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The report identifies significant barriers to the adoption of sustainability certifications for biofuels, particularly for producers using agricultural or forest feedstocks and those operating in developing countries. Key challenges include a lack of flexibility in indicators to meet local conditions, high certification costs without guaranteed market premiums, and auditor inexperience with new social requirements. Conversely, producers using non-agricultural or non-forest wastes find the process simpler. The study recommends regional adaptation of standards and the creation of secure, large-scale markets to incentivize certification.

The report argues that rising input costs, water scarcity, and international market pressure are driving a transition toward green agriculture in South Africa. It highlights specific opportunities in energy efficiency, solar PV, conservation agriculture, precision agriculture, biological control, and biogas, while noting barriers such as high import costs, regulatory delays, and a lack of technical skills.

The report details the conclusion of the Small Grants Program for Cooperative Research in the Americas (SGP-CRA) and the ongoing progress of the Third Cooperative Research Networks Program (CRN3). It highlights the mobilization of US$ 26 million from an initial US$ 2.75 million investment in SGP-CRA and the implementation of 17 multidisciplinary networks under CRN3. Key achievements include the influence of research on legislation in Argentina, the development of hurricane forecasting for Baja California, and the creation of a coastal risk decision tool for 25 Caribbean countries. The report also notes the start of the CONICET-IAI partnership and the development of the Inter-American Forum for Global Change Research Cooperation to expand multilateral funding.

The Plowprint report by WWF International tracks the gross conversion of intact grasslands to cropland in the US and Canada from 2008/2009 to 2015. Unlike net conversion studies, the Plowprint counts land as converted even if it later reverts to grass, arguing that the initial plow-up causes significant, long-term ecological loss. The analysis uses federal satellite-derived data to identify conversion hotspots and emphasizes the loss of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and water filtration. While noting that nearly half of the Plowprint area had reverted to perennial cover by 2015, WWF maintains that such restoration may not fully recover biological diversity or soil capacity. The document also outlines WWF's broader efforts to reduce grassland and forest conversion globally, specifically targeting soy, beef, and palm oil supply chains in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

The document describes the political action and organizational strategies of the communities in the Cuenca de Salinas Grandes and Laguna de Guayatayoc to oppose development models that facilitate dispossession and ignore their ancestral knowledge and community history.

The document is a declaration calling for the end of fossil fuel exploration and extraction to address the climate crisis and mass extinction. It demands a just transition to a democratized, 100% renewable energy system, the removal of fossil fuel industry influence from policymaking, and the recognition of the rights of Indigenous and frontline communities.

This collection of papers analyzes regional integration efforts in three key areas: South America, Southern Africa, and Russia. It argues that while traditional trade-led integration has often stalled, new drivers such as regional value chains (RVCs), energy pooling, and strategic investment shifts offer paths toward deeper cooperation. In South America, the report finds a lack of a clear 'hub country' and significant infrastructure gaps hindering RVCs. In Southern Africa, it highlights the potential of the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) and the dual role of South Africa as both a catalyst and a diverter of regional investment. In Russia, the analysis focuses on a strategic 'turn to the East,' shifting investment focus from Europe toward the Asia-Pacific region and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

The report evaluates the market share of certified sustainable commodities and the volume of deforestation-free commitments from companies, financial institutions, and governments. It finds that while palm oil certification has increased, soy and paper have remained stagnant, and beef lacks a global certification standard. Corporate pledges have risen rapidly since 2009, but financial institutions and exporting jurisdictions show significantly lower levels of commitment and policy implementation.

The paper argues that South Africa has failed to translate its mineral wealth into inclusive growth due to a combination of historical structural inadequacies, policy incoherence, and rent-seeking by political elites. While the country shows symptoms of 'Dutch disease', the author finds this inadequate to explain manufacturing decline, which is instead attributed to import penetration and a lack of 'nearby' capabilities in the product space. The document strongly critiques the government's focus on downstream beneficiation—forcing mining companies to subsidise local processing—as economically inefficient and potentially harmful to investment. Instead, it advocates for developing upstream linkages and technology-laden capital equipment. Furthermore, it highlights how mineral rents continue to benefit politically connected insiders and traditional leaders through the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) deals, often at the expense of rural communities.

The report posits that Iran's nuclear power program is economically unviable and creates security ambiguities that could be resolved by shifting toward energy efficiency and renewables. It suggests that international cooperation in these sectors would align with Iran's economic interests, reduce the domestic case for nuclear power, and potentially halt a regional nuclear arms race. The author highlights Iran's significant wind and solar potential and compares this transition to experiences in Argentina and Brazil.

The CDKN-ICLEI First Learning Workshop in Quito, Ecuador, brought together 51 participants from 16 projects to identify enablers and barriers to sub-national climate compatible development (CCD). The workshop focused on moving from planning to implementation, resulting in a revised set of assumptions about effective CCD and the identification of critical knowledge gaps in planning, scaling, and conceptualisation. These outcomes informed seven core learning questions that project partners will address through the creation of 'Inside Stories'—reflective, evidence-based analyses of their learning processes. Regional discussions highlighted that in Asia, CCD is often framed as 'climate-smart' or 'climate-friendly' and requires strong links to poverty alleviation and gender issues, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, local framing and political will are seen as key drivers for sustainability.

The document analyzes the scarcity of agricultural financing in developing countries, where risks like natural hazards and high transaction costs deter lenders. It categorizes financial needs into four groups: farmers/entrepreneurs, value chain actors, rural infrastructure, and R&D. The brief details a range of instruments from informal savings and micro-finance to complex value-chain and infrastructure financing. It emphasizes the government's role in risk management through credit guarantees and insurance subsidies, and the importance of flexible regulatory frameworks to attract investment while protecting savings.

The policy brief proposes that South Africa shift its Latin American engagement from a Brazil-centric approach to a broader 'South Atlantic Zone' framework. This strategy aims to leverage shared developmental trajectories and maritime interests to bolster the 'blue economy' and regional security. The authors highlight the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZPCSA) as a key mechanism for collaboration, alongside maritime exercises like IBSAMAR and Atlasur. While trade between South Africa and Latin American South Atlantic countries remains low, the document identifies significant potential for growth in ocean economics, specifically through initiatives like Operation Phakisa, and cultural ties via the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).

The statement alleges that Harvard University's ownership of 87,000 hectares of eucalyptus and pine plantations in Corrientes, Argentina, managed by EVASA and Las Misiones S.A., has led to groundwater depletion, habitat loss, and pollution from pesticides. It further claims that these investments involved land usurpation without prior consultation and the exploitation of workers under dangerous conditions with inadequate pay, despite Harvard's claims of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.

The report evaluates National Climate Change Funds (NCCFs), finding that they currently play a limited role in global climate finance, accounting for less than 0.2% of total flows in 2013. It identifies key barriers to resource mobilisation, including weak institutional capacities and a lack of clear vision, and proposes a structured three-step approach—defining vision, building capacity, and engaging investors—to improve their sustainability.

The GCF Secretariat report for mid-March to mid-June 2015 details progress in accreditation, readiness support, and the development of a project pipeline. It highlights the achievement of the Fund's effectiveness threshold with approximately US$ 5.47 billion in contributions and the review of 76 public sector concept notes requesting US$ 3.4 billion. The report also outlines the activities of the Private Sector Facility (PSF), including the review of 48 potential project ideas totaling US$ 3.1 billion, and the Secretariat's engagement with UNFCCC thematic bodies and other climate funds to ensure policy coherence.

This document is a participant list for the 39th Executive Council Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, held in Lima, Peru, on June 23, 2015. It lists representatives from various countries including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and the USA, as well as observers from Panama, Japan, Ecuador, and organizations such as UNESCO and the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research.

The 23rd CoP of the IAI focused on strengthening the interface between science and policy, approving the 2015-2016 operational budget and annual plan, and establishing a working group for open science. Member countries reported on national climate communications and adaptation plans, while the IAI leadership emphasized the need to move from ad hoc scientific communication to a systematic approach for decision-makers. The conference also addressed financial challenges, noting unpaid contributions from Brazil and Mexico, and discussed strategic partnerships with Future Earth and FAPESP.

The research paper argues that South Africa can bridge the conceptual divide between its 'Latin American' and 'African' foreign policy by treating the South Atlantic Zone as a single entity. It highlights the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZPCSA) as a framework for security and economic collaboration. Key drivers for this engagement include the 'Operation Phakisa' blue economy initiative, the need to combat piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and the exploitation of untapped oil and gas reserves. While trade between South Africa and Latin American partners like Brazil and Argentina remains low due to similar commodity exports, the document identifies significant growth potential and the role of South Africa as a strategic gateway between Latin America and Asia.

The document proposes that leveraging Iran's potential for energy efficiency and renewables over the next 10-15 years could discredit its nuclear power program and prevent a regional nuclear arms race. It suggests this approach would meet Iran's need for secure and affordable energy while modernizing the interpretation of Article IV of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.