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The report finds that while post-issuance UoP reporting is widespread, impact reporting is less common and highly unstandardised. It highlights a positive correlation between reporting availability and the presence of external reviews, particularly post-issuance reviews. The analysis reveals that larger issuers and more mature markets generally report more frequently, though average quality scores remain relatively constant across deal sizes. The document argues for a shift toward a common global reporting framework and the use of absolute rather than relative metrics to provide a holistic view of environmental performance.

The IAI and PAGES have agreed to collaborate on the "International mobility research Fellowship Program for Latin American and Caribbean early career scientists on past global changes". The program targets PhD students in their final stages or postdoctoral researchers who are citizens of Latin American or Caribbean countries. Eligible candidates must conduct research in a host institution within Latin America or the Caribbean that is not their home country, focusing on topics within the scope of PAGES. The program aims to promote collaborative research, open science, and a better understanding of Earth's past climate to inform future projections and sustainability strategies. IAI is responsible for financial management and reporting, while both entities collaborate on the call for applications and the selection of awardees. The program intended for the first fellows to begin their mobility in early 2022.

Andrew Steer reflects on his nine-year tenure as leader of the World Resources Institute (WRI), outlining the organizational strategies and lessons learned to effectively drive global environmental and climate change.

The document provides a stocktaking of the e-commerce JSI negotiations among 86 WTO members, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption while exacerbating the digital divide. It details the establishment of ten small negotiating groups to narrow differences on issues like consumer protection and spam, while noting persistent divergence on data flows and privacy. The brief also examines the separate WTO Work Programme on E-Commerce, specifically the contentious moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, and the limited progress in addressing the needs of MSMEs, LDCs, and gender equality.

The report provides a status update on the WTO's Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce, noting that while the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated global digital adoption, it also highlighted significant digital divides and complicated diplomatic negotiations. As of February 2021, 86 WTO members are participating in the JSI. Progress has been made in ten specialized small groups on issues such as consumer protection and electronic signatures, but deep divergences remain regarding data flows, privacy, and cybersecurity. The document also notes limited progress on provisions specifically addressing gender, least-developed countries (LDCs), and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The document examines how rangers can be both perpetrators and victims of corruption, driven by economic insecurity, weak governance, and social pressures. It highlights findings from the 'Life on the Frontline' survey, noting that low pay and late salary payments incentivize corrupt acts. The brief argues for a systemic approach to anti-corruption, recommending professionalization, independent oversight, and improved ranger well-being to protect biodiversity and human rights.

The paper explores the concept of Buen Vivir, rooted in indigenous Latin American paradigms, and its potential as an alternative to the anthropocentric and growth-based models of development prevalent in Europe. It highlights the tension between Buen Vivir and the 'Green Economy' or 'European Green Deal', arguing that while the latter seeks to 'decouple' growth from resource use, Buen Vivir rejects the logic of infinite economic growth entirely. The authors note that while official EU-Latin American diplomatic recognition of Buen Vivir has been limited and largely stagnant since a 2015 resolution, local-level initiatives in European cities—such as Amsterdam—and countries like Spain and Greece are increasingly adopting practices aligned with Buen Vivir, including agroecology, local currencies, and the promotion of the 'commons'.

The document analyzes the evolution of the public sphere from physical spaces to digital networks, arguing that while technology offers potential for inclusion, it has also enabled state and corporate control, misinformation, and the marginalization of vulnerable groups. It highlights the importance of 'public interest media' and 'communicative action' to foster democratic accountability. Through case studies in India, Latin America, Palestine, and Ecuador, the text illustrates how marginalized communities use alternative media—such as feminist journalism in India (Khabar Lahariya) and community radio in Ecuador (CORAPE)—to resist hegemony and reclaim their right to communicate. It concludes by advocating for regulatory frameworks that prioritize human rights and digital justice over market logic.

The report synthesizes findings from 49 peer-reviewed articles and 72 distinct analyses to determine what factors drive individuals to aspire to migrate. It employs a two-step model distinguishing between the formation of aspirations and their conversion into actual migration. The review identifies 32 determinants across demographic, socio-economic, individual, contextual, and migration-related domains. Key findings indicate that migration aspirations are most strongly and consistently driven by youth, male gender, the presence of migration networks, a history of international travel, and exposure to violence or insecurity. Conversely, aspirations are consistently lowered by increasing age, higher subjective well-being, and strong social attachment to the community of origin. The document also notes a significant research gap in the 'conversion' phase—how aspirations translate into actual movement—due to the logistical challenges of longitudinal panel data collection.

The paper explores 'Buen Vivir', an indigenous-rooted concept from Latin America that challenges anthropocentrism and infinite economic growth. It examines the concept's formal introduction into EU-Latin American relations via a 2015 EuroLat resolution and contrasts it with the 'Green Economy' and 'European Green Deal', which the authors argue maintain a growth-centric logic. While governmental adoption in Europe remains limited, the text identifies local 'post-developmentalist' practices in countries like Spain, Greece, and the Netherlands—such as agroecology and the recognition of nature's rights—as aligned with Buen Vivir principles.

The report advocates for the establishment of a UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change to address the existential threat of the climate crisis and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Based on consultations with 157 participants from 55 countries, the document outlines the need for a dedicated mechanism within the Human Rights Council to ensure a coordinated approach to climate-related human rights violations. Key priorities identified include holding state and non-state actors accountable, protecting environmental defenders, and ensuring that climate actions—such as carbon trading and nature conservation—do not further violate human rights. The report emphasizes that such a mandate requires strong political support and sufficient resources to be effective, while working in synergy with existing UN mandates and institutions like the UNFCCC.

The document analyzes the labor market crisis in Latin America exacerbated by COVID-19, highlighting the vulnerability of women, youth, and informal workers. It argues that the region's dependence on primary exports and low economic complexity increase its vulnerability to external shocks. To address this, the brief recommends transitioning toward 'green jobs' and a more complex productive matrix. Key proposals include investing in energy-efficient housing, nature-based solutions, female labor inclusion, digitalization to reduce informality, and aligning education with the requirements of a carbon-neutral economy.

The document argues that the South African government's pursuit of fiscal sustainability through austerity—including cuts to health, education, and social grants—violates international human rights obligations. It contends that South Africa's debt is not as dire as claimed, given its high levels of domestically-denominated debt and access to capital markets. The authors advocate for a rights-based definition of debt sustainability, a shift toward progressive taxation (such as a wealth tax), and a global debt deal involving comprehensive cancellation for developing nations.

The report identifies that 1.12 billion people across 76 countries are at high risk due to a lack of access to cooling, with the COVID-19 pandemic increasing this number by approximately 50 million in 2021. It highlights critical gaps in rural and urban poor populations, particularly in Africa and Asia, and examines the urgent need for sustainable cold chains for vaccine distribution. The document also promotes National Cooling Action Plans (NCAPs) and showcases passive and solar-powered cooling solutions in countries like Colombia, Rwanda, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

Urban air pollution in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) poses a severe risk to children's health and development, with significant burdens found in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Children are more vulnerable due to their developing bodies and higher inhalation rates per unit of body weight. Key pollution sources include inefficient biomass combustion for cooking and heating, vehicle emissions, and waste burning, with residents of informal settlements facing the highest risks. The document advocates for integrating air quality management into climate change commitments (NDCs), investing in monitoring infrastructure—including citizen science—and adopting multi-sectoral interventions that target pollution sources rather than just symptoms.

The document analyzes the economic dependence of Colombia and its producing regions on coal, highlighting the vulnerability of public finances to declining international demand and the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines the General Royalty System (SGR) and projects that despite recent legal reforms to increase direct allocations to producing regions, the downward trend in coal production will lead to significant losses in royalty revenues for departments like Cesar and La Guajira by 2030.

The report argues that a significant 'urban services divide' exists in the global South, where over 1.2 billion people lack reliable access to housing, water, sanitation, energy, and transport. This divide creates a cycle of poverty and environmental degradation. To break this cycle, the authors propose seven transformations: prioritizing the vulnerable in infrastructure design, partnering with alternative service providers, improving local data through community engagement, supporting informal workers, innovating financing and subsidies, promoting transparent land management, and creating diverse governance coalitions. The report emphasizes that these shifts can yield cascading economic and environmental benefits, including reduced GHG emissions and improved public health.

The report finds a global increase in concern for nature loss, particularly in emerging markets, driven by digital activism and changing consumer habits. While public demand for sustainability is rising and influencing corporate behavior in sectors like fashion and cosmetics, a gap remains between public sentiment and effective government enforcement of environmental laws.

The report identifies 24 deforestation fronts across Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, where over 43 million hectares of forest were lost between 2004 and 2017. It argues that while commercial agriculture remains the dominant direct driver, indirect pressures such as population growth, dietary shifts toward meat, and weak governance amplify forest loss. The analysis evaluates a range of responses, from area-based protections and indigenous land rights to commodity-specific certifications and REDD+ frameworks, concluding that no single approach is sufficient and that integrated, context-specific solutions are required to halt deforestation.

The proposal seeks USD 593,760 over 18 months to improve the operationality of Uruguay's National Designated Authority (NDA), facilitate direct access to GCF funding for national entities, and integrate climate change into subnational planning and private sector business models. Key activities include updating the Country Programme, developing a sustainable finance roadmap, and supporting the accreditation of the Corporación Nacional para el Desarrollo (CND) and Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay (BROU).