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This research paper examines the strategic importance of the South Atlantic Zone for South Africa's foreign policy, arguing that treating the region as a single entity can bridge the divide between African and Latin American engagements. It highlights opportunities for cooperation in maritime security, the 'blue economy' through Operation Phakisa, and South-South economic and cultural collaboration, while noting that current trade levels remain low despite significant potential.

This report, produced by PBL, NewClimate Institute, IIASA, and Ecofys, analyzes projected greenhouse gas emissions for seven major emitting countries through 2030. It evaluates the impact of current, planned, and enhanced mitigation policies to determine their potential to narrow the gap between expected emission levels and those required to meet the 2°C climate target.

This report provides an overview of the water-energy-food nexus in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), focusing on the interdependencies between these sectors and the challenges posed by climate change, population growth, and resource distribution.

This report analyzes Energy Savings Insurance (ESI), a financial instrument developed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and BASE to mitigate the risk of underperformance in energy efficiency projects for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in developing countries.

The report details the design and pilot of the Energy Savings Insurance (ESI) instrument, aimed at stimulating energy efficiency investments for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by mitigating the risk of underperformance. It focuses on a 2015 pilot in Mexico's agro-industry sector and outlines a replication strategy for Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa.

This report documents the proceedings of a multi-stakeholder policy dialogue hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and Oxfam South Africa on March 3, 2015. The event focused on the impact, monitoring, and accountability of South–South Co-operation (SSC), specifically regarding emerging partners' engagement in Africa's development.

This policy brief by Energy Innovation outlines four primary recommendations to ensure California's emissions trajectory aligns with its 2050 carbon goals. The recommendations focus on establishing a 2030 statewide carbon cap, decarbonizing the electricity sector, expanding transportation sector policies, and setting performance standards for methane emissions.

This executive summary reviews international fuel pricing experiences to provide recommendations for Indonesia's 2015 fuel price system reforms. It analyzes how other emerging economies manage price volatility and suggests improvements in pricing formulas, regulatory functions, and non-pricing interventions to maintain fiscal savings while protecting vulnerable consumers.

The 2015 Green Bond Market Roundup by the Climate Bonds Initiative reports that $41.8 billion in labelled green bonds were issued in 2015. The document highlights growth in market supply driven by policy support, the entry of more corporate and municipal issuers, and expanding investor demand from institutional entities. It also notes an evolution in standards, such as the launch of Climate Bond Standard V2, and an increasing emphasis on reporting and third-party assurance to validate green credentials.

The 2015 Green Bond Market Update reports a diversifying market with significant growth in emerging markets like India and China. In 2015, corporate issuers grew to 36% of the market, and November 2015 marked a record $7.4 billion in issuance. The majority of funds are allocated to renewable energy (45.8%) and energy efficiency (19.6%).

The 'Handbook for the Inter-American Network on Government Procurement', published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in 2015, provides a comprehensive guide for implementing Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) in Latin America and the Caribbean. It advocates for shifting the procurement mindset from the lowest purchase price to optimizing value-for-money across the entire lifecycle of an asset, integrating environmental and social criteria into every stage of the procurement cycle to drive inclusive green growth.

This case study examines Mexico's development of a national safeguards system for REDD+, noting that the process provides valuable lessons for other countries and the UNFCCC, and underscores the need for international guidance even in countries with advanced REDD+ progress.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines performance requirements (PRs) in investment treaties, analyzing their types, their prohibition under WTO rules, and their treatment in Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). It evaluates how these requirements impact the policy flexibility of developing countries and provides options for states to preserve their ability to impose PRs to maximize the economic, social, and environmental benefits of foreign direct investment.

This research paper by Natural Justice examines the dynamics of community-company engagements in the extractive industries, focusing on the power imbalances between corporations and indigenous or local communities. It outlines various types of agreements, evaluates the effectiveness of different engagement models (government-led vs. community-led), and provides a comprehensive overview of international human rights standards and legal frameworks that govern these interactions.

This case study examines Mexico's efforts to develop a National Safeguard System (SNS) and a Safeguard Information System (SIS) for REDD+, framing the initiative as a tool for sustainable rural development. While Mexico has made progress by integrating safeguards into existing federal laws and establishing participatory forums, the document identifies significant gaps in the operationalization of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), clarity on carbon ownership, and the distinction between the SNS and SIS.

This case study examines Mexico's development of a National Safeguards System (SNS) and a Safeguards Information System (SIS) for REDD+, highlighting the tension between national implementation and the need for clearer international guidance from the UNFCCC and the World Bank.

This position paper by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) argues against the 'financialization of nature,' which it defines as the process of turning biodiversity and ecosystem functions into financial assets and tradable instruments. FoEI contends that pricing nature leads to the privatization of the commons, marginalizes Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and allows corporations to continue destructive activities through offsetting mechanisms.

This position paper by Friends of the Earth International (ATI) argues against the 'financialization' of biodiversity, which it defines as the process of converting nature into financial assets and commodities. The document critiques market-based mechanisms such as biodiversity banking, natural capital bonds, and payment for ecosystem services, asserting that these tools facilitate corporate control over nature, marginalize Indigenous and local communities, and provide 'false solutions' that allow continued environmental destruction through offsetting.

The New York Declaration on Forests Action Agenda (2014) outlines a comprehensive framework for governments, companies, indigenous peoples, and multilateral institutions to slow, halt, and reverse global forest loss. It details a 'menu of key actions' for various stakeholders and reports a surge in zero-deforestation commitments from global commodity traders and consumer goods companies, alongside national pledges for forest restoration and the protection of indigenous lands.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) hosted a workshop on 3 September 2014 in São Paulo, Brazil, to discuss the role of public and private financial institutions in scaling up climate finance. The event focused on the opportunities provided by international funds like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Climate Investment Funds (CIFs), as well as the use of innovative financial instruments to mitigate risks and overcome barriers to low-carbon investments in Brazil.