gender perspectives from the design phase leads to better economic and social outcomes and higher project sustainability.

The report argues that climate mitigation projects often ignore gender, treating technical solutions as 'gender neutral,' which can reinforce inequalities. By examining projects in Nepal, Mali, and Colombia, it demonstrates that integrating gender perspectives—through sex-disaggregated data, targeted training, and safety measures—increases the effectiveness and long-term viability of mitigation efforts. It highlights the role of international mechanisms like the UNFCCC, GEF, and CDM in promoting gender-responsive climate finance.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provides comments on the draft Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Policy 2021, arguing that ASM operators should be held to the same environmental, water, and health and safety standards as large-scale miners to prevent poverty and inequality caused by environmental degradation.

This report, produced for the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), provides an international review of air emission standards to support the implementation of Section 21 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (NEM:AQA). It analyzes regulatory frameworks in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia (specifically New South Wales), with additional references to India, Japan, Poland, and China. The document recommends a phased approach to listing industrial activities and setting minimum emission standards based on Best Available Technology (BAT), while suggesting the integration of command-and-control measures with market-based mechanisms like emissions trading.

This document consists of a final review report and supporting meeting minutes and submissions regarding the implementation of listed activities and minimum emission standards (MES) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (AQA) of 2004 in South Africa. It proposes a phased approach to setting emission standards based on Best Available Technology (BAT), identifies priority industry sectors for initial listing, and discusses the establishment of national ambient air quality standards to protect public health and the environment.

This briefing document outlines technical and regulatory issues arising from a May 15, 2013, workshop between the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and industry stakeholders regarding the Section 21 emission standards. It focuses on refining activity descriptions, adjusting emission limits for specific industrial processes, and addressing the legal and practical implications of including 'use of' and 'storage' in the listed activities.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted comments on the revised draft Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) for the Nkangala District Municipality (NDM). The CER argues that the plan is overly ambitious given the NDM's lack of capacity and resources, fails to align with the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) AQMP, and contains significant technical errors in its air quality modelling and data.