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The report proposes 'Natural Capitalism' as an alternative to the traditional border economy based on cheap labor and lax environmental controls. It outlines four shifts for businesses: increasing resource productivity, adopting biologically inspired closed-loop production, moving to a solutions-based service model, and reinvesting in natural capital. The document emphasizes that global supply chain pressures and consumer perceptions are forcing suppliers, including maquiladoras, to improve environmental performance to remain competitive. It further extends these principles to community development, distinguishing between 'expansion' (physical growth) and 'development' (betterment), and suggests strategies like import substitution, vendor matching, and waste-matching to increase local wealth without increasing environmental throughput.

The text explores the application of 'lean thinking'—the systematic elimination of 'muda' (waste)—to business operations and the broader economy. It advocates for 'service and flow,' where companies provide the function of a product as a service rather than selling the physical object. This shift is presented as a way to align the interests of providers and customers toward resource productivity, reduce the volatility of the business cycle, and minimize environmental impact through dematerialization and closed-loop systems.

The "Scaling sustainable and inclusive Solar Home Systems" project in Uganda, funded by Team Europe and ENGIE Energy Access, aims to electrify 1,248,000 people. As of November 2024, 203,387 households have been connected, with 67,450 systems sold to women-led houses, impacting over 900,000 people and avoiding 40,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The project utilizes a Result-Based Financing agreement via the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa to reduce customer costs and employs a network of service centres for sales, support, and the recycling of end-of-life components in Kampala.

The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) has introduced Circularity Guidelines to address the growing volume of end-of-life batteries resulting from the expansion of distributed renewable energy (DRE) systems in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries. The guidelines aim to prevent the public health and environmental risks associated with substandard recycling practices, particularly for lead-acid batteries, by providing a framework for quality procurement, maintenance, take-back schemes, and certified recycling. The document calls on stakeholders—including developers, manufacturers, and investors—to endorse these standards and implement them within two years.

This policy brief examines the impact of Chinese investments in Tanzania's plastic recycling industry and the subsequent effects of China's 2018 import ban on waste materials. It highlights how Chinese firms have facilitated technology transfer and local business growth, while also noting significant environmental and health risks and a potential decline in local waste sourcing due to the import of cleaner waste from Europe and the US.

The 'Air Aware' youth statement highlights the severe impact of air pollution on young people in Johannesburg, particularly in low-income areas like Alexandra, Soweto, and Diepsloot. It identifies waste burning, household fuel use, transport emissions, and industrial pollution as primary sources of contamination that lead to respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular strain. The document demands a transition toward health-centered air quality management, reliable waste collection to end illegal burning, clean mobility infrastructure, and the formal inclusion of youth in environmental governance to achieve a 'Vision 2030' of cleaner skies and green jobs.

The document evaluates Nigeria's macroeconomic recovery strategies following the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing their compatibility with the nation's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. While the National Development Plan (NDP) and Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) include green initiatives—such as solar electrification and climate-smart agriculture—the author notes a lack of clear implementation tracking and a persistent reliance on oil-led growth. The brief recommends removing fossil fuel subsidies, expanding blended finance, and prioritizing gender-responsive climate-smart agriculture to ensure a sustainable green recovery.

The report details a research project in East and Southern Africa aimed at shifting the role of youth from passive recipients of policy to active architects of 'systemic justice'. Through a hybrid approach of participatory futures and action research, the project engaged youth innovators and changemakers to develop 'anticipatory praxis'—a method of combining strategic foresight with intentional action. The findings emphasize that systemic justice requires reimagining deep-rooted economic, ecological, and social structures, moving beyond simple job creation toward regenerative economies and inclusive governance. The report identifies key 'leverage points' for change, such as shifting cultural narratives and embracing iterative learning, and provides recommendations for funders, policymakers, and civil society to institutionalize youth co-governance and support futures literacy.

Trinitan Green Energy Metals (TGEM) utilizes patented Step Temperature Acid Leach (STAL) technology to refine high-purity Class I nickel from laterite ores in Indonesia. Unlike High-Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL), STAL operates at atmospheric pressure and is designed for small to medium-scale mines, offering a lower carbon and water footprint. TGEM is developing two closed-loop ecosystems—STAL One Ecopark in Bogor and IGNITE in Southwest Papua—to integrate waste management and resource sharing, aiming for net-zero emissions and compliance with international sustainability regulations, such as those in the European Union.

The document outlines strategies to combat food waste in Estonian schools, noting that food loss accounts for 74% of school food waste. It provides tailored guidance for catering staff (e.g., using the Fi-Fo method), teachers (integrating waste themes into curricula), students (taking only what they can eat), and school administrations (optimizing procurement and lunch schedules). It also shares international best practices from Scotland, Poland, and the USA.

The document advocates for replacing the 'linear economy'—characterized by resource extraction and waste—with a 'circular economy' that emphasizes recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing. It outlines the environmental and economic benefits of circularity, including significant potential cost savings in manufacturing and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The briefing also highlights corporate examples from Philips, H&M, and Trina Solar, and details several Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) projects focused on circular procurement, plastic waste management, and sustainable production-consumption systems.

This market study, conducted in December 2020 by a consultant for the Unité de Coordination de la Gestion des déchets solides (UCG) under the Senegalese Ministry of Urbanism, Housing and Public Hygiene, analyzes the potential for organic waste valorization through composting in the Dakar and Thiès regions. The report identifies a significant market potential of approximately 426,503 agricultural producers, particularly in the Niayes zone, but notes that the sector is hindered by a total lack of local regulation, high production costs, and a strong preference for subsidized mineral fertilizers. It proposes a strategic action plan focusing on institutional regulation, financial incentives, and technical capacity building to transition from a linear to a circular economy.

The European Green Office (EGO) Handbook serves as a guide for transforming offices into sustainable spaces through a 'light' Environmental Management System (EMS). It outlines a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle involving top-level commitment, the appointment of a Green Office coordinator, and the monitoring of environmental performance indicators. The document provides detailed technical and behavioral advice across several domains: energy efficiency (lighting and HVAC), sustainable procurement (prioritizing local and Fairtrade products), resource reduction (minimizing paper and water use), waste management (following the waste hierarchy), and the creation of a healthy indoor environment. It also addresses social responsibility, including work-life balance and inclusive employment, and provides a detailed checklist and data requirements for an Office Ecological Footprint Calculator.

The WICER project addresses Iraq's water security challenges caused by climate change, conflict, and environmental degradation. It employs three workstreams: resilient water management in the Al-Udhym basin, market-based urban circularity for sanitation and resource recovery, and the exploration of rural circularity through nature-based solutions. The project aims to build local capacity and develop viable business models and policies to ensure long-term water resilience.

Thailand is promoting a bioeconomy to escape the middle-income trap and reduce social inequality, focusing heavily on the industrial processing of sugarcane and cassava into high-value products and biofuels. While integrated into national strategies like Thailand 4.0 and the 20-year National Strategy, the transition faces significant hurdles, including land and water scarcity, low wages for sugarcane workers, and environmental pollution from field burning.

The document provides a comprehensive multilingual glossary of terms essential for those working or studying in the fields of sustainable development, environmental policy, and human development. It covers a wide array of topics including renewable energy, ecological economics, climate change, and social indicators, aiming to standardize the understanding of these concepts within the context of Agenda 21 and sustainable development in Estonia.

Nigeria's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) establishes a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2060. The strategy analyzes four decarbonization scenarios—Business As Usual (BAU), Current Policy Scenario (CPS), Gas Economy Scenario (GES), and Renewable Energy Scenario (RES)—concluding that the RES, supported by international aid (RES+), offers the most promising balance of low emissions and economic growth. The report details sectoral mitigation measures for power, AFOLU, industry, transport, and waste, alongside a comprehensive adaptation framework to protect the economy, particularly the agriculture sector, from climate-induced GDP losses. Implementation relies on policy, financial, and technological innovations, including carbon pricing and the establishment of a National Climate Change Fund.

Uruguay's Long-Term Climate Strategy (ECLP) establishes a roadmap toward CO2 neutrality by 2050 and stability in CH4 and N2O emissions. The strategy prioritizes climate adaptation and resilience due to the country's high vulnerability, particularly in its agro-industrial and coastal sectors. Key mitigation pathways include a second energy transformation focusing on electromobility and green hydrogen, the gradual substitution of clinker in cement production, and increasing carbon sequestration through native and commercial forestry. The document also emphasizes a 'Just Transition' to manage employment shifts in the energy and waste sectors, while aligning national efforts with the Paris Agreement's Global Goal on Adaptation.

The briefing highlights Kenya and East Africa as dynamic markets for the bioeconomy, specifically for Swedish and Nordic companies. It introduces the "Advancing Bioeconomy Development in Kenya (ABDK)" project, led by the Stockholm Environment Institute with Sida and Business Sweden, which focuses on mapping actors, developing roadmaps for bio-based clusters, and facilitating business development. While the region offers potential in bioenergy, agricultural value chains, and bio-waste processing, Swedish firms face challenges including fragmented industrial ecosystems, complex licensing processes, and the need for local cultural and business context to build trust.

The Strategic Collaborative Fund Phase 2 (SCF2), implemented by SEI Asia and funded by Sida, operated from 2018 to 2023 to advance the 2030 Agenda in Asia. The programme focused on four components: inter-regional cooperation (ASEAN, China, and Europe), regional cooperation in Asia on transboundary issues, learning and capacity development via MOOCs, and programme management. Key achievements include the support of the China-ASEAN Environment Cooperation Forum and the Asia-Europe Environment Forum, the development of courses on human rights and gender equality, and the promotion of inclusive climate finance and nature-based solutions in South and Southeast Asian cities.