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This report by the Center for International Environmental Law and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights analyzes the 2022 activities of seven UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies (HRTBs) regarding climate change. It documents an increase in climate-related references in State reporting procedures and highlights key developments in General Comments and individual communications, specifically the landmark Billy et al. v. Australia case.

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity source trends in 2022, detailing the growth of renewables like solar and wind, the continued dominance and record highs of coal, and the fluctuations in hydro, nuclear, gas, and bioenergy generation. It compares current trends against the IEA Net Zero Emissions scenario to highlight the growth rates required to limit global warming to 1.5C.

This policy brief provides a state-of-play analysis of the WTO Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on Electronic Commerce as of December 2022. It examines the evolving global e-commerce governance landscape, including national regulatory trends and the rise of Digital Economy Agreements, while detailing the progress of JSI negotiations, the restructuring of the consolidated negotiating text, and the efforts to address the digital divide and development concerns.

This report provides a status update on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on E-commerce as of December 2022. It analyzes the initiative's progress during its fifth year, contrasting it with broader trends in national, regional, and multilateral digital governance. The report highlights a shift toward a potentially less ambitious agreement for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), focusing on resolved trade facilitation issues while deferring controversial market access and data flow topics.

This report provides a status update on the WTO Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce as of December 2022. It analyzes the evolving landscape of digital trade governance at national, regional, and multilateral levels, noting a trend toward more flexible regional Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs) and an increased focus on the digital divide within the WTO's broader Work Programme. The author suggests that the JSI is likely moving toward a less ambitious agreement focusing on minor facilitation points to ensure a conclusion by the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13).

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines recommendations for federal just transition legislation in Canada, suggesting a framework based on international best practices and social dialogue.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights synthesizes the 2022 activities of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) regarding climate change. It details the CRC's review of State reporting, its focus on mitigation and adaptation, and the development of General Comment No. 26 on children's rights and the environment.

The 2023 Healthy NDC Scorecard finds that while 90% of analyzed NDCs mention health and climate linkages, there is a significant gap between health recognition and actual climate ambition. Low- and middle-income countries generally score higher on health integration than high-income nations, though the report notes that these health benefits remain theoretical without increased finance from high-income countries.

This policy brief examines the intersection of international trade and climate change, specifically focusing on how the World Trade Organization (WTO) can facilitate cooperation to support climate mitigation and adaptation goals while ensuring a just transition for developing countries.

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is a flexible, non-traditional economic initiative launched by the United States in May 2022 with 13 partner countries. Unlike traditional free trade agreements, the IPEF eschews tariff liberalization and market access, focusing instead on four pillars: a connected economy, a resilient economy, a clean economy, and a fair economy. While the initiative aims to reassert U.S. influence in the region, it faces challenges regarding the willingness of partners to commit to high standards and criticisms over the lack of U.S. concessions.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the urgent need for reform within the World Trade Organization (WTO). It identifies systemic failures in the organization's negotiating function, dispute settlement system, and transparency mechanisms, while detailing the conflicting priorities of major member blocs and the potential pathways for institutional reform.

This discussion paper by the Climate Bonds Initiative proposes the certification of short-term debt instruments—defined as those with a maturity at issuance of less than 365 days—to mobilize more capital for climate action. It argues that while green bond standards have historically focused on longer-term debt, the USD55tn short-term debt market represents a significant untapped source of green capital. The paper outlines how various instruments, including Commercial Paper and Green Repos, can be certified under the Climate Bonds Standard, primarily through the Use of Proceeds (UoP) principle, and recommends the development of a 'pure-play' entity definition to further scale the market.

This case study examines how Australia became a global leader in decarbonizing premium commercial buildings through 'ambition loops'—positive feedback cycles involving government regulation, industry leadership, and market demand. It highlights the roles of the Victoria and New South Wales governments, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), and transparency tools like NABERS in driving sector-wide climate goals.

This briefing, published by the Global Climate and Health Alliance in May 2022, summarises health and wellbeing findings from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) on Mitigation of Climate Change. It highlights the synergies between climate mitigation and public health, arguing that immediate action in sectors like energy, transport, and agriculture can deliver significant health co-benefits, such as improved air quality and reduced non-communicable diseases, while addressing systemic inequalities.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines five essential elements for establishing a 'gender lens' in international trade policy. It discusses the ongoing efforts of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender (IWG) to integrate gender equality and women's economic empowerment into trade rules, arguing that a comprehensive framework is necessary to ensure trade policies support the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights commitments.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics discusses the findings of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), specifically the Working Group II (WGII) report on impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. It outlines the severe effects of human-induced climate change on ecosystems and humans, the increasing frequency of extreme weather, the disproportionate impact on marginalised populations, and the critical need for transformative adaptation and mitigation to avoid catastrophic economic and social costs.

This report analyzes the global development of green taxonomies, highlighting three main approaches: whitelist-based, technical screening criteria (TSC), and principle-based. It focuses on the alignment between the EU and China taxonomies, noting that while the EU emphasizes six environmental objectives and strict 'do no significant harm' (DNSH) criteria, China focuses on three broader objectives aligned with its national pollution and climate goals. The report emphasizes the Common Ground Taxonomy (CGT) as a tool to reduce market fragmentation and facilitate cross-border investment. It also discusses implementation, noting mandatory disclosure requirements in the EU and mandatory labeling for onshore green bonds in China.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines how Canada can utilize federal legislation to advance a just transition, drawing on international best practices and interviews with 15 experts.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the necessity and design of federal just transition legislation in Canada. It evaluates international best practices from 12 jurisdictions to provide a framework for protecting workers and communities during the shift to a low-carbon economy, emphasizing social dialogue, Indigenous partnership, and corporate accountability.

This 2022 report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) analyzes the activities of United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies (HRTBs) regarding climate change during 2020 and 2021. It details how these expert bodies use state review processes, general comments, and individual communications to define and monitor states' human rights obligations to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.