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The report alleges that ADNOC, led by COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber, pursued nearly $100 billion in fossil fuel deals during the UAE's year as host, contradicting public claims that the summit was not used for commercial gain. It details specific targets in countries like Brazil, Azerbaijan, and China, and argues that the COP28 final text's ambiguous language on 'transitioning away' from fossil fuels allows ADNOC to expand production while appearing compliant with climate goals.

An investigation by Global Witness, Der Spiegel, and Mediapart reveals that the Ngoki oil project in the Republic of the Congo is linked to the family of President Sassou-Nguesso and businessman Claude Wilfrid Etoka, whose bank accounts were closed by BNP Paribas due to corruption risks. The report argues that the project's environmental impact assessments are obsolete and fail to account for the presence of carbon-rich peatlands, which could store 1.34 gigatonnes of carbon in the Ngoki block alone. Furthermore, evidence suggests that the announced oil reserves of 359 million barrels may be economically unviable, as major firms like Shell and Total previously rejected the project based on seismic data.

The IAI's 2015-2016 plan focuses on institutional restructuring across Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, the implementation of integrated science projects, and various capacity-building workshops in Colombia and Panama. Key initiatives include a new call for grants on ecosystem services and adaptation, and the development of professional seminars on global environmental change and health.

The document examines how progressive taxation can address extreme poverty and economic inequality, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa. It evaluates several tax instruments, including Financial Transaction Taxes (FTTs), net wealth taxes, property taxes, and Resource Rent Taxes (RTT), detailing their potential to generate revenue for social protection and climate justice. Using South Africa as a case study, the brief provides specific revenue estimates for various progressive measures, such as a net wealth tax that could raise between R70 and R160 billion.

The document introduces a guidebook and a series of reports focused on the management and financing of soil rehabilitation in China. It aims to harness green finance approaches to attract private investors and blend public and private capital for the remediation of contaminated soils, supporting China's environmental priorities and its first soil pollution law.

The document argues that while global financial assets are sufficient to fund sustainable development, a significant funding gap and digital divide persist. It traces the history of international environmental cooperation from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the 2015 Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Key challenges identified include the failure of developed nations to meet the $100 billion annual climate finance goal, fragmented funding architectures, and barriers to technology transfer such as intellectual property rights. The text emphasizes that digital technologies (AI, blockchain, cloud computing) offer immense potential for zero-carbon energy and circular economies, provided that access is equitable and risks like data privacy and job loss are managed.

The communiqué calls for the elimination of fossil-fuel subsidies to help limit global temperature increases to below 2°C, noting that such subsidies encourage wasteful consumption and hinder renewable energy investment. It emphasizes that reform should be transparent, ambitious, and accompanied by targeted support for the poor, while referencing existing commitments from the G20 and APEC.

This report by the Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) provides preliminary estimates of global energy subsidies by source for 2007, detailing the assumptions and calculations used for nuclear energy, renewable energy, biofuels, fossil fuels, and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

Argentina reduced direct budgetary transfers to oil producers, resulting in estimated savings of USD 780 million in 2017. While oil subsidies were cut to reduce the fiscal deficit and meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan conditions, the government maintained and prioritised subsidies for unconventional gas production in the Vaca Muerta field, viewing gas as a transition fuel. These reforms were accompanied by significant increases in electricity and natural gas tariffs for residential and commercial users.

The document details Canada's efforts to reform fossil fuel subsidies, specifically targeting tax deductions for oil, gas, and coal exploration and development. Since 2011, Canada has reformed seven policies, including reducing deduction rates for oil sands and mining expenses, driven partly by G20 commitments. While reforms between 1990 and 2007 saved over USD 900 million, the 2011-2022 reforms are expected to save approximately USD 260 million annually. However, the document notes a 'missed opportunity' with the introduction of a new LNG subsidy in 2015 and risks of backsliding through the federal purchase and expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline.

The document analyzes how Saudi Arabia, China, and South Africa have implemented various taxes on fossil fuel consumption to address budget deficits and fund renewable energy. It highlights China's Renewable Electricity Surcharge, which raised USD 16 billion in 2016, and South Africa's multi-layered approach including fuel and electricity levies. Saudi Arabia's 2018 introduction of a 5% VAT is noted as a move to diversify revenue away from oil dependency.

The document examines the complex interactions between international trade, development aid, and security, specifically focusing on how the exploitation of natural resources can fuel violent conflict. It argues that current trade and aid frameworks often exacerbate instability in the 'South' due to inequitable rules, the 'resource curse', and the misuse of assistance. To counter this, the authors propose six policy objectives: designing conflict-sensitive trade and aid policies, restricting the trade of 'conflict resources', fostering responsible business practices, improving domestic governance, and enhancing the management of natural resource and aid revenues.

The report examines how national trade policy processes in six diverse countries affect the legitimacy and effectiveness of international trade negotiations. It argues that transparent and participatory domestic processes are essential for aligning trade policy with sustainable development goals, preventing the capture of policy by narrow elites, and ensuring that the needs of growth, environment, and social cohesion are considered. The text analyzes various consultation mechanisms—ranging from inter-departmental and business-focused to multistakeholder and parliamentary oversight—and highlights the tension between the need for negotiating secrecy and the demand for democratic accountability.

Argentina reduced direct budgetary transfers to oil producers, saving an estimated US$ 780 million in 2017. However, the government maintained and prioritized subsidies for unconventional gas production, specifically targeting the Vaca Muerta reservoir through the 'Plan Gas'. These reforms were driven by fiscal pressures, including a US$ 50 billion IMF standby agreement requiring deficit reduction. While oil subsidies fell, the government continued to owe US$ 1.5 billion to oil companies as of January 2019. Environmental concerns persist as gas is treated as a transition fuel, despite the high greenhouse gas emissions and water contamination associated with fracking in Vaca Muerta.

The document analyzes how state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the G20 and beyond are shifting investments from coal to renewables due to cost competitiveness and climate policies. It highlights specific transitions in China (CEIC), India (Coal India Limited), and Sweden (Vattenfall), while noting that some SOEs, particularly in China, continue to invest in coal-fired power abroad. The text also discusses the role of SOEs in providing social protection during the energy transition and mentions similar shifts in the oil and gas sectors in Saudi Arabia, Norway, and Denmark.

The document details the transition of public finance institutions away from fossil fuel investments, highlighting the role of G20 governments and multilateral development banks in implementing restrictions on coal, oil, and gas financing to align with the Paris Agreement.

The document provides a framework for diverting individuals from far-right extremism through four primary strategies: promoting contact across community divides, providing alternative activities, implementing tailored educational programmes, and engaging in direct dialogue on difficult issues. It emphasizes that effective prevention requires non-judgemental marketing, experiential learning over simple fact-sharing, and the creation of safe environments where grievances can be heard before being challenged. The guide illustrates these methods through case studies from Hungary, Poland, Sweden, the UK, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands, highlighting the importance of humanising anti-racism education and empowering youth to challenge their peers.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of conspiracy theories, defining them as explanations citing a secret group of powerful persons acting against the common good. It highlights the systemic link between many modern conspiracies and historical antisemitism, using case studies such as the 'Great Reset', 'QAnon', and 'The Great Replacement' to illustrate how these narratives erode trust in democratic institutions. The guide specifically addresses the risks posed by the spread of misinformation regarding Covid-19, 5G, and climate-related urban planning (15-minute cities), and offers practical recommendations for public officials to verify information and recognize conspiratorial structures.

The document examines the breach of arms control systems during the Libyan conflict, specifically focusing on France and Qatar's admission of supplying arms to rebels. It highlights the failure of end-user monitoring and the potential violation of contractual obligations, noting that Qatar may have re-exported arms sourced from the US and other nations, including Swiss ammunition. The author notes the inconsistent international response and the silence of South Africa regarding these transfers despite its own claims of being a responsible arms exporter.

The document warns that a proposed Protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) would allow some countries to continue trading, stockpiling, and using cluster munitions, thereby weakening the international legal standard established by the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). It highlights that Africa is disproportionately affected by these weapons, with nearly a third of affected countries and territories located on the continent. The author urges African states to maintain their commitment to a total ban to avoid setting a dangerous legal precedent where a lower standard of international law is adopted after a higher one has already been agreed upon.