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This infographic reports that while Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico have significantly increased their renewable energy capacity (with Brazil leading at 196.5 GW), the transition is hampered by a lack of binding community participation and continued heavy investment in fossil fuels. It highlights that technical expansion alone does not guarantee social acceptance, citing territorial conflicts in Chile, Mexico, and Colombia, and emphasizes that reaching 2030 goals requires addressing transmission bottlenecks and energy poverty.

This fact sheet by Transforma, published in April 2026, argues for an orderly and just transition away from fossil fuels in Latin America and the Caribbean. It highlights the region's extreme climate vulnerability, the economic risks of stranded assets, and the persistence of fossil fuel subsidies despite the region possessing the world's cleanest electricity matrix. The document calls for binding roadmaps for fossil fuel exit, particularly in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, and emphasizes the need for a 'Just Transition Mechanism' to support territories and workers.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines two primary policy responses to climate change in Africa: carbon sequestration through forest regeneration and the implementation of a global carbon tax. It highlights the critical role of the Congo Basin as a carbon sink and analyzes four illustrative global carbon tax scenarios, concluding that a differentiated payment approach aligns best with international equity principles and the Paris Agreement.

The 60th meeting of the Executive Council of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on January 8, 2026, focused on the institutional and financial crisis triggered by the United States' withdrawal from the organization. The Council discussed severe budget reductions, the need for institutional restructuring, and efforts to diversify funding through development banks and philanthropic organizations. The meeting concluded with the decision to convene an Extraordinary Conference of the Parties in March 2026 to address these challenges.

This briefing paper argues that the proposed United Nations Legally Binding Instrument (LBI) to regulate transnational corporations is a critical structural lever for achieving environmental justice. It contends that existing voluntary frameworks are inadequate to stop corporate-driven ecological destruction and that the LBI can transform the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment (RtHE) into enforceable obligations, ensuring corporate liability and access to remedy across transnational value chains.

This briefing paper argues for the necessity of a legally binding United Nations instrument to regulate transnational corporations and other businesses as a structural lever for environmental justice. It contends that current voluntary frameworks are insufficient to ensure corporate accountability for ecological destruction and human rights violations, particularly in the Global South.

This report analyzes the governance of critical minerals for the energy transition in Chile, specifically copper and lithium. Using case studies from the Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions, it evaluates the application of UN principles on equity and justice, identifying significant gaps in indigenous participation, water management, and the distribution of mining royalties. The document proposes a series of safeguards driven by civil society to ensure a more just and sustainable energy transition.

This research paper by Ieva Baršauskaitė and Antoine Bonnet analyzes the transition of trade-related climate measures from abstract policy debates to practical implementation between 2025 and early 2026. It examines the evolving roles of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in managing issues of transparency, interoperability, and development equity, positioning the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) as a critical juncture for consolidating these international efforts.

This research paper examines the evolving landscape of critical minerals diplomacy, arguing that current multilateral trade rules are insufficient to balance the economic security needs of consuming nations with the industrialization goals of resource-rich developing countries. The author analyzes the rise of non-binding sectoral partnerships and plurilateral initiatives led by developed nations, warning that these may reinforce power asymmetries. The paper proposes utilizing the World Trade Organization (WTO) or regional groupings as more neutral platforms to establish a rules-based system that supports sustainable sourcing and domestic value addition in producer economies.

The High Seas Treaty, formally the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement), enters into force on January 17, 2026. The treaty establishes a legal framework to protect biodiversity and manage natural resources in the 'high seas'—ocean areas outside any single country's jurisdiction, which cover approximately half of the planet's surface.

The Renewables Bulletin Latin America and the Caribbean Edition provides an update on the region's transition to clean energy, highlighting the growth of wind and solar, the role of critical minerals, and the challenges of energy efficiency and biodiversity protection. It specifically notes a recent shift in Venezuela's energy strategy and the region's overall progress relative to global averages.

This report evaluates the results and impacts of two electric mobility programs in Chile, "Mi Taxi Eléctrico" (MTE) and "Más Transporte Eléctrico" (+TE), implemented by the Agencia de Sostenibilidad Energética (AgenciaSE). The programs aimed to modernize minor public transport by replacing combustion vehicles with electric ones, introducing 405 electric vehicles across 10 regions. The study finds that the transition is technically and economically viable for urban taxi drivers, who typically travel under 300 km daily, and that direct exposure to these vehicles improves public perception of electric mobility.

This policy brief proposes a trade-aware Just Transition framework for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to manage the shift toward low-carbon, climate-resilient development. It argues that for the Caribbean, the transition is a structural regional transformation rather than a sector-specific phase-out of fossil fuels. The document outlines six guiding principles—social justice, effective governance, inclusive participation, economic resilience, alignment with climate goals, and green financing—and applies them to both at-risk sectors (energy, tourism, agriculture, forestry, transport) and growth sectors (blue economy, circular economy, orange economy).

This fact sheet provides a comprehensive profile of the global copper value chain, detailing production, reserves, market concentration, and the impact of the energy transition. It highlights the dominance of China in refining and smelting, the role of major producers like Chile and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the challenges associated with recycling and ore grade decline.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, authored by Fundación Ivy, identifies regional best practices in Latin America and the Caribbean for accelerating the deployment of non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE). It analyzes five pillars: political and institutional frameworks, strategic planning, regulatory frameworks for investment and operation, demand response, and regional integration. The document uses case studies from countries such as Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, and Mexico to illustrate successful strategies and contrasts these with the current situation in Colombia.

This policy brief by Transforma and Diorama Initiative analyzes the macroeconomic, financial, and social risks of Colombia's energy transition. It warns that a disordered transition could lead to significant job losses and fiscal instability due to the country's high dependence on fossil fuels. The document proposes an integrated policy framework consisting of macro-fiscal, labor, and productive-territorial packages to transform the energy transition into a broader strategy for just economic diversification.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines how climate change is reducing the quantity and quality of sparkling wine globally. It details the impact of extreme weather on yields and pricing in key regions like France, Spain, and Italy, the chemical changes in grapes that alter flavor profiles, and the risks to agricultural workers. The document also discusses the limitations and costs of adaptation measures, noting that traditional wine-growing regions face a high risk of becoming unsuitable if global temperatures rise by 2°C or more.

This report by Transforma and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) proposes social, environmental, and governance safeguards for the mining of energy transition minerals in Latin America. Based on UN principles and case studies in Chile, Colombia, and Peru, the document identifies systemic gaps between mining laws and their territorial implementation, advocating for a shift away from historical extractivist patterns toward a just energy transition.

The WWF-SASSI fact sheet is a consumer guide for the South African seafood market that categorizes species into Green (best choice), Orange (think twice), and Red (don't buy) lists based on population health, fishing methods, and management. It encourages consumers to verify the species, origin, and catch method to ensure ecological sustainability and legal compliance.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the systemic lack of transparency and consistency in reporting oil accidents across the Americas. It highlights that while the region contains three of the world's largest oil producers and consumers, most nations fail to provide open, updated datasets, hindering risk assessment for future drilling and environmental governance.