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The report critiques neoliberal economics for causing inequality, environmental degradation, and the erosion of democracy. It proposes a transition toward sustainable economies by redefining economic goals to prioritise human needs and planetary limits over profit, advocating for the decentralisation of economic decision-making, the cancellation of ecological debt, and the regulation of corporate power. The authors call for a redesign of global financial and trade institutions, suggesting they be integrated into the United Nations and subordinated to multilateral environmental and human rights treaties.

Friends of the Earth International argues that the COVID-19 pandemic shares root causes with climate and biodiversity crises, stemming from a capitalist and neoliberal system. The organization proposes a recovery based on four principles: abandoning neoliberalism and austerity in favor of state-guaranteed rights; enhancing multilateral cooperation and international solidarity, including Global South debt cancellation; strengthening democracy and human rights; and pursuing a transformative system change that shifts from industrial agriculture and fossil fuel dependency toward food sovereignty and community-owned renewable energy.

The document argues for a rights-based approach to conservation, contrasting the effectiveness of governance by Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) with the harms of 'fortress conservation'. It advocates for the recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs) and sets specific criteria for the quality, connectivity, and governance of protected areas to be counted toward global biodiversity targets.

The report analyzes the escalating extraction and consumption of natural resources, highlighting a stark divide between wealthy and poor regions. It argues that while resource efficiency has improved, absolute consumption continues to rise due to economic growth, a phenomenon termed the 'rebound effect'. The document emphasizes the environmental degradation and social injustices resulting from resource extraction in the Global South, and calls for a transition toward development models based on well-being rather than constant material growth.

The report examines the EIB's operations in the Global South, specifically in Zambia, Chad, Cameroon, Laos, Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil. It contends that the EIB functions as a demand-driven institution that finances high-yield projects for European firms rather than prioritizing social or environmental goals. Key criticisms include a lack of transparency, failure to adhere to EU environmental and social standards, and the promotion of harmful projects such as large dams and extractive industries. The document concludes with recommendations for a fundamental review of the EIB's project selection, accountability, and monitoring processes.

The report argues that excessive financial speculation in agricultural commodity derivatives and the financing of land grabs by European banks, pension funds, and insurance companies contribute to food price volatility and human rights abuses. It identifies key institutions such as Deutsche Bank, Barclays, and BNP Paribas as significant actors in these markets and recommends strict EU regulations, including position limits and bans on index funds for agricultural commodities, to protect the right to food.

The report argues that ArcelorMittal's operations in Liberia have failed to deliver promised development benefits due to systemic corruption and mismanagement of the County Social Development Fund (CSDF). It highlights how funds intended for affected communities were diverted to political projects in Gbarnga and criticises the company for complicity in this mismanagement. The document also details environmental risks to the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve and reports poor labour conditions and health services. Finally, it concludes that ArcelorMittal violated OECD guidelines by donating 100 pick-up trucks that were used by legislators rather than for agricultural purposes.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a global infrastructure and economic cooperation framework led by China, focusing on energy and transport connectivity across Asia, Europe, and Africa. While marketed as a 'win-win' development strategy, the document argues it often serves Chinese domestic interests, such as exporting industrial overcapacity and asserting geopolitical influence. The briefing highlights significant environmental risks, particularly the funding of coal-fired power plants and large hydropower projects, and a lack of transparent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) safeguards. It identifies a 'debt trap' risk for recipient countries and calls for a shift toward a 'Green BRI' aligned with international sustainability standards.

The document analyzes the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a strategic tool for China to export industrial overcapacity and expand global influence. It highlights a systemic lack of transparency, the dominance of state-owned enterprises, and significant environmental risks, particularly through the financing of coal and hydropower projects. While China promotes a 'Green BRI' and 'ecological civilization,' the report argues that actual implementation often lacks rigorous safeguards, leading to 'debt traps' and biodiversity loss. It calls for international civil society to push for binding treaties on multinationals and the adoption of higher environmental and social standards.

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) provides a detailed critique and set of proposals to amend the first draft of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. FoEI argues for more ambitious targets, such as increasing the goal for ecosystem area gain from 15% to 20% and reducing invasive species introduction by 90% instead of 50%. The organization emphasizes the need to halt biodiversity loss entirely rather than just slowing its rate, and advocates for the explicit inclusion of human rights, the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs), and the phasing out of highly hazardous pesticides. FoEI also proposes a new 'Goal E' focused on a comprehensive implementation mechanism and suggests that financial resources for biodiversity should be significantly increased, citing a need to address 4-6 trillion USD in harmful incentives.

The report critiques neoliberalism for causing environmental destruction and inequality, advocating for a transition to a sustainable economy. It proposes five key pillars: expanding public services through tax justice, scaling up cooperatives and solidarity economies, supporting local markets and fair trade, adopting wellbeing-based economic indicators instead of GDP, and establishing binding international regulations to curb the power of transnational corporations.

The document critiques neoliberalism for causing ecological destruction and deep inequalities, proposing a shift toward an economy that prioritizes people and the planet. It outlines five strategic pillars for transformation: ensuring universal public services through tax justice, expanding cooperatives and the social and solidarity economy, supporting local agroecological markets and fair trade, replacing GDP with wellbeing indicators (such as 'Buen vivir' or 'doughnut economics'), and establishing a binding UN treaty to hold multinational corporations accountable for human rights and environmental abuses.

The report criticizes the EU's reliance on agrofuels to meet renewable energy targets in transport, asserting that these fuels often cause more environmental damage than fossil fuels. It highlights the role of Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC) in increasing greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss, while also noting the negative impact of biofuel production on global food prices and water consumption. The document calls for a shift toward a transport strategy based on energy efficiency and renewable electricity, and the implementation of stricter sustainability criteria that account for ILUC.

The world is off track to meet its 2030 forest goals, with global deforestation increasing by 4% in 2022. While some non-tropical regions met their targets, all tropical regions missed theirs, with Tropical Latin America and the Caribbean being the farthest off track. Primary tropical forest loss and emissions from deforestation also increased, while biodiversity continues to decline at an alarming rate. Forest restoration efforts remain fragmented and lack transparency, and forest degradation continues to pose a significant threat globally.

The report argues that inequality and sustainability are deeply interlinked, with the wealthiest individuals contributing most to environmental degradation while the poorest bear the brunt of its impacts. Through case studies in the UK, India, and Kenya, and analysis of the energy, transport, waste, and food sectors, it identifies recurring patterns of 'double injustice' where marginalised groups are most vulnerable to climate change and pollution. The document highlights 'win-win' examples—such as distributed solar power in Bangladesh, Bus Rapid Transit in Bogotá, and insect farming in Thailand—to show that sustainable development can be designed to reduce inequality.

The report examines the relationship between natural capital and human prosperity, arguing that current economic systems fail to accurately measure, value, and manage nature. It highlights that while human wealth has increased, renewable natural capital is being depleted due to a lack of appropriate price signals and a flawed assumption that nature is easily substitutable by man-made capital. The authors propose integrating natural capital into comprehensive national wealth accounts and using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for protecting critical natural capital. Key recommendations include establishing Natural Capital Committees, using non-market valuation techniques, and supporting R&D for technologies that reduce pressure on nature.

The policy brief by the Global Resilience Partnership advocates for a systemic shift in how capital markets account for resilience-related risks. It argues that current policy frameworks and market incentives are inadequate, leaving assets exposed to increasing global shocks. The document proposes a new definition of resilience based on five attributes: diversity, redundancy, connectivity, inclusivity and equity, and adaptive learning. It emphasizes that investing in resilience, particularly in the Global South, is a risk mitigation strategy that can provide high economic returns, with benefit-cost ratios for climate adaptation ranging from 2:1 to 10:1.

The Ukulima Bora, Mazingira Bora Initiative, led by the Chyullu Development Foundation, supports 400 beekeepers in Makueni County, Kenya. The project aims to transition farmers toward climate-resilient and regenerative agriculture by combining traditional log hives with modern technologies to increase productivity and reduce deforestation. Key activities include capacity building, advocating for wildlife park fencing to reduce human-wildlife conflict, and creating job opportunities for tertiary-educated youth to return to their communities. The initiative also works to dismantle exploitative power dynamics by connecting farmers to agricultural cooperatives to bypass middlemen and by encouraging household-level participation to improve women's agency in beekeeping.

The New Manila International Airport, a US$15 billion project by San Miguel Corporation, has led to the displacement of approximately 700 families and the destruction of climate-critical mangrove forests in Manila Bay. The report highlights a lack of transparency in public consultations, alleging that the project encroaches on a 'strict protection zone' and disrupts the East Asian-Australasian Flyway for migratory birds. It further criticizes the involvement of Dutch company Royal Boskalis and the insurance provided by Atradius DSB, arguing that these entities failed to adhere to OECD guidelines and international sustainability standards. The document calls for stronger EU corporate accountability laws and independent investigations into the project's violations.

Global Witness calls for CBD COP16 to transition the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) into actionable plans. The organization advocates for the protection and participation of land and environmental defenders, the implementation of mandatory regulations to end harmful financial flows driving deforestation, and the establishment of responsible mining standards and 'no-go zones' in biodiversity hotspots to ensure the energy transition does not undermine nature.