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This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that Indonesia can increase its revenue for COVID-19 recovery by transitioning from fuel subsidies to higher fuel taxes, citing India's successful transition as a model.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines four critical objectives for the Leaders Summit on Climate (April 22-23, 2021), hosted by the United States. The document argues that the summit is a vital milestone for major economies to align their 2030 emissions targets with net-zero trajectories, increase climate finance for developing nations, end public funding for coal, and ensure COVID-19 economic recovery plans prioritize green infrastructure over fossil fuels to keep the 1.5 degree Celsius warming limit within reach.

This case study examines the Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka, India, focusing on its innovative land-leasing model and the resulting socio-economic and environmental trade-offs. While the project successfully contributed to renewable energy targets and provided stable income for landowners, it faced challenges regarding water scarcity, limited local job creation, and negative impacts on non-land-owning residents.

This working paper examines the experiences and challenges of climate change practitioners in the global South as they transitioned to online engagement during the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on a 2020 CDKN survey and interviews across Africa, Asia, and South America, the document analyzes the impact of the digital divide, evaluates various communication platforms, and provides lessons for organizing inclusive virtual events for marginalized and remote populations.

This report by the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) investigates air quality around 270 schools in Bengaluru, India, between June 2019 and July 2020. Using data from the Healthy Air Coalition's independent monitoring network, the study finds that air quality is generally unhealthy for children throughout the year, with significant spikes in PM2.5 during winter months and school departure times. The report advocates for stricter compliance with health-based air quality standards and the implementation of traffic restrictions around schools to protect children's respiratory and cardiovascular health.

The report 'Boom and Bust 2021' analyzes the global coal plant pipeline, highlighting a divergence where a surge in coal development in China offset a general global retreat. While many countries in South and Southeast Asia, the US, and the EU are retiring plants or cancelling projects, China's commissioning of new capacity led to the first increase in global coal capacity since 2015.

The 2020 global coal power landscape was characterized by a sharp increase in capacity in China, which offset declines elsewhere and led to the first global increase in coal capacity since 2015. While the US and EU saw record closures, China's provincial governments accelerated coal projects as economic stimulants. Conversely, several Southeast Asian and South Asian nations began canceling planned projects due to financing difficulties and shifting policies.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes global coal power plant trends in 2020, highlighting a stark divergence between China's rapid expansion and a general global decline. While many countries in the US, EU, and Southeast Asia are decommissioning plants or canceling new projects due to financial pressures and climate goals, China's surge in new capacity offset global reductions, leading to a net increase in global coal capacity for the first time since 2015.

The report 'YÜKSELIŞ VE ÇÖKÜŞ 2021' analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants in 2020, highlighting a stark divergence between China's continued expansion and a general global decline. While the rest of the world saw record retirements and project cancellations—particularly in the US, EU, and Southeast Asia—China's surge in new capacity led to a net global increase in coal power. The document details the financial challenges facing coal, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on project timelines, and the gap between current national trajectories and the IPCC 1.5°C pathway.

The report 'BÙNG NỔ VÀ THOÁI TRÀO 2021' analyzes global coal power trends in 2020, highlighting a stark contrast between China's surge in new capacity and a general global decline. While many nations in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the OECD are canceling projects or accelerating closures, China's rapid development has caused total global coal capacity to increase for the first time since 2015.

This policy brief analyzes how voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) helped smallholder farmers in six countries cope with COVID-19. It finds that VSSs can build resilience through higher premiums, stronger buyer relationships, market diversification, and existing training in protocols. However, VSSs do not eliminate international price volatility or the disproportionate power of buyers. The brief recommends that governments support resilience by incentivizing sustainable consumption, ensuring living incomes via minimum prices, and extending social protection programs.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can enhance the resilience of small-scale producers during crises, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a study of six commodity sectors across six countries, the document analyzes the role of certification in mitigating price drops and contract cancellations, while also identifying the limitations of VSS in addressing systemic power imbalances and international market volatility. It concludes with policy recommendations for governments to support smallholder resilience through social protection, minimum pricing, and the stimulation of demand for sustainable products.

This policy brief examines the role of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) in enhancing the resilience of small-scale farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a study of six countries (Cambodia, India, Colombia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, and Rwanda), it finds that VSS can provide higher prices, stronger buyer relationships, and better training, which help farmers mitigate shocks. However, VSS alone cannot protect against global price volatility or asymmetric power dynamics in supply chains. The document recommends that governments complement VSS with social protection, minimum price guarantees, and policies to stimulate demand for sustainable products.

This policy brief provides a stocktaking of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) negotiations on e-commerce as of February 2021. It examines how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption while widening the digital divide, and analyzes the current state of play in the JSI negotiations, including areas of convergence and persistent divergence among the 86 participating members.

The 'Climate and Society Game' is an interactive training tool designed to explore how gender and social roles impact climate vulnerability and resilience. The South Asia edition uses a fictional Indian coastal neighbourhood, Krishna Nagar, to simulate consultations and the development of adaptation plans through role-play with diverse character cards.

This report, led by the Coalition for Urban Transitions and 36 partner organizations, argues that urban centers are critical for climate leadership and economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically focusing on six emerging economies.

This research paper examines how the implementation of clean cooking solutions affects household fuelwood consumption sources in two rural Indian districts, specifically comparing extraction from forests versus farms.

This briefing by RMI argues that India's power sector is insufficiently prepared for the increasing frequency of climate-induced extreme weather events. It advocates for a shift toward resilience-based planning, including grid hardening, the adoption of flexible energy sources, and the creation of system redundancies to prevent cascading failures across critical services and transportation.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that gender equality is a prerequisite for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights how systemic barriers, discriminatory laws, and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women hinder environmental and social progress, while demonstrating that women's leadership in natural resource governance and climate action leads to more effective and sustainable outcomes.

This policy brief argues that the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the critical link between human health and environmental degradation, advocating for a 'planetary health' approach to green recovery. It calls for the integration of health and environmental policies, financing, and data metrics to prevent future zoonotic outbreaks and address systemic inequalities.