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This 2025 Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape analyzes investment opportunities in South Africa's large-scale renewable energy sector, focusing on private off-taker development and local component manufacturing. It details the shift from public procurement to private power purchase agreements (PPAs), the impact of electricity market liberalisation, and the systemic barriers posed by grid capacity constraints and policy uncertainty.

This report analyzes the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and broader trade. It examines the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the Farm to Fork strategy, and the Circular Economy Action Plan, identifying significant risks in the automotive, mining, and agricultural sectors while highlighting potential export opportunities for environmental goods.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), in partnership with the Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering (DSG) and the Degrees Initiative, is organizing a workshop series for policymakers and negotiators in the Americas. The program aims to build scientific and governance capacity regarding solar radiation modification (SRM) to ensure equitable participation in multilateral climate deliberations as global temperatures exceed 1.5°C and emissions pledges remain insufficient.

This document is a joint public comment submission by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) regarding the draft South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM). The submission argues that the current draft over-relies on private investment and market liberalisation, neglecting the role of state-led industrial policy, public ownership, and the protection of workers' rights during the energy transition.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice examines the challenges and progress of phasing out fossil fuels within G20 nations. It highlights the economic and social dependencies that hinder the transition, the failure of G20 countries to meet subsidy reduction promises, and the specific goals of South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency to champion a people-centered, just energy transition.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice analyzes the impact of President Donald Trump's second administration's tariff policies on African nations and proposes a strategic response based on rerouting trade, subverting US policy through industrialization, and collective negotiation.

This research paper by Paras Kharel, Kshitiz Dahal, and Dikshya Singh examines the challenges and opportunities facing Nepal's textile and clothing export sector as the country prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. The authors analyze structural barriers to competitiveness, the role of niche markets and craftsmanship in industry survival, and the need for a shift in government policy from direct subsidies to institutional coordination and business development services.

The research paper by Nicolas Lamp explores the emergence of 'multifunctional trade policy,' a paradigm shift where trade policy is used to achieve broad political goals—such as climate mitigation, national security, and labor rights—rather than focusing primarily on economic efficiency and trade liberalization.

This briefing discusses the intersection of circular economy solutions and international trade policy as a means to achieve decarbonization. It argues that transitioning from primary raw materials to secondary materials, extending product lifespans, and reforming trade barriers are essential for meeting net-zero goals, as the extraction and processing of material resources account for half of global greenhouse gas emissions.

This research paper by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics, and Environment (SAWTEE) analyzes the challenges and drivers of competitiveness in Nepal's textile and clothing sector. It examines the impact of Nepal's impending graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the limitations of current industrial policies, and the necessity of shifting from direct export subsidies to structural support and better institutional coordination to maintain global market presence.

This research paper by Nicolas Lamp explores the emergence of 'multi-purpose trade policy,' a paradigm shift where trade policy is no longer focused solely on economic efficiency and liberalization, but is instead used as a tool to achieve broader goals such as climate mitigation, national security, and labor rights.

This research paper analyzes the transition of international trade and climate discussions from abstract principles to practical implementation. It examines the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in managing climate-related trade measures, such as carbon border adjustments and deforestation regulations, ahead of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14).

This report traces 50 years of UN sustainable development and climate policy, detailing the transition from the 1992 UNFCCC and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the 2015 Paris Agreement. It examines the shift from rigid distinctions between industrialized and developing nations toward a more dynamic model of 'common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities' (CBDR-RC). While the Paris Agreement achieved universal participation through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the document notes that current collective promises remain insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C, potentially leading to a temperature rise exceeding 3°C if not significantly increased.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the shift in international trade and climate discussions from abstract principles to practical application. It focuses on the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in managing Climate-related Trade Measures (CTMs), specifically carbon border adjustment mechanisms and deforestation regulations, ahead of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14).

This research paper by Iryna Bogdanova analyzes the role and effectiveness of technological sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. It examines the transition from the vague sanctions of 2014 to the extensive export controls of 2022, the impact of private sector withdrawals, and Russia's strategies to circumvent these restrictions through self-sufficiency, reliance on China, and parallel imports.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the agricultural negotiation priorities for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It emphasizes that while food security is a central goal, success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments, particularly regarding export restrictions for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), domestic support, and public stockholding.

This research paper analyzes the state of electronic commerce debates within the World Trade Organization (WTO) leading up to the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in February 2024. It examines two parallel tracks: the multilateral Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and the plurilateral Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on Electronic Commerce, focusing on the tension between developed and developing economies regarding digital trade rules and the moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions.

The paper argues that the current divide between the WTO's non-binding environmental dialogues and unilateral trade measures (like the EU's CBAM) is insufficient for global environmental governance. It advocates for 'hybrid' plurilateral agreements—such as the one initiated by New Zealand—that integrate trade and environment goals into binding, cooperative frameworks.

This research paper by Robert Howse analyzes the current state of the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system following the blockage of the Appellate Body by the Trump administration. Howse argues that despite the absence of a functioning Appellate Body, the system remains resilient as panels continue to follow established jurisprudence, and some members are experimenting with ad hoc arbitration mechanisms like the MPIA.

This briefing by Aaron Cosbey of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) proposes a set of principles and best practices to guide the design and implementation of Border Carbon Adjustments (BCA). The author argues that as countries increase climate ambition and carbon pricing, BCAs are becoming necessary to prevent 'carbon leakage'—the relocation of emissions to countries with less stringent policies—while warning that such mechanisms must avoid becoming tools for protectionism.