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This report, published by Global Energy Monitor and a coalition of partners, tracks global coal-fired power plant capacity as of April 2024. It highlights a paradoxical trend where global coal capacity reached record highs in 2023, driven primarily by China, despite a general decline in new coal construction in the rest of the world and increasing phase-out commitments.

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 briefing paper critiques the G20's "Better, Bolder and Bigger" framework for Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) reform, arguing that its private-sector-first approach prioritizes profit over people and planet. The authors highlight risks including the erosion of accountability, continued fossil fuel financing, and a lack of gender-sensitive strategies, urging a shift toward grants-based financing and systemic democratization.

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.

This executive summary outlines the findings of a survey comparing foreign policy perspectives between Germany and the IBSA countries (India, Brazil, and South Africa). It highlights divergent views on the war in Ukraine, the dominance of the US dollar, and the role of BRICS+, while identifying shared hopes for the G20 and a mutual desire for UN Security Council reform.

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 briefing paper argues that conventional financial analysis for transport infrastructure is inadequate because it fails to integrate externalities—the costs or benefits impacting third parties. The author contends that neglecting these factors leads to continued investment in carbon-intensive road transport over sustainable alternatives.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines India's climate adaptation financing, highlighting the significant funding gaps at the subnational level and proposing strategic interventions to mobilize public and private finance.

This Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) analyzes the economic, social, and environmental impacts of the second phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric (& Hybrid) Vehicles (FAME II) policy in India, which utilizes a budget of INR 100 billion to subsidize the electrification of public and shared transportation.

WRI implemented over 30 nature-based projects in Mumbai, Kochi, and Jaipur, including urban farming and water restoration, to mitigate climate risks. These initiatives, which include a food security project for 72,000 students in Mumbai and a cooling farm in Jaipur, led to the establishment of India's first national forum on urban nature-based solutions.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) updates the tracking of climate commitments for the 70 largest public financial institutions (PFIs) for 2023 and analyzes the climate strategies of 49 smaller PFIs in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). The findings indicate minimal progress among large PFIs, while smaller institutions often demonstrate higher ambition when supported by their national governments.

This research paper examines the dynamics of synthetic drug markets in West Africa, using tramadol as a primary case study to analyze how criminal networks adapt to supply-side disruptions. The report highlights that law enforcement and regulatory efforts often lead to market displacement, increased prices, and the emergence of more dangerous synthetic substitutes rather than the total disruption of the trade.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the potential and barriers for land-based mitigation technologies and practices (LMTs) in China. It finds that while forestry has been the primary focus for carbon sequestration, other sectors like agriculture, grasslands, and wetlands remain underexploited. The report highlights a lack of standardized methodologies and a fragmented policy landscape, suggesting that these must be addressed to meet China's 2060 net-zero goal.

The policy brief examines how the G20 can better support Africa's tax agenda to finance Sustainable Development Goals. While progress was made under the Indian and Indonesian presidencies regarding the Two-Pillar Solution and BEPS, African countries still struggle with low tax-to-GDP ratios (16%) and high revenue losses from tax avoidance. The document recommends that the African Union use its new permanent G20 seat to advocate for a higher global minimum tax, increased digitalization of tax administrations, a global carbon taxation system, and progressive tax policies to fund social protection for the 85.8% of the African workforce in the informal sector.

This case study describes the efforts of Hamara Grid Private Limited to implement solar mini-grids in the Mon district of Nagaland, India. The project employs a Public-Private-People’s-Partnership (PPPP) model to address the poor reliability and quality of the national grid in remote areas, aiming to integrate clean energy with rural economic development, health, and education.

This guide explains the concept of resource adequacy (RA) and the implementation of the Resource Adequacy Planning Framework released by India's Ministry of Power in June 2023 to ensure grid reliability amidst growing electricity demand and renewable energy integration.

This research paper by Facundo Calvo analyzes the agriculture negotiations for the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), arguing that success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments. The author focuses on the potential for an exemption from export restrictions for least developed countries (LDCs) and the deep divisions among WTO members regarding domestic support and public stockholding.

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 Rashmi Jose analyzes the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA), a proposed treaty aimed at increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs). The author examines the agreement's core commitments, its special and differential treatment for developing nations, and the significant legal and political challenges associated with integrating the IFDA as a plurilateral agreement into the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework.