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This research paper examines the evolving landscape of critical minerals diplomacy, arguing that current multilateral trade rules are insufficient to balance the economic security needs of consuming nations with the industrialization goals of resource-rich developing countries. The author analyzes the rise of non-binding sectoral partnerships and plurilateral initiatives led by developed nations, warning that these may reinforce power asymmetries. The paper proposes utilizing the World Trade Organization (WTO) or regional groupings as more neutral platforms to establish a rules-based system that supports sustainable sourcing and domestic value addition in producer economies.

This research paper by Rashid S. Kaukab analyzes the ongoing debates within the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the governance of electronic commerce ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). It examines the tension between the multilateral Work Programme on Electronic Commerce (WPEC) and the plurilateral Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on E-Commerce, specifically focusing on the moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions and the digital divide affecting developing countries.

This research paper argues that increasing domestic clean power production is essential for Japan's national security, economic resilience, and strategic autonomy due to its high dependence on energy imports.

This briefing note analyzes the implications of the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) July 2025 advisory opinion on States' obligations to prevent environmental harm, specifically focusing on the financing of climate-destructive conduct. It outlines how the ICJ's findings can be used in litigation to challenge public and private funding of the fossil fuel sector and to enforce obligations for climate finance in developing nations.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative argues that expanding domestic renewable energy is critical for Japan's national security and strategic autonomy, given its high dependence on energy imports. It proposes a pathway to achieve an 80-90% clean energy grid by 2035-2040 through grid expansion, regulatory reform, and the mobilization of private capital.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative argues that expanding domestic renewable energy is critical for Japan's national security and strategic autonomy. It highlights Japan's high dependence on energy imports and proposes a pathway to achieve 80% to 90% clean power by 2035-2040 to reduce geopolitical vulnerability and economic risk.

This policy brief by Ember examines the financing landscape for ASEAN's energy transition, highlighting a significant investment gap and the varying roles of bilateral partners like China, Japan, and the United States. It argues that the Philippines' 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship provides a strategic opportunity to coordinate regional industrial strategies—such as Indonesia's nickel downstreaming and Viet Nam's solar manufacturing—to move the region up the clean energy value chain.

This fact sheet by RMI explains the liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain, the United States' role as a leading exporter, and the environmental and economic impacts associated with the liquefaction and transport of gas over long distances.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues against the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in the protocol for the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UN FCITC). It highlights the structural failures of ISDS—including high costs, inconsistent rulings, and 'regulatory chill'—and warns that adopting such a mechanism would undermine fiscal sovereignty. The brief also draws lessons from the prolonged and complex reform efforts of UNCITRAL Working Group III to caution negotiators against the institutional lock-in and resource drains associated with international arbitration.

The report 'Boom and Bust Coal 2026' by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the global coal plant pipeline in 2025, highlighting a growing disconnect where coal capacity continues to increase—driven primarily by China and India—while actual coal-fired electricity generation declines due to the rapid expansion of wind and solar power.

This report by WWF South Africa examines the adoption of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework within the South African corporate and financial sectors. It specifically promotes the LEAP (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, and Prepare) approach as a practical methodology for companies to identify nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities, thereby shifting financial flows toward nature-positive outcomes.

The report 'The EV leapfrog' by Ember analyzes global electric vehicle (EV) trends in 2025, highlighting how emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Latin America are rapidly increasing EV adoption and overtaking advanced economies like the US and Japan in sales shares.

A statement from health professionals and community leaders requesting that the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) suspend financing for LNG Canada and the Coastal GasLink pipeline until an independent cumulative Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is conducted.

This executive summary from the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the climate transition progress of 594 pension funds in OECD countries, representing USD 22.5 trillion in assets. Using the Net Zero Finance Tracker (NZFT), the report evaluates these funds across targets, implementation, and impact, highlighting a trend of increasing climate target adoption and improved risk management, while noting a persistent material exposure to fossil fuel expansion.

The WWF-SASSI fact sheet is a consumer guide for the South African seafood market that categorizes species into Green (best choice), Orange (think twice), and Red (don't buy) lists based on population health, fishing methods, and management. It encourages consumers to verify the species, origin, and catch method to ensure ecological sustainability and legal compliance.

The Consumer Seafood Guide, published by WWF South Africa in December 2025, is a pocket reference tool designed to help consumers make environmentally responsible seafood choices using a 'traffic light' system. It provides guidance on identifying sustainable species based on the species type, the method of capture or farming, and the origin of the seafood.

A briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics detailing how soy-driven deforestation in Brazil's Cerrado biome reduces regional rainfall and agricultural productivity, creating a paradox where individual farmer profits are outweighed by regional economic losses and global supply chain risks.

Plan 1.5 criticizes the South Korean government's 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for setting a lower bound that fails to meet constitutional and international legal responsibilities for the 1.5°C climate goal.

The NewClimate Institute's 2025 update evaluates the progress of 25 major emitters, representing over 80% of global emissions, toward their climate mitigation targets. The report finds that while total emissions under current policies may peak by 2026, the projected reductions are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal, which requires a 43% reduction by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.

This report provides a comparative analysis of global electricity tariff-setting methodologies, focusing on the process of determining revenue requirements and conducting Cost of Supply (CoS) studies. It examines various regulatory models—including rate-of-return, incentive-based, performance-based, and market-based pricing—and evaluates their effectiveness in balancing financial sustainability for utilities with affordability for consumers. The document concludes with specific recommendations for South Africa to modernize its tariff structures and revenue determination processes as it transitions toward a wholesale electricity market.