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The document examines the governance of nuclear safety and security in Africa, highlighting the roles of the Pelindaba Treaty, the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It notes that while South Africa is currently the only operator of a nuclear power reactor on the continent, Egypt is constructing one and 16 other nations are investigating nuclear programmes. The brief identifies risks including radioactive waste management, the vulnerability of materials during transit, and the potential for human error, citing specific incidents at South Africa's Koeberg and Pelindaba facilities and Namibia's Rössing Uranium Mine. It recommends increased cooperation with the IAEA, ratification of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), and prioritising human resource training to prevent accidents.

The document outlines the role of BECCS as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) method, noting its technical potential to remove 0.5-11.3 GtCO2 annually by 2050. However, it warns that large-scale deployment could threaten food security, biodiversity, and Indigenous rights, potentially requiring land areas twice the size of Egypt by 2100 in 1.5°C pathways. The briefing emphasizes that delaying near-term emissions reductions increases reliance on BECCS, thereby escalating land-use pressures.

The Seal River Watershed is a 50,000 km2 region in Northern Manitoba that is 99.97% intact and free-flowing. The report estimates that the watershed provides at least CAD 214 million in annual EGS, primarily driven by the non-use value of species conservation. Additionally, the carbon stored in its peatlands, wetlands, and forests is valued at CAD 314.5 billion based on the social cost of carbon. The document argues that Indigenous stewardship through an Indigenous Protected Area is the most effective way to preserve these values against risks from mining, all-weather roads, and water diversion.

The report identifies southern Africa as a climate change 'hotspot' where warming in the interior is occurring at approximately twice the global average rate. It warns that global warming of 3 °C could lead to the collapse of key crops and the livestock sector. Freshwater availability is projected to decline due to reduced rainfall and increased evaporation, while the risk of multi-year droughts and intense heat waves is expected to rise. These changes threaten food security, increase human mortality in urban areas, and place thousands of unique species at risk of premature extinction. The document emphasizes that the severity of these impacts depends on global mitigation efforts, with 'low mitigation futures' posing significantly higher risks than those limiting warming to 1.5 °C or 2 °C.

The report identifies that Canada's physical infrastructure is the country's most significant climate risk zone, facing threats from extreme weather, permafrost degradation, and sea-level rise. It details specific vulnerabilities across transport, buildings, water, wastewater, maritime, and energy/ICT sectors, proposing a combination of structural modifications, improved monitoring, and nature-based solutions. The document evaluates federal initiatives like the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, while highlighting a significant infrastructure deficit, particularly for First Nations communities. It advocates for an integrated, whole-of-society approach that combines scientific data with Indigenous knowledge and diversifies financing through sustainable and risk-based investments.

The document argues for a shift toward anticipatory governance in SADC to manage 'wicked' problems like climate change and pandemics. It identifies systemic failures in the region's response to COVID-19 and cyclones, advocating for a holistic, cross-sectoral approach to disaster risk reduction (DRR) based on foresight, networked systems, and feedback loops.

The document examines how rangers can be both perpetrators and victims of corruption, driven by economic insecurity, weak governance, and social pressures. It highlights findings from the 'Life on the Frontline' survey, noting that low pay and late salary payments incentivize corrupt acts. The brief argues for a systemic approach to anti-corruption, recommending professionalization, independent oversight, and improved ranger well-being to protect biodiversity and human rights.

The report analyzes how pre-pandemic economic conditions in 60 developing nations create vulnerabilities to COVID-19-induced trade shocks. It examines five key markets—production, trade, capital, currency, and labour—to identify risks such as global value chain disruptions, 'sudden stops' in foreign investment, and currency crises. The analysis emphasizes that countries with high reliance on specific sectors like international tourism or those with significant trade deficits and foreign-denominated debt are most at risk. The author urges the diversification of global value chains over protectionism to build long-term resilience.

The Union of Concerned Scientists concludes that most non-light-water reactor (NLWR) designs do not offer sufficient improvements over light-water reactors (LWRs) to justify their increased safety and proliferation risks. The report argues that NLWRs, including sodium-cooled fast reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, and molten salt-fueled reactors, are technologically immature and unlikely to be commercialized in time to significantly impact the climate crisis. It recommends that the US Department of Energy suspend the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program until the Nuclear Regulatory Commission determines if full-scale prototype testing is required for safety validation.

The document examines the Colombian financial sector's integration of climate change into decision-making, highlighting that while some green finance initiatives exist, most private flows remain inconsistent with a low-carbon economy. It identifies significant risks of 'stranded assets' in Colombia's coal mining and power sectors, citing the cases of Prodeco and Cerrejón. The brief argues that financial institutions must move beyond symbolic commitments to tangible phase-out plans and provides examples of international banking policies that restrict coal financing to guide the Colombian sector toward a just transition.

The analysis examines the declining value of Uganda's oil reserves in the Albertine Basin, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, and the Hoima oil refinery. It finds that the value of these reserves has already decreased by over $40 billion since 2013, with further declines expected under a Paris Agreement-aligned low-carbon transition.

The report finds that the value of Uganda's upstream oil reserves has declined by 70% since 2013 due to structural changes in the global oil market, with a further $10 billion at risk in a transition aligned with the Paris Agreement. Current commercial terms are deemed insufficient for international oil companies like Total and CNOOC to reach a final investment decision, likely necessitating costly renegotiations for the Ugandan government. The authors argue that relying on oil for economic development is increasingly risky and recommend diversifying the economy, potentially through electrification, while incorporating climate transition and physical risks into public debt sustainability forecasts.

The proposal seeks USD 47.4 million to upgrade National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) from WMO Category 1 to Category 2 across five Pacific island nations. The programme focuses on strengthening observation networks, establishing ocean information services, improving community preparedness through 'last-mile' communication, and introducing Forecast-based Financing (FbF).

The report highlights the risks posed by the digital transformation of the maritime sector in Africa, noting that while most incidents have occurred elsewhere, the continent's heavy reliance on seaborne trade makes it vulnerable. It identifies a significant gap in Africa-specific research and a slow rate of ratification for the AU Malabo Convention. The author recommends that African Union member states adopt national cyber laws and that the AU integrate cyber security into the African Peace and Security Architecture and the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy.

The report analyzes a pilot energy efficiency (EE) auction in Boa Vista, Roraima, identifying risks related to auction design, measurement and verification (M&V) methodologies, and the misalignment of incentives for electricity distributors. It suggests that the unique energy situation in Roraima—which is not part of the National Interconnected System and relies on expensive diesel plants—makes it a suitable pilot site but may limit the external validity of the results for other Brazilian states. Key recommendations include moving to open second-price auctions to avoid the 'winner's curse' and considering synthetic control methodology for M&V to maximize EE potential.

The report examines a pilot energy efficiency (EE) auction in Boa Vista, Roraima, proposed by ANEEL. It identifies risks such as the 'winner's curse' due to the closed-envelope format and potential measurement and verification (M&V) errors using the difference-in-differences method. The authors argue that Roraima's unique energy situation—being isolated from the National Interconnected System (SIN) and dependent on diesel thermoelectrics and Venezuelan imports—makes it a poor test case for replicating the model nationwide. It also highlights a conflict of interest where distributors are tasked with implementing policies that reduce their own revenue.

The paper examines the 'valley of death' in industrial innovation, specifically for the HYBRIT initiative's transition to fossil-free steel. It compares two hypothetical demonstration plant scales: a 'small' option (200,000 t/annum) and a 'large' option (800,000 t/annum). The authors argue that a larger plant is preferable because it better addresses non-technical risks such as supply chain coordination, grid integration, and business model validation, despite higher capital costs and regulatory hurdles regarding permitting.

The document highlights that pesticides persist longer indoors due to a lack of sunlight and microbial action, yet Canadian regulatory assessments for indoor use do not require the same persistence or environmental fate studies as outdoor uses. It notes that pyrethrins and pyrethroids are the most common indoor pesticides and are linked to neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption. The briefing emphasizes that low-income individuals face higher exposure due to poorly maintained housing and that current regulatory models fail to account for these socio-economic factors. It concludes that reliance on pesticide labels is insufficient due to poor communication of updates and high rates of non-compliance among professional pest control operators.

The document examines how Egypt's pursuit of nuclear energy, notably the $21 billion El Dabaa project with Russia, is complicated by climate vulnerabilities and security dynamics. It highlights risks such as sea level rise threatening coastal power plants and rising temperatures affecting reactor safety. The report recommends that the United States engage in nonproliferation efforts and that international entities help Egypt implement comprehensive climate security assessments for its nuclear infrastructure.

RMI research indicates that clean energy portfolios are now cost-competitive with new natural gas power plants. Consequently, over $70 billion in planned gas-fired power plant construction and $30 billion in new interstate pipelines face significant stranded cost risks, as these assets may become uneconomic by 2035 and lead to increased gas delivery costs.