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This report analyzes the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and broader trade. It examines the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the Farm to Fork strategy, and the Circular Economy Action Plan, identifying significant risks in the automotive, mining, and agricultural sectors while highlighting potential export opportunities for environmental goods.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment within the large-scale mining sector. It analyzes immediate impacts on direct and indirect labor, the role of national lockdown policies, and the long-term structural shifts toward automation and localized supply chains, while providing recommendations for building future resilience.

This research paper examines the distributive welfare impacts of energy price increases resulting from a Kyoto Protocol scenario—specifically a 6% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 1990 levels. Using a welfare model based on consumer surplus and data from the Canadian residential sector, the authors simulate how different income groups are affected and propose compensation mechanisms to ensure equity.

This research paper by Clarence Tshitereke of the Institute for Security Studies examines the challenges of political party funding in South Africa and internationally. It analyzes the tension between public and private funding, the risks of corruption and 'influence peddling' associated with private donations, and the specific dangers of foreign contributions. The author argues that South Africa's young democracy is vulnerable due to a lack of disclosure requirements for private funding and suggests various regulatory mechanisms to secure democratic integrity.

A comprehensive record of the criminal trial of Dr. Wouter Basson, former head of the apartheid-era chemical and biological warfare programme known as Project Coast. The trial, which took place between October 1999 and April 2002, involved 67 charges including fraud, murder, conspiracy to murder, and drug trafficking. The proceedings detailed the use of front companies, the manufacture of incapacitants and toxins, and alleged human rights violations. Dr. Basson was ultimately found not guilty on all remaining charges on April 11, 2002.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a narrow policy window to steer economic recovery toward a sustainable, net-zero emissions path. It warns against 'carbon lock-in'—where recovery measures entrench fossil fuel dependency—and proposes specific policy levers, such as conditional bailouts and just transition measures, to catalyse industrial transformation.

This policy brief examines the use of gypsum, an industrial by-product from phosphorus fertilizer extraction, as a soil amendment to reduce phosphorus run-off from agricultural fields into the Baltic Sea, specifically focusing on applications in Finland.

This report details user feedback and recommendations gathered from focus group discussions (FGD) in Estonia, Germany, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine to inform the development of ClimVis Europe, a planned pan-European climate visualisation tool. The document evaluates three existing tools—the Global Climate Monitor, the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, and the Copernicus Climate Information Portal—and outlines specific user preferences regarding language, accessibility, data resolution, and the communication of climate uncertainty.

This executive summary, based on a 2009 report prepared for the Swedish Government Offices, outlines an integrated approach for the European Union to combine climate change mitigation and energy security with economic competitiveness. It advocates for an 'eco-efficient economy' through resource efficiency, the development of new technology markets, and the establishment of stable global carbon prices.

This fact sheet outlines the potential for reducing emissions in the Baltics, Poland, and Ukraine by scaling up ten existing climate solutions, which could lead to significant emission reductions and cost savings by 2030.

This policy brief, produced by the Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre as part of the NORSTRAT project, examines the transmission grid developments required to transition the Baltic States to a carbon-neutral power sector by 2050. The research focuses on the feasibility of replacing oil shale and fossil fuel dependency with renewable energy sources, specifically wind and biomass, through increased interconnection with the Nordic Power System and Continental Europe.

This research paper evaluates the impact of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) on nitrous oxide (N2O) abatement in the adipic acid sector. While the carbon market successfully incentivized abatement levels of 98% to 100%, which exceed previous technical benchmarks, the authors find that the CDM created significant economic incentives that led to carbon leakage. Specifically, production shifted from non-CDM plants to CDM plants during the 2008-2009 economic downturn, resulting in an estimated 13.5 MtCO2e of issued credits that did not represent real emission reductions.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the environmental integrity of Joint Implementation (JI) during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. The authors conclude that approximately three-quarters of JI offsets likely did not represent additional emissions reductions, potentially increasing global greenhouse gas emissions by 600 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

This report provides a regional summary of the capacity and needs of six Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries to implement national systems for inventories and Kyoto Mechanisms to comply with the Kyoto Protocol.

This working paper, produced by the Agreement on Climate Transformation 2015 (ACT 2015) consortium, proposes a framework for the 2015 Paris Agreement. It suggests a structure based on two long-term goals, three continuous improvement cycles (mitigation, adaptation, and support), and a foundation of transparency and accountability to drive a global transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.

This executive summary from the World Resources Institute (WRI) analyzes the global availability of freshwater in relation to shale gas and tight oil development. Using geospatial analysis and the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, the report identifies significant water stress in many regions with high technically recoverable shale resources, highlighting potential business risks and social conflicts arising from competition for water between the energy industry, agriculture, and municipal users.