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This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and CUTS International, Geneva, provides an update on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Informal Working Group (IWG) on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) from June to December 2020. It details the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on MSMEs, particularly those led by women, and outlines a package of six recommendations and declarations adopted by the IWG in December 2020 to improve MSME integration into the multilateral trading system.

This report analyzes South Africa's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2019–2020 term. It examines the current geopolitical dynamics of the Council, the expectations placed on South Africa as a regional power, and provides strategic recommendations for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to maximize the country's international visibility and influence.

The report 'HOW NOT TO PARACHUTE MORE CATS' by Hunter and Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute argues that global resource crises—including energy, water, and climate change—can be solved by understanding interconnections and prioritizing resource efficiency over the expansion of supply. The authors advocate for a 'least-cost' approach, demonstrating that energy efficiency and renewable technologies are often cheaper and more effective than fossil fuels or nuclear power. They suggest that these technical solutions can simultaneously improve economic health, reduce nuclear proliferation, and enhance global security by reducing dependence on volatile resources like Mideast oil.

This executive summary outlines the energy landscape of Kuwait, highlighting its heavy reliance on oil exports and domestic fossil fuel consumption. It projects energy demand and production through 2035 under a 'business-as-usual' scenario, emphasizing the need for economic diversification, improved energy efficiency in buildings and transport, and a transition toward natural gas and renewable energy to reduce carbon intensity and greenhouse gas emissions.

This report analyzes Kuwait's energy sector, highlighting its heavy economic reliance on oil exports (90% of export revenues) and the challenges of transitioning to sustainable energy. While Kuwait aims for 15% renewable energy by 2030, current adoption is below 1%. Projections to 2035 indicate rising electricity and water demands, with a planned increase in combined-cycle power plants and a shift toward more efficient desalination technologies. The report warns of unsustainable growth in transport emissions and calls for institutional coordination and energy efficiency reforms to reduce the carbon intensity of the economy.

The Kuwait Energy Outlook, produced by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) in collaboration with the GSSCPD and UNDP, provides a comprehensive analysis of Kuwait's energy supply and demand trends. It presents a 'Business-as-Usual' (BAU) projection to 2035, highlighting the country's heavy reliance on hydrocarbons, the challenges of under-developed gas reserves, and the slow adoption of renewable energy. The report emphasizes the need for institutional coordination, pricing reform, and improved data collection to transition toward a more sustainable energy future.

The Production Gap Report 2023 finds that global governments plan to produce significantly more fossil fuels by 2030 and 2050 than is consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C. Despite net-zero pledges, many major producers continue to plan for increases in coal, oil, and gas production, creating a misalignment between production plans and climate goals.

This policy brief introduces the Transnational Climate Impacts (TCI) Index, a framework developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute to measure country-level exposure to climate risks that cross national borders. The brief argues that globalization connects countries through biophysical, financial, human, and trade pathways, meaning that even wealthy nations with low direct physical vulnerability can be highly exposed to transnational climate risks. It recommends that the UNFCCC and national governments integrate these transnational dimensions into adaptation planning and finance to ensure global economic stability.

This WWF South Africa fact sheet examines the role of desalination as a water source for Cape Town and South Africa, detailing the technical requirements, costs, and environmental impacts of the process.