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The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) criticizes the 2025 National Budget for maintaining a fiscal strategy focused on debt stabilization and regressive taxation, specifically the proposed VAT increases and personal income tax bracket freezes. While acknowledging a shift away from explicit spending cuts, the IEJ argues that expenditure increases in health, education, and social grants remain insufficient to restore pre-pandemic service levels or address food insecurity. The statement calls for Parliament to amend the budget by increasing corporate tax, removing tax breaks for high earners, and expanding the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.

The G20 Compact with Africa (CwA), initiated in 2017, aims to boost private investment and infrastructure in Africa through reform agendas in macroeconomic, business, and financing frameworks. While CwA countries often show stronger growth and trade performance, a direct causal link to investment flows remains unproven, and foreign direct investment to Africa rose only by $4.5 billion between 2017 and 2023. To enhance the initiative, the author recommends that South Africa's G20 presidency facilitate the admission of interested countries such as Angola, Kenya, and Zambia, and elevate the African Advisory Group (AAG) to a permanent G20 working group. Additionally, the note suggests spotlighting critical minerals and energy investment, improving investment grades to reduce Africa's $75 billion risk premium, and implementing 'country platforms' to increase private sector engagement in reform agendas.

Government representatives of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) meeting in Barbados on 12 March 2025 issued a call to action for a just energy transition. The document highlights that over 24% of the SIDS population lacks electricity and nearly 43% lack clean cooking access. To address these gaps and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, the SIDS call for the swift capitalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, increased public grant and concessional finance, and the implementation of the Baku to Belém Roadmap to mobilize $1.3T. Proposed actions include submitting ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP30, scaling up innovative financing like debt-for-climate swaps, and deploying fit-for-purpose technologies such as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and electric cooking.

Holy Cross Energy is implementing a strategy to reach 100% renewable energy by 2030 through the deployment of distributed lithium-ion battery storage. By leveraging a $11 million USDA Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) loan and Inflation Reduction Act direct pay tax credits, the cooperative has established the Power+ program, which provides on-bill financing for residential battery packs. This system allows the utility to perform energy arbitrage and peak shaving, reducing reliance on expensive natural-gas peaker plants while providing members with backup power during extreme weather and wildfires.

Reclaim Finance warns that proposed carbon offset protocols for replacing coal plants with renewables risk overestimating emission reductions and allowing polluters to avoid their own decarbonization. The author asserts that large-scale coal phase-outs require governments and financial institutions to accept investment losses and provide significant support for sustainable energy deployment.

In 2024, extreme heatwaves in China, the US, and India drove record air conditioning use, significantly increasing electricity demand and forcing a surge in coal and gas generation to meet the shortfall. The report highlights that cooling demand accounted for 37% of the US demand increase (April-September), 31% in China, and 19% in India for the same period. In China, coal generation grew by 10% in September 2024, while in the US, coal rose by 6.4% in June. The authors argue that relying on fossil fuels to meet cooling needs creates a feedback loop that accelerates climate change, recommending a transition to energy-efficient ACs, rooftop solar, and improved retail pricing to enhance grid resilience.

The document outlines a readiness and preparatory support proposal for Paraguay, implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). It addresses four primary barriers: limited coordination and monitoring of climate finance, the absence of a National Direct Access Entity, a lack of standardized green investment definitions, and insufficient climate integration in long-term development planning. Key interventions include training the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) in its role as the National Designated Authority (NDA), updating the GCF Country Programme and No-Objection Procedure, and supporting the AFD's GCF accreditation. Additionally, the project aims to pilot a Green Taxonomy, develop a Green Job Strategy, and establish a climate finance MRV platform to track domestic and international flows. The proposal emphasizes gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), targeting 50% women's participation in events and integrating GESI-disaggregated indicators into national planning.

The report identifies a critical need to accelerate the integration of health and climate policies in the Caribbean to address climatic vulnerability and a dual burden of non-communicable and infectious diseases. While there is general support for this integration, current links remain nascent and tenuous. Key barriers include siloed government operations, a rigid top-down policymaking process, inadequate financial and technical resources, and significant data gaps. Opportunities for progress lie in national development plans, international climate commitments, and the health co-benefits of renewable energy. The authors advocate for a 'climate in all policies' approach, enhanced multi-sectoral communication, and the use of analytical risk assessment tools to move from awareness to decisive policy action.

In Chamwino, Tanzania, the transition from diesel-powered to solar-powered water pumps for the AMCOS farming cooperative led to significant increases in mango yields and farmer incomes. Between 2021 and 2022, average production rose from 40 to 97 fruits per tree, with those using drip irrigation exceeding 120 fruits. Monthly incomes nearly doubled from TZS 150,00 to TZS 297,000. Despite these gains, the project faces limitations including clogged pipes, insufficient storage, and a lack of processing facilities. The document argues that scaling such renewable energy initiatives requires integrated policies for water management, improved agricultural training, and better market infrastructure.

The report finds that the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan will reduce gas imports for power generation by 57% by 2030, but notes that the UK remains vulnerable to price shocks due to continued import reliance in heating, transport, and biomass power. It argues that transitioning to heat pumps and electric vehicles would significantly lower import dependence and household costs, as a 2030 heat pump is forecast to be 85% less reliant on imports than a gas boiler.

The report argues that air pollution is a critical global health threat, causing 7 million premature deaths annually, and advocates for a strategic, integrated approach within health systems. It outlines a pathway involving Health Impact Assessments (HIA), health infrastructure assessments, capacity building for professionals, and cross-sectoral collaboration. Through case studies from India, the UK, Singapore, the Philippines, and South Africa, it demonstrates how data-driven tools like WHO's AirQ+, solarization of clinics, and community-led legal action can mitigate health burdens and drive systemic policy change.

The report argues that air pollution is a critical global health threat, causing 7 million premature deaths annually, and advocates for a systemic integration of air quality management within health systems. It outlines a five-part framework: conducting health impact assessments (HIAs), evaluating health system infrastructure and vulnerability, strengthening capacity through early warning systems and professional training, fostering intersectoral and transboundary leadership, and incorporating community needs into policy. Through global case studies, it demonstrates how tools like the WHO's AirQ+ software in Trinidad and Tobago, solarization of health centers in Chhattisgarh, India, and the transboundary haze management of ASEAN can reduce the health burden and improve system resilience.

The document outlines the technical approach for modeling the 'Current Policies' and 'IRA Repeal' scenarios using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS). It details which specific IRA sections—including tax credits for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and carbon capture—were included in the analysis, which were omitted as 'out of scope,' and the specific assumptions used to calculate their effects on emissions and energy demand.

The document argues that repealing federal technology-neutral electricity tax credits (§45Y and §48E) would significantly increase household energy bills across the United States. Drawing on analyses from multiple research groups, it estimates that national annual household energy bills would rise by $40–$60 in 2030, $56–$150 in 2035, and $140–$220 by 2040. The report highlights that these credits lower costs by reducing investment expenses for wind, solar, battery, nuclear, and geothermal projects, savings which utilities are regulated to pass on to consumers. Repeal would likely lead to substantial price hikes in specific states, with some households facing increases over $500 annually.

The document details the severe health impacts of the fossil fuel lifecycle, emphasizing that air pollution linked to fossil fuels causes over 80% of pollution-related deaths. It highlights the disproportionate burden on vulnerable groups—including children, women, the elderly, and racialized communities—and advocates for a managed phase-out of oil, gas, and coal to save millions of lives and reduce healthcare costs. The brief provides case studies from Argentina, India, the USA, and China to illustrate these harms and the benefits of decommissioning coal plants. It concludes with specific policy recommendations for city and national governments to transition toward renewable energy and protect public health.

The report assesses the nascent green bond market in Africa, which has raised approximately USD 9.6 billion through 76 issuances since 2013. While the market is growing, it remains a niche segment constrained by high issuance costs—up to 5% of total deal value compared to 0.9% in Europe—and macroeconomic instability. The analysis finds that green bonds provide financial additionality for issuers through faster capital raising and access to diverse investors, but primarily fund mitigation projects, with only 7% of proceeds going to pure adaptation. Social inclusion and gender considerations are generally absent from design but occur as indirect co-benefits, such as job creation. The report recommends the development of an African Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, the mandatory inclusion of 'Do no harm' and gender provisions, and the use of project preparation facilities to make adaptation projects more bankable.

The document examines the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the legal frameworks governing it, specifically criticizing the ISDS system for prioritizing investor protections over public interest and sustainable development. It details the financial and regulatory burdens placed on states by ISDS awards and advocates for a proactive, holistic reform of investment governance.

The document examines the role of legal frameworks in governing foreign direct investment (FDI) and critiques traditional investment treaties and the ISDS system. It argues that these frameworks often prioritize investor protections over public interests, creating a 'regulatory chill' and imposing high financial burdens on states, particularly in the context of the energy transition. The guide proposes a shift toward treaties focused on cooperation and sustainable development, while detailing various national, bilateral, and multilateral reform strategies.

The report assesses the progress of 40 adaptation interventions across various sectors in Ethiopia, finding that nearly 67% of the 64 associated indicators lack current data for tracking. While the health sector shows strong implementation and monitoring, the water, energy, and urban sectors suffer from significant data gaps and institutional capacity constraints. The analysis highlights a critical lack of gender-sensitive indicators, with only six of 64 being gender-sensitive, and recommends expanding the NDC's scope to include the financial, labour affairs, industry, and education sectors to address heat stress and financial exclusion.

The document is a comprehensive guide for small-scale fishing communities in South Africa to exercise their environmental rights. It details the legal framework—including the Constitution and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA)—and explains how communities can engage in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and legislative processes. It specifically warns against the risks of offshore oil and gas exploration, mining, and the impacts of climate change, using case studies like the Deepwater Horizon spill and the 2022 Durban floods to illustrate environmental and socio-economic vulnerabilities. The guide provides practical steps for accessing information via the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) and highlights successful legal challenges against companies like Shell and Searcher to demonstrate the power of collective community action.