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Since 2023, Chinese firms have committed over US$100 billion in outbound foreign direct investment (OFDI) across at least 130 major cleantech transactions, spanning solar, wind, batteries, and new energy vehicles (NEVs). This 'going global' strategy is driven by domestic overcapacity, which has caused solar module prices to drop 60% and battery prices 50% year-on-year, and a need to circumvent trade barriers from the US and EU. The report highlights China's dominance in the global battery supply chain, where it holds over 80% of manufacturing capacity, and its expansion into markets like Morocco, Brazil, and Thailand. For Australia, the report notes that Chinese OFDI reached a multi-decade low of US$613 million in 2023, and argues that Australia should clarify its foreign investment rules to attract Chinese private capital for onshore value-adding in critical minerals and renewable energy infrastructure.

The Institute for Economic Justice proposes a universal basic income guarantee (UBIG) as a foundational safety net for South Africa's transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. The document asserts that while targeted support for displaced workers is necessary, a UBIG is essential to cover those indirectly affected, such as informal workers and carers, and to prevent people from falling through gaps in social protection. It highlights international evidence from countries like Bangladesh, Brazil, and Ethiopia to demonstrate how cash transfers mitigate climate-induced crises and reduce negative coping strategies. Furthermore, the text argues that a UBIG facilitates environmental adaptation by providing the financial stability needed for reskilling and sustainable consumption, while promoting a more equitable distribution of climate risks between the Global North and Global South.

The fact sheet examines the crisis of food insecurity in South Africa, asserting that while the country is food secure at a national level, millions of households suffer from hunger due to income poverty. It advocates for a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) as a direct mechanism to ensure all adults can afford basic nutrition, contrasting this with the limitations of current targeted grants and the paternalism of food vouchers. The document also highlights the long-term economic and health costs of malnutrition and argues that a UBIG should be part of a broader strategy including a 'just food transition' to address systemic agricultural issues and climate change risks.

The fact sheet examines the crisis of food insecurity in South Africa, noting that while the country produces enough food, millions lack the income to access it. It highlights the severe health and economic consequences of malnutrition, particularly for children, and argues that existing targeted grants are insufficient. The document proposes a UBIG as a direct mechanism to eliminate hunger, while cautioning that it must be part of a broader strategy including a 'just food transition' to address systemic issues and climate change risks.

The document examines the crisis of hunger and malnutrition in South Africa, asserting that while the country produces enough food, millions suffer from food insecurity due to poverty and income inequality. It advocates for a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) as a primary tool to ensure all citizens can afford nutritious food, thereby breaking the cycle of poverty and improving long-term economic productivity. The text contrasts cash transfers with food vouchers, arguing that cash is more efficient, less prone to corruption, and better for local economies. It also emphasizes that UBIG must be part of a broader strategy including a 'just food transition' to protect food systems from climate change.

The Institute for Economic Justice argues against the National Treasury's proposal for a binding fiscal rule in South Africa, claiming it misdiagnoses the debt problem by focusing on the quantum of debt rather than the cost of borrowing. Drawing on case studies from Brazil and Indonesia, the paper asserts that fiscal rules often lead to 'creative accounting', inappropriate budget cuts to social services, and reduced flexibility during crises, without necessarily lowering borrowing costs. The authors suggest that sustainable public finances can only be achieved through economic expansion, progressive revenue mobilization, and direct interventions to lower interest rates.

The document examines the link between income poverty and food insecurity in South Africa, arguing that while the country produces enough food, millions lack the means to afford it. It advocates for a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) as a primary tool to ensure all citizens can meet basic nutritional needs, thereby reducing malnutrition, stunting, and the long-term economic costs associated with hunger. The text contrasts cash transfers with food vouchers, arguing that cash is more efficient and supportive of local economies. It also emphasizes that UBIG should be part of a broader policy response including a 'just food transition' to address climate change and systemic food system failures.

The WTO's moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions, first established in 1998, is likely to end by March 2026. This expiration could lead to a fragmented global regulatory landscape, increased costs for consumers and businesses, and a shift toward regional trade agreements. While developing nations argue that the moratorium limits their policy space and public revenue, the authors suggest that the lack of a common definition for 'electronic transmissions' complicates the transition and that a multilateral agreement remains the most stable path for digital trade.

The WTO's moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions, in place since 1998, is likely to end by March 2026 due to opposition from developing countries seeking to recover lost tax revenues and maintain policy space for national industrialization. The authors argue that the end of this global rule would lead to a fragmented 'mosaic' of regional and bilateral trade agreements with inconsistent definitions of 'electronic transmissions,' potentially increasing costs for consumers and creating barriers for digital service providers. While some members argue that the moratorium hinders their ability to support domestic digital industries, the authors suggest that alternative taxes, such as VAT, could generate revenue without the trade-distorting effects of customs duties. The document highlights a critical lack of a common definition for 'electronic transmissions,' which has led to divergent revenue loss estimates—ranging from 280 million USD globally (OECD) to nearly 10 billion USD annually for developing countries (UNCTAD).

The 2024 Private Equity Climate Risks Scorecard reveals that 21 analyzed private equity firms are responsible for an estimated 1.17 gigatons of annual emissions from upstream operations, LNG terminals, and coal plants. The report argues that the industry's lack of transparency and continued investment in fossil fuels obstruct the global transition to a 1.5°C warming scenario. It ranks firms from 'B' to 'F', with EIG Global Energy Partners receiving the lowest grade due to its high emissions and low alignment with climate demands. The authors call for mandatory disclosures and a just transition for workers and impacted communities.

The report analyzes the hydrological impacts of forest fires and deforestation in the Chiquitania region of Bolivia, specifically focusing on the Curichi Grande and Tucavaca watersheds. It details the development of a multi-criteria prioritization tool using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and a hydrological model using WEAP to assess water availability and soil retention. Field findings from 2021-2022 highlight critical water scarcity and quality issues in local communities following the 2019 and 2020 fires, while the report argues that integrating fire risk into water management is essential for sustainable regional development.

The document provides an overview of three types of carbon markets: compliance-based, voluntary, and multilateral-based (Article 6 of the Paris Agreement). It highlights the growth of government-led markets, which generated $104 billion in 2023, while noting the severe integrity crisis and subsequent investment decline in voluntary carbon markets. The author discusses how countries manage competitiveness through tools like free allowances and output-based pricing, and details the emerging landscape of Article 6 bilateral agreements. For developing countries, the report identifies a tension between the need for climate finance and the risks of 'greenwashing' and fiscal instability.

The IAI Executive Directorate is implementing CoP-32 mandates by strengthening scientific communication, developing digital monitoring systems for its Strategic Plan, and establishing partnerships with institutions like CR2, FAPESC, and STRI. Key initiatives include the 'Tropical Forests' Collaborative Research Action (CRA), the 'Climate, Environment and Health' (CEH) program, and the creation of the Center for Science Diplomacy. The Directorate is also advancing gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion (GEDI) policies and establishing advisory committees for indigenous peoples and local communities.

The Net Zero Stocktake 2024 finds that while net zero target-setting is increasing among companies, cities, and subnational governments, very few (5% or less) meet all minimum integrity criteria. The report highlights a significant rise in target-setting by Asian companies and notes that while national targets often act as an ambition 'ceiling', some subnational governments in countries like Australia, Germany, and India have set more ambitious targets than their national governments.

The project utilized a study of bioenergy's socio-ecological impacts to build interdisciplinary skills among a team of 10 scientists and 8 students from social, natural, and engineering sciences. The team conducted 800 qualitative interviews and 1,000 quantitative surveys across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the USA, with specific ecological data collected on birds and pollinators in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. Successes were noted in knowledge generation (one published article), funding (including an IAI Seed Grant proposal), team retention over two years, and the creation of a free online workshop on transdisciplinary teamwork. The project aims to inform policy improvements to increase sustainable energy benefits and socio-ecological resilience while minimizing negative impacts.

The project utilizes the Antares network of eight time-series stations across Latin America to study phytoplankton's role in regulating and supporting ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration and fisheries support. By integrating in situ data from 40 sampling cruises with remote sensing and bio-geochemical modeling, the team aims to understand how climate-driven changes in the ocean environment affect these services and the coastal populations that depend on them. Initial findings indicate that fish productivity in the South Brazil Bight is likely food-limited, as potential yields based on primary production significantly exceed reported FAO catches.

The project establishes a Nitrogen, Society, and Environment Network (Nnet) to study the impacts of human activity on the nitrogen cycle across various Latin American ecosystems. It integrates empirical measurements of biological nitrogen fixation, atmospheric deposition, and fertilizer use with regional modeling to inform policy and environmental management.

The project aims to create a regional understanding of the nitrogen cycle in Latin America by measuring biological nitrogen fixation, atmospheric deposition, and the impacts of land-use changes. Initial findings include high nitrogen pollution in Venezuelan rivers, low biological nitrogen fixation in Chilean forests affected by copper mining, and the influence of urban and industrial areas on NOx concentrations in São Paulo. The initiative seeks to provide guidelines for policymakers to manage nitrogen and minimize environmental degradation.

The world is on track to install 593 GW of solar power in 2024, a 29% increase over 2023. China remains the dominant market, projected to account for 56% of global additions. Growth is widespread, with significant surges in India and the US, and emerging markets like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia showing rapid increases in solar panel imports. This trajectory puts the goal of tripling renewable power capacity by 2030 within reach, provided grid and storage constraints are addressed.

The report finds that June through August 2024 was Earth's hottest season on record, with human-induced climate change significantly increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat worldwide. Using the Climate Shift Index (CSI), the analysis shows that one in four people experienced temperatures made at least three times more likely by climate change every day of the season. Global exposure peaked on August 13, 2024, affecting 4.1 billion people. The average person experienced 17 additional 'risky heat days' (temperatures above the 90th percentile) due to climate change. Over 2 billion people experienced 30 or more such days, with extreme concentrations in the Caribbean, Western Asia, Micronesia, Northern Africa, and Southern Europe. Additionally, 72 countries experienced their hottest June-August period since 1970, and 180 Northern Hemisphere cities faced dangerous extreme heat waves that were, on average, 21 times more likely due to human-caused warming.