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This research paper from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the extent to which current literature addresses the social impacts of transitioning cities to circular economies, finding a significant lack of comprehensive evidence beyond employment and governance.

This report analyzes the environmental promises made by political parties in their election platforms for the 2021 Estonian local government council elections. It focuses on national platforms as well as specific programs for Tallinn and Tartu, comparing them to the 2017 elections and assessing their alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the European Green Capital (EGC) criteria.

This policy brief examines the international standardization landscape regarding plastic pollution, arguing that current voluntary, industry-led standards are fragmented and insufficient on their own to combat pollution without government-led priorities and complementary regulatory frameworks.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the evolution and challenges of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), specifically focusing on UN Sustainable Development Goal 12. It argues that current efforts often prioritize business-friendly innovation over the necessary systemic shifts in economic priorities and social values required to operate within planetary boundaries.

This research paper examines the international standardization landscape as it relates to plastics pollution. It analyzes the roles of major standards organizations like ISO, CEN, and ASTM International, identifies gaps in current standards across the plastics value chain, and proposes strategic re-orientations—such as variety reduction and digital materials passports—to support a circular economy and a potential global treaty on plastic pollution.

This policy brief examines the evolution of global hazardous waste regulation, from early marine pollution treaties to the Basel Convention and its Ban Amendment. It highlights the risks of 'toxic colonialism,' the challenges of managing rapidly growing e-waste streams, and the need for proactive governance to protect vulnerable populations during the energy transition.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the mineral requirements of the energy transition, focusing on the ethical, environmental, and geopolitical challenges associated with the sourcing of cobalt, nickel, and lithium for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the working conditions, health risks, and gender dynamics of informal waste pickers in Bangkok. Based on surveys of 34 workers, it highlights the critical role these individuals play in the city's circular economy and plastic waste reduction, while noting that they often operate below minimum wage and face significant social and physical vulnerabilities.

This research paper examines the 'restoration economy' in Africa, using South Africa's 'Working for Wetlands' program as a primary case study. It argues that ecological restoration can support economic recovery and resilience ('build back better') if integrated with development planning and funded by a mix of public and private sources, particularly from production sectors like mining and agriculture.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute describes a participatory process to define a subnational bioeconomy vision and roadmap for the Valle del Cauca department in Colombia. Through workshops with stakeholders from the agricultural, agro-industrial, and nature tourism sectors, the document identifies a convergence toward a 'bioresources' and 'bioecology' paradigm that balances economic growth with environmental sustainability and social inclusion.

This policy brief examines how regional trade agreements (RTAs) can be used to support the transition to a circular economy, suggesting methods for integrating circularity provisions into existing trade policy frameworks.

This fact sheet describes Integrated Agriculture-Aquaculture (IAA) systems as a circular approach to land use that enhances food security, increases income, and supports climate change adaptation and mitigation by recycling nutrients between crops, livestock, and fish ponds.

This report analyzes the generation and causes of food waste and food loss across the entire Estonian food supply chain in 2020. It estimates that approximately 167,000 tons of food waste are generated annually in Estonia, with households being the largest contributors. The study provides a detailed breakdown of waste by sector—households, catering, trade, industry, and primary production—and offers strategic recommendations for reduction and better national accounting.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the governance challenges associated with the over-exploitation of natural resources. It argues that current resource use is unsustainable and unevenly distributed, calling for transformative change through inclusive decision-making, the protection of human rights for marginalized groups, and a shift toward circular economies.

This policy brief examines how the European Green Deal can foster cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) across six priority areas: energy transitions, circular economy, trade, agricultural adaptation, climate diplomacy, and financial instruments. It emphasizes the need to align EU ambitions with African priorities, such as poverty reduction and climate adaptation, while avoiding the creation of new trade barriers for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Sitra explores how Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) can be used to facilitate the global transition to a circular economy (CE). It identifies specific policy levers—including tariff liberalization, services market access, technical standards, investment protections, subsidy reforms, and public procurement—that can be integrated into trade agreements to promote resource efficiency and discourage linear 'take-make-waste' economic models.

This policy brief examines the governance challenges associated with the sustainable use of natural resources, highlighting the gap between the principles established in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration and current global trends of over-exploitation and inequitable distribution.

This report documents a validation workshop held on 24 February 2021 by the South African Institute of International Affairs and Jasoro Consulting. The event served as a platform for youth working groups to present and validate a youth-centred report on nine key governance issues in South Africa, intended to inform the country's Second-Generation Country Review process under the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

This case study by GreenCape examines The Clothing Bank, a non-profit intermediary in South Africa that diverts excess retail clothing from landfills to create entrepreneurial opportunities for unemployed single mothers, demonstrating a circular economy model that addresses both waste and poverty.

This case study by GreenCape examines resilience-led economic interventions implemented in 2020 to support the green business community in Cape Town and the broader South African economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy follows a 'survive, adapt and thrive' framework, focusing on supporting small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) through international collaborations, innovative funding, and policy alignment to ensure a green recovery.