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The briefing examines the challenges and opportunities of developing lithium in Sonora, Mexico. It highlights the tension between the global demand for clean energy minerals and the local risks of ecological damage and cartel co-option. The author criticizes the current state-led energy model, citing the debt of Pemex and the prioritization of carbon-intensive power, and suggests that Mexico should instead focus on moving up the value chain into refinement and battery production through international partnerships and stakeholder consultation.

The document examines Ghana's mineral revenue system, where the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) manages state earnings and distributes 20% to the Mineral Development Fund (MDF). It details the allocation of these funds to entities like the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) and the Mining Community Development Scheme (MCDS), while highlighting critical failures in transparency, the inadequacy of community funding, and legal ambiguities in the 1992 Constitution that allow for the misappropriation of royalties by traditional authorities.

The briefing examines L.I. 2462, a 2022 regulation that allows mining in Ghana's forest reserves. It argues that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lacks the constitutional mandate to manage natural resources, a role reserved for Natural Resource Commissions. The document further contends that L.I. 2462 lacks a proper legal foundation under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994, and cannot supersede the protections of forest reserves established by Executive Instruments or Acts of Parliament. Additionally, it highlights weak sanctions, a lack of stakeholder consultation, and the absence of gender quotas as significant shortcomings.

The document analyzes India's high import dependence on copper and the global supply risks—including geopolitical instability in producer nations and declining ore grades—that threaten its economic and energy goals. It proposes a four-pronged strategy: diversifying primary supply through strategic partnerships, reforming trade duties to encourage domestic value addition, providing production-linked incentives for the smelting and fabrication industry, and rationalizing the GST on copper scrap to formalize the recycling sector.

A coalition of 40 civil society organisations has called on World Bank Group President Ajay Banga to adopt stricter safeguards for transition mineral mining. The group recommends that the World Bank prioritise minimising mineral demand through technology life cycles, support national green industrial strategies over export-driven expansion, and enforce enhanced due diligence, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for Indigenous Peoples. They further argue that all transition mineral projects should be classified as 'category A high risk projects' to ensure robust application of accountability and safeguarding systems.

The report analyzes the growing prevalence of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) in free trade agreements (FTAs), noting a significant increase in references since 2018. It identifies five common rationales for their inclusion: cooperation, promotion, recognition, guidelines, and support. While VSSs can complement public regulations and drive innovative trade policy—such as using sustainability criteria for preferential tariffs—the report warns of pitfalls, including vague terminology, lack of enforcement, and the risk of VSSs becoming de facto market barriers for small-scale producers in developing countries. The authors argue that the effectiveness of VSSs depends on their credibility and the establishment of clear multilateral guidelines.

The research examines the drivers, barriers, and 'seeds' of circular economy (CE) practices within the SADC region, arguing for a contextually sensitive approach that moves beyond Global North narratives. It identifies critical drivers such as rapid urbanisation, e-waste challenges, and climate change, while highlighting systemic barriers including lack of uniform regulatory frameworks and knowledge disparities. The authors propose a multi-level resource use system that integrates indigenous solutions with disruptive technologies and recommends regional collaboration through the SADC Secretariat and AU to harmonise CE strategic frameworks, fiscal policies, and educational curricula.

The report examines the gendered impacts of climate change and environmental degradation in South Africa, focusing on air pollution, water access, agroecology, and energy poverty. Through case studies, it highlights how women-led initiatives—such as legal challenges against air pollution in the Highveld, agroecology gardens in Burundi, solar energy projects in Johannesburg, and waste management in Durban—address systemic inequalities and build community resilience. It argues that a Just Transition must integrate an intersectional gender perspective to be effective.

The document examines how the green energy transition in Africa could trigger conflict due to land displacement, environmental damage, and inequitable benefit distribution. It identifies five key categories of legal protections—land and resource rights, environmental and social protections, compensation and benefit sharing, access to information and participation, and access to justice—that can mitigate these risks. While many Sub-Saharan African countries have enacted basic protections, the brief emphasizes that the quality of implementation, institutional capacity, and political will are essential to prevent a 'green resource curse'.

The paper examines how a network of 11 community radio stations from the Colombian Amazon participated in the Belém Summit (August 8-9, 2023) to provide a grassroots perspective on the protection of the Amazon biome. It argues that community media offer a more truthful and critical treatment of information than mass media because reporters live the territorial realities, such as lack of basic services and state neglect. The author highlights that these community-led reports reached over 5 million people across Latin America and the Caribbean. The document further critiques the resulting 'Belém Declaration,' arguing that it lacks a strong position against fossil fuel extraction and fails to fully integrate the ancestral vision of indigenous peoples or the critical discourse of popular sectors.

The document is a statement of solidarity with a general strike in Argentina on January 24, 2024. It criticizes the government of Javier Milei for implementing the Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) and the 'Omnibus Law', which the author argues undermine national sovereignty and democratic rights. Key concerns include a 51% currency devaluation, the privatization of 41 state-owned companies, the repeal of laws protecting glaciers and native forests, and the creation of a domestic greenhouse gas emission market. The statement calls for the repeal of a security protocol prohibiting public demonstrations and urges international solidarity to protect the rights of the Argentine people.

Friends of the Earth International supports a general strike in Argentina on January 24, 2024, protesting President Javier Milei's 'Omnibus Law' and Emergency Decree (DNU). The organization criticizes the government's economic shock measures, the privatization of 41 state companies, and the repeal of laws protecting glaciers and native forests. It specifically condemns the creation of a national greenhouse gas emissions market and the restriction of the right to protest.

Friends of the Earth International supports a general strike in Argentina on January 24, 2024, protesting the 'Ley Ómnibus' and a Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) issued by President Javier Milei. The organization condemns measures including a 51% currency devaluation, the privatization of 41 state companies, the dismantling of social ministries, and the creation of a domestic greenhouse gas emissions market. It further denounces the government's 'Protocolo del Ministerio de Seguridad' for restricting the right to public protest and calls for international solidarity to protect democratic and environmental rights in Argentina.

The 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that the world is off track to meet 2030 goals to stop and reverse deforestation and degradation. In 2023, 6.37 million hectares of forest were permanently lost, with tropical humid primary forest loss 38% higher than required to be on track. Key drivers include unsustainable production of agricultural commodities and extractive industries, often fueled by demand from industrialized nations like China and the EU. While some progress is noted in forest governance and the expansion of protected areas, significant gaps remain in funding for Indigenous peoples and local communities. The report argues for a radical shift from exploitative consumption models toward circularity and rights-based governance to safeguard critical ecosystems.

The 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that the world is far from meeting its 2030 goals to stop and reverse deforestation and degradation. In 2023, 6.37 million hectares of forest were permanently lost globally, with tropical regions in Africa and Asia failing to meet their targets. Primary forest loss remains alarmingly high, and forest degradation affects an area ten times larger than that of permanent deforestation. The report identifies unsustainable production and consumption—particularly of agricultural commodities, fossil fuels, and minerals—as primary drivers. While some progress is noted in countries like Brazil and Indonesia, and through new EU regulations like the EUDR, the report highlights a massive gap between 'green' and 'grey' financing, with trillions in harmful subsidies continuing to drive ecosystem loss. It emphasizes the critical role of Indigenous peoples and local communities, who face significant violence and limited direct access to funding despite their role as forest guardians.

The 2024 assessment finds that global goals to end deforestation and forest degradation by 2030 remain out of reach, with 6.37 million hectares of forest permanently lost in 2023. While some progress is noted in countries like Brazil and Indonesia, global pressures from unsustainable production—particularly agriculture and mining—persist. The report highlights a critical gap between 'green' and 'grey' financing, noting that environmentally harmful subsidies far outweigh investments in forest protection. It also emphasizes the ongoing struggle for indigenous land rights and the increasing threat of human-induced forest fires. The document recommends a radical shift in consumption patterns, the reallocation of harmful subsidies, and the implementation of rights-based governance to protect global forest ecosystems.

The 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that the world is far from meeting its 2030 goals to stop deforestation and degradation. In 2023, 6.37 million hectares of forest were permanently lost, with tropical Asia and Africa seeing significant increases. The report highlights that unsustainable production of agricultural commodities and minerals remains the primary driver of loss, often impacting Indigenous Peoples and local communities. While some progress is noted in Brazil and Indonesia, and through new EU regulations like the EUDR, global efforts are hampered by a massive gap between 'green' and 'grey' financing, with trillions in harmful subsidies continuing to incentivize forest destruction.

The 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that the world is off track to meet 2030 forest goals, with 6.37 million hectares of forest permanently lost in 2023. Deforestation is primarily driven by commodity production, including agriculture and mining, with significant demand from industrialized nations like China, the EU, and the U.S. While some progress has been made in forest law enforcement and the establishment of protected areas, the report highlights a massive gap between 'green' and 'gray' finance, noting that environmentally harmful subsidies reach USD 2.6 trillion annually. The assessment emphasizes the critical need for rights-based governance and direct funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to ensure sustainable forest management.

The document analyzes three case studies where digital tools—ranging from free Wi-Fi hotspots and custom apps to SMS and voice technology—are used to bridge the digital divide in mining regions. It highlights that while these programs may not always be designed exclusively for women, they often result in significant female participation and empowerment by providing access to education, employment opportunities, and human rights information. The report emphasizes the importance of co-design, digital literacy training, and multi-stakeholder partnerships in ensuring the sustainability and inclusivity of these technological interventions.

Between 2013 and 2023, scientists described at least 742 new species in the Congo Basin, including 430 plants, 140 invertebrates, 96 fish, 42 reptiles, 22 amphibians, 10 mammals, and 2 birds. The report emphasizes that the region is a critical carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot, but faces severe threats from illegal logging, poaching, mining, and infrastructure development. WWF is implementing conservation strategies including biomonitoring, FSC-certified forestry, and human-wildlife conflict insurance to protect these ecosystems.