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This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of technical assistance and capacity building (TACB) in implementing a potential World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on fisheries subsidies. It identifies critical gaps between the needs of developing countries for compliance—such as subsidy inventory and IUU monitoring—and the actual distribution of official development assistance (ODA), which heavily favors general fisheries development and management over specific subsidy reform.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores the precautionary principle, a guide in international environmental law that advocates for taking protective action even in the absence of full scientific certainty to avoid serious or irreversible damage.

This report by the NewClimate Institute, PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, and IIASA provides an update on climate mitigation policies, COVID-19 response measures, and the status of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Long-Term Strategies (LTS) across 25 countries and regions between July 2019 and August 2020.

This briefing explores the precautionary principle as a guide for decision-makers to protect the environment, public health, and security in the face of scientific uncertainty. It traces the principle's evolution from national laws in Sweden to its integration into major international treaties and the law of the European Union, while discussing the ongoing tension between environmental safeguarding and economic development.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the necessary adaptations for South Africa's trade policy following the COVID-19 pandemic. It advocates for a revised Trade Policy Strategic Framework that emphasizes regional integration through the AfCFTA and SACU, a strategic redesign of South Africa's role within the WTO, and the diversification of global trading partnerships to ensure economic resilience in the 2020s.

This policy brief examines the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, detailing its origins, the diplomatic tensions between developed and developing nations, and its lasting impact on international environmental law and the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

This fact sheet details a JPY 300 million private placement green bond issued by GPSS Holdings on July 31, 2020, to fund solar power generation facilities in Japan.

The report by IPEN and CIEL proposes a coordinated international tax on chemical feedstocks (basic chemicals) to generate sustainable funding for the sound management of chemicals and wastes, particularly in developing and transition countries. It argues that current funding mechanisms are inadequate and that the chemical industry must internalize the social and environmental costs of its products in accordance with the polluter pays principle.

This fact sheet details a JPY 2.2 billion (USD 20.2 million) green loan issued by Ichigo ECO Energy on August 20, 2020, to finance the construction of the Ichigo Yonezawa wind power plant.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the instruments and public policies used for agricultural risk management in Brazil. It examines the strengths and failures of current systems, including insurance programs and price guarantees, and provides recommendations to improve efficiency and sustainability in the face of climate change.

The report evaluates agricultural risk management in Brazil, finding that while the insurance market has grown, it remains highly concentrated and underfunded compared to rural credit. It highlights that nearly 60% of municipalities lack insurance and suggests redirecting public funds from credit to insurance and expanding the use of Agricultural Climate Risk Zoning (ZARC) to improve productivity and land use.

The document is a Green Bond Fact Sheet from the Climate Bonds Initiative detailing a JPY 1.5 billion green bond issued by Comforia Residential REIT on July 30, 2020, to finance or refinance green buildings in Japan.

This fact sheet details a JPY 15.7 billion green loan issued by M&C Tottori Hydroelectric Power Co., Ltd. on July 31, 2020, to fund the redevelopment of hydropower plants in Tottori Prefecture, Japan.

The Climate Bonds Initiative's Green Bonds Global State of the Market 2019 report analyzes the growth and trends of the global green bond market in 2019. It highlights a record issuance of USD 258.9 billion, the expansion of the market into new countries, the dominance of non-financial corporates as the top issuer type, and the increasing role of Certified Climate Bonds and external reviews in ensuring alignment with climate goals.

This fact sheet from the World Resources Institute provides a comparative analysis of net-zero targets adopted by 19 countries and the European Union as of July 2020, evaluating their design robustness, target years, sectoral coverage, and legal status.

This fact sheet details a JPY 10 billion (USD 92 million) green bond issued by Asahi Kasei Corp on June 19, 2020, to fund run-of-river hydroelectric power facilities.

This Green Bond Fact Sheet details a JPY 10bn private placement issued by Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation on June 30, 2020, to fund wind power generation projects in Japan.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute describes the development and utility of Aid Atlas, an interactive platform designed to simplify the analysis of global development finance data from the OECD's Creditor Reporting System (CRS). Using the tool, the authors identify several trends and data gaps in development aid between 2013 and 2017, including the low proportion of funding for general environment protection, the impact of the European refugee crisis on donor budgets, and significant disbursement challenges specifically associated with climate finance.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute provides guidance for Ministries of Finance on integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation into COVID-19 economic recovery packages. It argues that aligning stimulus spending with climate goals can maximize long-term economic gains, create more jobs than traditional investments, and reduce future systemic risks.

Looop Inc issued a JPY3bn green bond on April 30, 2020, to finance the construction and purchase of solar power generation plants in Japan. The 15-year bond is rated GA1 by R&I (Japan), and the company has committed to reporting CO2 reductions and fund allocation publicly.