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Africa was instrumental in establishing the deep seabed mining regime under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea but became apathetic following the 1994 Implementation Agreement. Currently, Africa is the only regional group that has not sponsored an entity to explore the international seabed area (the Area). While the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa have integrated DSM into blue economy strategies and roadmaps, implementation has lagged. The report argues that investing in DSM is strategically appropriate for Africa as the global transition to a low-carbon economy may impact terrestrial mining. It recommends that African states consider sponsoring exploration contracts and that the AU adopt the Lomé Annexes and revise its Integrated Maritime Strategy to provide a clear legal and policy framework for DSM.

In Q1 2022, the cumulative GSS+ labelled debt market reached USD3tn, though quarterly issuance fell nearly 30% year-on-year to USD202.2bn due to market volatility and rising interest rates. While green and social bond volumes declined, sustainability and sustainability-linked bonds saw growth. The period was marked by the first sovereign sustainability-linked bond from Chile and the first public sector sustainability-linked bond from the City of Helsingborg. The report also highlights the role of the IPCC WG3 report and the war in Ukraine in underscoring the urgency of the energy transition, while noting the emergence of transition bonds in Japan.

The proposal outlines a plan to mobilize the private sector in Burundi to address climate vulnerability. It focuses on three main objectives: nominating and preparing two national entities for Green Climate Fund (GCF) accreditation, developing an action plan to implement a private sector engagement framework, and training stakeholders in developing GCF project applications. The project is implemented by the Centre de Suivi Écologique (CSE) in collaboration with Burundi's Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock.

The paper assesses how the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the sustainability movement shape the industrialisation trajectory of the SADC region. It argues that while 4IR technologies offer opportunities for leapfrogging legacy industries and formalising the informal sector, they also risk creating high-tech enclaves, global monopolies, and 'gig-economy sweatshops'. The authors propose a reimagined strategy that integrates 4IR and green economy goals to achieve broad economic wellbeing rather than focusing solely on job creation.

The report argues that while Kenya is advancing in renewable energy and climate policy, its transition to a low-carbon economy risks marginalizing informal workers, women, and youth. It examines sectoral vulnerabilities in agriculture, energy, transport, industry, forestry, waste, and tourism, highlighting a critical gap between national climate goals and the social protection mechanisms needed to ensure a just transition. The document recommends integrating just transition principles into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Medium-Term Plans, emphasizing the need for reskilling, gender quotas, and the formalization of the informal sector to prevent livelihood losses.

The report finds that Canada's comprehensive wealth grew by only 7 per cent per person between 1980 and 2013, a rate significantly lower than the 54 per cent growth in individual consumption over the same period. While Canada remains the wealthiest G7 nation per capita, it has the lowest growth rate in comprehensive wealth among that group. The analysis reveals a stark decline in market natural capital, stagnant human capital, and produced capital growth that is dangerously concentrated in housing and oil and gas extraction. The document advocates for the federal government to fund Statistics Canada to regularly report comprehensive wealth measures to guide a transition toward a low-carbon, diversified economy.

The document defines 'critical minerals' as raw materials essential for renewable energy and clean technology, noting that criticality is context-specific and varies by country. It identifies two primary perspectives on criticality: security and control of supply (emphasized by the US, EU, and Japan) and value capture (emphasized by China, Australia, and Canada). The guide highlights the role of rare earth elements (REEs) in permanent magnets and lists key demand drivers such as e-mobility and decarbonization. It also discusses supply sources, including the significant role of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) for cobalt and tantalum, and emerging sources like deep-seabed mining. Finally, it outlines the macroeconomic and geopolitical risks associated with mineral dependency, such as 'Dutch disease' and supply chain concentration.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of critical minerals, which are essential for renewable energy and low-carbon technologies. It distinguishes between two primary perspectives on criticality: supply security (emphasized by the US, EU, and Japan) and value capture (emphasized by China, Australia, and Canada). The text details the importance of rare earth elements, the drivers of demand—such as electric mobility and decarbonization—and the role of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). It also highlights the significant increase in mineral requirements for electric vehicles and the global demand projections for 2050, while warning governments about supply risks, macroeconomic volatility, and the 'Dutch disease'.

The briefing discusses the sharp increase in agricultural and mining commodity prices since 2020, noting that while a 'supercycle' is debated, the trend threatens the Glasgow climate agreement's deforestation goals and food security in low-income countries. It highlights the critical role of scarce commodities like copper for electrification and warns that high fertilizer costs may impact 2022 harvests.

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 examines how the adoption of advanced mining technologies—such as automation and smart sensors—affects local procurement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). While industrial projects like the Kibali gold mine and Kamoa-Kakula copper project showcase world-leading innovation, local suppliers struggle to benefit due to gaps in capital, specialized skills, and a weak manufacturing base. The document analyzes the 2018 Mining Code's local content requirements and identifies systemic barriers, including poor infrastructure and an outdated intellectual property framework, that hinder the transition from foreign-dominated supply chains to a robust local industry.

The document examines the intersection of industrial and trade policy with the green transition in Africa. It argues that for the continent to avoid becoming a 'net loser' in the shift to a low-carbon economy, it must move toward higher value-added production of green technologies rather than remaining an exporter of primary products. The author highlights the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key mechanism for establishing regional value chains for renewable energy products. The paper also emphasizes the need for 'policy space' to protect nascent industries, warning against premature trade liberalization and unilateral 'border adjustment taxes' from developed nations. Additionally, it stresses the urgency of 'climate proofing' infrastructure to create jobs and mitigate the inevitable extreme weather events predicted by the IPCC. Finally, the paper calls for African nations to advocate for a Global Green New Deal that respects the right of developing countries to industrialize and includes meaningful resource transfers.

The essay introduces 'indigenomics' as a framework that blends traditional Indigenous principles—such as circular, regenerative, and gift economies—with modern business practices. It asserts that Indigenous knowledge systems and rights are essential for effective climate adaptation and mitigation, as Indigenous peoples manage vital carbon-storing ecosystems and possess long-term territorial memory. The author highlights several leadership initiatives, including the Great Bear Forest carbon project and Indigenous Protected and Conservation Areas, to demonstrate how Indigenous governance can drive environmental justice. The document concludes that a successful transition to a green economy in Canada requires economic reconciliation and the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in national climate and economic strategies.

The document advocates for the recognition of Indigenous stewardship and the expansion of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and Guardian programs as essential tools for climate mitigation and biodiversity preservation in Canada.

The document outlines how Indigenous-led conservation, specifically through Guardian programs and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), provides a scalable model for climate resilience and carbon sequestration in Canada. Using the Heiltsuk Nation's 14,000-year history of stewardship as a foundation, it advocates for a convergence of traditional knowledge and western science to manage ecosystems. The author highlights the critical role of the boreal forest in storing carbon and recommends that Crown governments provide long-term investment in Indigenous-led stewardship to achieve national conservation targets.

The study finds that Sweden experienced faster green bond growth than Norway, particularly in the corporate and municipal sectors, due to a stronger sustainability focus in business culture and a more diversified corporate sector. In contrast, Norway's market was hindered by competition from oil, gas, and shipping investments, a green energy sector that viewed green bonds as unnecessary, and small municipal sizes.

The Seychelles implemented a debt for climate (DFC) swap in 2017, where The Nature Conservancy acquired external debt at a discount and raised USD 5 million in donor funding to establish the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT). This trust manages the conservation of 13 Marine Protected Areas covering over 85% of the country's coral reefs and shallow waters. Since 2017, SeyCCAT has provided over USD 1.5 million in grants for 33 projects, with significant funding directed toward women, youth, and small-scale artisanal fisheries. The document further details the structural requirements for DFC swaps, emphasizing the need for autonomous funds, high-level political leadership, and the suitability of Middle Income Countries (MICs) that are not part of the Debt Suspension Servicing Initiative (DSSI).

The document is a formal letter of support for the Climate Risk Disclosure Act of 2021, arguing that standardized climate risk reporting is essential for investor protection and financial stability. It highlights that current corporate disclosures are unstandardized and insufficient, while noting that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has identified climate change as a major risk to the U.S. financial system.

The document identifies three primary discourses regarding the Russian coal industry: a conservative 'keep coal' vision supported by political leadership, a 'low-carbon trend' approach focused on global competitiveness, and a 'local environmental' discourse centered on pollution and health. None of these discourses advocate for a coal phase-out. The author notes that Russia's coal industry is increasingly dependent on Asian demand, particularly China, and fluctuating global prices, which may lead to economic disadvantage for coal communities and subsequent social unrest. The political leadership currently uses subsidies to prevent instability, while the document suggests that a domestic debate on phase-out and economic diversification could mitigate long-term adverse consequences.

The rapid closure of coal mines in Wałbrzych, Poland, in the mid-1990s led to severe unemployment and poverty due to a lack of proactive transition planning. While long-term diversification efforts like the INVEST-PARK special economic zone eventually created thousands of jobs, they failed to provide immediate relief or targeted support for displaced miners. Current efforts focus on green urban infrastructure and energy efficiency funded by the European Investment Bank and the EU Just Transition Fund.