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The document examines the 'resource curse' in Africa, focusing on how corruption in the mining and oil sectors undermines human development. It contrasts 'state-centred' theories of corruption with 'corporate corruption' and 'state capture,' where companies illicitly influence policy. The author argues that transparency initiatives like the EITI are only partial solutions and that litigation is often hindered by political will and complex international contracts. The paper concludes that combating corruption must be balanced with broader goals of social justice and environmental protection to truly benefit African citizens.

The briefing examines the influence of the military on science, engineering, and technology (SET) in the UK and globally, noting difficulties in accessing R&D information despite the Freedom of Information Act. It highlights a significant funding imbalance, where military R&D is prioritised over efforts to address poverty, ill-health, and environmental degradation, and calls for a reallocation of resources toward social and environmental needs.

The report examines the shift from traditional state-centric security to 'human security,' noting that modern conflicts are increasingly linked to poverty and occur within poor states. It argues that while trade and aid can theoretically promote stability, in practice, unfair trade rules and misused aid often exacerbate instability. The author proposes six objectives for the international community and the Commonwealth to ensure these policies 'do no harm' and support enduring peace.

The report examines the 'commodity price problem,' characterized by extreme short-term volatility and a steady long-term decline in real prices relative to manufactured goods. While high prices can provide windfall revenues, the authors argue that dependence on primary commodities creates a 'resource trap' that undermines fiscal planning, exacerbates social inequality, and encourages environmental degradation. The document concludes that because developing countries lack the resources to hedge against these risks, the international community should focus on income stabilization through mechanisms such as compensatory financing, national revenue management, and risk management instruments.

The document argues that sustainability in the coffee sector is hindered by market volatility, systemic poverty, and environmental degradation. It suggests that the ICO should leverage the renegotiation of the International Coffee Agreement to implement participatory governance, improve information sharing for differentiated coffee markets, and establish coordinated funding and risk management mechanisms for producers.

The report argues that China's pursuit of high GDP growth has led to severe environmental degradation, which in turn triggers internal security risks such as violent protests and mass migration. Internationally, China's need to secure energy, water, and timber resources drives an assertive foreign policy, leading to territorial disputes and the 'export' of environmental degradation to trading partners. The document highlights critical scarcity in water and energy, deteriorating air quality contributing to the 'Asian Brown Cloud', and the impact of domestic logging bans on international timber trade.

The paper argues that resource rights—whether private or communal—are critical determinants of disaster vulnerability and recovery. In the pre-disaster phase, secure rights encourage investment in resilience and sustainable resource management, such as protecting mangrove buffers. Post-disaster, the loss of documentation and titleholders often delays reconstruction and compensation, potentially leading to opportunistic land grabs or social conflict. The authors emphasize that equitable re-allocation of resource rights is essential for restoring sustainable livelihoods and reducing long-term vulnerability.

The document analyzes how environmental degradation and natural resource management intersect with global security. It identifies four theoretical frameworks: the Toronto school's focus on resource capture and ecological marginalization; ENCOP's link between market transitions and violence; PRIO's analysis of conflict over abundant resources; and the 'network threats' perspective on global issues like climate change. The author argues that while environmental stress is rarely the sole cause of conflict, it increases the severity and duration of violence. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for managing resource scarcity and abundance, conflict-sensitizing protected areas, and using environmental cooperation as a confidence-building measure in post-conflict reconstruction.

The report identifies Burkina Faso as highly vulnerable to climatic shocks, epidemics, and environmental degradation, with 44.5% of the population living below the absolute poverty line. It highlights the critical role of agriculture, particularly cotton, and the risks associated with rainfall variability and drought. The document details the sensitivity of vulnerable groups—especially women, children, and nomadic pastoralists—and examines migration as a key coping strategy. It concludes that reducing vulnerability requires integrated environmental management, improved food security, and targeted support for marginalized populations.

The document examines the legal precedent established in RICHTERSVELD COMMUNITY v ALEXKOR LTD & ANOTHER [2004], confirming that the Land Claims Court has the authority to order defendants to compensate for or repair environmental damage to land subject to a restitution claim. It establishes that dispossession of land includes the loss of mineral rights and that the court can grant both restoration of land and equitable redress, including monetary compensation for environmental degradation to return the claimant to their original position.

The report identifies critical environment and security risks in the Southern Caucasus, focusing on environmental degradation in conflict zones, cross-border resource management, and rapid urban growth in capital cities. It details national vulnerabilities in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, including Soviet industrial legacies, seismic risks, and water scarcity, while proposing a multi-pillar work programme for vulnerability assessment, policy development, and institutional capacity building.

The document argues that while trade and aid are intended to foster development and security, they often exacerbate conflict through the exploitation of natural resources, volatile aid flows, and unbalanced trade liberalization. It calls for an integrated approach that incorporates security as a primary goal, improves governance, and utilizes mechanisms like commodity price stabilization and product certification to mitigate the 'dark sides' of commerce and assistance.

The document examines the role of International Financial Institutions (IFIs), including multilateral development banks and export credit agencies, in financing large-scale extractive projects. It argues that these investments frequently lead to environmental disasters, human rights abuses, and the marginalization of indigenous peoples while failing to alleviate poverty. Through case studies in Peru, Colombia, the Philippines, Laos, Romania, Chad, Cameroon, Papua New Guinea, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Lithuania, the report illustrates the 'resource curse' and the failure of the export-led development model. It concludes by recommending a gradual phase-out of IFI lending for extractive industries and a shift toward renewable energy and community-led sustainable initiatives.

The report by Friends of the Earth International contends that IFIs, including multilateral development banks and export credit agencies, facilitate a destructive export-led development model. Through various case studies in countries like Peru, Colombia, and the Philippines, the document illustrates how these investments lead to environmental catastrophes, human rights violations, and the marginalization of indigenous peoples and women. It specifically highlights the contradiction between IFI funding of fossil fuels and global climate goals, ultimately recommending a phased withdrawal from extractive sectors in favor of decentralized renewable energy initiatives.

The authors argue that current WTO measures like the Producer Subsidy Equivalent (PSE) and Aggregate Measure of Support (AMS) are inadequate because they measure the volume of support rather than trade distortion. They propose a terms-of-trade indicator—the ratio of export price index to import price index—to identify unfair trade practices. The paper includes a taxonomy of subsidies and a two-country model to demonstrate how a deterioration in terms-of-trade (below a base of 100) can signal unjustifiable over-subsidization.

The report examines the evolution of 'environmental security,' contrasting narrow research focused on violent conflict with a broader 'vulnerability perspective' that emphasizes livelihoods and health. It argues that environmental degradation is rarely a sole cause of conflict but interacts with socio-economic drivers to threaten vulnerable groups, particularly in developing countries. The authors advocate for integrating vulnerability analysis into sustainable development to better protect the poor from risks associated with climate change, urbanization, and large-scale infrastructure projects.

The paper argues that the predominant reductionist model of Western science has failed, contributing to environmental degradation and the marginalisation of indigenous knowledge. It proposes a non-binding 'Convention on Knowledge' based on principles of public ownership, ecological accountability, and the protection of indigenous rights. The authors call for a shift toward holistic, organic sciences and the banning of destructive technologies, such as weapons of mass destruction and certain forms of genetic engineering, while promoting research into agro-ecology, renewable energy, and holistic health.

Following the April 2002 ceasefire, Angola faces immense reconstruction needs, including the reintegration of approximately 105,000 ex-combatants and the resettlement of 4.3 million internally displaced persons. While the country possesses vast oil and mineral wealth, structural crises persist in health, education, and agriculture. A critical strategic concern is the Okavango River Basin; as Angola develops the headwaters in Kuando-Kubango province, potential increases in water abstraction and dam construction could negatively impact the downstream ecosystems and water security of Namibia and Botswana. Cooperation is managed through the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM), but Angola's lack of technical capacity and hydrometric data hinders its participation in integrated water resource management.

The paper examines the relationship between poverty and environmental degradation, arguing that while poverty does not necessarily cause degradation, the poor are disproportionately harmed by the loss of natural capital. It critiques the 'Environmental Kuznets Curve' and suggests that sustainable development requires tracking total wealth (natural, human, social, and physical capital) and strengthening institutional frameworks to manage common resources.

The report presents a taxonomy of future global scenarios divided into three classes: Conventional Worlds, Barbarization, and Great Transitions. It argues that while current trends in population growth, economic expansion, and technological change drive the system, human agency and policy choices can steer the world away from collapse and toward a sustainable paradigm. The authors contrast 'business-as-usual' trajectories with visionary transitions that prioritize equity and ecological health over material growth.