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The report finds that the ivory ban significantly reduced claimed ivory purchases and future purchase intentions in China, particularly in 'Layer 3' cities. While a large segment of 'Ban Influenced Citizens' shifted to 'Rejectors,' a persistent group of 'Diehard Buyers' and 'Regular Overseas Travelers' continue to seek ivory, often through retail stores in China or during trips to destinations like Thailand. Awareness of the ban is primarily driven by online news portals, and the ban is widely perceived as a 'game changer' that offers hope for elephants.

The document outlines three primary actions for regional governments to mitigate the climate impact of waste: diverting organic waste from landfills, banning the open burning of municipal and agricultural waste, and implementing gas collection and energy recovery systems at landfills.

The document outlines five specific actions to decarbonize regional industry: methane containment, transitioning to clean industrial processes, implementing shared industrial flows (such as eco-industrial parks), decarbonizing ports and airports, and transitioning to clean industrial vehicles. It provides a framework for regional authorities to eliminate waste, electrify processes, and implement regulatory penalties for emissions, supported by references to policies from jurisdictions such as California, Brazil, and Hong Kong.

The research paper examines South Africa's transition from recognizing the Republic of China (ROC) to the People's Republic of China (PRC) under President Nelson Mandela. It details an initial, unsuccessful attempt at 'dual recognition' driven by Taiwan's economic ties and Mandela's personal loyalty, as well as his uncertainty regarding the PRC's longevity. The eventual switch in November 1996 was precipitated by internal pressure from the ANC's National Executive Committee and the Department of Foreign Affairs, combined with 'hardball' tactics from the PRC, including threats to restrict access to Hong Kong and rescind Most Favoured Nation trading status.

The China Green Bond Market Mid-Year Report 2018 details a 14% year-on-year increase in green bond issuance from Chinese issuers in H1 2018, totaling USD 13.02 billion. While financial and non-financial corporates drove growth, 28% of total issuance failed to align with international green bond definitions, primarily due to allocations to general working capital. Renewable energy remained the largest sector for proceeds, and over 40% of issuance occurred offshore, led by ICBC. The report also highlights new regulatory measures from the PBoC and the launch of a Green Bond Issuance Programme in Hong Kong.

The document details the growth of sovereign green bonds, the introduction of national guidelines in Latin America, and the implementation of targeted incentives in Hong Kong. It also covers the European Commission's progress on a sustainable finance taxonomy, Luxembourg's pioneering law for renewable energy covered bonds, and the increasing role of central banks, such as the People's Bank of China, in integrating green assets into financial stability frameworks.

The document highlights the critical link between climate adaptation and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that infrastructure must be resilient to both chronic stress and acute shocks to remain functional. It identifies a significant investment gap, with UN estimates for developing countries reaching US$280-500 billion annually by 2050. Currently, the green bond market is heavily skewed toward mitigation, with only 3-5% of proceeds allocated to adaptation and resilience. The briefing calls for clearer definitions, improved sector-specific disclosure, and the integration of adaptation criteria across all thematic bonds to mobilize the necessary capital.

The report explores 17 case studies of financial instruments—including green bonds, social impact bonds, crowdfunding, and viability gap funds—to determine their applicability to soil remediation. It argues that while private capital is attracted to sites with high post-remediation land value capture, projects with lower commercial potential require public de-risking mechanisms, such as subsidies, guarantees, or performance-based returns, to become viable.

The report argues that Nestlé prioritizes profit and growth over nutritional science in its infant milk business. Through an analysis of 79 products in 40 countries, the authors found that Nestlé's marketing claims often contradict its own nutritional advice and the scientific evidence provided by bodies like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Key discrepancies include the use of sucrose and flavorings in markets where the company advises against them, and the use of 'probiotic' claims in regions where such claims lack scientific authorization. The report concludes that 'premium' product differentiation is driven by consumer preferences and market trends rather than health outcomes.

The document argues that communication and information poverty—characterized by lack of access to platforms, media misrepresentation, and low media literacy—undermines the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It specifically analyzes the intersections between communication rights and SDGs 5, 9, 16, and 17, while providing recommendations for a rights-based approach to communication. The report highlights the need to democratize media systems, increase digital media literacy, and address the specific needs of marginalized groups, particularly Indigenous peoples, which it claims are insufficiently addressed in Agenda 2030.

The document identifies significant barriers to the growth of China's green bond market, including discrepancies between domestic and international green definitions, capital flow controls, and a lack of transparency in domestic credit ratings. It argues that while China has become the world's largest green bond market, only 2% of its bonds are foreign-owned. To attract international private capital—which is expected to provide 85-90% of the investment needed for China's green transition—the paper recommends harmonising green standards, simplifying approval processes for overseas issuance, developing RMB hedging instruments, and opening the domestic market to international credit rating agencies.

The report identifies a $895 billion climate-aligned bond universe, consisting of $221 billion in labelled green bonds and $674 billion in unlabelled bonds from pure-play issuers. Transport and energy are the dominant themes, with rail infrastructure being a primary driver. The document highlights the growing role of sovereign and sub-sovereign issuers, particularly in China and the US, and advocates for the green bond market to reach $1 trillion in annual issuance by 2020 to meet Paris Agreement targets.

The report identifies a $895 billion climate-aligned bond universe as of mid-2017, consisting of $221 billion in labelled green bonds and $674 billion in unlabelled bonds from pure-play issuers. Transport and energy are the dominant themes, with China Railway Corp being the largest single issuer. The document highlights the growing importance of municipal and sovereign green bonds, particularly in the US and Europe, and provides a detailed analysis of Brazil's potential to expand its green finance market to meet its Paris Agreement targets. It concludes by advocating for a global green bond issuance target of $1 trillion per year by 2020.

The report identifies a $895 billion universe of climate-aligned bonds, including $221 billion in labeled green bonds. It highlights the dominance of the transport and energy sectors and the critical role of sovereign and sub-sovereign issuers, particularly in China and the US. The document argues for a massive acceleration of green bond issuance to reach $1 trillion annually by 2020 to support Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The report details the expansion of China's green bond market in H1 2017, highlighting a 33.6% year-on-year growth in issuance and a shift toward more diverse issuers. It examines the alignment of these bonds with international standards, the impact of new domestic policies, and the potential for green municipal bonds to drive local low-carbon transitions.

The report describes a 'silent coup' in South Africa where a power elite centered around President Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family established a symbiotic relationship between the constitutional state and a 'shadow state'. This network repurposed state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and government departments to redirect public rents into private hands. The authors argue that the rhetoric of 'radical economic transformation' (RET) was used as a smokescreen for this systemic looting. Key mechanisms of capture included the manipulation of SOE boards, the ballooning of the public service to ensure political loyalty, and the subversion of security and intelligence agencies to protect the network and neutralize opposition. The report highlights specific cases of corruption at Transnet, Eskom, and Denel, and warns that the proposed Russian nuclear deal is a primary vehicle for massive future rent extraction.

The research focuses on commercial tax evasion within IFFs, clarifying the distinctions between abusive transfer pricing, trade mispricing, and TBML. Using the IMF DOTS methodology and a developed TBML model, the authors estimate flows for Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Zambia. The findings indicate that while some countries show declining trade mispricing, the TBML model suggests increasing financial outflows for all five. The paper highlights significant data anomalies in UNCOMTRADE and IMF datasets, particularly regarding South Africa's extractive exports, and advocates for the implementation of the Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) and improved inter-agency cooperation to curb these flows and support socio-economic development.

The report outlines a strategic framework for UK-China cooperation to expand the global green bond market, identifying key challenges such as the lack of bankable projects and non-harmonised standards. It proposes specific actions, including scaling cross-border issuance, creating joint research programs between the Bank of England and the People's Bank of China, and developing globally harmonised green definitions. The document also highlights the role of the Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme in providing the trust and assurance necessary for institutional investors to mobilise capital for low-carbon and climate-resilient infrastructure.

The document examines the application of sustainable use (SU) policies for African elephants, distinguishing between consumptive use (CU)—such as ivory trade and trophy hunting—and non-consumptive use, such as photographic tourism. It argues that while CU has seen some success in Southern Africa, it is largely undermined by corruption, poor governance, and a 'partial global trade ban' that creates market confusion and encourages poaching. The author contends that the closure of major ivory markets in the US and China, combined with the inability of CITES to approve new trade, makes a permanent global ivory trade ban the most viable path. The paper recommends that African governments transition to public-private protected area management organisations (PPPAMOs) and photographic tourism, while using 'conservation hunting' only as a temporary stop-gap. Ultimately, it calls for a global biodiversity tax to compensate African states for the opportunity costs of these restrictions.

The report identifies a significant gap between Mexico's climate goals and its current green bond issuance, which stood at US $1.3bn in 2016. It highlights substantial investment needs, particularly in energy (US $5bn annually) and transport (US $12bn for multimodal projects), and argues that mobilizing private institutional capital through green bonds is essential to meet these targets.