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The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides free technical advice, seminars, and training to developing countries to ensure foreign investments support equitable and sustainable development. Their expertise covers the entire investment lifecycle—from promotion and facilitation to dispute resolution—with a focus on reforming investment treaties, aligning national instruments with modern practices, and strengthening governance coordination. IISD operates across sectors including energy, mining, and agriculture, and supports government officials in navigating multilateral forums such as UNCTAD, the WTO, and the AfCFTA.

The report analyzes 92 empirical studies (138 distinct analyses) published between 2003 and 2022. It finds a bimodal pattern where migrant exposure either strongly increases or strongly decreases trust, with positive effects more common for social and political trust and negative effects more common for perceptions of physical and economic security. The review highlights a significant Western bias in existing literature and finds strong evidence for the contact hypothesis, where direct intergroup interaction reduces prejudice and increases trust.

The 2023 Annual Monitoring Review marks the conclusion of SEforALL's 2021-2023 Business Plan, reporting the overachievement of cross-organizational KPIs. Key results include the mobilization of over USD 8 billion towards energy access and clean energy transitions, the facilitation of 26,669 new energy access connections, and the support of 31 countries in 2023. The report details achievements across four thematic areas: Energy Diplomacy and Advocacy, Energy Access and Closing the Gap, Energy Transitions and Climate, and the Intersection with other SDGs. Notable outcomes include the spearheading of UN Energy Compacts with USD 1.3 trillion in commitments and the deployment of the Universal Energy Facility (UEF) in five countries.

The briefing argues that adopting a 45% renewable energy target by 2030 would halve EU fossil gas imports compared to the 40% target in the Fit for 55 plan, resulting in €43 billion in additional savings in 2030 and an estimated €200 billion between 2025 and 2030. It warns that relying on LNG diversification creates new dependencies and exposes the EU to global price shocks and high methane emissions, particularly from the US. The analysis highlights that countries like Italy, France, and Poland would see significant cost reductions, while warning that Poland's current plans for increased gas power generation could lead to power shortages and reduced competitiveness.

Asia is currently developing 442 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of new LNG import capacity, representing a US$119 billion investment. While driven by growing energy demand, these plans face a 'fork in the road' due to extreme price volatility caused by the European energy crisis and the falling cost of renewable energy. China leads the regional buildout, accounting for nearly half of Asia's planned capacity. The document warns that this infrastructure could lock economies into fossil fuel reliance, contradicting global 1.5°C warming targets.

The document examines the IEA's WEO 2022, specifically the Net-Zero by 2050 (NZE) scenario, to outline a transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. It argues that fossil fuel demand is peaking and that achieving the 1.5°C target requires a total transformation of energy investment, characterized by a '9 for 1' ratio of clean energy to fossil fuel spending by 2030.

The statement asserts that low-income communities in the Global South and marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by climate change but are excluded from media representation and policy conversations. It argues that ensuring these groups have access to affordable digital platforms and communication tools is vital for implementing viable climate justice solutions, despite the likelihood that COP27's final texts will ignore the role of communications.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has the potential to become a global leader in zero-carbon fuels, particularly hydrogen, by utilizing its geographic position and natural resources. While countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE have announced projects using wind, solar, and natural gas with carbon capture, the region requires international cooperation and demand signals to scale infrastructure. Success depends on transitioning from one-off projects to a systematic approach that addresses high costs and infrastructure gaps, supported by partnerships between MENA countries and buyers in Asia and the EU.

The document outlines the methodology for calculating the amount of fossil fuels displaced by solar energy and the associated avoided costs. It describes the use of Ember's electricity datasets, IEA thermal efficiency and calorific value data, and UN Comtrade trade data to build linear regression models for fuel pricing. The analysis assumes solar replaces the cheapest fossil fuel generation in each country, with a specific exception for Indonesia where oil is replaced first.

Solar generation in seven Asian countries avoided approximately US$34 billion in fossil fuel costs in the first half of 2022. The report highlights rapid capacity growth in China, India, and Viet Nam, while noting that solar capacity across five key Asian economies is expected to grow by an average of 22% annually until 2030. However, the transition faces hurdles including grid instability in Viet Nam, high installation costs in Japan and South Korea, and policy bottlenecks in the Philippines and Thailand.

The document examines the legal mechanics of shareholder climate resolutions in Asia, detailing jurisdiction-specific requirements for filing, voting thresholds, and the role of company charter documents. It highlights a general trend toward increased ESG consciousness and regulatory focus on net-zero transitions in the region, while noting that legal landscapes vary significantly between countries.

The report projects that under current trends, 1.22 billion people will be at high risk of lacking cooling access by 2030. While achieving universal electricity access (SDG 7.1.1) alone provides limited relief, combining it with the eradication of extreme poverty (SDG 1.1) could reduce the high-risk population by 36 percent to 783.3 million. The analysis highlights that urban poor populations are growing due to urbanization and the urban heat island effect, while rural poor populations in Africa remain particularly vulnerable. The report emphasizes that income and energy access are critical prerequisites for the adoption of sustainable cooling solutions.

The paper estimates that US$ 14.66 billion in international development finance commitments targeted 'NbS-like' activities (combining climate and biodiversity objectives) between 2016 and 2020. It identifies a declining trend in both the total amount and the share of climate finance allocated to these activities since 2017. The analysis highlights significant funding gaps for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and suggests that project documentation often fails to provide detailed evidence that these funds deliver tangible biodiversity benefits.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines transboundary climate risks to Sweden's international trade, arguing that traditional analysis overlooks hidden vulnerabilities in deeper supply chain tiers, specifically regarding inputs from Asia, Africa, and soy production in Brazil.

The document examines the drivers of debt distress in developing countries, particularly in Africa, and critiques the inadequacy of current G7 and G20 relief mechanisms. It highlights how a shift toward private creditors and the failure of the G20 Common Framework to enforce private sector participation have hindered debt restructuring. The text advocates for a total dismantling of the current global financial architecture in favor of innovative domestic financing, increased transparency, and the establishment of an International Developing Country Debt Authority.

Climate Central's global analysis using the Climate Shift Index (CSI) found that 96% of the world's population—7.6 billion people—experienced daily temperatures made warmer by human-caused climate change between October 2021 and September 2022. The study identifies the strongest influences in regions near the equator and on small islands, with Lagos, Mexico City, and Singapore emerging as the highest hotspots of human exposure when accounting for urban population. The analysis also pinpointed peak continental CSI days, noting that these do not always coincide with major heat waves.

The report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5C requires a rapid decline in oil and gas production, with a minimum 65% reduction by 2050. It argues that developing new oil and gas fields is incompatible with this goal and would likely create stranded assets. To replace fossil fuels, the world must significantly scale up wind and solar deployment; the annual investment gap for these technologies is estimated at USD 450 billion until 2030, a sum that could be covered by redirecting funds currently slated for new fossil fuel exploration (USD 570 billion annually). The report also examines the 'dash for gas' in Europe following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, concluding that existing infrastructure can meet medium-to-long-term demand if consumption is reduced. Finally, it highlights legal risks from investment treaties, which could cost governments up to USD 340 billion in compensation claims, and criticizes the lack of transparency and ambition in corporate net-zero targets.

The Ivory Initiative (2018-2022) focused on closing legal ivory markets in Asia and reducing demand among Chinese consumers through policy engagement and behavioral science. The initiative achieved significant reductions in ivory availability in China, with physical outlets dropping by 86% and online adverts by 86% by 2021. It successfully advocated for bans in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan PoC, and Singapore, while strengthening laws in Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Demand reduction efforts, including the #TravelIvoryFree campaign, saw the proportion of Chinese consumers intending to buy ivory fall by nearly half between 2017 and 2021. The report concludes that these efforts contributed to a decline in African elephant poaching, with the Proportion of Illegally Killed Elephants (PIKE) in 2021 reaching its lowest level since 2003.

In 2024, Global Witness documented 146 land and environmental defenders murdered or disappeared globally, with 82% of cases occurring in Latin America. The report identifies mining as the deadliest industry and highlights the disproportionate targeting of Indigenous Peoples and small-scale farmers. It examines specific crises in Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, the Philippines, Guatemala, and Palestine, while critiquing the failures of state protection mechanisms and the rise of criminalization. The document calls for the ratification of the Escazú Agreement, the implementation of mandatory corporate due diligence, and the formal recognition of defenders' roles in climate solutions ahead of COP30.

The report examines the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of beef production, highlighting that emissions vary drastically by region and production system, ranging from 16 to 360 kg CO2e/kg edible meat. It identifies enteric fermentation, feed production, and land-use change as the primary emission drivers, while noting that well-managed grazing lands can act as carbon sinks. The document outlines mitigation strategies including improved feed digestibility, rotational grazing, and feed additives, estimating a total global mitigation potential between 0.67 and 2.55 GtCO2e/yr.