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This briefing note by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) examines the 'twin transition'—the simultaneous pursuit of digital and green transformations. It analyzes how digital technologies can both enable climate action and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on the implications for developing countries and the pathways toward a net-zero digital economy by 2050.

This guide by the World Resources Institute explains the mechanisms, current regulatory status, potential benefits, and ecological risks of deep-sea mining. It highlights the tension between the demand for critical minerals for the energy transition and the significant knowledge gaps regarding the impact on deep-ocean ecosystems and global carbon cycles.

This briefing by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the critical mineral supply chain and the United States' efforts to secure domestic sources for its clean energy transition. It details the stages of the supply chain, the U.S.'s high reliance on imports, the environmental and social impacts of mining, and the legislative and executive actions taken to promote onshoring and secondary recovery.

This research paper examines the role of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) in driving trade and industrialization in Africa. It analyzes the agency's efforts to implement structural transformation through frameworks like the AfCFTA and Agenda 2063, while highlighting the systemic tensions between continental ambitions, national sovereignty, and the influence of external donors.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a comprehensive overview of the negotiations for an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) to end plastic pollution. It details the scientific evidence of plastic's impact on human health and the environment, the history of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process, the contested elements of the proposed treaty, and the diverse interests of national governments and non-state stakeholders.

This report by RMI analyzes the global trajectory of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, noting that many markets have passed critical tipping points. It highlights that in the United States, the total cost of ownership for light-duty EVs is now lower than for gas-powered cars, while medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) electric trucks are trending toward cost parity with diesel. The document also discusses the role of battery recycling in potentially eliminating the need for additional mining by 2040.

The 'Green Transition Assessment Armenia' report by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates Armenia's readiness for a green transition and its alignment with European Union environmental policies, specifically the European Green Deal and the Eighth European Environmental Action Programme (EAP).

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) provides a financial analysis of organic waste management business models in Indonesia and Brazil. It compares decentralized models—such as community-based groups, waste picker cooperatives, and home composting—against centralized government and private sector operations. The analysis focuses on the Levelized Cost of Waste Management (LCOW), operational efficiency, and funding structures to identify pathways for scaling methane abatement in the waste sector.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), commissioned by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), provides a financial analysis of organic solid waste management (SWM) business models in Indonesia and Brazil. Through case studies in Bandung and various Brazilian municipalities, the report compares the cost-efficiency, funding structures, and viability of government-operated, private, and decentralized models (such as community groups and waste picker cooperatives). It highlights that while large-scale projects receive the vast majority of methane abatement finance, decentralized models often show greater cost efficiency and significant social co-benefits, despite facing severe financial vulnerabilities and limited access to capital.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) provides a financial analysis of solid waste management business models, focusing on organic waste and methane reduction through case studies in Indonesia and Brazil. It compares government-operated, private, and community-led decentralized models, evaluating their cost-effectiveness, funding structures, and operational viability.

The National Comprehensive Green Transition Assessment Report for Moldova evaluates the country's readiness to align with the European Green Deal (EGD). While Moldova has established strong legislative frameworks and ambitious climate targets, it faces significant gaps in implementation, governance, and financial mobilization. The report identifies a heavy reliance on international donor funding and highlights critical needs in energy decarbonization, building renovation, waste management, and biodiversity conservation to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

This briefing by RMI outlines a strategy for the United States to transition from a linear electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain to a circular economy. By implementing six specific strategies to maximize the utility of minerals and investing in domestic recycling and midstream manufacturing, the author argues that the need for new mined minerals can be eliminated by 2050.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that the European Union's 2014 Public Procurement Directives have failed to mainstream green public procurement (GPP) due to their voluntary nature, legal fragmentation, and lack of certainty. With the European Commission evaluating the Directives in late 2024, the authors advocate for a shift toward mandatory GPP, better monitoring systems, and the alignment of 'buy European' initiatives with environmental requirements to drive the EU's green transition and enhance global competitiveness.

This policy brief examines the intersection of green industrialisation, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence (AI) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that current education and training systems face critical gaps in access, relevance, and applicability, necessitating a shift toward 'skills foresight' and 'anticipatory governance' to prepare the region's workforce for sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready economies.

This report describes a 'waste clinic' conducted by RMI's Waste Methane Initiative (WMI) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for municipal officials in Uttar Pradesh, India. The clinic used peer-to-peer exchange and expert guidance to diagnose solid waste management (SWM) challenges and develop actionable work plans across four priority areas: data collection, source segregation, organic waste treatment, and disposal.

A statement by World Resources Institute's Stientje van Veldhoven evaluating the European Commission's Clean Industrial Deal, noting its correct priorities in decarbonization and financing while criticizing gaps in resource efficiency, CBAM stability, and concrete resource targets.

This report outlines strategies for India to secure a reliable supply of critical energy transition materials (CETMs) to support its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

This case study describes how Orange County Waste & Recycling (OCWR) is reducing methane emissions through a dual strategy of organic waste diversion via composting and the implementation of a 'Smart Landfill Program' (SLP) utilizing automation, drones, and robotic sensors.

This report by the World Resources Institute examines the critical role of recycled copper, particularly from end-of-life products, in meeting the surging demand driven by the clean energy transition. It highlights that while copper is indispensable for renewable energy and electric vehicles, mining faces significant constraints, making the scaling of circular supply chains essential for sustainability and supply security.

This white paper by the Green Economy Coalition argues that transitioning to a circular economy (CE)—characterized by recycling, reusing, and refurbishing—is essential for achieving a green, just, and inclusive transition and meeting global climate and social targets.