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This policy brief examines the measurement and management of fishing capacity within the framework of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations to discipline fisheries subsidies. It provides technical definitions of capacity, overcapacity, and overfishing based on FAO guidelines, and discusses the challenges of monitoring these metrics in multi-species and artisanal fisheries. The document also analyzes global fleet trends from 1950 to 2015, noting a significant increase in vessel numbers and engine power alongside a decline in stock abundance.

This report presents recommendations from civil society and Indigenous Peoples experts regarding the creation of a new UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change. Based on six regional consultations involving 157 participants from 55 countries, the document outlines the rationale for a dedicated mandate to address the holistic impact of climate change on human rights and the potential role of such a rapporteur in increasing accountability and supporting vulnerable communities.

This report presents recommendations from civil society and indigenous experts regarding the proposed creation of a UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change. Based on regional consultations across 55 countries, the document argues that a dedicated mandate is necessary to ensure a coordinated, rights-based approach to climate action and to hold state and non-state actors accountable for climate-related human rights violations.

This report presents recommendations from civil society and indigenous peoples regarding the creation of a UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change. Based on regional consultations across six areas, the document argues that a dedicated mandate is necessary to ensure a coordinated and global approach to the human rights impacts of the climate crisis, supplementing existing ad hoc mechanisms within the UN Human Rights Council.

This report analyzes regional trends in cooling access gaps for 2021, focusing on high-impact countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It highlights an overall increase in populations at highest risk—specifically the rural and urban poor—across all regions, with the COVID-19 pandemic cited as a contributing factor to rising poverty and cooling access challenges.

This report analyzes global access to cooling in 2021, focusing on 54 high-impact countries. It details how the combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising global temperatures have increased the number of people at risk due to a lack of sustainable cooling, particularly among the rural and urban poor.

This policy brief, based on a report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, examines transboundary climate risks to global food security through the trade of six key agricultural commodities. It argues that traditional risk management strategies like diversification are becoming ineffective due to the systemic nature of climate change, necessitating a shift toward multilateral cooperation and a global systemic view of adaptation to prevent geopolitical tension and protect import-dependent, low-income countries.

This policy brief analyzes the history of global climate governance, highlighting the transition from the Kyoto Protocol's rigid mandates for developed nations to the Paris Agreement's universal, bottom-up approach. It emphasizes that while the Paris Agreement achieved universality by evolving the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, current national pledges remain insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

The report advocates for 'social-ecological transformation' in Asian cities—defined as the simultaneous pursuit of social justice and ecological protection—to meet global climate targets. It emphasizes the need for inclusive decision-making and structural shifts in the built environment, transport, and public participation sectors to move beyond short-term projects toward long-term sustainability.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the evolution of global climate governance from the 1979 World Climate Conference to the 2015 Paris Agreement. It examines the shift from 'top-down' prescriptive instruments like the Kyoto Protocol to 'bottom-up' participatory frameworks, highlighting the ongoing tension between universal participation and the equitable distribution of responsibilities based on historical emissions and national capacities.

This report by Ember evaluates the availability, quality, and transparency of timely electricity data across various countries in Asia and Oceania. It establishes a scoring framework based on eight criteria—including time granularity, fuel breakdown, and ease of access—to rank national data sources and identify gaps that hinder the tracking of the energy transition.

The 'Energizing Finance: Understanding the Landscape' report analyzes financial commitments for electrification and clean cooking in 20 high-impact countries (HICs) across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia for the year 2018. It finds that current investment levels are significantly below the requirements to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) by 2030, with a notable misalignment between where funds are allocated and where the greatest energy needs exist.

The executive summary of 'Energizing Finance: Understanding the Landscape 2020' analyzes energy access finance commitments in 2018 across 20 high-impact countries (HICs) in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. It finds a significant gap between actual and required investment for Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), noting that funding is poorly distributed geographically and often favors fossil fuels over sustainable, off-grid solutions.

The 'Energizing Finance: Missing the Mark 2020' report analyzes the gap between financial commitments and actual disbursements for energy projects in 20 high-impact countries (HICs) across Africa and Asia, utilizing the OECD Creditor Reporting System (CRS) database.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative, supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), proposes a framework for measuring climate finance flows to small-scale agriculture in developing countries and provides a snapshot of international financial commitments for 2017 and 2018.

This literature review by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Sitra examines the relationship between the transition to a circular economy and its impact on global and regional employment, emphasizing the need for 'decent work' and just transition policies.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of technical assistance and capacity building (TACB) in implementing a potential World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on fisheries subsidies. It identifies critical gaps between the needs of developing countries for compliance—such as subsidy inventory and IUU monitoring—and the actual distribution of official development assistance (ODA), which heavily favors general fisheries development and management over specific subsidy reform.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the necessary adaptations for South Africa's trade policy following the COVID-19 pandemic. It advocates for a revised Trade Policy Strategic Framework that emphasizes regional integration through the AfCFTA and SACU, a strategic redesign of South Africa's role within the WTO, and the diversification of global trading partnerships to ensure economic resilience in the 2020s.

This fact sheet by the Center for International Environmental Law proposes a coordinated international tax or fee on the production of basic chemicals to fund chemicals management in developing and transition countries, operationalizing the 'polluter pays principle'.

The SEforALL 3-Year Business Plan 2021-2023 outlines the transition to 'SEforALL 3.0,' a strategic shift from global agenda-setting toward an implementation-focused model. The plan prioritizes data-driven decision-making, partnerships with high-impact countries, and the delivery of specific 'Results Offers' across four thematic areas: Energy Diplomacy and Advocacy, Energy Access and Closing the Gap, Energy Transitions and Climate Change, and Intersection with Other SDGs. The organization aims to mobilize USD 58.9 million over three years to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) by 2030.