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This report, curated by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS), is a compilation of 34 expert views exploring how the international trading system can support the Paris Agreement and climate-resilient development. It identifies critical synergies and tensions at the nexus of trade, climate, and sustainable development, focusing on clean energy transitions, green industrial policies, and the specific vulnerabilities of developing nations.

This report by Transforma and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) proposes social, environmental, and governance safeguards for the mining of energy transition minerals in Latin America. Based on UN principles and case studies in Chile, Colombia, and Peru, the document identifies systemic gaps between mining laws and their territorial implementation, advocating for a shift away from historical extractivist patterns toward a just energy transition.

The Consumer Seafood Guide, published by WWF South Africa in December 2025, is a pocket reference tool designed to help consumers make environmentally responsible seafood choices using a 'traffic light' system. It provides guidance on identifying sustainable species based on the species type, the method of capture or farming, and the origin of the seafood.

This research paper argues that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should adopt a forward-looking transitional justice framework for climate governance to address structural inequities and gender-based vulnerabilities. The author proposes that by institutionalising justice through regional mechanisms—such as a gender-responsive minerals strategy and a dedicated adaptation fund for women—ECOWAS can ensure a just energy transition and climate resilience that is independent of the instability of global climate finance and multilateral agreements.

This research paper examines Nigeria's natural gas sector and its potential to drive sustainable industrialization across Africa. It analyzes the 'Decade of Gas' (2021-2030) initiative, critical infrastructure projects, and the regulatory reforms needed to transition from a reliance on oil exports to a gas-powered economy that supports regional energy security and manufacturing.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that democracy in Africa often exists as a procedural ritual that masks enduring colonial socio-economic structures and elite control. Using foresight methods and a case study of the South African National Dialogue, the document proposes a shift toward 'transformative solidarity economics' and structural reforms in education, governance, and constitutional frameworks to move from procedural survival to substantive democratic resilience.

This research paper uses securitization theory and a multi-level governance lens to analyze how security discourses and actors influence offshore wind development in Sweden and the broader European context, specifically examining the tension between security imperatives and democratic Marine Spatial Planning.

Ember provides feedback on the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) Indonesia Progress Report 2025, arguing that Indonesia needs more ambitious emissions targets, stronger regulation of the captive power sector, and a more comprehensive just transition framework for coal-dependent regions.

This policy brief by Ember responds to Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) Progress Report 2025. It argues that Indonesia must adopt more ambitious emission targets, specifically by integrating the captive power sector into peaking emission scenarios and accelerating the retirement of coal plants. The document highlights the potential for solar PV to replace ageing captive coal plants and emphasizes the need for a just transition that provides economic diversification and investment in coal-producing provinces to mitigate fiscal and employment risks.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) proposes a quantitative approach to tracking the quality of public climate finance. It builds upon a three-level conceptual framework—project, market, and system levels—to identify practical indicators that can reduce subjectivity in quality judgments and improve coordination among public finance providers.

This research paper analyzes South Africa's G20 presidency, focusing on its efforts to advance African priorities and the broader Global South development agenda amidst a challenging geopolitical climate. The author evaluates four primary priorities—debt sustainability, climate and energy transitions, disaster resilience, and critical minerals—concluding that while the presidency has successfully raised global awareness and shaped the narrative for African development, the ambitious goals are unlikely to be fully realized in practice due to a lack of international consensus.

A briefing by the NewClimate Institute analyzing the climate benefits of implementing the 2030 energy and methane goals agreed upon at COP28, specifically focusing on the impact of G20 implementation on global warming and emissions.

This research paper analyzes clean cooking policies across G20 countries, arguing that the current reliance on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidies is financially unsustainable, often fails to reach the poorest populations, and contradicts net-zero goals. The authors advocate for redirecting these subsidies toward electric cooking and renewable energy alternatives to achieve universal access by 2030.

This briefing by RMI explains how 'flexible service connections' can accelerate the deployment of electric truck charging infrastructure by allowing fleets to access underutilized grid capacity without waiting for multi-year utility upgrades.

This research paper introduces a project by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) focused on the 'just transition' in South Africa and Brazil. It examines the need to reconcile climate action with economic development, specifically focusing on protecting vulnerable populations and addressing extreme inequality while shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

This policy brief from the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) examines the intersection of energy poverty and green industrialization in Africa. It argues that while the continent faces severe electricity deficits and fossil fuel dependence, its abundant renewable resources provide a strategic opportunity to leapfrog to cleaner energy systems to drive job creation and productivity, provided that institutional, regulatory, and financing barriers are addressed.

This policy brief by Ember analyses the failure of India's early offshore wind auctions and outlines the systemic barriers preventing the sector's growth. It argues that rigid auction designs, a lack of domestic supply chains for high-capacity turbines, and transmission risks have deterred developers, and recommends adopting flexible international best practices to unlock the country's offshore wind potential.

The document introduces a Just Energy Transition (JET) framework developed by Natural Justice specifically for African communities to ensure they are equal partners in energy system changes and benefit from the resulting social and economic developments.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero examines the critical role of equity and catalytic equity in closing the clean energy investment gap in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) to reach net zero goals by 2035.

This report by Ember examines the growth of solar energy in Brazil, China, and India over the decade following the Paris Agreement. It details how the transition of solar leadership from advanced economies to emerging markets was driven by national policies, international financial mechanisms, and industrial scaling, resulting in solar becoming the fastest-growing electricity source globally.