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This policy brief by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) provides a comprehensive overview of the institutional entry points and governance processes within the World Trade Organization (WTO) where trade and environmental policies intersect. It details the roles of various WTO bodies, including the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), the dispute settlement mechanism, and the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM), while highlighting recent member-led initiatives on plastic pollution, fossil fuel subsidies, and environmental sustainability.

This report, published by Trend Asia and several international partners, analyzes global coal power trends in 2023. It highlights a contradiction where global coal capacity reached a historic high in 2023 despite a general decline in new construction outside of China. The document provides detailed analysis of China's continued expansion and Indonesia's struggle with 'captive' coal plants supporting the nickel industry, which complicates its energy transition goals.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics argues that transitioning to zero-carbon electricity grids powered by wind and solar is technically and economically feasible. It debunks common myths regarding the need for fossil fuel backups and grid overloading, highlighting that stability can be achieved through flexibility solutions, digitalisation, and cross-border interconnectors. The document provides real-world examples from countries like Denmark, Portugal, and Namibia, while noting that insufficient investment in grid infrastructure remains a primary obstacle to a faster global rollout.

The 'Status of the transition to green & fair economies 2024' executive summary identifies a global 'polycrisis' of conflict, economic instability, and climate change, while noting systemic shifts toward social justice and green macroeconomic governance. It highlights the rise of the clean energy economy, led by solar PV and electric vehicles, alongside significant risks such as the 'gold rush' for critical minerals, insufficient private sector investment in nature, and the use of climate policy as a political 'wedge' issue.

This report by Ember analyzes the alignment between the ten-year grid development plans of European Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and national energy policy targets for 2030. It highlights a risk that transmission grids may become physical barriers to the energy transition if infrastructure planning is based on under-ambitious renewable energy scenarios.

This research paper evaluates the outcomes of the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) regarding the intersection of climate and trade policy. The authors argue that while the conference was largely disappointing due to a lack of binding multilateral agreements and opposition from key members like India, there is still value in utilizing the WTO as a diplomatic forum to coordinate non-binding instruments and revitalize deliberative functions such as the Committee on Trade and Environment.

This research paper analyzes the European Union's strategic partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to diversify critical raw material (CRM) supply chains and reduce dependence on China. It examines the geopolitical tensions between Western security agendas and the industrialization goals of the producing nations, while highlighting significant governance risks and the lack of comprehensive national CRM policies in the DRC and Zambia.

The Europe Gas Tracker Report 2024 by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the ongoing expansion of gas infrastructure in Europe. Despite a decrease in gas demand and a shift toward renewables, the region continues to plan and build LNG terminals and pipelines, which the report argues creates significant financial risk, environmental damage, and infrastructure overcapacity.

Friends of the Earth International issues a statement criticizing the proposed EU-Mercosur trade agreement, arguing that it prioritizes corporate interests over human rights, environmental sustainability, and local economies. The organization highlights opposition from both Latin American social movements and European farmers, while calling for a shift in global trade policies during the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference.

This briefing examines the current state and potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS), noting that the vast majority of operational projects are linked to the oil and gas industry, specifically for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). While CCS is presented as a tool for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like cement and steel, the document highlights significant challenges including high costs, inconsistent capture rates, and the risk that the technology is used to prolong fossil fuel extraction.

This policy brief by RMI outlines how U.S. states can utilize Low-Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS) to incentivize the adoption of clean hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, maritime shipping, and long-haul trucking. It analyzes existing programs in California, Oregon, and Washington to provide four key lessons for future state policies to ensure clean hydrogen is directed toward high-priority uses rather than sectors where electrification is more efficient.

A report by Ember providing data on the European Union electricity sector in 2023, highlighting trends in generation, demand, and CO2 emissions over the last two decades.

The Green Economy Coalition (GEC) argues that a fair green economic transition requires strong government leadership, smart policy, and significant investment, criticizing the UK Labour Party for abandoning its £28 billion green investment pledge.

The Lobito Corridor is a 1,300 km railway project in Angola designed to transport critical raw materials (CRMs) and electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain products from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to the EU and US. While supported by various MoUs and a consortium including Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis, the project faces significant competition from established Chinese supply chains and alternative transport routes to the Indian Ocean.

This February 2024 briefing by Global Energy Monitor examines the Russian steel industry's continued reliance on coal-based blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) technology despite international pressure to decarbonize. The report highlights the potential for a transition to hydrogen-based direct reduced iron-electric arc furnace (DRI-EAF) production to meet EU carbon tariffs and corporate sustainability requirements, while noting that Russia currently prioritizes refurbishing old blast furnaces and pursuing unproven carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.

This briefing by RMI outlines how G20 nations can reduce the environmental impact of the logistics sector, which currently accounts for 10 percent of global emissions. It advocates for a four-pronged strategy involving operational reimagining, policy frameworks, infrastructure redevelopment, and the mobilization of finance to transition the sector toward sustainability.

This white paper examines the barriers to business adaptation and the role of public policy in mitigating transboundary climate risks to the European Union's international trade and supply chains.

The WTO faces critical reform challenges ahead of MC13, primarily the restoration of its dispute settlement system, which has been paralyzed since 2019 due to US blocks on Appellate Body appointments. Key tensions include the shift toward plurilateral agreements (JSIs) versus multilateral consensus, the integration of environmental and industrial policies into the trade agenda, and disputes over which countries qualify for Special and Differential Treatment (SDT). While some members advocate for 'reform-by-doing' through informal initiatives, others insist on formal, inclusive consensus to maintain legitimacy.

This research paper by the Climate Bonds Initiative analyzes the European Union Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), evaluating its potential to combat commodity-driven deforestation and providing recommendations to strengthen its implementation and scope.

This report by the African Future Policies Hub, APRI, and LSE assesses the economic impacts of a proposed global shipping carbon tax on African states. Using a CGE model and a case study of Ghana, the authors find that while GDP impacts are limited, a shipping levy would increase commodity prices, reduce household incomes, and exacerbate existing freight cost imbalances for African nations. The report recommends that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopt measures that allow for the redistribution of revenues as direct grants to climate-vulnerable countries for out-of-sector mitigation and resilience projects.