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The document analyzes the 2015 Spanish municipal elections, specifically the rise of 'citizen convergence' lists that integrated political parties, civil society, and independent activists. These movements, stemming from the 'Guanyem' initiative in Barcelona and influenced by the 15-M movement, sought 'democratic regeneration' through horizontal organization, open primaries, and codes of ethics. The author highlights the role of the green party EQUO in incorporating ecological policies—such as sustainable urban development and energy efficiency—into these agendas. The results showed significant success in cities like Barcelona, A Coruña, and Santiago de Compostela, suggesting a shift toward a more plural political cycle based on cooperation rather than the hegemonic strategies used by parties like Podemos.

The document examines how La Mesa, a Salvadoran coalition, used amicus curiae submissions in the Pac Rim arbitration to bring community concerns regarding metals mining and sustainable development to an international tribunal. It highlights the importance of alliance building between local groups and international legal experts to navigate technical arbitration processes and argues that such interventions provide essential public interest context that disputing parties may omit.

The report examines how the Mesa Nacional Frente a la Minería Metálica de El Salvador (MNFM), supported by CIEL and FESPAD, used amicus curiae submissions in the Pac Rim investor-state arbitration to highlight environmental and human rights concerns. It details the legal requirements for such interventions, the strategic importance of technical legal expertise combined with community grounding, and the outcomes of the jurisdictional phase of the arbitration. The document concludes with lessons for other civil society organizations on navigating the technical nature of international investment law to protect public interest and democratic decision-making.

The document provides a comprehensive introduction to Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), distinguishing them from carbon offsetting mechanisms like the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It details the NAMA lifecycle—from concept to implementation—and examines the financial landscape, including the role of the NAMA Facility and the Green Climate Fund. The guide highlights the current state of NAMA deployment, noting that while many are in the design phase, few have reached implementation. It emphasizes the critical role of civil society in ensuring sustainable development and accountability through stakeholder engagement and Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) processes.

Carbon Market Watch proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to ensure it delivers net atmospheric benefits rather than acting as a zero-sum offsetting tool. Key recommendations include tightening additionality testing through 'negative lists' for ineligible technologies, shortening crediting periods, and integrating national E+ and E- policies into baseline assessments. The document also advocates for strengthened civil society participation via new communication channels and a formal grievance mechanism. Furthermore, it calls for increased transparency from Designated National Authorities regarding sustainable development, stricter eligibility and conflict-of-interest rules for the CDM Executive Board, and a shift in the payment structure for Designated Operational Entities to ensure auditor independence.

Carbon Market Watch argues that international carbon markets must be supplementary to domestic action and governed by strict eligibility, accounting, and integrity rules to avoid the failures of previous mechanisms like the CDM and EU ETS. The organization recommends excluding REDD-plus and agriculture from carbon markets, implementing a 'negative list' of ineligible project types, and establishing a UN-led standard-setting body to prevent double-counting and ensure net atmospheric benefits.

This collection of reports and interviews analyzes contemporary European resistance movements, focusing on struggles against extractive industries, infrastructure mega-projects, and economic austerity. It highlights specific cases in Romania, Greece, Scotland, France, and Turkey, while discussing the systemic role of the educated middle class in mobilization. The text argues that Green parties must reconnect with their radical roots and form transversal alliances with social movements to challenge the dominant neoliberal economic model and the 'sacredness of growth'.

The document presents the texts of the Cooperation and Investment Facilitation Agreements between Brazil and Mozambique and between Brazil and Angola. Both agreements aim to foster reciprocal investments through institutional governance, including the creation of a Joint Committee and Focal Points (Ombudsmen) to facilitate investment and prevent disputes. They establish frameworks for information exchange, corporate social responsibility, and the protection of investments against expropriation, while emphasizing the preservation of legislative autonomy and public policy space.

The report argues that carefully designed investment contracts can bridge gaps in national legislation to ensure that large-scale agricultural investments in developing countries promote sustainable development. Drawing on research from UNCTAD and the World Bank, it identifies five key benefits—such as job creation and the integration of local farmers—and five primary risks, including land loss and poor environmental management. The document outlines a three-stage contractual process (preparation, negotiation, and monitoring) and provides specific legal options, such as 'satellite plantation' clauses and community development agreements, to ensure investors meet their social and environmental obligations.

This research paper examines the role of investment contracts in promoting responsible large-scale agricultural investments in developing countries. Drawing on empirical evidence from 39 projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, it identifies five key positive effects—such as employment creation and outgrower schemes—and five key negative impacts, including land loss and poor environmental management. The document proposes specific legal options and contractual clauses to ensure these investments contribute to sustainable development, emphasizing the importance of feasibility studies, community development agreements, and transparent grievance mechanisms.

The report analyzes the impact of large-scale agricultural investments in developing countries, identifying five key positive outcomes and five primary downsides. It argues that while domestic laws are the best foundation, investment contracts can fill regulatory gaps to ensure responsible conduct. The authors propose a three-stage contracting process—preparation, negotiation, and monitoring—and provide specific legal options to embed social, environmental, and economic safeguards into these agreements to prevent project failure and community conflict.

The document argues that developing countries can increase their access to climate finance by demonstrating strong fund management and project delivery. Rwanda is presented as a model for this approach, utilizing a national climate-responsive development plan (GGCRS) and a dedicated fund (FONERWA) to streamline resources and improve project quality. Key success factors identified include the use of joint sector reviews for cross-institutional coordination and the 'ubudehe' community-based system for inclusive needs assessments. The briefing recommends that other African nations establish similar dedicated funds to manage funding, prepare viable projects, and implement rigorous monitoring and evaluation to attract further international investment.

The project, led by Stockholmshem and Sustainable Innovation with research by the Stockholm Environment Institute, focused on behavioral changes and technical energy efficiency. While technical investments reduced heat consumption by 14% across the district (and 32% in specific upgraded buildings), behavioral goals for household electricity reduction were not fully met. The project found that residents were more engaged by 'lustful' activities they could control, such as urban gardening and climate-smart cooking, than by technical energy-saving measures. Key successes included the establishment of the HOPP! transition initiative, a local sustainability ambassador network, and a 'carrot mob' that successfully pressured local grocers to expand their organic product ranges.

The report examines the challenges and successes of implementing Western sustainability and development agendas within Vietnam's highly centralized party-state. It analyzes how historical legacies, including Chinese influence and the impact of the US war, shape current governance and social dynamics. Through various case studies—including hydropower strategic environmental assessments, poverty reduction programs like Chia Sẻ, and research on Agent Orange—the author demonstrates that while the Vietnamese state is open to experimental pilot projects, it remains resistant to reforms that challenge its monopoly on power or its paternalistic view of ethnic minorities. The document concludes that long-term engagement and an understanding of local cultural contexts are essential for effective policy advice in Vietnam.

The authors argue that the historical deadlock between governments and the private sector regarding climate action is ending, as nearly 40 countries have submitted national contributions and major corporations are integrating climate goals into their strategies. They highlight that green growth is a source of profit, noting that climate-conscious businesses see 18% higher returns on investment, while global inaction could cost $28 trillion by 2050. The text calls for business leaders to support ambitious policies and set concrete targets, such as 100% renewable energy use, to complement state-led measures ahead of COP21.

The document serves as a practical toolkit for LDCs and SIDS to formulate INDCs, offering a modular template that covers national context, mitigation, adaptation, planning processes, and implementation means. It emphasizes the flexibility allowed for these nations under the Lima Call for Climate Action, suggesting both measure-based and outcome-based approaches to mitigation. The guide highlights the importance of identifying synergies between adaptation and mitigation to attract international support and demonstrate political ambition ahead of the 2015 Paris COP.

The author contends that for BRICS to be perceived as a force for positive global change rather than just a new set of dominant powers, it must move beyond narrow self-interest. The paper proposes an inclusive agenda centered on four key challenges: rising inequality, the finite nature of the Anthropocene age (climate change and sustainable development), the rise of identity-based radicalism, and the tension between state sovereignty and global public goods. The author suggests that by leading on these issues, BRICS can build collective soft power and a more legitimate global compact.

The report examines the concept of 'Green Growth' and its potential to unblock international climate negotiations. It identifies a lack of a unified definition among stakeholders—including economists, the private sector, and civil society—and notes that while some developing nations have adopted the framework, major powers like the US, China, and the EU have not. The document argues that the narrative can gain traction by evidencing climate co-benefits and aligning with the Intended National Determined Contributions (INDC) process. Case studies from Brazil, India, and Colombia illustrate how these principles are applied domestically, though challenges such as low loan take-up in Brazil and the need for affordable technology in India persist.

The document describes an assessment of Uganda's legal and administrative readiness to operationalize the IGF Mining Policy Framework (MPF). Supported by the Canadian International Development Agency, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluated Uganda's existing government measures against the six themes of the MPF to help the government target implementation and capacity-building efforts.

The IISD Handbook on Mining Contract Negotiations for Developing Countries (Volume 1) outlines a strategic framework for host governments to move from a 'win-lose' to a 'win-win-win' negotiating paradigm involving the state, companies, and local communities. It emphasizes the critical importance of the pre-negotiation phase, including resource valuation, interdepartmental coordination, and the establishment of a 'social license to operate.' The guide analyzes the legal interplay between domestic law, investment contracts, and international treaties, while cautioning against stabilization clauses that may hinder future sustainable development regulations. It also provides detailed advice on maximizing economic linkages through local purchasing, employment, and downstream processing, as well as managing social and environmental risks, including climate change adaptation.