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The report examines the Joint Implementation (JI) mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, detailing its two operational tracks and comparing it to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It highlights significant delays in implementation, particularly in Russia and Ukraine, and the restrictive impact of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) on projects in Central and Eastern Europe. The document also analyzes the role of Green Investment Schemes (GIS) as an alternative to JI and concludes that the mechanism's late start and short crediting period (ending in 2012) threaten its overall viability unless post-2012 certainty is established.

The report details the status of Belarus's efforts to engage in carbon markets, noting that while the country has developed a legal framework and a pipeline of projects totaling 13 MtCO2e, the pending ratification of its Annex B amendment to the Kyoto Protocol has pushed the government to prioritize Voluntary Emission Reduction (VER) projects. It highlights the creation of a Department of Climate Change and a planned Carbon Fund, while noting investor concerns regarding bureaucratic barriers and a lack of expertise among middle-level officials.

The Russian Federation proposed a two-track approach to climate targets: a 'Kyoto track' to simplify the bureaucratic process for countries joining Annex B, and a 'Convention track' to recognize and incentivize voluntary targets by Non-Annex I countries through finance and technology transfer. While Annex B parties generally supported the simplification of accession procedures, Non-Annex I countries expressed skepticism, fearing that voluntary targets could eventually be converted into binding commitments. The report notes that the proposal lacked detail on the allocation of emitting rights for new Annex B members and suggests the initiative may have been driven by internal Russian agency competition.

The report argues that while the EU has introduced initiatives to counter conflict resources and provide preferential access to Least Developed Countries, its broader trade policies—specifically agricultural subsidies and the push for reciprocal Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)—can inadvertently drive instability. It highlights the 'double standard' of preaching free trade while subsidising EU farmers and notes that commodity price volatility often undermines security in sub-Saharan Africa. The author suggests that the EU should conduct conflict assessments of trade agreements and reduce agricultural subsidies to better align its trade policy with its peace and development goals.

The document analyzes the legal mechanisms for accessing justice in environmental matters within the European Union, structured around the three pillars of the Aarhus Convention: access to environmental information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice for breaches of environmental law. It details the scope of review, standing requirements for individuals and NGOs, and the standards of judicial scrutiny required to ensure effective legal protection. The guide specifically highlights the disparities in implementation across Member States and the restrictive nature of judicial review for decisions made by EU institutions.

The document examines how carbon pricing affects different household income levels across developed and developing countries. It argues that while carbon pricing can be regressive—disproportionately impacting low-income households who spend more of their income on energy—these effects can be neutralized or turned into net benefits through strategic revenue recycling, such as lump-sum rebates or targeted subsidies. The briefing highlights that in very low-income countries, carbon pricing can actually be progressive due to limited fossil fuel access among the poorest. It provides case studies from the EU ETS, the US Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), South Africa, and Iran to illustrate various implementation and mitigation strategies.

Global Witness reports that BASF's subsidiary, Wintershall Dea, continued extracting and transporting Russian gas in 2022 despite BASF's public commitment to wind down non-food businesses in Russia. The brief estimates that Russian gas transported by Wintershall across Germany in early 2022 was worth over €14 billion and that the subsidiary earned €400 million from Siberian fields between January and March 2022. It highlights BASF CEO Martin Brudermüller's lobbying to maintain these supplies to avoid economic crisis, while noting that Wintershall's partnership with Gazprom has increased Russia's leverage over Germany's energy security.

The policy brief advocates for the G20 to push the IMF for a new $650 billion SDR allocation to address the intersecting debt and climate crises in the Global South. It argues that SDRs are a critical alternative to debt-based financing, as they do not require repayment and can be used for fiscal support, climate adaptation, and mitigation. The brief also recommends that the IMF revert its accounting of SDRs from liabilities to equity (as per BPM5) to prevent artificial increases in debt-to-GDP ratios and facilitate the donation of unused SDRs from advanced economies to indebted nations.

The document presents a statistical overview of Russia's demographics, economy, and military capabilities, alongside a strategic analysis of its 'Positive' achievements—such as energy sector consolidation and the halting of military decay—and 'Negative' challenges, including corruption and the expansion of NATO and the EU into Ukraine.

The document examines the shift in Russian foreign policy under President Dmitry Medvedev, analyzing the tension between his proposed 'modernization' and the 'hard power' approach demonstrated during the 2008 conflict in Georgia. It explores Russia's strategic interests in the 'near abroad' (CIS), its pursuit of a multipolar world order to counter US unilateralism, and its complex relationships with the EU, China, and the US. Key themes include the use of energy as a political tool, the militarization of the Arctic, and the role of international law and institutions like the OSCE and Council of Europe.

The policy brief examines how the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) can utilise their renewable energy potential to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. It argues that current grid infrastructure is insufficient and that significant investments in interconnections with Nordic countries—specifically Sweden and Finland—are essential to balance wind power fluctuations and reduce dependency on non-EU energy sources. The analysis compares various production and interconnection scenarios, finding that a 100% renewable target is feasible if the region integrates more deeply with the Nordic Power System (NPS).

The analysis finds that combined Annex I pledges could reduce emissions by 12% to 19% below 1990 levels by 2020, which is significantly lower than the 25% to 40% reduction identified by the IPCC as necessary to stabilize CO2e concentrations at 450 ppm. The paper highlights that the perceived ambition of these pledges depends heavily on accounting assumptions, specifically the use of international offsets and the inclusion of land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) emissions. For instance, including LULUCF and using a 1990 base year for Canada's pledge allows for significant emissions growth. The author recommends that developed countries implement the higher ranges of their pledges and that the Copenhagen Accord's science review process mandate more ambitious commitments if global pathways remain misaligned with science.

The document clarifies that while bison and buffalo both belong to the Bovidae family, they are distinct animals found in different regions. Bison are native to North America and Europe, characterized by shoulder humps and beards, while buffalo are native to Asia and Africa, featuring smoother backs and different horn structures. It details the two bison species (American and European) and two buffalo species (water and African), noting their specific physical traits, habitats, and domestication histories.