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The document examines the progress and deficits of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) framework in Cyprus. While it notes success in promoting female participation in civil society and informal peace processes, it highlights a systemic failure to address 'hard' security and defence issues. The authors argue that both the Republic of Cyprus's National Action Plan and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) over-rely on the participation pillar, leaving core security functions unaddressed and creating a disconnect between civil society activists and government policymakers.

The author contends that the proposed ETS2 for buildings and road transport risks exacerbating energy poverty and failing to drive decarbonization unless it is accompanied by complementary policies to remove renovation barriers and a reform of the current ETS to eliminate free allowances for heavy industry.

The document outlines a proposed hybrid membership model for WACC to increase engagement among younger generations and diverse justice actors. It emphasizes the need for a more granular Theory of Change and the implementation of a tiered membership system—ranging from full governance roles to free subscriptions—to build a broader network while maintaining the association's unique identity.

The document argues that transport is a critical driver of development but a major source of emissions, accounting for 23% of energy-related CO2. It defines sustainable transport as safe, affordable, and efficient mobility that minimizes environmental impacts. The report details the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and provides examples of successful interventions, such as Jakarta's BRT system and various cities' shifts toward active mobility (cycling and walking). It specifically notes the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for structural changes in urban transit, though it warns that 30 major economies continue to provide significant subsidies to fossil fuels over clean energy.

The report examines the mechanism of Common African Positions (CAPs) used by the African Union to articulate collective interests on the global stage. While highlighting successes such as the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the Position on Asset Recovery, it identifies critical weaknesses including a lack of member state ownership, over-dependence on external funding, and a disconnect between AU headquarters in Addis Ababa and multilateral diplomatic hubs. The author argues that for CAPs to be effective, the AU must move toward more inclusive, participatory processes and ensure that member states, rather than AU bureaucracy, drive the advocacy and implementation of these positions.

The document examines the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and urban inequality, proposing six priority solutions to build climate-resilient and equitable cities. It highlights how the pandemic exposed systemic vulnerabilities, particularly for the urban poor in informal settlements, and argues that adaptation investments offer high benefit-cost ratios (2:1 to 10:1) and local job creation. Proposed solutions include upgrading poor settlements, building water resilience, advancing nature-based solutions, creating knowledge networks, enhancing devolved funding, and fostering peer-to-peer city collaboration.

Carbon Market Watch calls for the European Commission to revise non-financial reporting directives for companies with over 500 employees. The organization advocates for mandatory disclosures on climate risks, decarbonization pathways, state aid, 'Just transition' efforts, and lobbying expenditures. Additionally, it seeks greater transparency on the use of the EU emission trading scheme (EU ETS), including internal CO2 pricing and the use of carbon offsetting, to ensure investments align with the European Green Deal.

The briefing argues that Covid-19 response policies for the fisheries sector should not merely provide financial relief but should be used to 'build back better' by integrating environmental and social goals. It introduces ten principles—including concurrent crisis response, efficiency, and conditionality—to evaluate support measures. The author advocates for income support over vessel-cost subsidies to avoid overcapacity and suggests that any support for fixed costs be conditional on environmental improvements, such as adopting low-impact gear. The document also warns against deregulation, such as increasing interannual quota flexibility, and calls for a long-term shift toward industry cost recovery for fisheries management.

The guide outlines five strategies for implementing 'green meetings' in Asia, focusing on overcoming cultural barriers where offering less can be seen as 'poor'. Key recommendations include engaging leadership early, reforming travel cultures to reduce flights, supporting local communities through sustainable tourism, eliminating single-use plastics and disposables, and using digital tools like event apps to reduce printing and encourage participation.

Following the May 26 2019 elections, Belgium's Green parties saw divergent results: Ecolo grew in Wallonia and Brussels, while Groen's performance in Flanders was viewed as disappointing. The author attributes some of this to 'climate reassurers'—right-wing parties like NVA and Vlaams Belang that downplay the urgency of climate action to maintain neoliberal economic models. The document explores two future strategies for the Greens: focusing on local governance in cities to demonstrate success or joining federal and regional governments despite the risk of compromising their radical climate agenda.

The Higher Administrative Court of Münster scheduled a two-day evidence hearing on 9-10 May 2019 featuring science and health experts to resolve debates over air quality rules and diesel restrictions in Germany. This follows legal actions in 35 German cities supported by ClientEarth and Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) to enforce air quality limits. While some officials and specialists have questioned the science linking nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to health issues, the briefing notes that the majority of researchers, the European Commission, and Germany's environment minister maintain that limits are based on sound science. The hearing aims to provide the evidence necessary to adjudicate appeals regarding diesel restrictions in 14 cities in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The General Court of the EU ruled that the Brussels Region lacked standing to challenge the Commission's renewal of glyphosate authorisation, finding the Region was not 'directly concerned'. This contradicts a previous ruling (T-339/16) where cities were granted standing to challenge Euro 6 emissions standards. The court rejected the Region's arguments that the regulation undermined its local ban on glyphosate or forced it into specific administrative procedures, and it declined to apply the Aarhus Convention to public authorities.

The document details the transformation of Eskişehir, Turkey, following a 1999 earthquake and the subsequent launch of the Eskişehir Urban Development Project. Led by Mayor Yılmaz Büyükerşen, the city implemented an integrated strategy to modernize transport and restore the environment, specifically by dredging the Porsuk River, establishing a light rail system (EsTram), and creating extensive pedestrian zones and green spaces. These interventions led to significant increases in tourism, property values, and public accessibility, while improving the city's resilience to flooding and pollution.

The report examines the recurring political crises in Guinea-Bissau, specifically the 2015 crisis triggered by the dissolution of Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira's government by President José Mário Vaz. It argues that instability stems from institutional weaknesses, including a lack of constitutional clarity regarding the roles of the president and prime minister in a semi-presidential system. While the March 10, 2019, legislative elections are seen as a step toward legitimacy, the authors contend they are insufficient without the implementation of the Stability Pact and reforms to the constitution, electoral laws, political party regulation, the judiciary, and the security sector. The document also details the role of ECOWAS in mediating the crisis through the Conakry Agreement and the use of targeted sanctions to pressure political actors toward a resolution.

The document argues that Advocate General Bot's opinion on CETA's investment court system (ICS) is flawed and overly politicized, contradicting established European Court of Justice (ECJ) case law. It contends that the ICS undermines the EU's judicial autonomy and fails to account for the 'regulatory chill' that investor protection mechanisms can impose on public interest measures.

The CJEU ruled on 13 December (2018) that cities such as Brussels, Paris, and Madrid have standing under Article 263 TFEU to challenge EU regulations if those regulations prevent them from exercising their regulatory powers. In this case, the cities successfully challenged the 'conformity factor' in Commission Regulation 2016/646, which had relaxed the Euro 6 emissions standard. The court found that the regulation restricted the cities' ability to ban vehicles that met the relaxed standard but exceeded stricter emission limits. This decision is framed as a landmark for access to justice, potentially allowing cities to act as environmental watchdogs and challenge other EU measures, such as the authorization of glyphosate.

The document critiques the use of carbon offsetting within carbon pricing schemes, asserting that it allows entities to avoid genuine emission reductions. It highlights that while the EU has excluded international offsets for post-2020 domestic targets, Canada and China continue to support or allow them. The author specifically warns that the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) planned sector-wide offsetting scheme risks using low-quality credits to bypass the polluter pays principle. Referencing a European Commission study, the text claims only 2% of UN Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects clearly reduce emissions.

The brief finds that while 66% of EU cities have climate plans, there is significant disparity based on city size and national legislation. National mandates in countries like Denmark and the UK significantly increase the likelihood of cities having plans, while many cities in Spain and Italy rely on international networks like the Covenant of Mayors due to a lack of national guidance.

The report by KPMG Austria GmbH concludes that the financial statements of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) for the period ending 31 December 2016 present fairly its financial position and performance. The audit confirms compliance with voluntarily applied Austrian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and the organization's statutes. During 2016, SEforALL transitioned from a UN initiative to an independent International Non-Governmental Organization with 'Quasi-International Organization' status in Austria. Financially, the organization reported total revenue of €162,949.48 and total expenses of €162,949.48, resulting in a net operating income of zero. The report also details the organization's new Strategic Framework for Results (2016-2021) and its formal relationship agreement with the United Nations.

The document describes the use of Palmes-type NO2 diffusion tubes to monitor air quality across several Brussels locations from 19 February to 20 March 2017. It details the placement of tubes according to Directive 2008/50/EC, the laboratory analysis by Gradko International Limited, and a validation process at the Avenue de la Couronne station which revealed a 24% under-estimation of concentrations by the diffusion tubes. ClientEarth notes it adopted a conservative approach by using the lowest recorded concentrations for locations with multiple samples and publishing raw data without applying the bias correction factor.