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The document analyzes the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) use of investment and production tax credits to incentivize clean hydrogen, defining 'clean' as producing less than 4 kg CO2e per kg of hydrogen. It evaluates the strengths of these credits—such as mobilizing private capital and driving down costs—alongside limitations like public budget constraints and potential inflationary pressures. The analysis provides recommendations for Canada, suggesting that domestic policy should integrate Canada's carbon price, prioritize performance metrics, and support the broader hydrogen ecosystem to maintain international competitiveness.

This research paper analyzes Nigeria's foreign policy under President Buhari, arguing that a persistent conflict between regional aspirations and domestic policy instincts has hindered the country's economic and diplomatic goals. The author highlights how domestic measures, such as land border closures and a delay in ratifying the AfCFTA, contradicted Nigeria's stated goals of regional integration and economic growth.

The document analyzes the foreign policy of Nigeria under President Buhari, highlighting a lack of coherence between domestic goals and regional aspirations. Key issues discussed include the 2019 land border closures, which aimed to curb smuggling but increased food inflation and harmed regional trade; the delayed ratification of the AfCFTA due to domestic productivity concerns; and the decline of the oil sector caused by insecurity and poor governance, which deterred foreign direct investment. It also evaluates the role of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in managing relations with Nigerians abroad amidst increasing economic migration.

The document is an open letter addressed to President von der Leyen and other European Commissioners, calling for the establishment of a legal framework for sustainable food systems in the EU. The signatories argue that such a framework is essential to achieve the goals of the Farm to Fork strategy and the European Green Deal, and to address the threats posed by biodiversity loss and climate change to food security.

The report examines the fragmented state of Green Public Procurement (GPP) within the EU and proposes recommendations to leverage public purchasing power for decarbonization. Focusing on the construction and road transport sectors—which each account for approximately 12% of government procurement GHG emissions globally—the study analyzes case studies from eight EU Member States to identify best practices for meeting the EU's goal of a 55% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030.

The report argues that Poland's draft PEP2040 energy strategy is significantly under-ambitious, risking the country's position as the last major EU economy reliant on fossil fuels by 2030. While the government proposes a 50% share of renewables in power by 2040 (roughly 50-60 GW), the report suggests Poland could realistically reach 100 GW of renewable capacity by 2040. To achieve this, the document emphasizes the need to remove permitting barriers, such as the 10H spatial planning rule, and modernize grid infrastructure to prevent connection bottlenecks. Furthermore, it argues that prioritizing renewables would make the debate between coal and gas obsolete, as Poland could halve its planned gas-fired generation to 29 TWh by 2030 while maintaining system balance.

The report exposes how the used-clothing trade from the EU and UK to Kenya is used to export plastic waste, with an estimated 307 million synthetic items becoming waste annually in Kenya. It highlights the failure of sorting processes, the role of recycling companies in exporting unsellable clothing, and the resulting pollution of Kenyan landfills and waterways.

The report reveals that a significant portion of second-hand clothing exported to Kenya consists of unusable synthetic fibers, effectively bypassing plastic waste export restrictions. In 2021, an estimated 307 million items of plastic-based clothing exported to Kenya were unusable waste. These items often end up in landfills, the Nairobi River, or are burned as fuel, releasing toxic fumes. The document criticizes the 'fast fashion' model and the lack of sorting at the source by EU and UK exporters, noting that some recycling companies signed onto sustainability initiatives are simultaneously exporting waste. It calls for global legislation, including extended producer responsibility and plastic taxes, to end the export of plastic clothing waste to the Global South.

The report reveals that a significant portion of second-hand clothing exported to Kenya consists of low-quality synthetic textiles that function as plastic waste. It estimates that up to 307 million synthetic textile items are shipped to Kenya annually, many of which end up in landfills, the Nairobi River, or are burned as fuel. The document argues that the 'fast fashion' business model relies on this irresponsible disposal and calls for comprehensive EU legislation, including Extended Producer Responsibility and plastic taxes, to hold brands accountable.

ClientEarth argues that the UK government has significantly reduced its ambitions for soil health, moving from a goal of all soils being sustainably managed by 2030 to only 60% of agricultural soils. The submission highlights a fragmented regulatory landscape, poor enforcement by the Environment Agency, and the risk that the Retained EU Law Bill will create a 'regulatory gap' by removing cross-compliance standards. ClientEarth advocates for a new legal framework with binding targets, a universal definition of 'healthy soils', and a shift away from purely voluntary schemes like the Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs), which they argue lack the mandatory minimum standards necessary to achieve national environmental goals.

Carbon Market Watch argues that the EU's proposed Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) must be strictly limited to permanent carbon removals to avoid 'mitigation deterrence'. The organization recommends prohibiting the use of certified removals for offsetting emissions in the EU ETS or ESR, excluding carbon farming and carbon storage in products due to their lack of permanence, and implementing stricter quality criteria for quantification and liability. It suggests that nature-based solutions should be funded via activity-based finance for biodiversity and soil health rather than through carbon removal metrics.

The document analyzes the 2023 Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor (CCRM) findings for 24 global corporations, concluding that their net-zero targets are largely exaggerated and misleading. It highlights systemic issues such as over-reliance on low-quality carbon offsets, the exclusion of indirect emissions from carbon neutrality claims, and a lack of short-term ambition. To protect consumers, the brief recommends a complete prohibition of 'neutrality' claims in the EU, proactive enforcement by public regulators, and a shift toward a 'contribution claim' model for financing climate projects.

The 2023 Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor evaluates 24 multinational companies, finding that 15 of them have climate strategies of low or very low integrity. Key issues include ambiguous net-zero pledges, insufficient 2030 targets that fall short of 1.5°C pathways, and a heavy reliance on non-permanent biological carbon offsets. While emission disclosure transparency is moderate, the report highlights a critical '2030 blind spot' where corporate commitments do not match the required global reductions of 43-48% by 2030. The authors advocate for a shift from offsetting to a 'climate contribution' approach and call for tighter regulatory oversight to ensure corporate accountability.

The report outlines the results of a cross-sectoral workshop that analyzed climate security scenarios for Sweden. It identifies key drivers of risk, such as the strength of democratic institutions and domestic resilience, and proposes four potential future scenarios ranging from 'Utopia' to 'Panic'. The findings emphasize that governance, trust, and the integration of climate data into the 'Total Defense' program are as critical as physical infrastructure for maintaining national security in the face of climate-driven threats.

The report argues that sanctions by the US, EU, and UK have been 'scattershot' and lack strategic coordination, failing to target the junta's primary revenue sources and arms networks. While legal authorizations are broad, the authors find that 67% of sanctions are unilateral, and critical entities like the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) remain largely unsanctioned by the US and UK. The brief recommends a harmonized strategy to cut off foreign currency, disrupt aviation fuel supplies, and comprehensively sanction all junta leadership members.

The report examines the South African cannabis industry, arguing that current legal and regulatory frameworks create high barriers to entry that exclude traditional growers and small enterprises. It identifies critical bottlenecks in medical cannabis exports, such as the lack of mutual recognition for SAHPRA licenses in European markets, and a lack of processing capacity for industrial hemp. The authors advocate for a tiered licensing system, the legalisation of a regulated adult-use market to support inclusive growth, and the establishment of a specialised state agency to coordinate the sector's development and ensure decent work and environmental sustainability.

The Kappahl pilot project aimed to increase supply chain visibility for organic cotton baby apparel by mapping suppliers from farm to retail. Using the SupplyShift platform, the project successfully mapped three tiers down to spinners or ginners for four garment lines, enabling the collection of data on greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and wages. Key opportunities identified include the ability to identify climate-related supply risks and build trust with suppliers. However, the project faced challenges with data quality and low participation from middle-tier suppliers (Tiers 2 and 3) due to technical barriers and 'information request fatigue'. The study concludes that combining top-down and bottom-up mapping, leveraging Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSSs), and using flexible technology are essential for achieving end-to-end transparency.

Reclaim Finance proposes a framework for credible corporate climate transition plans, arguing that access to green financing should be contingent on plans that cover all emission scopes, set absolute targets aligned with 1.5°C scenarios, and include sector-specific 'red lines'. The framework emphasizes the exclusion of carbon offsets from targets, the integration of climate performance into executive remuneration, and the requirement for lobbying activities to be transparent and consistent with climate goals.

The document argues that current green and sustainable debt instruments rely on non-binding standards and proposes a stricter framework. For green bonds and loans, it suggests requiring exclusive use for green activities (referencing the EU Taxonomy or Climate Bond Initiative) and an 'entity-level' criterion, such as excluding harmful sectors or requiring a certified 1.5°C-aligned transition plan. For Sustainability-linked bonds (SLB) and loans (SLL), it proposes mandatory prior adoption of a certified transition plan and KPIs linked to material emission reductions. Additionally, it recommends banning the use of green debt for refinancing and implementing significant financial penalties for failing to meet environmental targets.

The policy brief proposes that the European Central Bank (ECB) use monetary policy to create a cost-of-capital differential between 'green' and 'brown' activities. It suggests a green financing facility providing preferential refinancing rates to banks that fund renewable energy and energy-efficient building renovations. The author argues this would ensure credit availability, incentivize banks to meet environmental commitments, and support long-term price stability without increasing public spending, urging France to use its influence via the Banque de France to promote this agenda.