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The document examines the intersection of circular economy practices and international trade as a means to achieve net-zero emissions. It highlights the carbon-reduction potential of shifting from primary to secondary materials, the growth of circular business models like the sharing economy and product longevity, and the need for trade policies to remove barriers to green goods and services. The authors advocate for the use of bilateral and regional trade agreements to establish standards for circularity, noting that current international frameworks like the WTO and the Basel Convention are insufficient.

The ENHANCE project (2017-2020) focused on integrating the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) into regional policies to drive the transition to a circular economy. By collaborating across six European regions, the project identified 24 good practices and implemented 31 actions, primarily focusing on regulatory reliefs and promotional incentives. Key achievements include the reduction of financial guarantees for waste companies in Estonia, tax reductions for EMAS organizations in Catalonia, and the integration of EMAS as an award criterion in Austrian green public procurement. The project engaged 375 stakeholders and concluded that stakeholder involvement and clear financial incentives are critical for the successful implementation of environmental policy instruments.

The report assesses green public procurement (GPP) in Tallinn, finding that while 17% of procurements are registered as green, 92% of these rely solely on ISO 14001 certification and do not meet EU GPP definitions. Key barriers include a lack of time, experience, and centralized information. The report recommends establishing a strategic framework, creating a GPP competence center within the procurement sector, and developing product-group-specific model criteria to increase the quality and quantity of sustainable purchases.

The report advocates for a paradigm shift in sanitation and wastewater management, moving from a 'waste disposal' model to a 'resource recovery' model. It details how the safe recovery of water, nutrients, organic matter, and energy from human excreta and wastewater can improve public health, enhance agricultural productivity, and mitigate climate change. The text provides a comprehensive framework for sustainable systems, covering technical design, health risk management, environmental protection, institutional governance, and financial models. It emphasizes that sustainability depends on adapting technologies to local geographic, social, and economic contexts rather than applying universal solutions. The report includes diverse global case studies—ranging from potable water reuse in Namibia to biogas production in China and fuel briquettes in Kenya—to demonstrate the practical viability of these systems.

The document examines how international trade drives biodiversity loss through agricultural commodity expansion and resource extraction, while analyzing the potential for trade policies, multilateral rules, and supply chain initiatives to support nature conservation.

The document examines the potential impacts of deep seabed mining, highlighting risks to biodiversity, ocean cycles, and the global fisheries economy. It challenges the necessity of seabed mining for the energy transition, suggesting that material efficiency and recycling could reduce mineral demand by 60-90%. WWF calls for a moratorium on these activities to protect the 'Common Heritage of Humankind' and promote a circular Blue Economy.

The document advocates for the US to lead global efforts in nature conservation and climate action. Key priorities include doubling investments in biodiversity programs, reducing US emissions by 50% by 2030, and protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030. It also emphasizes pandemic prevention through the 'One Health' approach, combating illegal trade in wildlife and timber, and addressing plastic pollution through a binding international treaty.

The report finds a global increase in concern for nature loss, particularly in emerging markets, driven by digital activism and changing consumer habits. While public demand for sustainability is rising and influencing corporate behavior in sectors like fashion and cosmetics, a gap remains between public sentiment and effective government enforcement of environmental laws.

The report identifies a lack of demand for post-consumer recyclate (PCR) and poor packaging design as primary barriers to a circular plastics economy in South Africa. It highlights a fragmented value chain where brand owners and retailers hold the most influence but often prioritize cost and marketing over sustainability. The study emphasizes the need for mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations to fund infrastructure, integrate informal waste collectors, and incentivize the shift from virgin polymers to recycled content.

The report analyzes how the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated existing fragilities in South Africa's waste sector, particularly for informal waste reclaimers and small businesses. It highlights the negative impact of low oil prices on recycled plastic demand and the failure of government relief loans to reach small enterprises. The document argues for the urgent, inclusive implementation of mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations to ensure financial sustainability and the integration of informal workers into the circular economy.

The report outlines recommendations for implementing a mandatory EPR policy for plastic packaging in South Africa, focusing on the structure of Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), stakeholder roles, fee modulation, and compliance mechanisms. It advocates for a centralised PRO model, the integration of informal waste reclaimers, and the use of eco-modulated fees to incentivise sustainable packaging design. The document draws on international case studies and stakeholder engagements to suggest a transparent governance structure and a centralised data management system to track material flows and ensure target achievement.

The report highlights that while Africa currently produces and consumes a small fraction of global plastics, a 'business as usual' trajectory could lead to a 375% increase in consumption by 2060. It identifies systemic failures across the plastics life cycle—from production to secondary markets—and argues that existing policy frameworks are fragmented and overly focused on end-of-life waste management. The document advocates for a comprehensive, life-cycle approach, the integration of the informal waste sector, and the development of a new legally binding global treaty to combat plastic pollution.

The document examines the systemic failure of plastic recycling and the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution. It evaluates the potential for a new global treaty versus voluntary measures and highlights the link between plastic production and fossil fuel demand.

The report evaluates the climate and air quality impacts of residual waste treatment in the UK, comparing landfill and incineration across different scenarios. It finds that while incineration may currently appear more favorable due to energy credits, its relative performance is expected to decline by 2035 as the electricity grid decarbonises and waste composition changes. The study emphasizes that pre-treatment is essential for both technologies to align with net-zero targets and notes that incineration has a more significant negative impact on local air quality than landfill.

The document examines the challenges and opportunities for private investment in Peru's waste sector to meet NDC goals. It evaluates specific technology options for landfills in Trujillo and San Juan Bautista, develops financial investment cases, and identifies systemic barriers such as high tax delinquency and lack of regulatory capacity. To address these, the paper proposes three priority measures: integrating waste tax collection into public utility bills, creating a national methodology for calculating waste service costs, and expanding the 'Work for Taxes' (OxI) scheme to final waste disposal infrastructure.

The report finds that while some industry frontrunners and major producers have aligned with EU Best Available Techniques (BAT) for closed-loop manufacturing, a significant majority of fashion brands—particularly US and luxury labels—lack transparent policies or commitments. It argues that voluntary initiatives are insufficient to drive sector-wide change and calls for mandatory EU legislation on due diligence and environmental standards to eliminate pollution and deforestation in the viscose supply chain.

ClientEarth welcomes the 8th Environment Action Programme's goals for a climate-neutral and circular economy but argues that the proposal lacks concrete targets and explicit commitments to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. The organization highlights discrepancies between the EAP's ambitions and existing policies like the Common Agricultural Policy and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. It calls for stronger monitoring based on scientific evidence, increased resources for DG Environment, and the integration of the rule of law and access to justice to ensure effective implementation.

ClientEarth's feedback on the EU Taxonomy draft delegated regulation emphasizes the need for science-based thresholds, the exclusion of fossil gas and hazardous chemicals, and the prevention of corporate lobbying from watering down environmental standards.

The document describes plastic pollution as a global crisis driven by the longevity of fossil-fuel-based plastics and the failure of recycling. It reviews UN efforts, including the Basel Convention's 2019 amendments and the UNEP's expert group on marine litter, while debating the merits of a new global treaty versus voluntary measures. The author argues that the '3R' (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) framework has unfairly shifted responsibility to consumers and that true progress requires curbing the production of virgin plastics, which the IEA predicts will drive nearly 50% of oil demand growth by 2050.

The SADC region possesses the raw minerals necessary for lithium-ion battery production but currently exports most as raw materials, missing value-addition opportunities. While South Africa has some R&D and assembly capabilities, the region lacks battery EV manufacturing plants due to policy gaps, infrastructure deficits, and a limited local market. The paper argues for regional collaboration, alignment with the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, and a 'just transition' to create jobs and economic growth.