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The document analyzes the factors driving the high demand for BRICS membership, introducing the concept of 'magnetic pull'—where ideas about development and systemic reform act as coalition magnets. It traces the group's expansion from South Africa's entry in 2010 to the 2023 enlargement (adding Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE) and the 2024 introduction of a 'Partner Country' category. While the group's appeal is rooted in South-South cooperation and de-dollarization, the author notes challenges to internal cohesion and the limits of its attraction, as seen in Argentina's rejection of membership.

The report uses a GTAP-E model to find that a USD 100/t carbon levy would generally reduce GDP and household incomes across Africa, increase global food prices, and reduce the supply of maritime services. It highlights that African importers already face disproportionately high freight rates, which a carbon tax would exacerbate. The authors recommend that the IMO implement a redistribution mechanism based on climate vulnerability and historical emissions, providing direct grants for out-of-sector projects like green hydrogen and resilient agriculture.

The document examines the disproportionate impact of climate change on African youth and their subsequent rise in activism. It highlights the gap between youth demographics and political leadership in Africa, the specific climate vulnerabilities in countries like Nigeria and Sudan, and the systemic barriers activists face, including financial constraints and state repression. The author calls for the establishment of youth councils, dedicated funding, and protection mechanisms to ensure young people can shape climate-resilient policies.

The report analyses the 'memory wars' in Ethiopia, where political elites use 'invented traditions' and memorialisation to advance competing ideological agendas. It identifies three primary approaches to collective memory: the rejectionist approach, which seeks to deconstruct the 'great tradition' of the Ethiopian state; the revivalist approach, which seeks to restore it; and the moderationist approach, which attempts a selective balance. These approaches operate across four layers of tradition: the pre-1991 great tradition, the post-1991 federal vernacular tradition, regional traditions, and local-level traditions. The author argues that the contradictions between these approaches and the lack of a negotiated, shared collective memory have reinforced political instability and armed conflict.

The research examines barriers to sustainability in forest-risk commodity supply chains, finding that while civil society pressure and certification drive action, systemic collaboration and practical, usable metrics for impact assessment remain significant gaps.

The research examines the tension between the political utility of simple anti-fossil fuel norms and the risk of overlooking equity issues, particularly for the Global South. Based on 14 expert interviews, the authors argue that norms for phasing out fossil fuels must be paired with norms that address the development and energy needs of low-income countries and provide necessary international support to avoid unintended inequitable consequences.

The report examines the failure of COVID-19 lockdown measures in Ghana's urban poor communities, specifically in Accra and Kumasi. It finds that 'by-day-earners' in the informal sector could not comply with stay-at-home orders due to a lack of savings and inadequate government food distribution. Furthermore, the study highlights that social distancing was stifled because the urban poor rely on dense informal networks for food, shelter, financial support, and emotional wellbeing. The author argues that existing poverty reduction strategies, such as MASLOC and LEAP, fail to reach the most vulnerable 'bottom' of the informal economy and recommends that future policies strengthen social ties and improve market infrastructure.

The paper examines why climate service producers in Sweden struggle to provide actionable information for climate adaptation, shifting the focus from producer incompetence to the systemic constraints they face. Based on interviews and participant observation, the authors identify funding, institutional, and professional barriers, while noting that even when actionable information is delivered, other external factors may still prevent its translation into practical action.

The dissertation examines the friction between the sedentary, national design of the Norwegian welfare state and the increasing prevalence of transnational living. Through interviews with 39 bureaucrats, the author finds that while transnationalism is viewed as a 'new norm' and approached with general inclusivity, there is significant institutional uncertainty and a lack of a coherent national policy. The study highlights how bureaucrats use a mix of formal and informal categories to manage complexity and how the system adapts through a combination of individual bureaucratic entrepreneurship and top-down restructuring that seeks to mainstream transnational work into national structures.

The report evaluates ten climate solutions across five European countries, finding a total abatement potential of 149 Mt CO2eq by 2030, representing 13% of the region's projected emissions. Energy efficiency in buildings and industry are identified as the most cost-effective solutions, offering net savings, while onshore wind and solar power provide significant potential, particularly in the Baltic states. The study highlights that while Poland and Ukraine offer the highest absolute abatement, the relative impact is greater in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Key barriers include policies favoring fossil fuels and market uncertainty, while enablers include EU regulations and declining renewable technology costs.

The report examines why developing countries and LDCs often avoid plurilateral trade agreements (PTAs), specifically the TiSA, GPA, EGA, and ITA-II. While quantitative modelling shows small positive aggregate gains in GDP, investment, and welfare for participants, qualitative findings reveal that these are often outweighed by a desire to maintain policy space, a lack of technical capacity, and distrust of agendas set by developed nations. The report argues that the stagnation of the WTO Doha Development Round (DDR), particularly regarding agriculture and non-agricultural market access, further discourages participation.

The statement highlights the systemic challenges faced by women and transgender environmental activists, including the intersection of patriarchy, capitalism, and environmental destruction. Activists from various regions report that gender-based oppressions—such as the sexual division of work, lack of funding for women-led campaigns, and state persecution—hinder environmental activism. Conversely, the document emphasizes the growing international solidarity among women and queer activists who are integrating food sovereignty and anti-fossil fuel efforts with the dismantling of patriarchal systems.

The document provides guidance on communicating extreme weather event attribution to different stakeholder groups in Kenya and India, focusing on phrasing for probability, frequency, intensity, and uncertainty, as well as the use of visual aids.

The report finds that development finance for energy access is poorly targeted and inefficiently disbursed, with a significant gap between financial commitments and actual on-the-ground implementation, particularly in high-impact countries.

The document presents findings from a study of scientists at the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) and the Basic and Excellence Research Centres (BERC) network. It finds that scientists primarily view science communication as a social responsibility and duty, with a strong preference for face-to-face interactions. The study highlights that scientists believe the success of communication depends on the benefit to the audience and is largely within the speaker's control through adaptability and preparation. The authors suggest that these scientists already embody many of the goals of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), though they note that real-world constraints like time and resources may impact these ideals.

The research examines the role of transformative learning in engaging 24 Swedish forestry stakeholders with climate change adaptation. It identifies that social barriers, such as perceptions of scientific uncertainty, can impede the formation of opinions on adaptation. The study concludes that engagement improves when scientific knowledge is aligned with stakeholders' specific needs, aspirations, and personal experiences with extreme weather.

A 2013 pilot project in Uganda used 'Climate Dialogue Theatres' to examine how climate hazards affect different actors in the coffee value chain. The study found that farmers and processors are more vulnerable than traders and exporters, and that a lack of trust and communication hinders adaptation. It recommends strengthening actor networks, developing flexible financial products, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure.

The document outlines the mechanics of consensus-building within the UNFCCC, emphasizing the human element of negotiations. It provides guidance for negotiators on knowing their national 'red lines', mastering technical substance, and building trust through transparency. It also highlights the challenges faced by new negotiators, such as complex schedules and technical jargon, and suggests capacity-building measures like mentoring and the use of external policy briefs to facilitate smoother international cooperation.

The author proposes a cognitive approach to analyze the persistent failure of global climate governance, arguing that human behavior in negotiations is driven by underlying mental representations. The paper introduces cognitive-affective mapping (CAM) as a qualitative tool to visualize these belief systems, including their emotional valences. By applying CAM to UNFCCC participants, the research aims to identify cognitive barriers to cooperation and explore how these mental structures differ between individuals and groups, potentially offering new pathways for diplomatic breakthroughs.

The research examines the intersection of water scarcity, climate change, and socioeconomic barriers in rural semiarid South Africa, finding that decreasing agro-ecosystem productivity and low household and institutional capacity hinder effective adaptation.