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This document is an inception report and technical annexes for an external review of the World Resources Institute's (WRI) progress in implementing its 2018-2022 Strategic Plan. Conducted by Agulhas Applied Knowledge and Open Cities, the review assesses WRI's effectiveness, relevance, and efficiency across seven global challenges, its core functions, and a specific deep-dive into its Africa strategy. The report details a mixed-methods methodology involving document reviews, 132 interviews, 16 focus group discussions, and an all-staff survey to triangulate programmatic results and the integration of gender and social equity.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) proposes a methodology to track incremental energy efficiency investments in certified green buildings. Using a global database of over 16,000 certifications from 2019-2020, the report argues that current green certifications are often inconsistent indicators of actual energy performance and that energy efficiency investments represent only a small fraction of total building construction costs.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework's 'Two-Pillar Solution' to address tax avoidance and the digitalisation of the economy. It argues that the current global taxation framework is fragmented, allowing multinational corporations to avoid taxes, and highlights how developing countries, particularly in Africa, suffer disproportionate revenue losses. The document criticizes the Inclusive Framework for the underrepresentation of African nations and the potential for the agreement to favor wealthy nations, recommending a shift toward more inclusive, transparent, and equitable negotiations, possibly under the UN.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the barriers preventing ride-hailing drivers in the United States, Europe, and Canada from switching to electric vehicles (EVs) and proposes strategies for governments and industry stakeholders to accelerate electrification.

This policy brief examines the development and implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a legally binding global treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from mercury emissions and releases. It details the transition from regional marine protections to a comprehensive global framework, the specific challenges posed by artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), and the reasons why mercury was addressed separately from other toxic heavy metals like lead and cadmium.

This briefing examines the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for African nations, identifying opportunities and risks across seven key sectors. It provides strategic recommendations for both EU and African policymakers to ensure the transition supports Africa's development priorities and moves the EU-Africa relationship toward a mutually beneficial partnership.

A letter from a coalition of climate, environmental, and health NGOs to the European Commission urging the alignment of the draft Climate, Energy and Environment State Aid Guidelines (CEEAG) with the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement.

This research paper examines the international standardization landscape as it relates to plastics pollution. It analyzes the roles of major standards organizations like ISO, CEN, and ASTM International, identifies gaps in current standards across the plastics value chain, and proposes strategic re-orientations—such as variety reduction and digital materials passports—to support a circular economy and a potential global treaty on plastic pollution.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the mineral requirements of the energy transition, focusing on the ethical, environmental, and geopolitical challenges associated with the sourcing of cobalt, nickel, and lithium for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics prepares readers for the release of the IPCC's 6th Assessment Report (AR6) 'The Physical Science Basis'. It outlines major climate science developments since the 5th Assessment Report (AR5), focusing on human attribution of extreme weather, updated carbon budgets, refined climate sensitivity models, the role of non-CO2 greenhouse gases, and the complexities of net-zero and carbon dioxide removal.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides recommendations for the development of Canada's first-ever National Adaptation Strategy (NAS). It analyzes adaptation planning trends globally and across 11 peer countries, evaluates Canada's existing domestic policy and institutional foundations, and proposes 13 considerations to ensure the NAS is inclusive, accountable, and effective in mobilizing federal action.

The report 'The Road to Sustainable Transport' examines the environmental and social impacts of global transportation, the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and case studies of sustainable urban mobility. It highlights the role of public transit, non-motorized transport, and electrification in reducing carbon emissions and improving public health, while noting the potential for post-COVID-19 recovery packages to accelerate these transitions.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on green finance and development, contrasting the robust recovery packages in the global North with the funding gaps and systemic challenges in the global South. It highlights the risk that urgent health-sector spending may undermine environmental sustainability and advocates for institutional reforms, increased South-South cooperation, and coordinated global efforts to bridge the climate finance gap.

Friends of the Earth International calls for a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights (TRIPS waiver) on Covid-19 vaccines and medical supplies to end "Vaccine Apartheid" and ensure global immunisation. The statement argues that corporate monopolies and the hoarding of vaccines by wealthy nations have created a moral crisis, leaving the global South with alarmingly low vaccination rates while high-income countries prioritise profits and their own citizens.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International calling for a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies to ensure global equity and a "just recovery."

Friends of the Earth International calls for a 'People's Vaccine' and a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to ensure equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines, arguing that corporate monopolies and profit-driven distribution are creating a 'vaccine apartheid' that disproportionately affects the Global South.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative analyzes post-issuance reporting practices for 694 green bonds (USD 212bn) issued between November 2017 and March 2019. It finds that while use-of-proceeds (UoP) reporting is widespread, impact reporting is less common and highly unstandardized. The study evaluates reporting quality through a scoring system, identifies best practices, and advocates for a global, harmonized reporting framework to move beyond binary labels toward absolute, entity-level sustainability assessments.

This policy brief examines how the European Green Deal can foster cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) across six priority areas: energy transitions, circular economy, trade, agricultural adaptation, climate diplomacy, and financial instruments. It emphasizes the need to align EU ambitions with African priorities, such as poverty reduction and climate adaptation, while avoiding the creation of new trade barriers for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

This fact sheet by the World Resources Institute describes Colombia's initial steps toward a national just transition strategy, highlighting the tension between green growth goals and a continued economic reliance on coal exports and fossil fuel revenues to fund the national peace process.

This policy brief examines the measurement and management of fishing capacity within the framework of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations to discipline fisheries subsidies. It provides technical definitions of capacity, overcapacity, and overfishing based on FAO guidelines, and discusses the challenges of monitoring these metrics in multi-species and artisanal fisheries. The document also analyzes global fleet trends from 1950 to 2015, noting a significant increase in vessel numbers and engine power alongside a decline in stock abundance.