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This discussion paper by the NewClimate Institute, Germanwatch, and the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management examines the conceptual and political challenges of implementing Article 2.1(c) of the Paris Agreement. It analyzes diverging interpretations of the article's scope, proposes a working definition for assessing financial flow alignment, and identifies systemic barriers in developing countries that necessitate global financial architecture reform.

Friends of the Earth expresses concern over the Senate's confirmation of Ben Black as CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), arguing that his private equity background may shift the agency's focus from sustainable development toward profit-driven investments.

This report synthesizes submissions from civil society organization (CSO) coalitions in seven Southern African countries to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), analyzing democracy, governance, and sustainable development.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative and the Amazon 2030 project analyzes the regulatory and institutional barriers hindering biodiversity-based biotechnology in Brazil, with a specific focus on the Amazon region. It identifies the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) framework as a primary obstacle to innovation and investment, and suggests that the forthcoming National Bioeconomy Development Plan (PNDBIO) is a critical opportunity to integrate biotechnology into the national strategy.

A statement issued by representatives from the Americas during the Scientific Diplomacy Forum in Panama (October 16-21, 2023), emphasizing scientific diplomacy as a tool to bridge gaps in science, technology, and innovation to address global challenges.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the future of state governance in the Global South over the next two decades. It examines how demographic shifts, climate change, digital revolutions, and geopolitical multipolarity redefine state legitimacy and function. The study utilizes World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) and strategic foresight to propose four global scenarios—Growth, Sustainable, Divided, and War—and four state archetypes—Negotiator, System Builder, Fractured, and Collapsed—to help policymakers build institutional resilience.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute (WRI) presents a financial case for climate adaptation, arguing that such investments are highly profitable and synergistic with general development goals. Based on an analysis of 320 projects, WRI finds that adaptation investments can yield significant returns through a 'triple dividend' of avoided losses, induced economic development, and additional social and environmental benefits.

This report synthesizes civil society organisation (CSO) submissions to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) from seven Southern African countries. It analyzes the interconnected challenges of political, economic, and environmental governance, highlighting a persistent gap between the adoption of democratic and policy frameworks and their actual implementation.

This research paper examines the intersection of the evolving international trading system and the urgent need to address biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainable development. It argues that while trade has historically contributed to environmental harm, it can be repurposed as a strategic tool for sustainability through new narratives, inclusive international cooperation, and coherent policy frameworks. The author identifies a shift from traditional trade liberalization toward 'multipurpose' approaches that balance security, resilience, and sustainability, and proposes a policy agenda to reorient trade rules, scale up sustainable technologies, and ensure equitable economic transformation for developing countries.

This report, co-published by the African Development Bank and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), examines how Africa can leverage its critical minerals to drive inclusive growth, industrialization, and regional integration by shifting from raw material exports to value-added production.

This research paper introduces the 'minerals-energy-food (MEF) complex', a new analytical framework designed to address the limitations of existing natural resource governance frameworks, which the authors argue fail to differentiate between physical resources and traded commodities or capture global drivers of resource use.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that international investment treaties should be reframed as public risk allocation instruments rather than merely legal tools. The authors contend that these treaties function as unpriced public insurance, shifting political and regulatory risks from private investors to host states, often without the safeguards or pricing mechanisms found in other de-risking tools. The brief recommends a systemic evaluation of treaties alongside other risk-transfer mechanisms to better align investment governance with public interest goals, particularly regarding climate transitions and sustainable development.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that investment treaties should be reframed as public risk allocation tools rather than merely legal instruments. It contends that these treaties act as a form of 'unpriced public insurance' that transfers political and regulatory risks from private investors to host states, often without the safeguards or pricing mechanisms found in other de-risking tools.

This report, produced by an international expert group convened by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS), aims to establish a shared understanding of environmentally harmful agricultural subsidies to inform international policy discussions and promote cooperative action.

This research paper by Tristan Irschlinger provides a state-of-play analysis as of March 2025 regarding the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations on fisheries subsidies. It evaluates the impact of the 2022 Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (Fish 1) and the ongoing efforts to establish broader rules (Fish 2) to address the root causes of overcapacity and overfishing.

The Manila Tool Kit, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in March 2025, provides a practical framework for policy-makers in developing countries to achieve horizontal coherence between investment governance and other policy areas. It guides governments in aligning investment treaties, national laws, and contracts with international commitments related to sustainable development, climate action, and human rights to reduce regulatory inconsistencies and litigation risks.

The Manila Investment Policy Forum Tool Kit is a practical guide developed by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to help national and regional policymakers improve horizontal coherence between investment governance and other policy areas. It provides a two-step framework to align investment treaties, laws, and contracts with international sustainable development commitments, such as those related to climate, human rights, and public health.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the necessity of reforming investment treaties and the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system. It argues that traditional treaties, which prioritize investor protection, often conflict with sustainable development goals, create significant financial burdens for states, and discourage necessary public interest regulations, particularly regarding the energy transition.

This research paper evaluates the H2Global mechanism and the pilot auction funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), assessing how they address ecological and social risks and opportunities associated with green hydrogen production.

This research paper by the NewClimate Institute evaluates the H2Global mechanism and its pilot tender funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The study finds that while the pilot tender incorporates some EU-aligned sustainability requirements, the overall mechanism lacks minimum standards, creating risks of variability in climate and sustainable development impacts. The analysis highlights gaps in safeguards regarding competing water and land use, the absence of incentives for surplus electricity sharing, and limited potential for sustainable local economic value creation due to the mechanism's export-focused design.