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The October 2022 Theme 1 report by the Forest Declaration Assessment evaluates global progress toward two primary 2030 goals: ending the loss and degradation of natural forests and restoring 350 million hectares of degraded landscapes and forestlands. The report concludes that no global indicator is currently on track to meet these targets, though it identifies regional variations and specific country successes.

This policy brief summarizes a regional flagship report on the gendered impacts of climate change in Southeast Asia. It advocates for mainstreaming gender equality into climate-relevant sectoral policies to ensure socially inclusive outcomes and sustainable development.

This research paper describes a review of 24 financing strategies for adaptation in developing countries, conducted as part of a four-year project to scale up development finance. The authors analyze the diversity of these strategies—ranging from high-level support documents to detailed costing frameworks—and provide emerging insights and established good practices to help governments better secure and manage funding for climate adaptation.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes 24 financing strategies for climate adaptation in developing countries, categorized into discrete adaptation strategies and general climate action strategies. It evaluates how these documents are developed, the role of multilateral development banks (MDBs), and their effectiveness in mobilizing finance. The report identifies a need for better integration between ministries of finance and climate leads, more strategic use of public grants to leverage private investment, and improved country-level tracking of climate finance flows.

This policy brief examines the challenges and opportunities for securing sustainable finance to support Africa's regional infrastructure agenda, specifically within the framework of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It highlights the gap between Africa's high climate vulnerability and its low access to sustainable finance, proposing lessons from the ASEAN region to improve project bankability and regulatory harmonisation.

The report 'BOOM AND BUST 2022' by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants as of April 2022. It highlights a stark divergence: while many OECD and non-OECD countries are committing to end new coal construction and accelerate closures to meet Paris Agreement goals, China continues to expand its coal capacity significantly, offsetting global reductions.

This policy brief examines the global challenge of providing universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation, tracing the history of international efforts from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights the gap between political targets and actual infrastructure needs, the disproportionate impact of water risk on poor and marginalized populations, and the critical intersection between water security, environmental health, and climate change.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) synthesizes the activities of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) regarding climate change during 2020 and 2021. It details the Committee's use of the State reporting procedure to address mitigation, adaptation, extractive activities, and climate finance, while also reviewing the Committee's General Comments on science and land rights.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the environmental, socioeconomic, and governance (ESG) impacts of Chinese ICT infrastructure projects in Tanzania and Cambodia. It concludes that while environmental impacts were minimal, socioeconomic outcomes were mixed and projects suffered from a lack of transparency.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs compares the implementation of environmental, socioeconomic, and governance (ESG) standards in two Chinese-funded hydropower projects: the Bui Dam in Ghana and the Stung Tatay project in Cambodia. It examines China's domestic regulatory framework for hydropower and analyzes how local government capacity and transparency in the recipient countries influenced the success of ESG mitigation efforts.

This briefing by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the impact of China's pledge to stop building new coal-fired power projects abroad on the Asian energy pipeline. It argues that Chinese withdrawal, combined with similar pledges from Japan and South Korea, could reduce the pre-construction coal pipeline in Asia (excluding China and India) to 22 GW, most of which is unlikely to be completed due to financing obstacles.

This fact sheet provides a summary of the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge as of May 24, 2022, listing the financial commitments and geographic focus of 43 participating companies.

This case study describes a World Bank-supported model in Cambodia using performance-based contracts to increase private sector engagement in climate-resilient road rehabilitation, and evaluates the potential for scaling this Public-Private Partnership (PPP) structure within African markets.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how trade policy, specifically tariffs, can be used by developing countries to balance the goal of maximizing local economic benefits from clean energy investments with the need to minimize project costs. It analyzes the bill of materials for wind and solar projects to identify which components are suited for local production and evaluates the trade profiles of several countries to provide a framework for aligning trade and energy policies.

This research paper examines the impact of Chinese infrastructure provision, specifically through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), on rail standards in the Global South. By analyzing the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) Network and projects in Southeast Asia, the author provides recommendations for African countries on managing costs, standardization, and trade facilitation to maximize the benefits of rail development while transitioning to low-carbon transport.

The report 'Killed by Breathing' analyzes the global crisis of cooking poverty, where 3.83 billion people in 71 countries rely on solid fuels and low-quality stoves. It argues that the current 'clean cooking' sector is not on track to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) due to fragmented governance, insufficient funding, and a lack of focus on end-user behavior. The authors propose a shift toward the term 'cooking poverty' to reflect the scale of the problem and recommend integrating cooking solutions into existing electrification infrastructure to leverage its finance and technical support systems.

This case study describes the implementation of an Okra Solar mesh-grid system in the remote villages of Steung Chrov, Ta Daok, and Prek Spean in Cambodia. The project aimed to provide a commercially sustainable alternative to national grid extension and diesel mini-grids for low-density, remote populations.

This policy brief analyzes how voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) helped smallholder farmers in six countries cope with COVID-19. It finds that VSSs can build resilience through higher premiums, stronger buyer relationships, market diversification, and existing training in protocols. However, VSSs do not eliminate international price volatility or the disproportionate power of buyers. The brief recommends that governments support resilience by incentivizing sustainable consumption, ensuring living incomes via minimum prices, and extending social protection programs.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can enhance the resilience of small-scale producers during crises, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a study of six commodity sectors across six countries, the document analyzes the role of certification in mitigating price drops and contract cancellations, while also identifying the limitations of VSS in addressing systemic power imbalances and international market volatility. It concludes with policy recommendations for governments to support smallholder resilience through social protection, minimum pricing, and the stimulation of demand for sustainable products.

This policy brief examines the role of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) in enhancing the resilience of small-scale farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a study of six countries (Cambodia, India, Colombia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, and Rwanda), it finds that VSS can provide higher prices, stronger buyer relationships, and better training, which help farmers mitigate shocks. However, VSS alone cannot protect against global price volatility or asymmetric power dynamics in supply chains. The document recommends that governments complement VSS with social protection, minimum price guarantees, and policies to stimulate demand for sustainable products.