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The analysis contends that global coal import markets are declining, specifically in Asia and Europe, which undermines the claim that new South African coal reserves are necessary to meet international demand. It highlights India's intent to phase out thermal coal imports and Europe's shift toward renewable energy and natural gas, while noting that China has ceased importing South African coal since 2014.

The report finds that ten major European personal care retailers are failing to take responsibility for resource efficiency, with none reporting targets or measurements for the overall resource impact of their product assortments. While a Wuppertal Institute study suggests a 20 per cent reduction in resource use is possible through existing alternatives like concentrated detergents and compressed deodorants, retailers generally lack time-bound objectives for recycled packaging or waste reduction. The report ranks Kruidvat as the best performer among the studied group, while Douglas scored zero on resource efficiency questions. It recommends that retailers stop selling resource-inefficient products, set binding reduction targets, and demand transparency from suppliers to inform consumers at the point of sale.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) criticizes the European Commission's June 2016 draft legal acts for Plant Protection Products and Biocidal Products Regulations. CIEL argues the proposed criteria for identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are too restrictive because they only include substances 'known to' cause adverse effects, excluding 'presumed' and 'suspected' EDCs. The document claims this high burden of proof, potentially influenced by industry lobbying and US trade concerns, fails the precautionary principle and could exclude hundreds of harmful chemicals. CIEL specifically opposes the 'negligible risk' allowance in the Plant Protection Products Regulation, advocating instead for a hazard-based approach similar to that used for carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMR) substances.

The document argues that biomass energy, specifically wood pellets exported from the U.S. to the UK, does not provide significant greenhouse gas benefits and may actually increase carbon pollution. It disputes USDA claims regarding forest growth in the Southern U.S., attributing reported increases to changes in surveying and categorization rather than new planting. Additionally, it warns that the demand for wood pellets threatens southeastern bottomland hardwood forests and misrepresents modeling studies as retrospective evidence of forest growth.

The author contends that the current political crisis in Europe, often labeled as the rise of 'illiberal democracy,' is more accurately described as the rise of 'authoritarian capitalism.' This shift is driven by the incompatibility of global economic integration, national states, and democracy, which has left marginalized groups—described as 'vagabonds'—vulnerable to right-wing exploitation. The text argues that left-wing parties have failed by adopting economic liberalism and neglecting the working class, and suggests that only a return to egalitarian principles and a confrontation with the capitalist system can restore democratic legitimacy in Europe.

The document argues that a general trend in Brazilian transport regulation seeks to reduce the economic profits of private concessionaires, which is being offset by hidden subsidies from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES). This shift is claimed to erode incentives for private operators to select the most efficient projects and maintain high quality, thereby increasing costs for the agricultural sector. While highways and railways are seen as suffering from increasing regulatory complexity and unbundling, the port sector is highlighted as a relative success due to the deregulation of private usage terminals (TUPs), although the authors suggest further deregulation of public ports is needed.

The document examines how shifting regulatory environments in Brazil since the late 1990s have created market uncertainty and diminished the quality of transport infrastructure. It highlights that high transportation costs—such as soybean transport being nearly three times more expensive than in the U.S.—hinder agricultural productivity. The authors recommend realigning auction processes for highways, returning to a vertical integration framework for railways, and deregulating public ports to restore market incentives and improve infrastructure quality.

RCL has committed to reducing GHG intensity by 35% from a 2005 baseline and implementing strict sustainable seafood procurement targets, including sourcing 90% of wild-caught seafood from certified or improving fisheries by 2020. The company aims to integrate Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) standards into its tour operations, targeting 1,000 certified tours by 2020, and intends to support WWF ocean conservation projects. Additional goals include reducing shipboard landfill waste by 85% from a 2007 baseline, increasing Advanced Wastewater Purification System coverage to 90% by 2020, and reducing water bunkering in high-risk regions.

The South African beef industry is characterized by a split between commercial and communal production, with a supply chain that is largely vertically integrated. While South Africa is a net importer of beef, imports decreased by 36% between 2012 and 2013, increasing self-sufficiency. Key export markets include Mozambique and Europe, with high growth potential identified in Kuwait, the UAE, and the Seychelles, while Australia remains the primary source of imports.

The analysis found that while human-induced climate change slightly increased the probability of the 2016 record-breaking heat in Rajasthan, the effect was not statistically significant. The study suggests that the warming effect of greenhouse gases in India is being partially offset by the cooling effects of aerosols and increased irrigation. Despite the lack of a strong temperature trend, the combination of high heat, pollution, and humidity is increasing the health risks and mortality associated with heat waves.

The report develops the Transnational Climate Impacts (TCI) Index to measure how countries are exposed to climate risks originating outside their borders. Using a framework of four risk pathways—biophysical, finance, people, and trade—alongside a global context indicator, the authors identify nine indicators of exposure. The resulting index reveals that many high-income, small European nations are highly exposed to transnational risks, contrasting with traditional vulnerability indices that primarily highlight low-income nations. The authors present this as a tool to raise awareness for national adaptation planning, though they note it is a preliminary instrument not yet intended for direct decision-making.

The Stockholm Environment Institute reviewed 24 climate change mitigation policy databases, finding that while data availability is increasing, it is heavily skewed toward the energy sector and industrialized nations. The analysis reveals significant gaps in information regarding the agricultural sector, sub-Saharan Africa, policy costs, and actual emission savings. Furthermore, the review notes a lack of interactivity and poor linkage between different databases, which limits potential synergies for policy makers.

The author critiques proposals by the European Central Bank and European Commission to reduce or eliminate cash transactions. The text argues that while proponents cite the fight against crime and terrorism, the actual motivations are the banking sector's desire to recapture savings held outside the banking circuit and the state's desire for total financial surveillance. The author concludes that political corruption is the primary remaining safeguard for the continued existence of cash.

The document argues that emission reductions of 80% or more are possible in Europe's energy-intensive industries through process, product, and business-model transformations, provided there is strong public policy support and funding for innovation.

The briefing outlines six key drivers for companies successfully adopting science-based emissions targets: a history of meeting previous goals, a strong business case, alignment with climate science, company-wide employee engagement, stakeholder demand for sustainability, and business-specific strategies. Examples include Pfizer's energy projects saving $150 million annually and Coca-Cola Enterprises exceeding its 2011 emissions reduction target.

The document examines the systemic nature of neonicotinoids and their toxicity to arthropods and vertebrates, linking them to honeybee colony losses in Canada and biodiversity decline in Europe. It highlights the economic importance of pollinators in Ontario and Quebec and argues that the widespread use of these pesticides often provides negligible agricultural benefits while threatening human nutrition and global food security.

The briefing argues that deep decarbonisation in Europe's energy-intensive industries is technically possible through process, product, and business-model transformations, though it requires strong public policy and funding. It details specific pathways for the chemical sector (bio-based feedstocks and circularity), steel (HIsarna, hydrogen-based DRI, and scrap-EAF production), and cement (calcium looping CCS and clinker substitution). It specifically recommends strengthening the EU ETS Innovation Fund to support the commercialisation of these capital-intensive technologies by 2030.

The document argues that European SMEs are critical for the green transition but are hindered by a lack of technical capacity and a poor legislative framework for private-to-private finance. Based on GreenEcoNet case studies, it finds that while SMEs prefer private financing, they lack the skills to exploit the full range of available instruments. The authors recommend a participatory policy approach, including an investors-SMEs round table and the promotion of crowdfunding, to bridge these gaps.

The author contends that animal agriculture is a major but ignored driver of climate change, responsible for at least 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The text calls for the EU's Common Agricultural Policy to shift subsidies away from meat and dairy and toward farmers diversifying into plant protein crops, such as fava beans and hemp in the UK. It highlights that reducing animal farming is essential for the UK to meet its 80% emissions reduction target by 2050 and suggests that dietary shifts toward veganism could yield carbon savings greater than removing all cars from UK roads.

The report outlines a strategy to expand China's green bond market, emphasizing the need for private capital to meet an annual environmental investment requirement of RMB 2-4 trillion. It identifies key barriers, including limited issuer knowledge and the lack of a long-term project pipeline, and recommends strategic demonstration issuances from policy banks, commercial banks, and state-owned enterprises to build market liquidity and confidence.