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The briefing warns that emergency COVID-19 measures—such as lockdowns, nationalization of health services, and export bans—risk triggering a wave of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims under over 3,000 investment treaties. It highlights the unpredictability of arbitration tribunals and the high cost of defense, which can average 8 million USD per case. Using historical examples like Argentina's 2001 crisis, the document illustrates how such claims can result in billions of dollars in awards, potentially undermining national health budgets and IMF rescue packages. The authors call for a coordinated global response via the UN, UNCTAD, or UNCITRAL to suspend arbitration for COVID-19 measures or issue joint interpretations of the 'state of necessity' defense. As an interim measure, it suggests that states may unilaterally withdraw their consent to arbitration.

The document outlines how developing countries can use tax policy to support the mining sector during the COVID-19 crisis. It identifies sector impacts, such as mine closures in Mongolia, Peru, Bolivia, and Madagascar, and fluctuating commodity prices. The guide recommends targeted relief for companies in severe financial distress, suggesting options like deferring payroll taxes, speeding up VAT refunds, and granting import duty relief. It explicitly advises against income tax holidays and withholding tax relief, while proposing that any state aid be conditioned on worker retention and the abandonment of aggressive tax avoidance.

The document outlines how governments in resource-rich developing countries can use fiscal policy to support the mining sector during the COVID-19 crisis. It identifies short-term impacts such as operational suspensions in Mongolia, Peru, Bolivia, and Madagascar, and fluctuating commodity prices. The guide recommends targeted tax relief—such as deferring payroll taxes, accelerating VAT refunds, and providing import duty relief—only for companies demonstrating severe economic distress. It emphasizes that such support should be conditional on maintaining employment, suspending executive bonuses, and adopting transparent pricing and tax practices. The guide warns against general income tax exemptions and the removal of withholding taxes on non-residents, as these are inefficient or risky for developing states.

The report identifies significant barriers to implementing just transition strategies in developing countries, including a lack of conceptual consensus, the misconception that the concept only applies to developed nations, and weak institutional capacity. It proposes a structured template for NDCs that includes labour market planning, stakeholder engagement, and the creation of inter-departmental coordinating committees. Through case studies of Latin American countries and a policy roundtable, the document emphasizes that no 'one size fits all' approach exists, particularly due to the prevalence of informal economies and varying levels of social protection in low- and middle-income economies.

The report analyzes the Zona Franca de Manaus (ZFM) as a public policy tool for industrial development in Brazil. It details the complex system of tax incentives—including exemptions and reductions in IPI, PIS/PASEP, and COFINS—and evaluates their distribution across key sectors such as two-wheelers, audio/video, and non-alcoholic beverages. The study compares the ZFM's industrial performance and workforce concentration against national Brazilian averages and provides a brief comparative overview of free trade zones in other countries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the US, Canada, and China.

The report finds that while global coal capacity grew by 34.1 GW in 2019, this was primarily driven by China, as capacity in the rest of the world continued to shrink. Global coal plant utilization hit a record low of 51% in 2019. The report highlights a shift in financing, with Western commercial banks largely exiting project finance for coal, while Japanese and Chinese public finance continue to support new developments. Significant retirements occurred in the US and EU, though some OECD nations like Japan and South Korea continue to develop new capacity.

The PRIO Conflict Recurrence Database reveals that approximately half of all conflict episodes between 1989 and 2018 recurred, often driven by the same or overlapping grievances. The analysis indicates that while actors may change—with new groups emerging or alliances forming—the underlying issues frequently persist, suggesting that peacebuilding efforts often fail to address the root causes of violence. The data shows a high frequency of rapid recurrence, with 90% of recurring conflicts returning within eight years.

The document argues that low-carbon energy transitions do not automatically address gender and social inequities, and marginalized groups risk being excluded from benefits. It examines four key dimensions: political economy, where power dynamics and social norms can institutionalize differential energy access; energy security, where modern energy services may shift rather than eliminate women's burdens; job markets, where women are under-represented in technical roles due to STEM perceptions and capital access; and technology adoption, where gendered decision-making and social norms influence the uptake of tools like clean cookstoves. The brief concludes that a holistic, systems approach integrating gender and social equity into planning and implementation is essential for a just transition.

The report details a comprehensive water assessment for the CORPOCHIVOR region in Colombia, employing the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system to analyze the Garagoa, Lengupá, Guavio, and Upía sub-basins. It establishes a baseline of water availability and demand, identifies critical micro-basins such as those in Úmbita and Ciénaga, and projects impacts under climate change scenarios to 2040. Key findings highlight a general lack of water retention capacity, deteriorating water quality in main river channels, and a discrepancy between official water concessions and potential actual demand in agricultural areas.

The report analyzes the bioeconomy landscape in Colombia, identifying a predominant 'bio-resources' vision that balances economic growth with environmental sustainability. Through a multi-stakeholder workshop, it explores sectoral visions for agriculture, biochemistry, bio-pharmaceuticals, and bioenergy, emphasizing the need for territorial development and the use of residual biomass. The document highlights critical sustainability gaps, including the risk of biodiversity loss if species are valued only for commercial advantage, the lack of formal land property rights for 60% of rural properties, and poor road infrastructure, with 75% of tertiary roads in poor condition. It concludes that a holistic, decentralized governance approach is necessary to align the bioeconomy with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The document outlines a framework for incorporating nature-based solutions into climate commitments, emphasizing the need for measurable targets, biodiversity benefits, and the integration of both mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The document argues that the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process is uniquely suited to support peacebuilding in fragile states because its long-term, holistic, and participatory nature aligns with the timelines and goals of conflict recovery. It highlights that climate risks and conflict often share drivers, such as poverty and weak governance, and that failure to adapt can exacerbate resource competition. The briefing provides examples of countries like Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Palestine that have integrated conflict dynamics into their NAPs, while noting ongoing challenges such as the lack of climate data in conflict zones and the exclusion of refugees from planning processes.

The document argues that for fragile states, climate change and conflict often share drivers and mutually reinforce each other, making the integration of adaptation planning and peacebuilding essential. It highlights how the NAP process, through its long-term, holistic, and participatory nature, can serve as a platform for conflict prevention and trust-building. The text provides examples from countries like Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Palestine where climate adaptation is used to mitigate resource-based conflicts or where active conflict severely hinders adaptation capacity. It concludes by identifying key challenges, including the need for transboundary planning and the inclusion of marginalized populations like refugees.

The Colombian Supreme Court ruled on April 5, 2018, that the Colombian Amazon possesses rights equivalent to those of a human being, necessitating its protection and restoration. The case was brought by 25 youth plaintiffs who argued that government failure to meet net-zero deforestation targets under the Paris Agreement threatened future generations. Despite the court ordering the government to implement action plans to reach net-zero deforestation by 2020 and create an Intergenerational Pact, the document notes that deforestation continued to increase and municipalities failed to update land management plans, leading plaintiffs to return to court in April 2019.

The NewClimate Institute explored the construction of Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) in Cartagena, Colombia, as a virtual Article 6 pilot. The study found that NZEBs are currently non-existent or uncommon in Colombia and Latin America, with a price premium of approximately 15% over standard buildings. Due to underdeveloped supply chains for solar PV and dehumidification systems, as well as insufficient domestic regulations, the project is considered additional and inaccessible without foreign support, meaning Colombia could likely export mitigation outcomes via Article 6 without endangering its own Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The ASSEGAIA Alliance launched the Declaration for the Protection of Sacred Natural Sites in January 2020, calling for the regeneration of the Earth to be central to decisions regarding these sites. The Declaration proposes a conservation model featuring a central 'no-go' zone and a buffer zone for ecologically sensitive activities, managed by Spiritual Guardians. The Alliance seeks to identify and protect such sites globally using international rights of Nature.

The study focuses on the Campoalegre River basin in Colombia, where diverse water uses and inter-basin transfers—particularly from hydropower—have reduced downstream supply. The research aims to create a water balance and decision-making tool for regional authorities to manage water stress and governance challenges caused by fragmented planning units.

The study focuses on the Campoalegre river basin in the Colombian coffee region, where water use conflicts are exacerbated by complex governance and water transfers between adjacent basins. By developing a quantitative water balance, the study seeks to provide regional environmental authorities with a decision-making tool to identify current and future water stress and potential rationing needs. It highlights how the diversion of water for hydroelectric power and other human activities reduces downstream supply, a problem complicated by the fact that these transfers often cross different administrative planning units.

The study finds that implementing two specific Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs)—replacing old refrigerators and providing renewable energy to off-grid areas—could prevent 4.71 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions in Colombia by 2040.

The document presents a data table comparing emission standards (LDV), gasoline octane levels, refinery counts, import percentages, and sulfur content in gasoline and diesel for various countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Key data points include Chile's transition to Euro 6 by 2022, Colombia's target of Euro 6 by 2030, and specific sulfur limits ranging from 15 ppm in Mexico to 8000 ppm in Cuba.