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The author argues that international trade policy is shifting from a primary focus on trade liberalization and economic efficiency toward a 'multipurpose' approach. This new framework integrates broader objectives—including climate action, supply chain resilience, and national security—directly into trade policy rather than treating them as externalities. The document outlines domestic challenges, such as balancing incommensurable goals and breaking down departmental silos, and international challenges, including the increasing tension between national policy imperatives and World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. It concludes that while this shift addresses the perceived failures of globalization, it risks fragmenting international cooperation and increasing the divide between developed and developing nations.

The NZ–EU FTA represents a significant shift in trade policy by integrating enforceable sustainability and climate goals into a legally binding framework. Most notably, it is the first agreement for both parties to allow trade sanctions for breaches of commitments to the Paris Agreement. The agreement also includes the EU's first FTA articles on fossil fuel subsidy reform and harmful fisheries subsidies, as well as enforceable gender commitments. Additionally, it establishes a cooperation chapter on sustainable food systems covering organic farming and biodiversity. The author argues that this integration of trade and climate policy signals a future where trade negotiators must be proficient in sustainability to maintain a social licence to operate.

Based on NASA and NOAA data, 2022 was the sixth hottest year on record, measuring 2.03°F (1.13°C) warmer than the 1881-1910 baseline. This warming occurred despite the cooling effect of a third consecutive La Niña year. The Arctic continues to warm nearly four times faster than the global average, with the last seven years being the warmest since 1900. The document also notes that renewables are projected to become the largest global electricity source by 2027, with China, the United States, and India expected to drive two-thirds of that growth.

The Urban Wage Employment Initiative (UWEI) was launched by Odisha's Housing and Urban Development Department in 2020 to combat unemployment and poverty among urban poor and migrant workers during COVID-19 lockdowns. The program employed 700,000 workers and paid $12 million in wages, focusing on climate-resilient public works such as rainwater harvesting and flood mitigation. By utilizing community organizations as 'alternative service providers' instead of professional contractors, the program ensured benefits remained local and reached marginalized groups. The success of UWEI led to its conversion in February 2021 into a permanent program called MUKTA (Mukhyamantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan), establishing a precedent for pro-poor urban employment schemes in India.

The report examines the direct and indirect benefits of energy efficiency (EE), such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased industrial competitiveness. It details various international policy mechanisms—including regulation, market instruments, and fiscal policies—and evaluates their application in countries like Canada, China, and the EU. The document concludes that while Brazil has established several EE programs, it faces challenges such as fragmented governance and a lack of alignment between industrial and energy policies.

The report examines the global cotton market, highlighting the growth of VSS-compliant cotton, which reached 25%–26% of total production by 2019. It details the vulnerabilities of cotton farmers to climate change and market volatility, noting that farmers often receive less than 10% of a garment's retail price. The document argues for better price transparency, long-term contracts, and the internalization of external costs to ensure living incomes for smallholders.

The report analyzes the global cotton industry, highlighting the growth of sustainable cotton produced under voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) and the challenges posed by climate change and market volatility. It examines the disparity in value distribution across the textile supply chain, where smallholder farmers receive a minimal fraction of retail prices. While VSS like Better Cotton and Organic can improve yields and incomes, the report notes that many sustainable products are sold at conventional prices. It recommends improving contract transparency, internalizing external costs, and developing regional value chains, particularly in West Africa, to enhance resilience and farmer income.

The report finds that GFANZ members, including major banks and asset managers, have provided hundreds of billions of dollars to companies expanding fossil fuel production. It argues that the alliance's sectoral guidelines and individual member policies are insufficient to prevent this expansion, often relying on flawed decarbonization targets that do not explicitly prohibit new fossil fuel supply. The document calls for the adoption of robust 'no-expansion' policies, alignment with UN Race to Zero criteria, and the implementation of meaningful accountability mechanisms to ensure financial flows are redirected toward clean energy.

The ESMP for Royal Manas National Park outlines mitigation strategies for seven planned activities, including staff quarter maintenance, river bank protection, and grassland management. It focuses on minimizing waste, ensuring worker health and safety, and preventing wildfires during prescribed burning, while adhering to both Bhutanese law and WWF safeguards.

The ESMP for Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary outlines mitigation strategies for five key activities: restoring alpine meadows, improving lowland grasslands, implementing bioengineering for watershed management, restoring natural saltlicks, and maintaining the Joenkhar Range Office. It integrates Bhutanese national laws with WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP), prioritizing the latter in cases of discrepancy, particularly regarding compensation for non-title land users and community consultation. The plan details specific environmental risks, such as the spread of invasive alien species and waste generation, and mandates strict occupational health and safety (OHS) standards for workers, including the provision of safety gear and standardized living facilities.

The report examines how developed nations are adopting 'climate-justified' protectionist measures, specifically the EU's CBAM and the US's IRA, which depart from previous neoliberal trade doctrines. It argues that these unilateral policies threaten African economic growth and industrialisation by creating market barriers and restricting policy space. The author suggests that Africa should oppose the CBAM, leverage the US's use of localisation to justify its own local content requirements, and campaign for the treatment of green technologies as global public goods through the reform of TRIPS rules.

The report documents diverse community-led climate adaptation efforts across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, emphasizing the role of ecosystem restoration, circular economies, and gender equality. It highlights that while local actors are innovative and entrepreneurial, they are often hindered by rigid top-down funding requirements, lack of land tenure, and systemic inequalities. The document advocates for a paradigm shift in climate finance toward patient, predictable, and accessible funding that recognizes the holistic needs of vulnerable populations, including their psychosocial well-being and human rights.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) is seeking concept notes for projects in Africa that leverage local and indigenous knowledge for climate resilience. Up to five projects will be selected for grants of up to $150,000 over a maximum of three years. Projects must align with themes such as gender equality, social inclusion, resilience financing, ecosystem-based approaches, climate knowledge, and youth empowerment. Priority is given to organisations founded and led within Africa, with a strong emphasis on locally-led adaptation and the inclusion of marginalised groups.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) issued a call for concept notes in 2023 to fund projects led by African organisations that use Indigenous and local knowledge to drive inclusive, locally-led climate-resilient action.

The report finds a general lack of integration of women's economic empowerment in economy-wide low-carbon transitions, with mainstream 'green economy' and 'just transition' narratives often remaining gender-blind or biased toward male-dominated industries. While feminist literature has historically focused on climate adaptation and vulnerability, sectoral practice—particularly in agriculture and forestry—shows more advanced integration of women as agents of change. Some national climate plans, such as those of Nepal and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, are identified as role models for embedding gender equality into mitigation strategies. The authors argue that current global economic recovery efforts following the Covid-19 pandemic have failed to connect decarbonisation with gender equality, risking further marginalisation of women in low- and middle-income countries.

The ASIA F-LIST 2023 report examines the role of advertising in sustaining fossil fuel consumption across selected Asian markets. It argues that companies use reward programs, prize giveaways, and 'purpose-washing' campaigns—such as rural development projects and environmental restoration—to distract from their contribution to the climate crisis. The report notes a gap between sustainable intent and action among Asian consumers, partly due to misleading marketing, and highlights a growing but inconsistent regulatory landscape for climate disclosure in the region.

The report analyzes fossil fuel marketing in Asia, identifying two primary strategies: incentivizing increased fuel consumption through loyalty programs and prizes, and 'purpose-washing' to shift climate responsibility onto individuals or project a sustainable image. It notes a gap between Asian consumers' sustainable intent and action, partly due to misleading marketing, while highlighting a trend toward mandatory climate disclosures in countries like India, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

The document proposes a systematic classification framework to identify and screen climate resilience investments, aiming to bridge the gap between high-level resilience goals and capital market flows. It defines eligibility based on 'Substantial Contribution' to resilience while avoiding maladaptation and significant harm, categorizing investments into a white list, standardized checks, and further assessment. The framework is organized around seven themes: Resilient Agrifood Systems, Resilient Industry & Commerce, Resilient Cities, Resilient Nature & Biodiversity, Resilient Health, Resilient Societies, and Resilient Infrastructure.

The 2023 CleanAir NDC Scorecard reveals a significant gap between national climate pledges and the integration of air quality and health. While most NDCs mention air pollution, few quantify health impacts or set forward-looking targets. Low- and middle-income countries generally score higher than high-income nations, though many still face high air pollution mortality rates, highlighting a need for increased international finance to translate commitments into action.

The report utilizes the REPO and E3ME-FTT:Power models to project China's power sector transition. Both models predict the eventual dominance of wind and solar power, though they differ on the specific technology mix and cost trajectories. The analysis emphasizes that market-based pricing and a robust Emission Trading System (ETS) are critical for supporting carbon neutrality goals, while highlighting the essential role of large-scale energy storage and carbon capture technologies to maintain system stability and reach net-zero emissions.