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This research paper examines the feasibility, potential benefits, and challenges of establishing a unified currency among the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). It analyzes the proposal through the lens of Optimal Currency Area (OCA) theory, highlighting the geopolitical goal of reducing reliance on the US dollar while noting significant economic and political hurdles.

This research paper examines the feasibility, potential benefits, and risks associated with the adoption of a unified currency among the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). It analyzes the proposal through the lens of Optimal Currency Areas (OCA) theory, highlighting the tension between the desire for reduced dollar-dependency and the reality of significant economic and political divergence among member states.

This research paper analyzes the first ten annual intergovernmental declarations of the BRICS configuration (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to evaluate how the group represents the interests of the 'majority world'. The author argues that while BRICS has successfully used discursive strategies to advocate for the reform of global economic governance and has achieved some practical outcomes through the G20, there remains a significant gap between its declarative statements and collective policy implementation.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the link between human-caused climate change and extreme weather in Argentina, highlighting the role of the domestic oil and gas industry in driving emissions and the government's preference for fossil fuel production over renewable energy transitions.

A briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlining the expected agenda for the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, focusing on post-expansion integration, trade in local currencies, global governance coordination, and climate transition strategies.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines Nature-based solutions (NbS) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), detailing their potential for climate mitigation and adaptation alongside significant risks regarding biodiversity, land rights, and greenwashing.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative/Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (CPI/PUC-RIO) analyzes how deforestation in the Amazon rainforest reduces rainfall patterns, thereby jeopardizing hydroelectric power generation in Brazil. Through case studies of the Teles Pires HPP and plants in the Paraná Basin, the study demonstrates that the loss of forest vegetation reduces the moisture carried by 'flying rivers,' leading to lower river volumes and significant revenue losses for energy producers, even for plants located thousands of kilometers from the Amazon biome.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics explores the 'bioeconomy'—the use of natural resources to support economic growth and environmental health. It details three primary conceptual approaches (biotechnology, bio-resources, and bio-ecology) and examines how different nations, particularly Brazil, are implementing strategies to balance economic development with biodiversity conservation and social equity.

A World Resources Institute (WRI) analysis reveals that 25% of global crops are grown in areas with highly stressed or unreliable water supplies. The report highlights the vulnerability of staple crops and the rapid depletion of water resources in the few countries that dominate irrigated crop production, while also noting the increasing instability of rainfed agriculture due to climate change.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute argues that the $700 billion annual biodiversity finance gap can be addressed by complementing complex, resource-intensive reporting frameworks with simpler, cost-effective metrics—specifically hectare-based measurements—to incentivize broader private sector contributions to nature conservation and restoration.

This research paper evaluates the prospects and challenges of economic integration among the BRICS nations, specifically the possibility of forming an Optimum Currency Area (OCA) and a common currency. While the bloc has established significant institutions like the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) to foster cooperation and reduce US dollar dependency, profound economic heterogeneity—ranging from commodity-driven to manufacturing-based economies—poses a major hurdle to monetary union. The analysis suggests that while traditional economic criteria for a currency union are not fully met, political will and strategic alignment may drive convergence over time.

This policy brief examines the intersection of global environmental change (GEC) science and policy in the Americas. It argues that for science to effectively inform policy, it must move beyond academic excellence to prioritize credibility, practicality, usefulness, accessibility, and acceptability. The document emphasizes the need for early collaboration between scientists and policy-makers, the involvement of social scientists, and the reform of funding and reward systems to better align scientific research with societal needs and policy implementation.

This briefing describes the vulnerability of tropical dry forests in the Americas to global change, detailing trends in productivity and the urgent need for expanded conservation efforts beyond existing national parks and reserves.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics argues that nature and ecosystem services provide immense economic value, often exceeding the gains from their exploitation, and that the costs of biodiversity loss pose systemic risks to global GDP and financial stability.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-RIO) analyzes deforestation within agrarian reform settlements in the Brazilian Amazon. It finds that while these settlements occupy only 8% of the biome, they accounted for 24% of forest loss in 2023. The analysis reveals a high concentration of deforestation in a small number of settlements and suggests that this loss is driven by external actors rather than the resident settler population, as evidenced by the prevalence of large-scale clearing.

The report 'Panorama de Financiamento Climático para Uso da Terra no Brasil 2021-2023' by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes financial flows directed toward agriculture and forests aligned with climate goals in Brazil. It finds a significant increase in annual climate finance for land use, reaching an average of R$ 88.1 billion between 2021 and 2023, driven largely by rural credit and domestic private sources. The document details the instruments used, the sectors benefited, and the specific climate uses (mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage), while highlighting gaps in transparency and the need for more rigorous verification of sustainable practices.

This report by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the power sector transition across the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates). It finds that while the bloc continues to build fossil-fueled capacity, non-fossil capacity additions are accelerating, with the share of power capacity fueled by coal, oil, and gas potentially falling below 50% by the end of 2024.

This briefing by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes the expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) as of October 2024. It details significant planned investments in export terminals in Mexico and Argentina, and import expansions in Brazil, while warning that these projects risk becoming stranded assets in the energy transition and may conflict with global climate goals to limit warming to 1.5 °C.

This factsheet by the Institute for Economic Justice argues that a universal basic income guarantee (UBIG) is a necessary component of a Just Energy Transition (JET) in South Africa. It posits that while targeted support for displaced workers is essential, a UBIG provides a foundational safety net for those indirectly affected by the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy, builds climate resilience against extreme weather, and facilitates the adoption of sustainable habits.

The Institute for Economic Justice argues that food insecurity in South Africa is driven by income poverty, not food scarcity. It proposes a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) to ensure all adults can afford a basic nutritional diet, noting that current targeted grants are insufficient. The document highlights the severe health and economic costs of malnutrition and argues that a UBIG, combined with a 'just food transition' and systemic food system reforms, can break intergenerational poverty cycles without causing significant inflation.