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The text introduces a guide for cultural workers in Norway, distinguishing between two approaches to the climate crisis: the 'road to the left,' which focuses on the industry's own carbon footprint and sustainability certifications, and the 'road to the right,' which focuses on systemic change and climate justice. The author argues that the cultural sector must address the role of the oil industry in the climate crisis and provide platforms for those most affected by climate change to achieve a sustainable transition.

The report concludes that while the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) remains the primary driver for industrial decarbonisation, current carbon prices alone are insufficient to trigger the massive investments required for deep decarbonisation in the steel and cement sectors. It argues that demand-side measures—specifically Green Public Procurement (GPP) and sustainable product regulations—can provide the necessary market signals to build technological capacity and avoid carbon lock-in. The study highlights that government-driven initiatives have significantly more potential than voluntary industry pledges, though the latter can serve as a short-term bridge. Key recommendations include harmonising low-carbon product definitions across EU Member States and exploring Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs) to bridge the 'green premium' cost gap.

The report assesses the alignment between the Colombian and EU taxonomies, finding a high degree of similarity in technical screening criteria for climate change mitigation, particularly in the energy and manufacturing sectors. While both frameworks share guiding principles and a focus on decarbonisation, the EU Taxonomy is generally more detailed regarding climate change adaptation and minimum safeguards. The Colombian Green Taxonomy offers more specific criteria for land-use sectors (AFOLU) and certain waste management activities, reflecting its regional context. Currently, the EU Taxonomy mandates disclosure for large companies and financial participants, whereas the Colombian framework remains primarily voluntary.

The cement industry accounts for approximately 7% of global CO2 emissions and faces significant barriers to decarbonisation due to high capital intensity and the nature of process emissions. The report argues that achieving net-zero by 2050 requires a combination of technological shifts—such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), alternative binders, and fuel substitution—and robust policy support. Key policy recommendations include the implementation of carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs), green public procurement, and carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs) to prevent carbon leakage. Financial investment needs are estimated to reach USD 70 billion annually between 2030 and 2040, which the report suggests could be unlocked through the sustainable debt market and science-based certification standards.

The Impact Financing Facility for Climate-Focused Social Enterprises is a first-loss default guarantee (FLDG) mechanism designed to bridge the USD 250 billion credit gap for MSMEs in India. Led by Villgro, the facility targets climate-focused social enterprises and their end-users who lack formal credit histories, providing them with collateral-free commercial debt twinned with technical assistance. A pilot conducted between 2021-23 with six enterprises demonstrated the instrument's viability with no defaults. The facility focuses on sectors including green energy, sustainable mobility, and waste management, with a specific emphasis on gender and circularity. It aims to graduate beneficiaries to independent commercial lending while achieving environmental targets, such as a 50,000 tCO2e reduction in emissions by 2028.

The document defines mass timber as a class of engineered wood materials, such as cross-laminated timber, capable of supporting large structures. It highlights benefits including carbon storage, a potential 13% to 26.5% reduction in building material emissions, and wildfire risk mitigation through the removal of small-diameter trees. The text also details U.S. federal support via the USDA Wood Innovations Program and the 2018 Farm Bill, while addressing concerns regarding fire safety and moisture management.

The document argues that existing governance structures are insufficient to manage the disruptive trade-offs of the green transition. It proposes 'eco-social contracts'—frameworks for action that integrate social and ecological guarantees—to rebuild trust between citizens and states. The report examines policy tools such as Green Deals, degrowth, and circular economy models, while advocating for deliberative democratic mechanisms like citizens' assemblies and participatory budgeting to create a legitimate mandate for systemic change.

The report analyzes the critical minerals ecosystem in the SADC region, emphasizing the need to move beyond 'used futures'—historical patterns of colonial extraction and corruption—toward a sustainable transition. It identifies key driving forces across social, technological, economic, environmental, political, and values (STEEP-V) dimensions, such as the risk of 'resource curse' and geopolitical competition between China, the US, and the EU. Through stakeholder workshops, the authors develop four potential scenarios for 2035, ranging from 'Dawn of Empowered Transformation' to 'Shadows of Exploitation'. The document advocates for anticipatory governance, regional collaboration, and a shift toward circular economy principles to ensure that the green energy transition benefits local communities and the environment rather than perpetuating historical inequalities.

The report critiques the current linear economy and the limitations of the conventional circular economy, proposing instead a 'resource-balanced economy' (RBE) for the SADC region. It argues that the green transition's demand for critical minerals is underestimated and faces thermodynamic and material constraints. To avoid 'financial capture' and poverty traps, the authors advocate for 'anticipatory governance'—a proactive, systems-based approach to policymaking—alongside bioregionalism, re-localisation, and the renegotiation of resource trade agreements to ensure equitable and sustainable development.

The report argues that the SADC region must move beyond 'business-as-usual' mining models to avoid repeating past failures of fragile growth and inequality. It proposes a transition toward a 'resource-balanced economy' (RBE) and a 'cooperative economy' through five strategic priorities: investing in advanced geological surveying, building mineral stewardship competencies, developing regional value chains, embedding anticipatory governance, and strengthening regulatory transparency. The authors advocate for systemic innovations, including the use of digital currencies to formalise artisanal mining, the creation of a regional metal exchange, and a shift away from US dollar reliance in trade to reduce exogenous shocks.

The document categorizes plastics-related instruments into government legislation, voluntary multistakeholder standards, and non-governmental initiatives. It identifies significant gaps in standards for upstream production and reuse systems, while noting a concentration of existing efforts in waste management. The authors argue for enhanced international cooperation to reduce regulatory fragmentation and improve inclusivity for developing countries, suggesting that a future global plastics treaty could drive the development of harmonized design and transparency standards.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN), and Breast Cancer Action Quebec (BCAQ) advocate for mandatory, transparent pollution prevention plans for large grocery chains to reduce single-use plastic food packaging. They argue that reuse systems are the most effective waste reduction method and demand that any new packaging be free of toxic chemicals like PFAS and phthalates. The organizations emphasize that plastic production is a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions and that plastic-related health harms disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The submission argues that the draft SAREM over-relies on private investment and fails to sufficiently address the impact of the global supply chain crisis on renewable energy costs. It advocates for a state-led industrial policy, including the use of import tariffs and the central role of Eskom in renewable generation, to avoid 'boom-bust' cycles and ensure a just transition for workers. Key recommendations include establishing a 'decent work' framework, implementing aggressive local content requirements (suggesting 50% for future RFPs), and creating a technology transfer system to support local manufacturing.

The document advocates for 'anticipatory governance' in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to manage the surge in demand for critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, and graphite. It proposes moving away from extractive-centered development toward a 'Resource Balanced Economy' (RBE) that accounts for energy constraints and resource flow. Key recommendations include creating a new social contract for mining, innovating financial systems to reduce risk ratings and illicit flows, and adopting 'bioregionalism' to develop regional value chains and reduce dependence on external manufacturing centers.

An investigation using airtag trackers on 21 items of good-quality clothing submitted to ten fashion brands in the UK, France, Belgium, and Germany found that these take-back schemes often fail to prioritize reuse. Findings show items in excellent condition were downcycled, destroyed, or shipped to African markets where they often become waste, while others remained stagnant in warehouses. The report argues these schemes provide a false sense of environmental responsibility and often encourage further consumption through discounts, calling for stronger EU legislation and extended producer responsibility.

The author contends that Africa can leverage the transition to a circular garment industry to drive economic growth and industrial upgrading. Key opportunities include producing sustainable cotton and alternative fibres, greening manufacturing processes to gain a competitive advantage, and repurposing the high volume of second-hand clothing imports into new products and recycled yarns. The author emphasizes that without a proactive industrial policy or circular economy roadmap, African nations risk missing these opportunities and failing to meet Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 12, particularly as the European Union introduces stricter eco-design regulations.

Earthjustice is calling for a moratorium on deep seabed mining, arguing that the ecological impacts of untested mining technologies on deep-sea ecosystems and the climate are unknown. The organization highlights the risk to Indigenous Pacific Islander communities and supports U.S. legislation, including the International Seabed Protection Act, to prevent mining in American and international waters. Earthjustice advocates for a circular economy based on reducing, reusing, and recycling minerals as a sustainable alternative to deep-sea extraction to meet the demand for clean energy technologies.

The investigation tracked 21 items of clothing submitted to ten fashion brands across the UK, France, Belgium, and Germany using airtag trackers. The findings reveal a significant gap between brand promises of reuse and recycling and the actual outcomes: 60% of items were either destroyed, downcycled, or remained stuck in warehouses, while others were shipped to African markets where they often become waste. Only five items were successfully resold within Europe. The report argues that these schemes often encourage further consumption through discount vouchers and lack transparency and traceability, effectively shifting the waste burden to the Global South.

The report reveals a significant gap between the sustainability claims of fast fashion brands and the reality of their take-back schemes. By tracking 21 high-quality items across Europe, the investigation found that many items were downcycled, destroyed, or shipped to African countries where they often end up in landfills, rather than being reused or recycled into new clothing.

The report tracks 21 high-quality clothing items deposited in take-back bins of ten major fashion brands across the UK, France, Belgium, and Germany using Airtag trackers. The findings reveal a significant gap between corporate claims of 'closing the loop' and reality: many items in excellent condition were downcycled, incinerated, or exported to African markets where they often end up in landfills. The study highlights a failure in sorting processes and argues that these schemes often encourage further consumption through discount vouchers while providing consumers with a false sense of environmental responsibility. The authors call for stronger Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation in the EU to regulate waste exports and mandate reductions in overproduction.