Search Climate Insights Directory

The document argues that Mexico's food systems can drive a just recovery by integrating sustainable practices in the primary sector, shortening distribution chains, and improving public nutrition. It highlights the vulnerability of the sector to the climate crisis and the exacerbation of food insecurity and malnutrition caused by the pandemic. Key recommendations include reorienting agricultural subsidies toward crop diversification, implementing sustainability certifications for exporters, supporting small and medium producers with organic fertilizers and digital commerce, and aligning public food procurement with nutritional health standards.

Corruption Watch and the Public Affairs Research Institute call for decisive leadership and civil society collaboration in the drafting of South Africa's Public Procurement Bill. The authors argue that the pandemic-related corruption and the legacy of state capture highlight critical weaknesses in the current system, which requires a radical overhaul to ensure transparency, accountability, and constitutional compliance.

The 'Mission Blue' workshop, organized by the BONUS RETURN project, engaged 49 stakeholders from seven countries to develop five prototype interventions to combat eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. Using a three-step 'Cook, Incubation, and Evaluation' methodology, participants combined 21 pre-defined measures across coordination, data, ecotechnologies, and policy categories. The resulting interventions focused on nutrient circularity, ranging from improving knowledge transfer between farmers and authorities to integrating sea-based mussel farming with land-based nutrient management. The report discusses the challenges of operationalizing mission-oriented policies, emphasizing the need to move beyond 'silo' organizational structures, align local capacities with strategic visions, and utilize public procurement to drive circular business models.

The report examines how micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are addressed in trade agreements, noting a trend toward dedicated SME chapters in 'new-generation' RTAs. It highlights that while developed economies like the EU, Canada, and Japan lead in advanced provisions, developing countries often prioritize exemptions to protect domestic MSMEs from costly obligations. Most MSME provisions use 'best-endeavour' language and are excluded from dispute settlement, limiting their enforceability. The document also assesses the WTO's piecemeal approach to MSMEs and suggests expanding the scope of support in areas like e-commerce, government procurement, and gender equality to better integrate MSMEs into global trade.

The report examines how MSMEs are integrated into regional and multilateral trade frameworks, noting a trend toward more sophisticated but often non-binding 'goodwill' provisions in newer 'next-generation' agreements. It highlights specific areas of support such as trade facilitation, public procurement, and e-commerce, while noting a persistent gap in the explicit integration of gender-specific MSME support.

The report analyzes how the EU's ESIF, particularly the ERDF and CF, supports climate mitigation and energy efficiency in Member States like Lithuania and Slovakia. It identifies success factors such as partnership-based negotiations, alignment with national priorities, and the use of non-grant financial instruments to leverage private capital. However, it notes limitations including administrative hurdles, limited project preparation capacities, and a tendency to fund 'low-hanging fruits' over advanced R&D. The document concludes with five key lessons for international climate policy, emphasizing national ownership, simplified procurement, and the need for comprehensive technical assistance.

A coalition of civil society organisations warns that the Covid-19 emergency increases the risk of corruption and supply chain failure in South Africa. They call for the government to involve civil society in monitoring, publish detailed expenditure reports for the R500-billion stimulus and Solidarity Fund, and utilize the Auditor General and the Special Investigating Unit to prevent the 'looting and capture' of emergency funds.

The document examines a citizen food assembly in York, UK, highlighting how participatory processes can drive sustainable food system changes, such as relocalising supply and reducing waste through 'food hubs'.

The document outlines a framework for a 'green and resilient recovery' following the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing that the next 18 months are critical as countries invest $10-20 trillion. It advocates for low-carbon infrastructure, fossil fuel subsidy reform, and a revamp of the Bretton Woods system to prioritize well-being over traditional growth metrics. The dialogue warns against bailouts for carbon-intensive sectors like aviation and coal, and highlights the urgent need for debt cancellation in vulnerable developing countries.

The report identifies a crisis in South Africa's public procurement system characterized by high corruption, political interference, and operational inefficiency. It proposes seven key reforms, including the creation of a single regulatory authority, the adoption of a principles-based strategic procurement approach, and the introduction of 'qui tam' legal provisions to incentivize private enforcement of procurement laws.

The authors contend that while the Public Procurement Bill seeks to create a coherent legal framework and expand preferential procurement for disadvantaged groups, it lacks a robust enforcement mechanism. They propose that the Bill should allow whistle-blowers to bring civil claims for the recovery of damages caused by procurement fraud and corruption, rewarding them with a percentage of the recovered funds. This is framed as a necessary measure given the struggling state of South Africa's criminal justice system and declining figures in corruption-related freezing orders.

WWF and Carbon Market Watch argue that the EU Industrial Strategy must prioritise the decarbonisation of Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs), which account for approximately 16% of the EU's annual CO2 emissions. The authors propose ten 'asks', including the creation of an Independent Observatory to monitor progress, the implementation of emission performance standards, and the phase-out of free emission allowances in the EU Emission Trading System. They emphasize that investment should be directed toward zero-carbon technologies, specifically in the chemicals, steel, and cement sectors, while limiting Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) to unavoidable process emissions.

The document examines the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in developing infrastructure in the SADC region, distinguishing them from privatisation and highlighting their potential to overcome budget constraints and technical inefficiencies. It identifies key barriers to PPP uptake in SADC, including political interference, lack of administrative maturity, and the risks of hidden debt through government guarantees. The briefing recommends the establishment of independent PPP units, improved public engagement protocols, and rigorous due diligence on partners to ensure sustainable project delivery.

The statement highlights that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India contribute 37% of GDP and create 80% of new jobs, positioning 'Local Green Enterprises' as essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. It calls for targeted policy interventions, including affordable credit, streamlined public procurement, and triple bottom line impact assessments, to support the transition from 'brown' to green business practices.

The report details how American Securities' ownership of Global Tel Link (GTL) has led to predatory pricing and fee harvesting in the US correctional telecommunications market. It highlights the financial burden on low-income families, the recording of privileged attorney-client calls, and a bribery scandal in Mississippi. The document also examines GTL's expansion into digital tablets and video calling, arguing that these services often replace in-person visits and create new revenue streams from a captive market. Finally, it notes a growing trend of municipalities moving toward free correctional calls and increased legislative scrutiny of private equity's role in prison services.

The Delhi Declaration on Local Green Enterprise asserts that micro, medium, and small enterprises (MSMEs) are essential for India's transition to a green economy, as they create 80% of new jobs and contribute 37% to the GDP. The declaration defines Local Green Enterprises (LGEs) as those demonstrating environmental consciousness in resource and waste management and inclusiveness in wages and revenue distribution. To scale these enterprises, the signatories call for affordable credit through blended finance, streamlined public procurement processes, and government-led triple bottom line impact assessments to incentivize the shift from 'brown' to green business practices.

The document examines the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in addressing infrastructure deficits in the SADC region, contrasting them with privatisation and traditional procurement. It identifies key barriers to PPP success in Africa, including political interference, lack of dedicated PPP units, and the risks of hidden debt through government guarantees. The author recommends establishing independent PPP units, formalising public consultation processes, and conducting rigorous due diligence on partners to ensure transparency and value for money in sectors such as energy, transport, and water.

The report details a policy dialogue workshop in Tallinn, Estonia, aimed at designing pathways toward a sustainable bioeconomy in the Baltic Sea region. Participants identified energy as the primary driving sector and emphasized the need for high-value-added products, localized value chains, and a shift in consumer thinking. Five key enabling factors were identified: clear policy goals (including carbon taxes and national strategies), support for research and innovation through multi-helix interaction models, public procurement and education to drive demand, cross-sector cooperation to manage biomass competition, and the integration of circularity to preserve biodiversity. The document also reflects on the pilot methodology, noting that the pre-selected global sustainability scenario was too general and that future workshops should group participants by economic sector rather than organization type.

The report finds that while most Swedish municipalities address sustainable consumption within their own operations, few target households or businesses. A significant majority of officials (79%) identify a lack of political support as their primary need. The report recommends systematic tracking of all purchases and investments to calculate environmental impacts and suggests that the government empower county administrative boards to coordinate local efforts.

The document outlines the mandatory administrative, financial, and legal framework for NGOs receiving grants from the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment (MCE). It details requirements for implementation plans, progress and financial reporting, and mandatory audits. It establishes a 'zero tolerance' policy for corruption and financial irregularities, and mandates transparency through the public disclosure of grant agreements and large contracts. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive procurement regime based on fair competition and transparency, specifying different tender procedures based on contract value thresholds (e.g., NOK 500,000). The document includes an annex for a specific project in Ethiopia focused on integrating climate resilience and green growth into national development planning.