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The author assesses the outcomes of the Paris summit for a new global financial pact, noting the emergence of a unified African voice demanding debt restructuring, increased climate finance, and equal representation in global institutions. While acknowledging progress such as Zambia's debt restructuring and the World Bank's debt pause for disaster-hit countries, the author emphasizes the need for a 'Marrakesh Declaration' to solidify Africa's position ahead of future summits in Nairobi, Marrakesh, and Dubai.

The Jasiri Gender Bond, launched in February 2022, mobilised USD 32 million to support women-led businesses in Tanzania, particularly in agriculture, retail, education, and male-dominated sectors like mining and energy. The bond was oversubscribed by 197% and became the first Sub-Saharan bond listed on the Luxembourg Green Exchange. A case study of High Quality Tanzania demonstrates how Jasiri loans enabled a feminine hygiene product importer to increase turnover to over TZS 10 Billion ($3.9 million) and expand operations internationally.

The 2023 state of global environmental governance was characterized by a tension between significant multilateral achievements and deepening geopolitical fractures. While the world saw the adoption of the BBNJ treaty and the Global Framework on Chemicals, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains dire, with only 15% of targets on track. Climate action reached a milestone with the first Global Stocktake (GST) in Dubai, calling for a transition away from fossil fuels, though critics noted the absence of a full phase-out. Geopolitical tensions, particularly Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have hindered scientific collaboration in the Arctic and increased the use of voting over consensus in treaty negotiations. Financial gaps remain a critical barrier, with calls for a New Global Financing Pact to address the needs of the Global South.

The 2022 report outlines the achievements of the WHO-Civil Society Working Group, including coordinated submissions to the UNFCCC, a joint call for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, and the establishment of a health pavilion at COP27. It also details efforts to integrate climate change into health professional curricula and plans for a new WHA resolution in 2024.

The document analyzes the collapse of Sri Lanka in 2022, attributing the crisis to the corruption of the Rajapaksa family, a massive international debt burden, and failed neoliberal policies. It details how the ban on chemical fertilizers caused food insecurity, how dependence on fossil fuels led to energy poverty, and how 'debt-for-nature' swaps are viewed as false solutions. The text highlights a severe humanitarian crisis where millions require immediate assistance and calls for a systemic change, debt cancellation, and a just energy transition.

The report analyzes the role of Telegram as a 'buttress' for far-right and conspiracy-oriented actors in Germany. Through link analysis of 238 channels, it finds that while Telegram serves as a primary hub and file-sharing tool, these actors continue to strategically use established platforms like YouTube despite regulatory efforts such as the NetzDG. The study highlights the influence of 'power users' like Attila Hildmann, who build complex networks of channels to maximize reach and circumvent platform restrictions.

The document examines the shift in Mozambique's strategy from treating the Cabo Delgado insurgency as a criminal matter to accepting international military support. It details the failures of the Russian Wagner Group, the role of the Dyck Advisory Group, and the subsequent deployments of Rwandan forces and the SADC Military Mission (SAMIM). While foreign troops have achieved quick gains, such as recovering Mocímboa da Praia, the brief highlights a critical lack of transparency regarding bilateral agreements and warns that insurgents are now dispersing into smaller groups in southern districts.

The document details how climate variables from the Copernicus Climate Data Store (CDS) are integrated into the SAVi Energy model to quantify the impact of climate change on various power generation technologies. It provides a comprehensive literature review of how variables like temperature, wind speed, and precipitation affect the load factor and thermal efficiency of coal, gas, nuclear, biomass, hydro, solar, and wind power, as well as the efficiency of the electricity grid. The report includes a simulation for Johannesburg, South Africa, demonstrating that rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns can significantly reduce the load factor and revenues for thermal and hydropower assets, while potentially increasing the load factor for wind energy.

The document details how climate indicators from the Copernicus Climate Data Store (CDS) are integrated into the SAVi tool to improve the analysis of infrastructure resilience. It covers a literature review of climate impacts on energy, irrigation, wastewater, buildings, roads, and nature-based infrastructure, providing specific equations to link climate variables to asset performance. The report includes simulation results for Johannesburg, South Africa, demonstrating how climate variables like temperature and precipitation affect load factors, thermal efficiency, and maintenance costs, ultimately impacting the economic viability and societal costs of these assets.

Unilever is implementing the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) to reduce its environmental footprint, with goals to be carbon positive by 2030 and achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030. While direct and indirect emissions declined 8% between 2017 and 2018, total emissions including the value chain rose by 3%. The company reports that consumer use of its products accounts for over 60% of its total greenhouse gas footprint. Unilever has achieved 100% renewable electricity across five continents and is trialling alternative fuels for transport, including HVO100 in Sweden and CNG in the US, India, and Turkey.

The document examines the systemic failures of public-private partnerships (PPPs), citing the collapse of Carillion in the UK and concerns over the US 'Rebuilding Infrastructure' plan. It argues that PPPs often fail when used primarily to keep debt off public balance sheets, leading to poor project preparation and skewed risk allocation. To improve outcomes, the author suggests moving toward systemic master planning, enhancing public sector negotiation skills, and adopting procurement strategies that prioritize lifecycle value over the lowest bid. The paper emphasizes that for PPPs to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, they must be designed with transparent, equitable contracts and a focus on sustainable development rather than just financial returns.

The report outlines a variety of passive and active cooling strategies for urban environments, ranging from nature-based solutions like tree planting and green roofs to technical interventions such as cool pavements and district cooling systems. It emphasizes the importance of integrated urban planning, the implementation of Heat Action Plans to protect vulnerable populations, and the use of diverse policy incentives and business models to scale these solutions.

Global Witness reveals that Norsudtimber, the DRC's largest logging company, is operating illegally on 90% of its sites, breaching the DRC Forest Code through a lack of management plans and logging outside authorized perimeters. The report highlights how the DRC government is complicit in this illegality, while international donors from France, Germany, and Norway continue to support industrial logging under the flawed theory of 'sustainable forest management' (SFM). Norsudtimber uses a complex web of shell companies in Liechtenstein, Hong Kong, and Dubai to obscure its beneficial owners and trade timber to markets in China, Vietnam, and Europe. The investigation finds that SFM is scientifically unsound for the Congo Basin, as tree species take 100-230 years to mature, far exceeding the 25-year rotation cycle. Furthermore, the report documents negligible development benefits for local communities and significant carbon emissions resulting from forest degradation.

The report argues that Eskom is facing a liquidity and financial crisis driven by stagnant electricity demand and the high costs of its coal-fired power construction programme. Through system-level modelling and station-specific analysis, the study finds that the levelised costs of operating older coal stations (Arnot, Camden, Grootvlei, Hendrina, and Komati) exceed their system alternative value, meaning they can be replaced by cheaper alternatives without compromising security of supply. Specifically, decommissioning Grootvlei, Hendrina, and Komati early could save Eskom R12.5bn in present value terms. Additionally, the report finds that cancelling Kusile units 5 and 6 is economically viable if capital cost savings exceed a threshold of approximately R4.7bn. The authors conclude that South Africa no longer requires new nuclear, coal, or gas procurement, as solar PV and wind have become the most competitive new-build options.

The document details the systematic repurposing of Eskom's governance to facilitate large-scale corruption by a politically connected elite, specifically the Gupta family. It highlights the hollowing out of technical expertise through biased board and executive appointments, leading to irregular procurement in coal, IT, and infrastructure. Key cases include the awarding of overpriced contracts to Tegeta and the use of Trillian as a consultancy conduit. The authors argue that these failures have compromised Eskom's financial sustainability and South Africa's economic growth, recommending structural reforms and the unbundling of the utility.

Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) issued a declaration condemning the Mozambican government for the illegal deportation of Eva Anadón Moreno, a member of the World March of Women's International Secretariat. The action followed a March 18, 2016, protest in Maputo against a Ministry of Education policy requiring female students to wear ankle-length skirts to avoid 'provoking' male teachers. FOEI reports that police used physical force and weapons against activists, arrested five individuals without proof of crime, and employed racist tactics to divide the detainees. The document characterizes these actions as an attempt to criminalize legal protest and intimidate social movements.

Phaesun GmbH and Horn Renewables have deployed 'Business Opportunities with Solar Systems' (BOSS) solutions in Somaliland since 2012, focusing on the commercial sector in non-electrified areas. Key implementations include solar charging stations for mobile phones and LED lamps, as well as solar cooling and freezing kits for fishermen and shop owners. By the end of 2015, the partnership established over 50 charging stations across 23 locations and installed 33 cooling kits. These interventions have enabled fishermen to preserve catches and achieve higher margins by selling fresh fish in cities. The project has also introduced solar-powered fans, TVs, and agricultural processing services, with plans to develop a 'solar market place' in a village square to further enhance community prosperity.

In 2011/12, Phaesun installed a 3kWp off-grid PV system with battery storage at Yandup Island Lodge in the Kuna Yala archipelago, Panama. The system replaced a diesel generator that previously served the kitchen, reducing high fuel costs and delivery challenges. The installation consists of 40 monocrystalline solar modules and 32 Trojan batteries, providing reliable power for the kitchen, administration, staff accommodation, and tourist bungalows.

The report addresses the 'crisis in remittances' caused by bank de-risking in the UK-Somalia corridor due to AML/CFT compliance concerns. It proposes a 'third mile' risk management framework centered on a Trusted Third Party (TTP) system and a biometric registration process for recipients in Somalia. The TTP would track transactions, audit Money Service Businesses (MSBs), and assign risk ratings to transactions to provide UK settlement banks with greater confidence in the legitimacy of the funds flow. The authors suggest a six-month pilot starting in early 2015 involving 500 customers across two Somali locations.

The report analyzes African financial centres—specifically Casablanca, Johannesburg, Port Louis, and Nairobi—against a global peer group using the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI). It defines the roles of onshore and offshore centres, identifies the 'dynamic' nature of certain African hubs, and highlights a significant 'reputational advantage' in Casablanca where marketing exceeds quantitative performance. The document argues that improving the business environment, rule of law, and infrastructure is critical for growth. It proposes a strategic framework for donors and governments to enhance capacity through regional integration, professional accreditation via a proposed Financial Training and Qualifications Institute (FTQI), and the development of standardized regulatory frameworks to attract long-term capital.