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This report analyzes local procurement policies (LCPs) in the mining sector, examining how governments can increase the purchase of goods and services from domestic suppliers to foster industrial development and economic diversification. It details various ways to define "local"—through geography, value addition, or ownership—and evaluates demand-side and supply-side policy instruments, ranging from mandated percentages and targeted lists to supplier development programs and access to finance. The document emphasizes that LCPs are most effective when supported by a conducive business climate, reliable data, and complementary capacity-building measures for local firms.

This fact sheet details a SEK 6 billion (USD 604 million) green bond issued by Stora Enso on February 20, 2019, marking the first entry of a Finnish forest product company into the green bond market.

Nobina issued a SEK500m (USD54m) senior secured green bond on February 13, 2019, to finance electric buses, biofuel-powered vehicles, and charging infrastructure. This marks the first green bond issuance from the Swedish public transport sector.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister Catherine McKenna on December 3, 2018, urging the Canadian government to enshrine climate accountability and transparency in law. CAPE argues that Canada has a history of missing greenhouse gas reduction targets and that the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF) requires binding legislative measures to ensure successive governments meet 2030 and 2050 targets.

This fact sheet details a EUR 100 million green bond issued by University Properties of Finland (SYK) on November 2, 2018, to finance sustainable building projects and infrastructure.

The BONUS RETURN project aims to increase the adoption of eco-technologies in the Baltic Sea Region to reduce emissions and enhance nutrient/carbon reuse. In its first year (2017-2018), the project established a broad definition of 'eco-technologies' following a systematic review of literature, identified potential technologies in agriculture and wastewater sectors, and began baseline environmental modelling in three river basins: Vantaanjoki (Finland), Słupia (Poland), and Fyrisån (Sweden). It also launched an innovation competition and established stakeholder platforms to support the commercialization and implementation of these technologies.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a strategic framework for governments to design and implement local content policies in the mining sector. It outlines a four-step process—aligning with national objectives, taking stock of capabilities, crafting specific policies, and establishing monitoring mechanisms—to ensure mining investments contribute to sustainable, inclusive economic development and diversification.

This report documents the 'Nutrients and Carbon Reuse Challenge,' an open competition launched by the BONUS RETURN project to identify and support emerging eco-technologies capable of recovering nutrients and carbon in the Baltic Sea Region. The document outlines the competition's criteria, the evaluation process conducted by a panel of experts, and the selection of three winning technologies—Biophree, TerraNovaUltra, and Ravita—to enter a pre-commercialization process.

This policy brief by SEI, IDDRI, and ODI argues that climate adaptation must shift from a local-to-national focus to a transboundary perspective. It contends that because climate risks are 'borderless'—affecting global supply chains, migration, and ecosystems—international cooperation through the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement is essential to prevent 'climate change contagion' in the global economy.

This report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details activities and strategic partnerships undertaken between sessions to increase the institute's visibility and influence within international climate and biodiversity frameworks. It outlines collaborations with the IPCC, UN agencies, and various NGOs to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy implementation, particularly for Latin America.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative explains how green securitisation—the process of creating asset-backed securities (ABS) from low-carbon assets—can unlock finance for small-scale projects. It details various structures including synthetic ABS, PACE ABS, solar ABS, and green mortgage-backed securities, highlighting how aggregating small assets allows institutional investors to provide capital to SMEs and urban infrastructure.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law reviews the status of human rights, gender equality, and other social considerations within the negotiations for the Paris Agreement's implementation guidelines as of February 2018. It analyzes four key agenda items—Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Adaptation Communications, the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), and the Global Stocktake (GST)—detailing the proposals made by various countries and the extent to which these social dimensions were reflected in the co-facilitators' notes following COP-23.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of infrastructure banks in closing the global infrastructure financing gap. It analyzes best practices from various international institutions and provides eight strategic recommendations for countries establishing their own infrastructure banks to mobilize private capital and promote sustainable development.

This report by Ember examines the use of biomass co-firing in several European countries, detailing the subsidies that support the practice and its impact on the transition away from fossil fuels.

This guidebook provides a framework and practical options for countries to conduct self-reviews and peer reviews of fossil fuel subsidies (FFSs). It aims to increase transparency and accountability to support the phase-out of inefficient subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption, aligning with commitments made by the G7, G20, EU, and APEC.

This executive summary describes a guidebook designed to help countries conduct self- and peer reviews of fossil fuel subsidies (FFS). It outlines the purpose of these reviews as tools for transparency, accountability, and peer learning to support the phase-out of inefficient subsidies. The document details the 'building blocks' of a review—scope, definition, measurement, evaluation, and next steps—and provides practical recommendations based on the experiences of countries such as China, Finland, New Zealand, Peru, and Sweden.

This case study examines the state of e-commerce in South Africa as of 2017, analyzing its scale, regulatory environment, and potential for economic inclusion. It highlights a growing market dominated by a few key players and a legislative framework primarily governed by the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 2002. The document identifies significant supply-side infrastructure gaps and demand-side trust issues as primary barriers to growth, while suggesting that e-commerce could be a vital tool for the empowerment of women and the poor.

A speech delivered by IISD President and CEO Scott Vaughan at the World Circular Economy Forum 2017 in Helsinki, discussing the need for macroeconomic indicators beyond GDP to properly value the circular economy, the potential for job growth, and the necessity of reforming fiscal incentives.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the indicators used by nine countries in their voluntary reviews to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) to track progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In a speech delivered at the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region in Geneva, IISD President and CEO Scott Vaughan argues that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are fragile due to political backlashes and requires a shift toward holistic measurements of well-being that move beyond GDP.