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This policy brief examines the challenges faced by developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) participating in the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on electronic commerce. It highlights a significant digital divide in infrastructure and information, arguing that current negotiations focus too heavily on regulatory cooperation rather than the foundational capacity building and technical assistance required for these nations to implement future commitments and benefit from the digital economy.

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 policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the historical and current tensions between international trade rules and environmental protection. It highlights the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), arguing that the removal of harmful subsidies in fossil fuels, fisheries, and agriculture is essential for achieving sustainable development and meeting climate goals.

This report assesses progress toward Goal 5 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which aims to restore and maintain 350 million hectares of landscapes and forestlands by 2030. It highlights a significant gap between political commitments and actual implementation, noting that previous targets were not met and that monitoring remains technically challenging.

This policy brief examines the evolution, effectiveness, and challenges of science-policy interfaces (SPIs) in global environmental governance since 1972. It analyzes existing models like the IPCC and IPBES, evaluates proposals for new SPIs focused on chemicals, waste, and food systems, and provides a three-pronged design framework to ensure future interfaces are credible, inclusive, and policy-relevant.

This report analyzes Investment Dispute Prevention and Management Agencies (DPMAs), which are government bodies designed to mitigate investor-state disputes. The authors critique the assumptions used by international institutions to promote DPMAs and propose a typology to categorize these agencies based on their intervention point and operational logic. Through case studies of seven countries, the report highlights the diversity in DPMA design and warns of risks such as agency capture and the prioritization of investor interests over public policy goals.

This policy brief by Transforma evaluates the economic recovery strategies of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) following the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that current 'inertial' recovery paths risk locking in fossil fuel dependency and hindering climate goals. It advocates for a 'just and resilient recovery' that integrates social equity, gender perspective, and climate adaptation into long-term economic planning.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the necessity of a just transition for Latin American economies reliant on fossil fuel extraction. The authors argue that delaying the shift toward sustainable, low-carbon pathways increases economic vulnerability, while warning that the transition to renewable energy technologies creates new risks associated with the increased extraction of critical minerals.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) describes COP26 in Glasgow as a failure that prioritized 'false solutions' and corporate interests over the immediate action required to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The statement highlights the exclusion of civil society and Indigenous Peoples, the inadequacy of climate finance for the global South, and the failure of negotiated texts to commit to a full phase-out of fossil fuels, despite groundbreaking side-initiatives.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International detailing its international solidarity efforts between 2020 and 2021 to support environmental and human rights defenders facing authoritarianism and corporate exploitation.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) provides guidance and lessons for Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states on enhancing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It emphasizes the need for inclusive stakeholder engagement, alignment with long-term development goals, and the use of quantifiable targets and evidence-based analysis to increase climate ambition and ensure effective implementation.

An analysis by Carolyn Deere Birkbeck of the Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs regarding opportunities for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to address environmental crises and sustainable development during its 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

This briefing by the World Resources Institute evaluates the progress of multilateral development banks (MDBs) in aligning their financial flows with the Paris Agreement. It argues that while some progress has been made in direct investments, MDBs are lagging in standardizing fossil fuel exclusions, greenhouse gas accounting, and the alignment of indirect investments and policy-based loans.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) identifies perceived knowledge gaps and barriers hindering the adoption of 'gridless' (decentralized) water, sanitation, and energy services. Based on workshops with 48 global stakeholders, the report argues that project failures often stem from socio-technical and systemic issues—such as regulatory mismatches, lack of user-centric design, and unsustainable business models—rather than technical performance.

This report by the World Resources Institute outlines the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and community lands in climate change mitigation. It argues that while community lands cover approximately half of the world's land and provide immense ecosystem services and carbon sequestration, they are often legally unrecognized and underfunded. The document provides evidence that secure land tenure leads to lower deforestation rates and proposes six strategic steps to better integrate community land management into global climate action.

This fact sheet provides guidance on Adaptation Communications (ADCOMs) under the UNFCCC, explaining their purpose, voluntary nature, and flexible submission options. It specifically details how countries can align ADCOMs with National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes to reduce reporting burdens and provide input for the first global stocktake.

The September 2021 Global Update from Climate Action Tracker reports that global climate action continues to lag behind the requirements for limiting warming to 1.5°C. While some countries have updated their NDCs, the 2030 emissions gap remains significant (20-23 GtCO2e). The report introduces a new rating system where only The Gambia is rated as overall 1.5°C compatible, while most developed nations are rated as 'Insufficient' or worse due to inadequate climate finance and policy implementation. It further critiques the lack of transparency and robustness in most national net zero targets and highlights the continued reliance on coal and gas in several major economies.

This document is a Twitter toolkit produced by the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) to support a social media campaign surrounding the release of the 'HealthyNDCs Scorecard' on July 8, 2021. The toolkit provides instructions and sample posts to encourage users to challenge governments to integrate health into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP 26.

This briefing from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) provides an overview of the financial status for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, detailing party contributions, budget performance, and administrative controls.

The document is an auditors report for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), presenting the financial statements for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2020, and June 30, 2019. It includes an independent auditor's opinion, balance sheets, statements of operations, and detailed notes on scientific programs and core budget contributions.