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The report identifies systemic corruption, poor governance, and a reliance on volatile commodity markets as primary barriers to development in the DR Congo. It argues that a minerals-led growth model is unsustainable and recommends a transition toward economic diversification, focusing on agricultural productivity, infrastructure development, and human capital investment. Key policy priorities include strengthening the judiciary, publishing mining contracts, and improving female education to manage rapid population growth.

The report projects a modest average GDP growth rate of 1.8% for Algeria between 2020 and 2040, which is deemed insufficient to improve livelihoods due to a state-led economic system and heavy dependence on hydrocarbons. It highlights that the country faces critical pressures from climate change, water scarcity, and poor agricultural yields, alongside political instability and regional security threats. The authors argue that Algeria must implement comprehensive social, economic, and governance reforms to diversify its economy and rebuild its social contract.

Mexico's first Adaptation Communication (ADCOM) outlines the national framework for climate change adaptation, including legal arrangements, vulnerabilities, and strategic priorities. It addresses the implementation of adaptation plans, economic diversification, gender perspectives, and the integration of indigenous and local knowledge to meet international commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The report identifies that four major Canadian fossil fuel-producing provinces provided at least CAD 2.5 billion in subsidies in FY 2020/21 and 1.5 billion in FY 2021/22 (up to December 2021). These subsidies, consisting of royalty reductions, tax exemptions, and direct transfers, are described as incompatible with 1.5°C goals and a hindrance to Canada's Paris Agreement obligations. The authors highlight a lack of transparency in provincial budgeting and a trend of using fossil fuel support as a COVID-19 recovery strategy. The report recommends that provinces increase transparency, align with federal targets to phase out subsidies by 2023, cease creating new subsidies, and collaborate with the federal government.

The document argues that climate change acts as a 'threat multiplier' in Africa, where risks are amplified by existing governance deficits and poor development. It emphasizes that while climate-driven scarcity can fuel conflict, causality is complex and depends on political and historical contexts. The authors advocate for integrating climate action into the broader development agenda, transitioning from a narrative of vulnerability to one of economic opportunity through renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure. Key recommendations include strengthening the evidence base for climate security, increasing climate finance flows, and expanding climate diplomacy beyond the UNFCCC to platforms like the G20 and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

The AfCFTA has the potential to generate USD 3.4 trillion in GDP and lift over 100 million people out of poverty by 2040, with primary gains expected in manufacturing and services. However, significant disparities in factor markets—including labour skills, technology adoption, and financial capacity—exist across the continent, with Eastern and Southern Africa generally possessing higher capacities than Central and Western Africa. The document highlights risks associated with heavy reliance on non-African financing, such as the EU-funded Africa Trade Observatory, and urges member states to leverage domestic capital markets and sovereign wealth funds. It further emphasizes that political stability and the empowerment of regional bodies are essential to protect private sector investment in cross-border infrastructure, which the World Bank estimates requires USD 47.6 billion annually.

Spain's coal industry has seen a massive decline in employment from 45,000 in 1990 to approximately 1,700 by 2017, driven by EU mandates and the economics of renewable energy. To address the resulting economic distress and depopulation in rural mining towns, the Spanish government implemented the 2019 Just Transition Strategy and the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030. These frameworks utilize 'Just Transition Agreements'—participatory regional action plans—to diversify local economies and support workers through reskilling and early retirement. While the government has established a transparent process and strong stakeholder coordination, challenges remain in redressing decades of economic decline and securing funding for new projects without a dedicated funding pool.

The briefing examines the necessity of a just transition in Latin America, warning against the continued reliance on fossil fuel extraction. It highlights the risks associated with 'new' extractive industries for renewable energy minerals and advocates for economic diversification through bioeconomy strategies and investments in innovation and education.

The document asserts that Colombia's coal sector is in a structural decline, despite temporary price increases in 2021. It highlights the extreme economic and fiscal dependence of La Guajira and Cesar on large-scale mining, noting that this dependence coexists with low development indicators and high environmental and social liabilities. The author uses the 2020 crisis and Prodeco's decision to relinquish mining titles as a warning, urging national and local governments to implement transition strategies rather than attempting to prolong the life of coal mining, which would risk obstructing a just transition.

The report examines the tension between the adoption of advanced mining technologies by large-scale industrial producers in the DRC and the struggle of local suppliers to capture value from these investments. While projects like the Kibali gold mine and Kamoa-Kakula copper project implement high levels of automation and green technology, the local procurement market remains dominated by foreign firms due to gaps in capital, specialized skills, and infrastructure. The document analyzes the 2018 Mining Code's attempts to mandate local content and identifies systemic barriers—including poor intellectual property enforcement and a weak manufacturing base—that hinder the transfer of technology to Congolese enterprises.

The report analyzes the structural decline of Colombia's coal industry, highlighted by the 2020 crisis and the exit of companies like Prodeco. It emphasizes the extreme economic dependence of the Cesar and La Guajira regions on coal and warns that national and local actors are in a state of 'denial' regarding the sector's sunset. The authors propose a just transition based on seven principles, including active decarbonization, regional economic diversification, labor protections, and responsible mine closure regulations.

The briefing outlines five key strategies for engaging national oil companies (NOCs) in the energy transition: recognizing their role within national government ambitions, addressing cognitive biases regarding economic risks, supporting economic diversification to protect vulnerable populations, tailoring strategies to the specific characteristics of different NOCs, and cautiously evaluating NOC investments in renewable energy to avoid crowding out other actors.

The authors contend that Russia's current climate pledges are insufficient and that the government must acknowledge the global shift away from coal to protect its coal-producing regions, particularly Kuzbass, from economic disruption. While Russia is a top global coal exporter, the authors warn that the collapse of the global coal development pipeline and policies like the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism threaten the sector's viability. They advocate for proactive economic diversification and a managed phase-out to support workers and the global 1.5°C target.

The report finds that while Sierra Leone ratified the AfCFTA on November 7, 2018, actual implementation has been slow and lacks formal policy frameworks, strategic plans, or dedicated implementation structures. The country's economy remains heavily dependent on the extractive sector, particularly minerals like titanium ore and diamonds, which limits its intra-trade competing capacity. Significant barriers to success include a severe lack of access to finance for SMEs—with 65.1% of SMEs citing it as a major impediment—and a lack of data on business preparedness. The report recommends that the Ministry of Trade and Industry lead the development of a national AfCFTA Policy Framework and establish a steering committee to coordinate implementation.

The document examines the dominance of coal in the Kuzbass region, the environmental and health impacts of this industry, and the Russian government's current diversification strategies. It argues that while the government has initiated diversification plans, these remain focused on fossil fuels and matured sectors, neglecting renewable energy and innovative industries. The author suggests that substantive transition is unlikely until global coal demand drops sharply.

The paper argues that while coal is insignificant to Russia's national GDP, it is critical to regional economies like Kuzbass. It criticizes official diversification plans for continuing to rely on extractive industries and instead proposes five innovative low-carbon pathways: utilizing abandoned mines for geothermal heating and energy storage, developing wind and solar PV, producing solid biofuels, establishing Green Special Economic Zones (GSEZ), and supporting small business entrepreneurship.

The Russian coal sector provides a negligible contribution to the national GDP but remains politically significant due to regional employment and historical stability concerns. While the Russian government continues to anticipate growth in coal exports, particularly to Asia, the report argues that this is unrealistic given the global low-carbon transition, the obsolescence of Russia's coal-fired power fleet, and the increasing competitiveness of renewable energy. The document highlights that the sector is heavily reliant on indirect government subsidies, such as reduced rail tariffs. It proposes a three-part just transition framework consisting of social re-employment programmes, regional economic diversification (especially in the Kuzbass region), and the implementation of a domestic carbon price to internalize environmental costs.

The document analyzes how disruptive technologies—including AI, automation, and 5G—are transforming large-scale mining, potentially reducing low-skilled employment and eroding tax bases. It proposes a collaborative policy framework involving education reform, local innovation support, and the use of mining data to improve government oversight and community resilience.

The report examines how the 'Fourth Industrial Revolution'—including AI, automation, and IoT—is transforming large-scale mining. While these technologies improve safety and efficiency, they risk displacing low- and semi-skilled workers and reducing local procurement. The authors propose a 'New Deal' comprising updated education and skills training, innovative social impact investing, revised taxation, and the use of technology itself to benefit local communities and artisanal mining.

The report examines how digitization, AI, and automation are restructuring the mining industry, potentially reducing low-skilled employment and altering fiscal revenues for host countries. It suggests a 'new deal' based on collaboration between governments and companies, focusing on skills training, economic diversification through social impact investing, and the strategic use of technology to benefit local communities and artisanal miners.