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The EU steel sector, which contributes 5% of the region's annual CO2 emissions, faces significant technical and economic hurdles in its transition to net zero. While hydrogen-based DRI is a prominent pathway, its scalability is limited by the massive requirements for renewable electricity and low-carbon hydrogen. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is presented as a complementary, potentially lower-cost near-term solution for both blast furnace and DRI plants. The report concludes that a portfolio of technologies is necessary to mitigate risks and ensure the industry's survival, supported by carbon pricing, border adjustments, and demand-side policies.

The report evaluates Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs) as a financial instrument to reduce carbon-price risk for industrial companies in Germany, specifically within the steel, cement, and ammonia sectors. It finds that CCfDs can trigger investments in clean technologies at lower expected carbon prices than minimum carbon price schemes and can significantly reduce the net present value of government funding. The analysis suggests that combining CCfDs with other risk-reducing instruments, such as contracts for difference for renewable electricity, further lowers the necessary strike price. The report also discusses award mechanisms, arguing that negotiations may be superior to auctions for complex innovative projects to avoid 'low-balling' strategies and overcompensation.

Carbon Market Watch argues that a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is preferable to the free allocation of allowances in the EU ETS, provided it is implemented without double protection. The organization recommends that CBAM cover cement, steel, chemicals, and power, and that its revenues be primarily disbursed as climate grants to developing countries. It further suggests that Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States be exempted from CBAM obligations to uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

The report analyzes the 'new generation' of mega-regional trade agreements—TTIP, TPP, and TiSA—characterizing them as a corporate blueprint to shift decision-making power from governments to transnational corporations. It highlights how these agreements use 'invitation only' negotiations to sidestep the WTO and counteract the influence of China and BRICS nations. The author details specific threats to public health, food safety, and environmental protections, including the use of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms that allow corporations to sue states over public interest laws. The document concludes by calling for a transition toward a trade regime based on human rights, food sovereignty, and sustainable local economies.

The report critiques the impact of bilateral investment treaties and free trade agreements on national sovereignty, specifically highlighting how mechanisms like Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) prevent states from implementing environmental and social protections. It argues that the agro-industrial model leads to land grabbing, biodiversity loss, and increased hunger, while proposing that investing in small-scale agroecology can double food production in critical regions and improve climate resilience.

The report identifies a significant gap between the high demand for green financing driven by Morocco's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the limited supply of tailored financial instruments for SMEs. While energy efficiency and renewable energy projects are well-covered, sectors like fisheries and sustainable housing are underserved. The study recommends improving the regulatory framework for ESCOs, introducing fiscal incentives, and designing new equity or guarantee mechanisms to catalyze green investment.

The Green Economy Coalition advocates for a systemic shift from narrow economic metrics like GDP toward a 'green economy' that prioritizes human wellbeing and ecological health. The report identifies five key action areas: redefining progress through new metrics, reforming financial flows to reduce short-termism, greening high-impact sectors (energy, food, housing, transport), investing in people to ensure inclusive growth, and managing natural systems to protect essential ecosystem services. It concludes with nine guiding principles for a fair and inclusive transition, emphasizing the need for multi-stakeholder engagement and a move away from resource-intensive growth.

The document outlines the opportunities and regulatory requirements for private sector engagement in South Africa's water sector. It highlights a significant infrastructure investment gap, with an estimated R900 billion needed over the next decade. Key opportunities are identified in metropolitan municipalities, where R54.6 billion is planned for water and sanitation spend between 2023/24 and 2025/26. The guide details the roles of national and local government, the impact of new legislation like the Public Procurement Act (2024) and the NWRIA Act (2024), and the specific procurement thresholds and B-BBEE scoring systems used in public tenders. It also lists innovation platforms and trial mechanisms for new technologies.

The IISD Economic Law and Policy Program provides technical and legal expertise to help governments, particularly in developing countries, design policies for equitable and environmentally sustainable growth. The program focuses on reforming investment, finance, trade, government procurement, and industrial policy to facilitate transitions to renewable energy and resilient infrastructure. Key areas of activity include shaping international investment agendas, fostering sustainable industrial policies, leveraging public procurement for green growth, and promoting responsible trade through voluntary standards and corporate social responsibility.

The document examines the complex relationship between international trade and the environment, detailing how trade liberalization can either harm or benefit ecosystems depending on accompanying policies. It analyzes the legal frameworks of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), exploring conflicts and synergies between them. Key areas of focus include the impact of processes and production methods (PPMs), intellectual property rights (TRIPS), agricultural subsidies, and the role of regional trade agreements. The handbook emphasizes the need for integrated assessments, capacity building in developing countries, and greater openness in trade policy-making to achieve sustainable development goals.

The author contends that South Africa's ethics infrastructure is ineffective due to poor compliance and a lack of enforcement, which erodes public trust and government credibility. The text identifies unregulated areas—such as private political party funding and the 'revolving door' between government and business—as key drivers of corruption. To address these, the document proposes a series of institutional reforms, including the creation of an Integrity Commissioner, the implementation of lifestyle audits, and the regulation of private funds to political parties, while emphasizing the need for public officials to internalize ethical values.

The document examines how the 2010 FIFA World Cup created opportunities for corruption and conflicts of interest in South Africa. It details irregularities in stadium tenders in Johannesburg, Durban, and the Eastern Cape, and critiques the lack of transparency in FIFA's global operations and its relationship with exclusive suppliers like Match Event Services. The report argues that the pressure to meet FIFA's stringent requirements often led the South African government to prioritize the interests of the event organizers over the long-term public interest and developmental needs of the host cities.

The NAP Global Network's 2025-2030 Strategic Framework focuses on shifting national adaptation plans (NAPs) from planning to implementation. The strategy employs three reinforcing approaches: building systems (policy, coordination, and results frameworks), using levers (fiscal measures, public procurement, trade policy, and blended finance), and engaging diverse actors (finance ministries, subnational governments, civil society, and the private sector). The Network intends to provide embedded technical capacity, multi-year partnerships, and flexible on-demand support, with a specific focus on least developed countries, Small Island Developing States, and conflict-affected contexts.

The author contends that the Public Procurement Bill is constitutionally deficient because it grants procuring institutions broad, open-ended powers for preferential procurement without the 'framework' required by Section 217 of the constitution. The text argues that without specific guardrails to guide and limit these powers, the bill risks perpetuating inefficiency and corruption in a system that handles a fifth of South Africa's GDP. The author recommends that the bill be amended to explicitly instruct the minister of finance to elaborate a detailed framework to ensure legality and economic productivity.

The report details five dialogues focused on state capacity in South Africa, specifically addressing the energy transition, freight and public transport, the criminal justice system, and water security, concluding with a synthesis on public sector professionalization. A recurring theme is the detrimental impact of state capture and political interference on institutional memory and technical expertise. The document argues that state capability requires not just administrative skills but the agency to 'reach into society' and coordinate complex projects. Key recommendations include reforming senior appointment processes to insulate the public service from politics, creating a single administration to reduce fragmentation, and rethinking the municipal fiscal framework to ensure the viability of basic service delivery.

The report documents a conference hosted by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) focused on the systemic nature of state capture in South Africa. It details the erosion of institutions like SARS and the PIC, discusses the role of commissions of inquiry (Zondo, Nugent, and PIC), and explores strategies for recovery including 'lawfare', parliamentary oversight, and public advocacy. The document culminates in a Civil Society Charter that outlines a comprehensive program for institutional reform, whistleblower protection, and the pursuit of accountability for those implicated in state capture.

The guide provides a comprehensive overview of South Africa's local government system, detailing the roles of the local community, political structures, and administration. It explains the planning, implementation, and oversight cycle—specifically the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), the budget, and the Service Delivery Budget and Implementation Plan (SDBIP)—and offers practical strategies for citizens to hold municipalities accountable. It also covers the legal rights to basic services, housing, and spatial justice, while outlining the mechanisms for reporting misconduct and challenging administrative decisions.

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) is a Johannesburg-based research institute that conducts social science research and advocacy to improve democratic governance and state capacity in South Africa. Its work is organised into five primary programmes: Land Governance, State Reform, Local Government, Just Transition, and COMPACT (a EU-funded initiative for municipal accountability). PARI collaborates with academic institutions, civil society, and state bodies to address issues such as tenure security, public procurement corruption, municipal financial sustainability, and the decarbonisation of the power sector.

PARI argues that South Africa's public procurement system is in crisis due to political interference, capacity deficits, and a fragmented legal regime. While welcoming the draft Public Procurement Bill's aim for a single legal framework, PARI contends it fails to provide a credible enforcement strategy or sufficiently balance procedural integrity with operational flexibility. The document proposes the creation of a single regulatory authority, the adoption of a principles-based strategic procurement approach, and the introduction of 'qui tam' provisions to incentivise private enforcement of procurement law.

Buildings contribute at least 39% of annual global energy-related carbon emissions, with at least 25% of those coming from embodied carbon in materials and construction. The document outlines five policy strategies—procurement policy, climate action plans, building codes, low-carbon design, and design for longevity—to stimulate market demand for low-carbon solutions without increasing construction costs or government spending.